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Design of Earthfill Dam Components
Design of Earthfill Dam Components
Table of Contents
Balustrades are provided at the end of the roads to prevent car falling off the slopes.
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Sometimes there is chance of seepage occurrence due to capillary action of water to prevent
this, the height of central core should be minimum 1 m more than the maximum reservoir
level and its thickness should not less than 50% of maximum head of water.
Different types of soils classified based on gradation and their suitability for core
construction is tabulated below.
Table: Different Types of soils and their suitability for core construction
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Berms are provided on downstream side with a width of 1 – 2 m and at an height interval of
10 to 15 m.
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The distance between normal and minimum freeboards is called surcharge head. For any
type of dam, adequate freeboard must be provided to prevent over-topping.
Additional freeboard of 1.5 m is provided if dam is situated in very low temperature regions.
The center line of cutoff should be within the base of impervious central core.
Bottom width of cutoff trench should be at least 4 m.
Back fill material used for cutoff trench should same as the material used for impervious
core.
The positive cutoff should be provided at least to a depth of 0.4 m into continuous
impervious sub-stratum.
If there is a weathered rock stratum or rock formation with cracks and joints is found
then cutoff trench should be terminated.
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Upstream slope of dam is always subjected to wave action by water and deterioration of
dam may occur. To prevent this, 300 mm rock rip-rap layer is provided using stone boulders
or hand packed stones. It is constructed over 150 mm filter layer.
Downstream slope of dam may damage due to severe rains or during floods. The cheap and
best method to protect the slope on downstream side is by planting grass on it. Then the
water will easily slipped away from the surface.
Internal drainage system is provided for the safe disposal of seepage water. The filter
material generally used in this system is sand, gravel etc. The seepage water is disposed
through four stages which are as follows:
1. Chimney filter
2. Horizontal filter
3. Rock toe
4. Toe drain
Chimney filter is provided either vertically or with inclination on the downstream side of
core. The minimum thickness of chimney filter should be 1 m. Seepage water collected by
the chimney filter is received by the horizontal filter and transfers to the rock toe. Horizontal
filter thickness should also be minimum 1 m. chimney and horizontal filters are not
necessary if the head of water is 3 m or less.
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Rock toe collects the water from horizontal filter and Carries to the toe filter. The height of
rock toe should be minimum 1 m or 20% of height of dam whichever is more. It is not
necessary if the height of dam is less than 3 m.
Toe drain is the last of internal drainage system which is arranged at the downstream toe of
dam. It collects the seepage water coming from rock toe and carries it into the surface
drains.
The collected rain water is carried to the toe drain provided at the downstream toe through
15 cm diameter pipes.
Sadanandam Anupoju
Sadananda is a Civil Engineer and is an Author, Editor and Partner of The Constructor since 2016.
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