Failure Investigation of Tawila Dam in North Darfur, Sudan

This paper will visually and experimentally assess the failure of recently constructed dam at Tawila in North Darfur as well as examine -and identify the causes of the failure. Intensive literature of historical cases of dam failure events throughout the world is reviewed. The -investigation is conducted to provide an extensive diagnosis study to point out the structural and geotechnical defects of the Dam. The -investigation results showed that the sediment deposition lead to reduction in reservoir capacity and the collapse of the spillway occurred -due to erosion and excessive deformation of the foundation. The high silting rate and seepage of water lead to piping through the -foundation soil of loose sand were detected as the main causes of the dam failure. It was recommended that necessary and urgent -technical solutions such as desilting and seepage control to be considered in the new rehabilitation of the dam. -