The Wild Story of the Taum Sauk Dam Failure
A video on YouTube. In Science & Engineering, a Krater category.
Watch on YouTubeSummary by Krater
This video examines the 2005 failure of the upper reservoir at the Taum Sauk pumped-storage power station in Missouri, detailing the engineering oversights, design flaws, and subsequent redesign.
From the video
Answers: What caused the Taum Sauk dam breach?
- pumped-storage hydroelectricity
- dam safety and engineering
- rockfill embankment dams
- geomembrane liners
- sensor level control systems
What it concludes
- The Taum Sauk upper reservoir failed due to unconsidered settlement in a rockfill embankment composed of weathered rhyolite and soil.
- Unattached sensors inside the geomembrane liner failed to read the correct water level, leading to an overfilling of the reservoir.
- The lack of a spillway on the off-channel reservoir meant there was no safe way to release excess water during overtopping events.
- The FERC fined the owner 15 million dollars for the failure, and the state of Missouri reached a 177 million dollar settlement.
- The rebuilt dam uses roller-compacted concrete and includes a spillway to ensure safety against future overtopping.
Rate it, review it and add it to your lists in Krater.
Titles and thumbnails from YouTube. Krater isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by YouTube or Google.