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1.1 General
• Definition:
– Hydraulic structures: Physical structures that are
used to store, divert, distribute and transport
Hydraulic Structures I water.
– Dam: An obstruction across a river to create a
reservoir for impounding water.
Chapter 1
– Weir: an obstruction across a river to raise water
Elements of Dam Engineering level and divert it. It has no control gates.
– Barrage: an obstruction across a river to raise
water level and divert it. It has control gates.

1.1 General: Dam Basics 1.1 General: Dam Storage

• Face – exposed surface Freeboard
Maximum Flood Level
of the structure
Surcharge Capacity
• Abutments – sides of Spillway
the dam u/s river
Live
• Crest – top of the dam capacity
Total
Active storage
• Outlet – opening to capacity
discharge water Principal
Outlet
• Spillway –to allow Dead storage
excess water flow

1.1 General: Impacts of dams 1.1 General: benefits of dams

• Change in river character
– Temperature Stress, Rigid barriers to migratory fish
– The still water behind the dam deposits sediments. Clear
• Dam has been used for:
water released, scour the riverbed downstream. Further – Irrigation: Ex. Fincha
downstream, new sediment load deposited creating
sandbars and islands slowing the river. – Water supply: Ex. Gefersa and Legadhadhi
• Water stagnation – Electricity: Ex. Koka, Gilgel Gibe, Tekeze
– Increased groundwater level there by increased salinity.
Increased water borne/related disease. Sedimentation – Flood control:
and nutrients – Recreation: Fishing, swimming, etc
• Cultural consequences – Navigation: Transportation
– Relocation of people/animals which breakup of traditional
rural social system (Adaptation to urban lifestyles,
industry). Furthermore farmlands , grazing land and burial
grounds flooded

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1.2 Classification of Dams 1.2 Classification of Dams

• Classification based on function serving • Classification according to design:
– Storage dam: Stores water – Gravity dam;
– Diversion dam: Diverts water – Earth dam; Embankment
– Detention dam: temporarily stores water to avoid – Rock fill dam: dams
flooding – Arch dam
– Coffer dam: A barrier constructed across a structure – Buttress dam
– Debris dam: restricts debris and allow clear water to • Classification according to hydraulic design
pass through
– Non-overflow dams: On top of which water is not
• Classification based on materials of construction allowed to flow.
– Masonry dam; Concrete dam; Earth dam; Rock fill – Overflow dams: Water is allowed to flow over the
dam; Timber dam; Rubber dam; Steel dam dam.

Gravity dam Embankment Dam: Earth Dam

Gravity dam: The weight of the dam resists the
water thrust and all other destabilizing forces.
• Technically these dams too resist the thrust of water
and other destabilizing forces by gravity action.
However, since they are constructed of discrete soil
particles the seepage of water through these
unbounded particles merits close scrutiny.
• If good foundation rock is not available and if sufficient
earth is available earth dam is the logical choice.

Filter blanket: to
control seepage
Overflow section through the dam
Non-overflow section

Embankment Dam: Earth and Rock fill

Embankment Dam: Rock fill dam
dam
• Where sufficient rock and boulder is available • Where both rock and earth materials are
this is a logical choice. available abundantly, it is the best choice.
Impervious blanket:
to prevent water from
passing through the Rock
rock fill dam Rock Earth

Cutoff wall: to control seepage through

the foundation

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Arch Dam
• The abutment of the canyon carries the water trust.
• Where there exists narrow canyon with strong
abutment arch dams are better choice.
Deck Slab
Section through
Abutment
Arch dam
1.3 Dam Type Selection
• Factors to be considered
– Topography and valley shape
– Geology and foundation
– Availability of construction materials
– Overall costs
– Spillway site and location
– Earth quake hazards
– Hydrology (Climatic conditions, Diversion problem)
– Environmental conditions
– Length of the dam
1.3 Ctd: Geology and foundation
• The strength, thickness, and inclination of strata;
permeability; fracturing; and faulting are all important
considerations in selecting the dam type. Some of the
different foundations commonly encountered are:
• Rock Foundations: The removal of disintegrated rock
together with the sealing of fractures by grouting is
frequently necessary. It is suitable for all dam types.
• Gravel Foundations: If well compacted, are suitable for
earth fill or rock fill dams. Special precautions must be
taken to provide adequate seepage control.
• Silt or Fine Sand Foundations: These foundations can be
used for low gravity dams and earth fill dams, but they are
generally not suitable for rock fill dams.
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Buttress Dam
• The water thrust is supported by buttresses.
Buttress
section
Multiple arch Massive head
1.3 Ctd: Topography and valley shape
• Topographic considerations include the surface
configuration of the dam site and of the reservoir area
and accessibility to the site and to construction
materials. Topography, in large measure, dictates the
fist choice of the type of dam.
• A narrow stream flowing between high, rocky walls
would naturally suggest a Rock fill or Gravity, Arch or
buttress dam.
• Low, rolling plains would suggest an earth fill dam.
• Intermediate conditions might suggest other choices,
such as a composite structure.
1.3 Ctd: Geology and foundation ctd.
• Clay Foundations: can be used for the support of earth fill
dams. Clay foundations under dams consolidate
significantly. Because of the requirement for flatter slopes
and the tendency for clay foundations to settle a lot, it is
usually not economical to construct a rock fill dam on a clay
foundation. Clay foundations are also ordinarily not suitable
for concrete gravity dams.
• Non uniform Foundations: Occasionally, situations occur
where reasonably uniform foundations of any of the types
described above cannot be found and where a non uniform
foundation of rock and soft material must be used if the
dam is to be built. Nevertheless, such conditions can often
be counterbalanced by special design features.
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1.3 Ctd: Materials of construction
• Materials for dams of various types that may
sometimes be available at or near the site are:
– Soils for embankments
– Rock for embankments and riprap
– Concrete aggregate (sand, gravel, crushed stone)
• Elimination, or reduction of transportation expenses
for construction materials, particularly those used in
great quantities, reduce the total cost of the project
considerably.
• The most economical type of dam is often the one for
which a large quantity of materials can be found within
a reasonable distance from the site.
1.3 Ctd.: Spillway
• Frequently, its size and type and the natural restrictions in
its location are the controlling factors in the choice of the
type of dam. Spillway requirements are dictated primarily
by the runoff and stream flow characteristics, independent
of site conditions or type or size of the dam. Thus on
streams with large flood potential, the spillway is the
dominant structure, and the selection of the type of dam
could become a secondary consideration.
• Combining the spillway and dam into one structure may be
desirable, indicating the selection of a concrete overflow
dam. In certain instances, where excavated material from
separate spillway channels can be used in the dam
embankment, an earth fill dam may prove to be
advantageous. Small spillway requirements often favor the
selection of earth fill or rock fill dams, even in narrow dam
sites.
1.4 Ctd: Topography
• Topographic considerations include:
– The surface configuration of the dam site and of the
reservoir area
– Accessibility to the site and to construction materials.
• The location shall have narrow gorge and higher
reservoir capacity
• If there exists a confluence (where two rivers
meet) it is better to select dam site downstream
of the confluence.
• The river bed at the dam site shall be high.
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1.3 Ctd: Hydrology and Earth quake
• Hydrology: Stream flow characteristics and
precipitation may appreciably affect the cost of
construction by influencing the treatment and
diversion of water and extending the construction
time. Where large tunnels are required for diversion,
conversion of the tunnels to tunnel spillways may
provide the most economical spillway alternative.
• Earth quake: For earthquake areas, neither the
selection of type nor the design of the dam should be
undertaken by anyone not experienced in this type of
work, because the design must provide for the added
loading and increased stresses.
1.4 Dam Site Selection
• Topography
• Foundation
• Spillway site
• Shape of the basin
• Accessibility: Availability of roads
• Sediment rate: the river shall carry law sediment rate
• Cost: the overall cost of the dam shall be minimum
• Health: the dam site shall incur minimal health effects
1.4 Ctd: Foundation and spillway site
• Foundation:
– A concrete gravity dam needs a very good rock, where the
resultant force of the dam weight and the destabilizing
forces is transmitted. An earth or rock fill dam can be
constructed on any type of foundation.
– There shall be no be any fault that run along the river flow
direction, as it might become the water passage way.
• Spillway:
– A spillway is necessary where excess water is to be spilled
safely to the downstream.
– An overflow spillway can be provided over gravity dam.
– A chute and/or side channel spillway can be provided on
an earth and/or rock fill dam.
– If there is a narrow gorge near by the dam, it is better to
use it as a spillway site.
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1.4 Ctd: Shape of the basin
• The reservoir basin shall be a cup shaped with
a flat bottom. The flat bottom ill provide
enough space for sediment deposition.
Cup type basin
with flat bottom
1.5 Ctd
• Outlet works: Controlled outlet facilities are required
to permit water to be drawn off as is operationally
necessary. Provision must be made to accommodate
the required penstocks and pipe work with their
associated control gates or valves.
• Outlet works are readily accommodated within a
concrete dam.
• For embankment dams it is normal practice to provide
an external control structure or valve tower, which may
be quite separate from the dam, controlling entry to an
outlet tunnel or culvert.
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1.5 Spillways, outlets and ancillary
works
• Spillway: The purpose of the spillway is to pass flood
water, and in particular the design flood, safely
downstream when the reservoir is overflowing.
• It has two principal components: the controlling
spillweir and the spillway channel,
• The purpose of the channel is to conduct flood flows
safely downstream of the dam. It may incorporate a
stilling basin or other energy-dissipating devices.
• The spillway capacity must safely accommodate the
maximum design flood, the spillweir level dictates the
maximum retention level of the dam, i.e. the normal
maximum water level.
1.5 Ctd. Ancillary works
• River diversion is necessary to permit
construction to proceed in dry conditions.
• Cut-offs: Seepage under and round the flank of a
dam must be controlled. This is achieved by the
construction of a cut-off below the structure
continued as necessary on either flank.
• In addition to their function alongside drains in
effecting local control of seepage, galleries and
shafts are provided as a means of allowing
internal inspection, particularly in concrete dams.