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PREFACE
An International Workshop on Dam Failures was held at Pu rdue University on August 6
to 8, 1985. The main concept underlying the theme of the Conference, and its modus
operandi, were outlined in a Prospectus prepared for invited participants in August of
1984. This Prospectus is appended.
The proceedings are organized as follows:
(1) For each Session, the prepared papers by the lead speakers and invited discussers
are presented first. In many cases, the authors' oral presentations followed their written
versions closely, hence they were not reprinted. However, in other cases, the oral
presentations were different and are included herein. A transcript of the open discussion
that ensued immediately after each session follows.
(2) The panel discussion in Session V was transcribed and is published almost verbatim.
This, along with the transcript of the open discussion in the earlier sessions convey the
flavor of the free discussions that were held; these add materially to the value of the
invited papers and prepared discussions.
(3) At the close of the Workshop, delegates were invited to submit retrospective
comments. Those that were received are printed at the end of the appropriate session.
Finally, the editor prepared an overview of the Workshop's achievements with emphasis
on distilling a consensus of opinion (where this seemed possible) and to highlight the
lessons learned, and the research needed, to advance dam design and enhance dam safety.
The invited papers are published as submitted on July 1, 1985.
G.A. LEONARDS
December 1986