ENGR.

BON RYAN ANIBAN

A dam is subjected to a hydrostatic forces due to water which is raised on its upstream side. These forces cause the dam to
slide horizontally on its foundation and overturn about its downstream edge or toe. These tendencies are resisted by friction
on the base of the dam and gravitational forces which causes a moment opposite to the overturning moment. The dam may
also be prevented from sliding by keying its base.

Upstream Downstream

Heel Toe
Typical section of gravity dam
 Steps in Analysis:
I. Consider 1 m length of dam (perpendicular to the sketch)
Upstream Downstream
II. Determine all the forces acting:

A. Vertical Forces
W1 1. Weight of the dam
W4 W1 = γcV1 W2 = γcV2 W3 = γcV3
W2
Vertical 2. Weight of the water in the upstream side (if any)
projection
of the W4 = γwV4
h W3
submerged F 3. Hydrostatic Uplift
face of dam
U = Vpressure diagram

B. Horizontal Force

1 Heel Rx Toe 1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at the vertical projection of

the submerged portion of the dam
p = γh ത
F = γℎA
Ry R
U
III. Solve for the reaction
A. Vertical Reaction, Ry
Ry = 𝑊1 + 𝑊2 + 𝑊3 + 𝑊4 − 𝑈
B. Horizontal Reaction, Rx
Rx = F
 Steps in Analysis:
Upstream IV. Moment About the toe
W4 A. Righting Moment, RM
x4
RM = 𝑊1𝑥1 + 𝑊2𝑥2 + 𝑊3𝑥3 + 𝑊4𝑥4
W1 B. Overturning Moment, OM
x1
OM = Fy + Uz
W2
Vertical x2 V. Location of Ry (𝑥)ҧ
projection
of the h 𝑅𝑀 − 𝑂𝑀
submerged W3 𝑥ҧ =
F 𝑅𝑦
face of dam x3

y Factor of Safety
Factor of Safety against sliding, FSs;
1 Heel Rx Toe
𝜇𝑅𝑦
R 𝐹𝑆𝑠 = >1
p = γh 𝑅𝑥
Ry xҧ
U Factor of Safety against overturning, FSs;
z
𝑅𝑀
𝐹𝑆o = >1
𝑂𝑀

Where ;
𝜇 = cofficient of friction between the base of the dam and the foundation
 Foundation Pressure
For e ≤ 𝐵/6
From combines axial and
bending stress formula :

𝑃 𝑀𝑐
𝑞=− ±
𝐴 𝐼

𝑃 = 𝑅𝑦
𝐴=𝐵 1
𝑀 = 𝑅𝑦𝑒
1 𝐵 3
Heel Toe 𝐼=
qH 12
𝑐 = 𝐵/2
xҧ qt
𝑅𝑦 𝑅𝑦𝑒 𝐵/2
𝑞=− ±
𝐵 𝐵 3
Ry 12
B/6
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒
𝑞H = − 1+
cg
e 𝐵 𝐵
1m

𝑅𝑦 6𝑒
𝑞T = − 1−
B/2 B/2 𝐵 𝐵

B
 Foundation Pressure
For e ≤ 𝐵/6 For e ≥ 𝐵/6
From combines axial and
xҧ = 𝑎/3
bending stress formula :
𝑎 = 3xҧ
𝑃 𝑀𝑐
𝑞=− ±− 𝑅𝑦 = 1/2 𝑎 𝑞𝑡(1)
𝐴 𝐼
𝑅𝑦 = 1/2 3xҧ 𝑞𝑡(1)
𝑃 = 𝑅𝑦
𝐴=𝐵 1 2𝑅𝑦
a 𝑞T = −
𝑀 = 𝑅𝑦𝑒 3x
1 𝐵 3
Heel Toe 𝐼=
12
𝑐 = 𝐵/2
xҧ qt
𝑅𝑦 𝑅𝑦𝑒 𝐵/2
𝑞=− ±
𝐵 𝐵 3
Ry
12
B/6
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒
𝑞H = − 1−
cg
e e 𝐵 𝐵
1m

𝑅𝑦 6𝑒
𝑞T = − 1+
B/2 B/2 𝐵 𝐵

B
 Steps in Analysis:
L=1 I. Consider 1 m length of dam (perpendicular to the sketch)
Sg concrete = 2.4
II. Determine all the forces acting:
Neglect Uplift
𝜇 = 0.8 A. Vertical Forces
𝐹𝑆𝑠 =? 1. Weight of the dam
W1 𝐹𝑆𝑜 =?
𝑞𝑇 =? W1 = γcV1 = 9.81(2.4) (1/2)(6)(8) = 565.056 kN
F 8m 𝑞𝐻 =?
2. Weight of the water in the upstream side (if any)

3. Hydrostatic Uplift
6m
B. Horizontal Force
1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at the vertical projection of
the submerged portion of the dam
ത = 9.81(4)(8)(1) = 313.92 kN
F = γℎA
III. Solve for the reaction
A. Vertical Reaction, Ry
Ry = 565.056 kN
B. Vertical Reaction, Rx
Rx = 313.92 kN
 Steps in Analysis:
L=1 III. Solve for the reaction
Sg concrete = 2.4
A. Vertical Reaction, Ry
Neglect Uplift
𝜇 = 0.8 Ry = 565.056 kN
𝐹𝑆𝑠 =? B. Vertical Reaction, Rx
W1 𝐹𝑆𝑜 =?
𝑞𝑇 =? Rx = 313.92 kN
F 8m 𝑞𝐻 =?
4m IV. Moment About the toe
8/3 A. Righting Moment, RM
RM = (565.056)(4) = 2260.224 kN−m
6m B. Overturning Moment, OM
Ry OM = 313.92 kN(8/3) = 837.125 kN−m
cg
𝑒 𝑥ҧ V. Location of Ry (𝑥)ҧ
0.481
Foundation Pressure 𝑅𝑀 − 𝑂𝑀 2260.224 − 837.125 kN−m
𝑥ҧ = = = 2.519 m
𝐵 𝑅𝑦 565.056
=1 For e ≤ 𝐵/6
6 Factor of Safety
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒 565.056 6(0.481)
𝑞H = − 1− =− 1− 𝜇𝑅𝑦
𝐵 𝐵 6 6 0.8(565.056)
𝐹𝑆𝑠 = = = 1.44 > 1 𝑆𝐴𝐹𝐸
𝑅𝑥 313.92
𝑞H = −48.877 kPa
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒 565.056 6(0.481) 𝑅𝑀 2260.224
𝑞T = − 1+ =− 1+ 𝐹𝑆o = = = 2.70 > 1 𝑆𝐴𝐹𝐸
𝐵 𝐵 6 6 𝑂𝑀 837.125

𝑞T = −139.475 kPa
 Steps in Analysis:
L=1
I. Consider 1 m length of dam (perpendicular to the sketch)
2m γc= 23.5 kN/m3
Consider Uplift
II. Determine all the forces acting:
2m 𝜇 = 0.6 A. Vertical Forces
W1 𝐹𝑆𝑠 =? 1. Weight of the dam
𝐹𝑆𝑜 =?
𝑞𝑇 =? W1 = γcV1 = 23.5 (2)(8) = 376 kN
F 6m W2 𝑞𝐻 =?
W2 = γcV2 = 23.5 (1/2)(2)(8) = 188 kN
2. Weight of the water in the upstream side (if any)

Rx 3. Hydrostatic Uplift
γh
58.86 kPa U = Vpressure diagram = 1/2(58.86)(4)(1) = 117.72 kN
4m
B. Horizontal Force
U Ry
1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at the vertical projection of
the submerged portion of the dam
ത = 9.81(3)(6)(1) = 176.58 kN
F = γℎA
III. Solve for the reaction
A. Vertical Reaction, Ry
Ry = W1 + W2 − U = 446.28
B. Vertical Reaction, Rx
Rx = 176.58 kN
 L=1 Steps in Analysis:
γc= 23.5 kN/m3
2m
𝜇 = 0.6
A. Vertical Forces
2m Consider Uplift W1 = 376 kN
W1 𝐹𝑆𝑠 =? 𝐹𝑆𝑜 =? W2 = 188 kN
𝑞𝑇 =? 𝑞𝐻 =?
3m U = 117.72 kN
F 6m W2 B. Horizontal Force
4/3 F = 176.58 kN
2
III. Solve for the reaction
Rx
Ry = 446.28
γh
Ry
Rx = 176.58 kN
58.86 kPa 𝑥ҧ
4m IV. Moment About the toe
8/3 A. Righting Moment, RM
U
cg RM = (376) (3)+ (188)(4/3) = 1378.667 kN−m
𝑒 𝑥ҧ
0.406 B. Overturning Moment, OM
Foundation Pressure
𝐵 OM = (176.58)(2) + (117.72) (8/3) = 667.08 kN−m
= 0.667 For e ≤ 𝐵/6 V. Location of Ry (𝑥)ҧ
6
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒 446.28 6(0.406 ) 𝑅𝑀 − 𝑂𝑀 1378.667 − 667.08
𝑞H = − 1− =− 1− 𝑥ҧ = = = 1.594 m
𝐵 𝐵 4 4 𝑅𝑦 446.28
𝑞H = −43.624 kPa Factor of Safety
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒 446.28 6(0.406) 𝜇𝑅𝑦 0.6(446.28)
𝑞T = − 1+ =− 1+ 𝐹𝑆𝑠 = = = 1.516 > 1 𝑆𝐴𝐹𝐸
𝐵 𝐵 4 4 𝑅𝑥 176.58
𝑞T = −179.516 kPa 𝑅𝑀 1378.667
𝐹𝑆o = = = 2.077 > 1 𝑆𝐴𝐹𝐸
𝑂𝑀 667.08