Forces Acting on Dams

To design a dam, various forces must be

considered to insure the safety of the
dam. The most important forces are:
1. Weight of dam
2. Water Pressure
3. Uplift
4. Wave pressure
5. Earthquake forces
• Weight of Dam

The weight of the dam is calculated as

follows:

W =  m xVolume

Where γm is the specific weight of the dam’s

material.
• Water Pressure
Water pressure acts perpendicular to the surface
of the dam and is calculated per unit width as
follows:

1
P =  wh2 h Pw
2
h/3

Where γw is the specific weight of water and h is

the height of water.
• Uplift
Dams are subjected to uplift force under its
base. Uplift acts upward.

h
1
U =  w hB
2
U
B/3
B

Where B is the width of the base of the

dam.
• Wave Pressure
The upper part of the dam (above the water
level) is subjected to the impact of waves.
The maximum wave pressure per unit
width is:
Pw

Pv = 2.4 w hv 0.375 hw hw

Where hw is the wave height.

 Earthquake Forces

Dams are subjected to vibration during

earthquakes. Vibration affects both the
body of the dam and the water in the
reservoir behind the dam. Vibration forces
are function of both the intensity (Rechter
Scale) and its duration. The most danger
effect occurs when the vibration is
perpendicular to the face of the dam.
• Body Forces:
Body force acts horizontally at the center of
gravity and is calculated as:

Pem = W 0.1 W1

0.1 W2
W1

W2

Where α is the earthquake coefficient and W

is the weight of the dam.  Is taken 0.2
for practical reasons.
• Water Force:
Water vibration produces a force on the dam
acting horizontally;

2
Pew = C eh 2 h Pew
3
2/5 h

Where Ce is another coefficient (0.82) and h

is the height of the water
• Example:
Calculate the forces on given dam if;
γm = 2.5 t/m3, γw =1 t/m3, hw = 1.5 m
6m

10 m

33 m 30 m

24 m
• 1. Weight of Dam
W1=2.5 * 6 * 40 = 600 t
W2=2.5 *0.5*18*30
= 675 t
w1 w2

• 2. Water Pressure
P = 0.5 * 1.0 * (33)2
= 544.5 t

P
• 3. Uplift
U = 0.5 * 1.0 * 33 * 24
= 396 t

• 4. Wave Pressure
Pw = 2.4 * 1.0 * 1.5 U

= 3.6 t

Pw
• 5. Earthquake Forces
a. Body Forces
Pem1
Pem1= 0.1 * 600 P
ew

= 60 t
Pem2
Pem2= 0.1 * 675
= 67.5 t
b. water Force
Pew=(2/3)*0.82*0.1*(33)2
= 59.55 t