Cracks in Arch Dams: An Overview of Documented Instances

It is essential to understand how failure mechanisms work in arch dams and, in particular, their most common manifestation: cracking. In this paper, the different types of cracking are explained in terms of their causes and consequences. Then, an exhaustive literature review is carried out that results in a detailed compilation of the characteristics of 38 cracked arch dams from all over the world, including crack characteristics (zone, position, dimensions and probable cause). This review is restricted to only those dams for which information on the position of the cracks or dam displacements is publicly available. As part of the review, a brief summary of key data for each dam is included, as well as a compilation of published crack diagrams. The positions of the cracks of all the dams are classified using diagrams in relation to the type of dam and the origin of the crack. Finally, the distribution of some dam parameters and crack features is analyzed by studying the relationships between them.