Dam is a large barrier build across river or stream that control the flow of water or

underground stream. To construct or build a dam is now one of the easier task. It is a very
complex task that need sophisticated modern technology and expertise. To construct this big
dam it need thoughtful planning, design and construction and most important makes it
possible.

The first step in designing a dam is to know the various force that acts on the
structure. There are various types of forces that act on it for example water pressure, self
weight, wave pressure and many more. All of these forces are considered to act per unit
length of the dam. Below are the types of forces acting on a dam structure: [ CITATION
Civ192 \l 17417 ]

 Water Pressure
- This water pressure acts perpendicular on the upstream face of the dam. For this
water pressure, there are two cases. The first one is there is no water on the
downstream side of dam and the upstream face the dam is vertical. Look at the
figure 1. Based on the figure, the total pressure is in horizontal direction that acts

on the upstream face at a height ( H3 )from the bottom. To calculate the water
pressure on the dam use the equation below:

w H2
P 1=
2

P is pressure

W is specific weight of water

H is height up to which water is

stored (m)
 Figure 1 Water pressure on the vertical upstream of a dam

- Next, there is still no water on the downstream, side and the upstream face with
batter. Differ from the first equation which has a horizontal water pressure, this
one has vertical water pressure. This happened due to the water column resting on
upstream sloping side. To calculate the vertical pressure used the formula below:

P2=( bx h2 xw ) +(0.5 x h 1 xw)

P is pressure

W is specific weight of water

H is height up to which water is

stored (m)

b length of base
 Figure 2 Water pressure on the inclined upstream of a dam

 Uplift pressure
- An uplift pressure is any pressure that acts on a structure that has a potential to
raise it relative to the surroundings. [ CITATION Rah181 \l 17417 ] So when water is
stored on the upstream side, the head of water will be equal to the height up where
the water is stored. The water then will enters the pores and cracks under pressure.
After the water enter it will tries to emerge out on the downstream end. The
seeping of water causes the hydraulic gradient between the downstream and
upstream side of the dam. Hence, the hydraulic gradient will cause vertical
upward pressure. Uplift is the second largest external pressure that known as
upward pressure. This pressure can reduces the weight of the structure and also
the restoring force. Below is the equation that can be used to calculate the uplift
pressure.
 wHB
P u=
2

P is uplift pressure

W is specific weight of water

H is height up to which water is

stored (m)

B is the base width of the dam

Figure 3 Uplift pressure

 Self-Weight dam
- One of the major resisting force is the weight of dam and its foundation. It can be
calculated by using the formula below:

W =γ m Volume

γ m is unit weight of dam material

 Silt pressure
- One of the major resisting force is the weight of dam and its foundation. It act at
h/3 from base and can be calculated by using the formula below:

Psilt =0.5 γ s h2 k a

k a is the coefficient of active earth pressure of slit which

1−sin ∅
equal to
1+sin ∅

∅ is angle of internal fraction of soil, cohesion neglected

γ s is submerged unit weight of slit material

h is height of silt deposited

 Figure 4 Slit pressure on dam

Besides the various force acting on the structure, there are also different types of loads
and forces acting on the retaining wall. Below are the different types of loads and forces:
[ CITATION Civ191 \l 17417 ]

 Surcharge loads acting on retaining wall

- There are many types of surcharge loads for example highway surcharges, backfill
compaction surcharge and adjacent footing surcharge.The surcharge loads can be
the dead or live load. This surcharge loads are the additional vertical loads that
used to backfill soil on the top of the wall. When the is vehicular action acting on
the surface of backfill soil at distance which equal or less than the wall height
from back face can be considered as the live load. The figure below shows the
active pressure from uniform surcharge:

P1=K a WH

P2=0.5 K a H 2

w is the uniform surcharge loads

γ ❑ is the density of soil

h is height of the wall

 Figure 5 Active pressure from a uniform surcharge against retaining wall

 Wind Forces on projecting stem

- Wind pressure can produce an overturning forces when the retaining wall is
exposed and extends above grade. Below are the equation used to calculate the
wind pressure:

F=0.0026 V 2

F is the wind pressure

V is the velocity of the wind

h is height of the wall

F=q z ¿ f

G is the gust factor (0.85 can be used)

q z is the velocity pressure at mid height and can be calculated

using the formula below

G f is commonly taken as 1.2

q z =0.613 K z K zt K d V 2

K z is the wind directionality factor, can be determined in

section 26.6 of ASCE 7-10

V is basic wind speed in m/s

K zt is the velocity pressure exposure coefficient can be

determined section 26.6 ASCE 7-10

K d is topographic factor that can be determined on section

26.6 of ASCE 7-10