CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A.

Alhamid 1432/1433H

2.6 Arch Dams

An Arch dam is curved in plan and carries most of the water loads
horizontally to the sidewalls by arch action. The thrust thus developed
makes it essential that the side wall of the canyon be capable of resisting
the arch forces.
 CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H

The first arch dam seems to be built in Iran in the middle of the 13 th
century (masonry and 26 m H)
Narrow gorges provide the most natural solution for an arch dam
construction: L/H 5 is recommended.

Arch and cupola dams transfer the greater proportion of the water load to
the valley sides rather than the floor. Abutment integrity and stability are
therefore critical.
Arch dams offer great economics in volume of concrete and foundation
excavation and preparation.
Type of Arch Dams
(i) Constant radius dam ( constant center arch dam)
Vertical u/s face of constant radius with uniform radial d/s slope. D/s
radius varies with elevation, Fig 3.14(a), central angle 2 reach maximum
at crest level. (N.B. Not the most economical in volume, but simple in
construction and suitable to U shape valleys.
 CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H

(ii) Constant angle dam

The most economical arch section occurs when the central angle of the
arch is 2= 133 34 at all elevation.
Arch dam having central angle of horizontal arch units of constant
magnitude from top to bottom.
Constant angle arch dam leads to a considerable u/s overhang. Excessive
overhang is undesirable, as the resulting local cross section can prove
unstable under construction or for reservoir empty condition. To alleviate
this it may be necessary to introduce an u/s prop, Fig 3.14(b).
This profile is best suited to narrow and relatively symmetrical steep
sided V shaped valleys.
 CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H

(iii) Variable radius arch dam

(iv) Cupola arch dam

(v) Arch gravity dam

(vi) Multiple arch dam.

Arch dam analysis

The concept of overturning and sliding stability applicable to gravity or
buttress dam analysis have little relevant to the arch dams. An Arch dam
represents a stable structural form and given that the integrity of the
supporting abutments is assured. Failure can occur only as a result of
overstress. Arch dam design is therefore centered largely upon stress
analysis and the definition of an arch geometry which avoids local tensile
stress concentrations and/or excessive compressive stress.
The various forces acting on arch dams are same as for gravity dams.
However the relative important of forces is different in arch dam. Since
arch dams are thin, uplift forces are less important. The internal stresses
caused by ice pressure, thermal changes and yielding of supports
(abutments) are very important in arch dam.
Methods of arch dam design
1- Preliminary methods
(i) Thin cylinder theory
 CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H

(ii) Thick cylinder theory

(iii) Elastic theory.
2- Elaborate methods
(i) Trail load analysis
(ii) Shell method
(iii) Finite element method
3- Experimental methods.

Thin Cylinder Theory

Water weight and concrete weight are carried directly to foundation. The
horizontal load is carried by arch action.
The discrete horizontal arch elements are each assumed to form part of a
complete ring subjected to uniform external radial water pressure, Pw

This force is balanced by the u/s component of the abutment reaction =

2R sin

If the thickness, Tt, of the arch rib is small as compared to Ru, the
compressive horizontal stress, h R/Tt
 CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H

h is the allowable working stress for concrete in compression.

Therefore the arch thickness should therefore diminish towards the crown
and increase close to the abutments. And rib thickness increase linearly
with elevation.
The volume of concrete for a single rib across a canyon of width B is

But

i.e.

In practice the central angles of arch dams vary from 100 to 150 . The
base width of arch dam is usually between (0.1-0.5) H, Fig. 14.22.
Tt can be expressed in Rd (entenal radius) by using:
CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H
CE 423 Hydraulic Structures KSU-CoE- Prof. A. Alhamid 1432/1433H