Pending Disaster? Mosul Dam, Iraq

[ehbadger]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...n-it-could-fail-at-any-time-killing-1m-people

"Iraqi engineers involved in building the Mosul dam 30 years ago have warned that the risk of its imminent collapse and the consequent death toll could be even worse than reported."

 

[IRstuff]

On the flip side, I can see why Iraqi authorities are so blasé about this. There's a report from 2007 warning about imminent failure of the dam.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[msquared48]

So, If this dam breaches, will there be a moat around Babylon again?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[itsmoked]

You might have a point there IR.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[Prepakt1]

L ooks like they are grouting constantly and the grout is being washed out. Does anyone have any info on what the Italian engineers are proposing to do.

Intrusion Prepakt /marineconcrete.com

 

[miningman]

Italian engineers are likely going to be changing the grout mix design to bring it upto to European / North American standards, rather than accepting past Iraqi practice. There's nothing that can't be adequately grouted if enough money is thrown at it.

 

[msquared48]

That's where the freeze curtain comes in - to allow grouting to take place downstream of it. Once the grout is in place, the curtain can be shut down and/or moved.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[bimr]

1975 dam disaster in China:

http://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/the-forgotten-legacy-of-the-banqiao-dam-collapse-7821

 

[BUGGAR]

Ground freezing in ground with flowing water is VERY difficult. That's why we use bubblers alongside dam intake equipment to keep the water moving and not allow it to freeze. Ground freezing for tunnels in NYC failed where there was an unknown underground drainage channel to the Hudson.