The most common causes are:

• - Wrong design of the spillway. If the spillway is not capable of evacuating the flow caused by extreme rainfall, as a consequence, the water level of the reservoir will rise above the maximum project level, which in turn can cause the following problems: (i) the water passes over the crest and causes erosion that ends up destroying the dam; (ii) the dam massif does not resist the pressure of a higher water level; (iii) the greater water pressure in the reservoir opens infiltration paths through the dam massif, the eventual dragging of material can create a gap and the collapse of the dam;

• - Wrong design of the dam massif, or its foundation. Dam design is a complex problem that involves a team of trained professionals. In several countries, minimum safety standards are established in the design of dams. Compliance with these requirements should minimize the risk of breakage due to this cause.

• - Geological instability caused by changes in water level. It can be considered that this cause is also a design deficiency, as sufficient geological and geophysical investigations were not carried out to be able to design the dam with the necessary safety. (Malpasset);

• - Due to extreme rain, cases of the Shakidor dam and one of the causes that broke the Tous dam. Extreme rainfall is associated with the discharge capacity of the spillway. There is no such thing as extreme rainfall as an absolute concept. Extreme rainfall is associated with a medium return period.

• - Due to neglect in the maintenance of the outlet pipes, cases of Val di Stava and Lake Lawn.

• - Human or computer error in the dam operation sequence. Case of Buffalo Creek, Dale Dike and Taum Sauk.

• - Due to seismic action. The stability of the dams, in the design phase, is also analyzed to resist earthquakes of a certain magnitude, which is called a design earthquake. For economic reasons, sometimes the owner of the dam establishes a very low earthquake magnitude as a "project earthquake." If a larger earthquake occurs, the dam may suffer damage that may even lead to its rupture. Other times, a design earthquake of an adequate magnitude is taken into consideration. In some countries, this magnitude is set by mandatory standards. However, an earthquake of a larger magnitude can always occur and cause problems.

• - Structural failure.

• - Chanson, H.") (2009) Application of the Method of Characteristics to the Dam Break Wave Problem Journal of Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 41-49 (DOI: 10.3826/jhr.2009.2865) (ISSN 0022-1686).

• - Dam "Dam (hydraulic)").

The most common causes are:

• - Wrong design of the spillway. If the spillway is not capable of evacuating the flow caused by extreme rainfall, as a consequence, the water level of the reservoir will rise above the maximum project level, which in turn can cause the following problems: (i) the water passes over the crest and causes erosion that ends up destroying the dam; (ii) the dam massif does not resist the pressure of a higher water level; (iii) the greater water pressure in the reservoir opens infiltration paths through the dam massif, the eventual dragging of material can create a gap and the collapse of the dam;

• - Wrong design of the dam massif, or its foundation. Dam design is a complex problem that involves a team of trained professionals. In several countries, minimum safety standards are established in the design of dams. Compliance with these requirements should minimize the risk of breakage due to this cause.

• - Geological instability caused by changes in water level. It can be considered that this cause is also a design deficiency, as sufficient geological and geophysical investigations were not carried out to be able to design the dam with the necessary safety. (Malpasset);

• - Due to extreme rain, cases of the Shakidor dam and one of the causes that broke the Tous dam. Extreme rainfall is associated with the discharge capacity of the spillway. There is no such thing as extreme rainfall as an absolute concept. Extreme rainfall is associated with a medium return period.

• - Due to neglect in the maintenance of the outlet pipes, cases of Val di Stava and Lake Lawn.

• - Human or computer error in the dam operation sequence. Case of Buffalo Creek, Dale Dike and Taum Sauk.

• - Due to seismic action. The stability of the dams, in the design phase, is also analyzed to resist earthquakes of a certain magnitude, which is called a design earthquake. For economic reasons, sometimes the owner of the dam establishes a very low earthquake magnitude as a "project earthquake." If a larger earthquake occurs, the dam may suffer damage that may even lead to its rupture. Other times, a design earthquake of an adequate magnitude is taken into consideration. In some countries, this magnitude is set by mandatory standards. However, an earthquake of a larger magnitude can always occur and cause problems.

• - Structural failure.

• - Chanson, H.") (2009) Application of the Method of Characteristics to the Dam Break Wave Problem Journal of Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 41-49 (DOI: 10.3826/jhr.2009.2865) (ISSN 0022-1686).

• - Dam "Dam (hydraulic)").