British Dam Society Research Articles

Binnie lecture 2022: How reservoirs have shaped my career and may shape our future

The 2022 Binnie lecture was delivered to the British Dam Society on 16 September 2022. I began by looking at my introduction to reservoirs as a teenager. I then reviewed a variety of reservoir projects that have impacted my career and, more particularly, how they were shaped by social and environmental issues. Finally, I examined how my experience can influence the future of dam building in the UK.

Editorial: The British Dam Society Prize

Editorial: The British Dam Society Prize

Binnie lecture 2020: 45 years of dam engineering, part 2

The 2020 Binnie lecture delivered to the British Dam Society on 5 October 2020 is being published in two parts. The first part is a description of three significant projects that were important in my early development and maturing as a dam engineer. This second part presents some views on the development of our current reservoir inspection practice and how we might take this forward in a manner that can provide greater consistency, particularly in a world where inspecting engineers are unlikely to have had the richness of experience that was available to previous generations.

Binnie lecture 2020: 45 years of dam engineering, part 1

The 2020 Binnie lecture delivered to the British Dam Society on 5th October 2020 is being published in two parts. This first part is a description of three significant projects that were important in my early development and maturing as a dam engineer, drawing out some of the lessons I have leaned on through the rest of my career. One of my underlying thoughts in selecting this theme, was to show how access to such a variety of experiences made it far easier to acquire the knowledge and experience required of a panel engineer when I started, than it is today. The second part presents some views on the development of our current reservoir inspection practice, which may be helpful in the light of the reducing numbers of all reservoirs panel engineers.

Results and feedback from the British Dam Society 2020 year-end survey

In December 2020, the British Dam Society (BDS) conducted a year-end survey of both its individual and corporate members. The survey asked that members rate how much they agreed with a series of statements and were given the opportunity to submit additional comments. The survey contained 14 questions for individual members and three questions for corporate members. This paper presents the results of the survey along with feedback from the BDS Committee.

Modeling assessment of seepage and slope stability of dam under static and dynamic conditions of Grindeho Dam in Ethiopia

This research work was carried out using Geo-Slope software programmes, i.e., to compute the infiltration and slope stability analysis of the Grindeho dam using SEEP/W and SLOPE/W. Embankment dam failure may occur due to different reasons, such as structural instability, hydraulic conditions, seepage through the dam body and foundation. The determination of the factor of safety for the dam slope stability and quantify the amount of seepage through the dam, under different cases of operations, is vital to ascertain the dam overall safety. In this research, Finite Element modelling is used through Geo-Studio software to simulate slope stability and seepage analysis of the embankment dam. Three distinct operational cases are considered for the dam analysis: end of construction before filling the reservoir, after/full reservoir condition, and rapid reservoir condition drawdown. Four separate methods of analysis were used to verify the stability of the slope embankment: Morgenstern-Price, Bishop, Janbu, and Spencer. The requirements of the Benchmark Safety Legislation (US Army of Corps Engineers and British Dam Society) are observed. The simulation results of the upstream and downstream side of the dam section have a direct effect on the factor of safety, the outcome of the stability analysis performed showed that all sections of the dam are safe within the specified range of factors of safety for the potential all loading and operation cases. But all the slip surfaces move through the section of the dam shell, which shows that this zone is the weaker zone and requires spatial attention. The simulation results obtained from the SEEP/W program revealed that 15,291.5 m3/year and 22,818.56 m3/year amount of seepage loss is present in the Grindeho dam during the drawdown case and full reservoir case, respectively.

Modeling the slope of embankment dam during static and dynamic stability analysis: a case study of Koga dam, Ethiopia

Quantitative assessment of the stability of slopes is very important for the evaluation of an earth fill dam in order to perform the intended function throughout the service life. This study presents the slope stability and analysis of the Koga earth fill dam. The analyses were carried out using finite element-based PLAXIS 2D software. The behavior of both the body and the foundation of the dam was described using the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. Based on the result of this study, the resulting factor of safety values during end of construction for both static and dynamic stability analysis was 1.6221 and 1.3592, respectively. For steady-state condition, the water level was fixed at normal pool level (2015.25 m). The factor of safety obtained for static stability analysis was 1.6136 and the dynamic analysis 1.3157. The rapid drawdown condition is analyzed with normal pool level of 2015.25 m lowered to 2008.5 m. The analysis results showed that the factor of safety for the static and dynamic analysis was 1.2199 and 1.0353, respectively. Using recommended design standards: United States Army Corps of Engineers, British Dam Society and the Canadian Dam Association the slope stability analysis of the Koga earth dam at all critical loading conditions are safe. The displacement result shows the maximum total displacements for static and dynamic analysis were 1.033% and 1.628% of the dam height, respectively. The displacement result coincides with Fell et al. (J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 129(4):307–314, 2003) standards.

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

An interview with Alan Warren, chair, British Dam Society

The following is an interview with the current chair of the British Dam Society (BDS), Alan Warren (Figure 1). Alan is a technical director and an all reservoirs panel engineer with Mott MacDonald based in Bristol. He is the company's global practice leader for dams and reservoirs, responsible for providing thought-leadership, guidance and innovation in related services.

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

20th Biennial BDS Conference 2018 – Tour 1: Caerphilly Castle

This paper is an account of the 20th Biennial British Dam Society Conference 2018 – Site Tour 1: Caerphilly Castle. Caerphilly Castle is the second largest castle in the United Kingdom and is surrounded by an inner and outer moat, which is impounded by earth embankments. This paper describes the general background of the visits, including some of the challenges that have arisen with the moats through the years and the work done to resolve them.

20th Biennial BDS Conference 2018 – Tour 3: National Botanic Garden of Wales

This paper is an account of the 20th Biennial British Dam Society (BDS) Conference 2018 site tour 3: – National Botanic Garden of Wales, Regency Restoration Project.

20th Biennial BDS Conference 2018 – Tour 2: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Reservoirs – Shon Sheffrey and Rhymney Bridge No. 2

This paper is an account of the 20th Biennial British Dam Society (BDS) Conference 2018 – Site Tour 2: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Reservoirs – Shon Sheffrey and Rhymney Bridge No. 2. It describes the general background of the visits including recent upgrade works to the spillways at both sites. At Shon Sheffrey works were complete to upgrade the spillway following recommendations made in the interests of safety in 2010 to investigate and upgrade the spillway of the reservoir as well as grouting to stem leakage through the embankment. At Rhymney Bridge No. 2 works were complete following an incident in 2013 where the spillway failed due to uplift pressures during a major storm event. Approximately 40 BDS delegates visited both Shon Sheffrey and Rhymney Bridge No. 2 reservoirs owned and managed by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water.

An interview with Tracey Williamson, chair, British Dam Society

The following is an interview with the current chair of the British Dam Society (BDS), Tracey Williamson, BEng, CEng, FICE. Tracey is an associate director at Arup and a supervising engineer, and has had a diverse career including 5 years as dam safety manager at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW), experience in the United Kingdom and overseas, and with both consultancy and client organisations within the dams industry. In this interview, Tracey describes her aspirations for the BDS, both during her time as chair and beyond, and she discusses some of the challenges and opportunities that the industry currently faces.

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society

Gallimaufry: News and Events from the British Dam Society