Mechanisms of failure and associated design considerations : the failure of a slimes dam at Bafokeng

Possible mechanisms that might have initiated the failure of Slimes Dam No. 1 at Bafokeng are examined and the conclusion reached that the most probable trigger to the event was piping through the wall. This catastrophic failure highlights the fact that slimes dams are important and sometimes hazardous structures which demand proper design, monitoring control and careful maintenance. Die moontlike meganismes wat daartoe gelei het dat Modderdam Nr. 1 te Bafokeng misluk het word ondersoek en daar word tot die slotsom gekom dat pyping deur die wal die waarskynlikste oorsaak van die mislukking was. Hierdie katastrofiese mislukking beklemtoon die feit dat modderdamme belangrike strukturc is wat soms gevaarlik kan wees en wat 'n behoorlike ontwerp, aanhoudende beheer en sorgvuldige onderhoud verg.