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3.1 Definition and types of arch dams

• An arch dam is curved in plan and carries the major part of
the load to the abutment by arch action. The part of the load
carried depends mainly on the amount of curvature. The
balance of the water load is transferred to the foundation by
cantilever action.
Hydraulic Structures I • For construction of an arch dam it is desirable to have a V-
shaped valley. Because such valley will provide decreased
arch length with increasing depth. And since for a given rise
of arch ring greater arch action will be developed for smaller
Chapter 3 spans of arch rings, even for higher water load at greater
depth the arch ring need not be very thick. More over from
Arch and Buttress Dams economical consideration it is essential to have a definite
ratio of crest length and height. The greater the curvature in
plan, the greater will be the load that can be transferred to
the abutment. Hence the thickness of the dam will be
smaller. Such economical section of the dam can further be
increased by making the dam curved in elevation too.
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• Constant radius arch dam: In this type of

3.1 Ctd.: Classification of arch dams arch dam the radius of some prominent
feature, such as the u/s face (extrados) is
constant at all elevations from the top of
• According to thickness: the dam to the bottom of the dam.
– Thin arch dams t<=0.2h However the radius of the d/s face
– Medium arch dams 0.2h<t<=0.3h (intrados) decreases as the depth below
the crest or top of the dam increases.
– Thick arch dams 0.3<t<=0.5h
– Arch gravity dams t>0.5h • Intrados curves are usually are concentric with the extrados
curves. Thus the thickness of the arch increases with depth
• According to curvature below the top of the dam. There is increased thickness at
– Single curvature (curved only in plan)
lower levels where large pressure acts.
• Constant radius; Variable radius; Constant angle
– Double curvature /shell type arch dam/ (curved both • In this type of dams the center of the extrados, intrados and
in plan and elevation) center line of each horizontal arch ring lie at a point. The
– Arch gravity dam locus of centers of the horizontal arch rings at different
elevations forms a vertical line. Hence such dams are also
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called constant center arch dams. 4

• Advantages of arch dams

• Constant angle arch dam: – Arch dams will only fail due to overstress
Central angle 2 of – An arch dam utilizes all the strengths of the material, thus
different arches has the requires less volume of concrete than gravity dam
same magnitude from top – Arch dam unlike gravity dam is not sensitive to accidental
to bottom. In practice 2 = increase in maximum water level.
1000 to 1500 is used. It
uses about 70% concrete – As the arch dam is designed for allowable or permissible
as compared to constant design stresses in concrete there is sufficient factor of safety in
design
radius arch dam.
– With increase in water level the compressive stress make the
• Variable radius arch dam: It is a compromise between concrete more water tight i.e. arch dams are self staunching or
self sealing.
constant radius and constant angle arch dams, i.e.,
– As the base width of an arch dam is small uplift pressure
neither the radius nor the angle is constant. The radii of forces are not important; further more it does not rely on its
the extrados and intrados surfaces vary from the top to weight for its stability. Thus costly arrangements for reducing
bottom, usually maximum at the top and minimum at uplift pressure are not necessary in case of arch dams.
the base. The central angle of the different arches is not • Disadvantage of arch dams
constant; it usually ranges from 800 to 1500. The central – Arch dams require skilled manpower, supervision and good
angle for the top arch is made as wide as possible. quality of concrete.
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3.2 Forces acting on arch dams 3.3 Design considerations of arch dams
• The forces acting on arch dam are the same as that of • Methods of design of arch dams.
gravity dams. Uplift forces are less important (not – Thin cylinder theory
significant). Internal stresses caused by temperature – Elastic theory
changes and yielding of abutments are very important. – Trial load method (discussion beyond the scope of this
Foundation stresses are generally small. course)
– Reservoir water pressure, • Arch dams like gravity dams can be designed as an over flow
– Wave pressure in the reservoir, or non over flow type.
– Ice pressure, • The thin cylinder theory: It is envisaged that the
– Temperature stresses, weight of concrete and water in the dam is carried
– Earth and Silt pressure, directly to the foundation. The horizontal water load is
– Seismic forces, carried entirely by arch action. The theory assumes
that the arch is simply supported at the abutments and
– Wind pressure.
that the stresses are approximately the same as in thin
cylinder of equal outside radius r e.
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The thin cylinder theory P = ϒwh

• Exercise: Proof that the most economical angle which
• Summing forces parallel to the t brings about minimum volume of concrete is 133.5 o
stream axis R re • Thick cylinder theory: In thin cylinder theory the stress
rc
  ri R
distribution across the thickness of the arch is assumed
2 R sin  2 w hre sin ;  R   w hre ϴ
2 2 to be uniform. While in the thick cylinder theory this
R  hr stress is larger at the intrados and smaller at the
• The transverse unit stress    w e B
extrados. The stress distribution across the thickness of
t 1 t a thick cylinder is computed from:
re
• For a given allowable stress, σa  w hre re
t t
a t
ri
ri
• Note: the hydrostatic pressure wh may be increased by
 w hre2  re2 ri 2 r 2 
earth quake and other pressure forces where applicable. r 
•Condition for least volume of concrete: re2  ri 2
re w h  w hre   w h 
2

2 Thin cylinder
V  t 1r , But t 
B
V     Thick cylinder
a a  a  2 sin( / 2)  theory
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theory 10

• Example: Design a constant radius arch dam on a 60 40 60

valley 40 m width at the base and 160 m wide at
the crest level. At the crest level the central angle
could be taken as 140o. The height of the dam
shall be 100 m and 2 m thick at the top. Take ϒw =
9.81 KN/m2 and σa = 4000 KN/m2
Depth Chord re Pressu Thickn ri = re ϴ/2 = ϴ
• Solution: For constant radius arch dam re is blow length re = ess = -t sin-1
constant through out the depth while ri varies the top (Li) ϒh ϒhre/σ (Li/2ri)
from the top to bottom.
0 160 87 0 2 85 70.25 140.50
• The intrados radius at the top is given by: 20 136 87 196.2 4.3 82.7 55.31 110.62
– riXsin(ϴ/2) = Li/2 where Li is the chord length of the 40 112 87 392.4 8.55 78.45 45.55 91.1
top arch i.e. 160 m. 60 88 87 588.6 12.85 74.15 36.4 72.8
– ri = 160/(2Xsin(140/2) = 85.134 ≈ 85 m. 80 64 87 784.8 17.1 69.9 27.25 54.5
• The extrados radius at the top = ri + top width = 100 40 87 981 21.35 65.65 17.74 35.48
85 + 2 = 87 m.
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• Example: Design a constant angle arch dam of height 100 m Elastic arch theory
and 2 m thick at the top for a valley 40 m wide at the base and
160 m wide at the top. Take ϒw = 9.81 KN/m2 and σa = 4000 • The theory assumes complete transfer of load by arch
KN/m2. assume an optimum angle of 133.5o central angle. action only. Horizontal arch rings are assumed fixed to the
• Solution: ri = Li/(2sin(133.5/2) = 0.5442Li abutments, but acting independently of neighboring rings.
Effect of temperature variation on arch stress is considered.
Depth Li ri Pressure t = ϒhri/(σa- re = ri + t This method can be used for preliminary design to
ϒh ϒh) determine the adequacy of the section designed by the
thin cylinder theory.
0 160 87.07 0 (0) 2 89.07 • Modified Cain’s Equations are used for calculating forces
and moments at the crown and at abutments.
20 136 74.01 196.2 3.82 77.83
2pr  t 2 
Rc  pr  sin  ;Where  is in radians
2 
40 112 60.95 392.4 6.63 67.58 D  12r 
60 88 47.89 588.6 8.26 56.15  t 2  sin( 2 ) 
D  D1   1   
2    2 sin  ; If shear is neglected
2

80 64 34.83 784.8 8.50 43.33  12r  2 

3t 2  sin( 2 ) 
100 40 21.77 981 7.07 28.84 D  D1    ; If shear is considered
12r 2  2 
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3.4 Definition and types of Buttress

Elastic arch theory
dams
 sin   P = ϒwh
M c  r  pr  Rc 1  
   Rc
t
• Buttress dams consist of a slopping u/s membrane
which transmits the water load to the axis of the dam.
Ra  pr   pr  Rc  cos  r Mc
Ra The principal structural elements of a buttress dam are
 sin   Ma
M a  r  pr  Rc   cos   φ the water supporting u/s deck and the buttresses that
   in turn support the deck. The buttresses are carefully
•Where Ma and Mc are moments about the crown spaced, triangular walls proportionate to transmit the
and abutment, respectively. Ra and Rc are the forces water load and the weight of the structure to the
foundation.
at the abutment and crown, respectively.
• Buttress dams are adaptable to both overflow and non-
•After determining forces and moments, stresses at
overflow conditions. In overflow dams a downstream
intrados and extrados are calculated from: deck is provided to guide the flowing stream.
R 6M
  2
t t 15
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• Classification of buttress dams: According to the water • Advantages of buttress dams:

supporting membrane utilized in the body of the structure.
The main types are shown in Figure below and there are – Less concrete is used compared to a gravity dam of the same
height.
other types emerged from the flat deck types with
modification in the buttress configuration. – More safe against overturning and sliding because of the larger
vertical component of hydrostatic force exerted on the dam
(highly inclined u/s face)
– More equal distribution of stresses of foundation.
Continuous – Less massive than gravity dam hence may be used on weak
Simply foundation not suitable for gravity dam
or fixed slab
supported – Decreased uplift pressure ( if no spread footing, joining the
type buttresses is used)
slab type
• Disadvantages of Buttress dam
– Needs reinforcement and expensive shuttering
– Needs more skilled labor
– Slabs and columns are highly stressed; danger of deterioration
Multiple arch Round head Cantilever of concrete of the u/s deck
type slab type – More susceptible to damage by sabotage
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3.5 Forces acting on Buttress dam
• Essentially buttress dams are subjected to the
same forces as gravity dams. Uplift forces may
be insignificant as in the case of arch dams.
Wind load on buttress faces may be
considerable when high velocity winds blow
diagonally from the downstream side, hence
struts (beams) are usually provided. Due to
the upstream slope larger amount of vertical
water load acts on the slab than gravity dams.
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• Simple slab (Ambersen type) buttress dams: The slab
is simply supported and the joint between the slab and
buttresses is filled with asphalt putty or any flexible
compound.
• The slab is designed by assuming that it consists of a
series of parallel beams acting independent of one
another and simply supported on the buttresses.
• Spacing of the buttress is governed by:
– length of the dam
– pressure of spread footing or a continuous floor slab
– presence of spillway over the dam
– slope of the upstream water supporting membrane(slab)
– Unusual foundation or side hill condition.
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3.6 Design considerations of Buttress dams
• The stability analysis for buttresses is done in a similar
fashion as for a gravity dam. However, the design element
is not taken to be a slice of unit thickness as in gravity
dams, but the full panel is considered. In addition to
satisfying the stability criteria the buttresses are designed
to conform to the design rules for structural concrete
members.
• The buttress width is determined by considering the
buttress to be a vertical cantilever beam. The width has to
be sufficient to avoid tension at the upstream face when
fully loaded and also to avoid excessive compression at the
downstream face. In order to determine the thickness of
the buttress required to prevent buckling they are
considered to be bearing walls instead of beams. The
minimum allowable thickness is same as that for columns.
The unsupported length is generally reduced by providing
struts at intermediate points.
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W= pl + wcosβ
Shear Span l
l wcosβ
Moment Span
w
• For high dams greater spacing may be economical. Wider
spacing may entail increased thickness and reinforcement
of slabs. The spacing that will give the most economical
balance of concrete steel and formwork area is determined
by the total cost of the items.
• The buttress is designed as a system of columns each
carrying the load by column action to the foundation.
These columns are proportioned to develop a uniform
compressive stress and curved to avoid any serious
eccentricity on any horizontal or normal plane when the
water and concrete loads are resolved.
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