Malpasset Current Status

remains of right abutment
photo courtesy of Erich Wagner

Only pieces of the Malpasset remain. The devastating tragedy will not be forgotten.

But alot has been learned.

Three-dimensional computer analyses were developed to study the cause of failure; these types of analyses are now used to design new arches under new standards.

The need to test the foundation for different traits was realized.

The study of rock mechanics developed.

The need for safety monitoring of arch dams was recognized.

It has also been noted that if the Malpasset dam were designed today, almost no changes in the shape of the arch would have to be made: in other words, the design of the dam itself was not to blame.

Could failure have been avoided if the cracking had been investigated? This is one of the most important lessons learned from the Malpasset dam failure that is taken very seriously today, as seen in the Kolnbrein and El Atazar dam case histories.

Looking downstream, the remains of the abutment can be seen on the left.
photo courtesy of Russ Collins, Provence-Beyond

references used in this case history:
Dargeou
Goldsmith and Hildyard
Four major dam failures re-examined

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