During intense Mesopotamian floods, which failure leads to canal bank collapse and redirection of floodwaters?

💡 Explanation

During intense floods, heightened hydrostatic pressure increases pore water pressure of canal banks leading to a reduction of the effective stress and shear strength of soil causing slope failure because of force imbalance. Therefore, hydraulic failure results, rather than soil clogging, thermal expansion, or burrow excavation, which all act through different means and environmental preconditions.

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