DAMS INTRODUCTION

Presented by
Dr. Deepak Khare
Professor
Water Resources Development and Management Department
• INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE
• ROORKEE – 247667 (INDIA)
 Dams

Definition of Dams
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dams
Classification of Dams
Types of Dams
 Typical Storage Dam

Vajiralongkorn Dam

Srinagarind Dam
 What is a Dam?

A dam is a structure built across a stream,

river or estuary to retain water.

Dams are made from a variety of

materials such as rock, steel and wood.
Dams
Dams
 Advantages of Dam

Dams gather drinking water Water Supply

for people.

Dams help farmers bring Irrigation

water to their farms.

Dams help create power Hydroelectric

and electricity from water.

Dams keep areas from

flooding.
Flood Control

Dams create lakes for people Recreation

to swim in and sail on.
Navigation
 Disadvantages of Dam

Dams detract from natural settings, ruin nature's work

Dams have inundated the spawning grounds of fish
Dams have inhibited the seasonal migration of fish
Dams have endangered some species of fish
Dams may have inundated the potential for
archaeological findings
Reservoirs can foster diseases if not properly
maintained
Reservoir water can evaporate significantly
Some researchers believe that reservoirs can cause
earthquakes
 Classification of Dams

Classification based on function

Storage Dam
Detention Dam
Diversion Dam
Coffer Dam
Debris Dam
 Classification of Dams

Classification based on hydraulic design

Overflow Dam/Overfall Dam

Non-Overflow Dam

Classification based on material of construction

Rigid Dam
Non Rigid Dam
 Classification of Dams

Classification based on structural behavior

Gravity Dam
Arch Dam
Buttress Dam
Embankment Dam
 Gravity Dam

Gravity dams are dams which resist

the horizontal thrust of the water
entirely by their own weight.

Concrete gravity dams

are typically used to
block streams through
narrow gorges.
Gravity Dam
 Arch Dam

An arch dam is a curved dam

which is dependent upon arch
action for its strength.

Arch dams are thinner and

therefore require less
material than any other
type of dam.

Arch dams are good for sites

that are narrow and have
strong abutments.
 Buttress Dam

Buttress dams are dams in which the

face is held up by a series of
supports.

Buttress dams can take many

forms - the face may be flat or
curved.
 Buttress Dam

Cross Section Plain View

Material of Construction:
Concrete, Timber, Steel
Embankment Dam

Embankment dams are massive

dams made of earth or rock.

They rely on their weight to

resist the flow of water.
Arch Dam
 Arch Dam
Reaction Forces on Arch Dam

hr
t=
 allow Arch Dam with an Overflow
2
Spillway
B
=k 
2Sin( / 2)
Embankment Dam
Earth-Fill Embankment Dam

A earth-fill dam in
Australia.
Embankment Dam
Rock-Fill Embankment Dam
Embankment Dam
Homogeneous Embankment Dam
Buttress Dam
 Buttress Dam

Buttress Dam
: is a gravity dam reinforced by structural supports.

Buttress
:a support that transmits a force from a roof or wall to another
supporting structure.

This type of structure can be considered even if the foundation

rocks are little weaker.
Miscellaneous Types of Dam
Timber Crib Dam

A timber crib dam in

Michigan.
Miscellaneous Types of Dam
Steel Dam

Red Ridge steel

dam in Michigan.
Miscellaneous Types of Dam
Stone Masonry Dam

Stone Masonry dam.

Miscellaneous Types of Dam
Coffer Dam

A coffer dam during the

construction of locks at
the Mongomery Point
Lock and Dam.
 Types of Dam

Stone Masonry 10%

Concrete 11%

Rockfill 3%

Earthfill 58%
Other 16%
Timber Crib 2%
SELECTION OF SITE FOR A RESERVOIR

• 1. Suitable dam site must be available

• 2. River valley at site
– Narrow so that the length of dam is less
– Open out at u/s to provide large basin for reservoir
storage

• 3. Surrounding hills must be watertight

• 4. Reservoir basin should be water tight
 SELECTION OF SITE FOR A
RESERVOIR…
• 5. Site should be such that minimum land and
property is submerged in the reservoir
• 6. Site should be such that it should avoid those
tributaries which carries unusually high sediment
content
• 7. Site should be such that adequate reservoir
capacity must be made available
 SELECTION OF SITE FOR A
RESERVOIR…
• 8. As far as possible a deep reservoir must be
formed
– Land cost per unit capacity is low
– Less evaporation loss
– Less weed growth

• 9. No minerals and objectionable salts present

• 10.Quality of water available in reservoir should
be of good
 Selection of site selection of reservoir

▪ The river valley at the site should be narrow

at dam site.
▪ The surrounding hills which constitute the rim
of the reservoir should be water tight and
reservoir basin also should be water tight.
▪ The sight should be such such that as far as
possible minimum land and property
submerged in the reservoir.
▪ The quality of the water stored in the
reservoir must be satisfactory.
▪ Reservoir site should be deep to reduce the
evaporation loss
• Reservoir site should be near to road,
rail and housing colonies for workers.

Some picture of the reservoir and its site

38

Sardar sarover yojana

Ukai hydropower station surat

39
Other dam and reservoir

40
The Indirasagar Dam is a multipurpose project of
Madhya Pradesh on the Narmada River
Tawa Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
Gallery of Tawa Dam
 Factors Affecting Selection of Type of Dam
Whenever it is decided to construct a dam, the first
question that one face is which type of dam will be most
suitable and most economical? Following are the factors
affecting selection of dam site by dam type.

• Topography
• Geology and Foundation Conditions
• Availability of materials
• Spillway size and location
• Earthquake zone
• Height of the Dam
• Other factors such as cost of construction and
maintenance, life of dam, aesthetics etc.
 Factors Affecting Selection of Dam

• These factors are discussed one by one.

Topography

• Topography dictates the first choice of the type of dam.

• A narrow U-shaped valley, i.e. a narrow stream flowing between high rocky walls, would suggest a
concrete overflow dam.
• A low plain country, would suggest an earth fill dam with separate spillways.
• A narrow V-shaped valley indicates the choice of an Arch dam

Geological and Foundation Conditions

• Geological and Foundation conditions should be thoroughly surveyed because the foundations
have to carry the weight of the dam. Various kind of foundations generally encountered are
• Solid rock foundations such as granite have strong bearing power and almost every kind of dam
can be built on such foundations.
• Gravel foundations are suitable for earthen and rock fill dams.
• Silt and fine sand foundations suggest construction of earth dams or very low gravity dams.
• Clay foundations are likely to cause enormous settlement of the dam. Constructions of gravity
dams or rock fill dams are not suitable on such foundations. Earthen dams after special
treatments can be built.
Availability of Materials

• Availability of materials is another important factor in selecting the type of dam. In

order to achieve economy in dam construction, the materials required must be
available locally or at short distances from the construction site.

Spillway Size and Location

• spillway disposes the surplus river discharge. The capacity of the spillway will depend
on the magnitude of the floods to be by-passed. The spillway is therefore much more
important on rivers and streams with large flood potential.

Earthquake Zone

• If dam is situated in an earthquake zone, its design must include earthquake forces.
The type of structure best suited to resist earthquake shocks without danger are
earthen dams and concrete gravity dams.

Height of Dam

• Earthen dams are usually not provided for heights more than 30 m or so. For greater
heights, gravity dams are generally preferred.
 Types of Dam
Factors governing selection
of types of dam

Topography-Valley Shape

A Narrow V-Shaped Valley : Arch Dam

A Narrow or Moderately with U-Shaped
Valley : Gravity/Buttress Dam
A Wide Valley : Embankment Dam
 Types of Dam
Factors governing selection
of types of dam
Geology and Foundation Condition

Solid Rock Foundation : All types

Gravel and Coarse Sand Foundation :
Embankment/Concrete Gravity Dam
(H≤15 m)
Silt and Fine Sand Foundation :
Embankment/Gravity Dam (H≤8 m)
Non-Uniform Foundation : -
 Types of Dam
Factors governing selection
of types of dam

Climate conditions
Availability of construction materials
Spillway size and location
Environmental considerations
Earthquake zone
Overall cost
General considerations
 Selection of Dam Site
• The selection of Dam site for constructing a dam should be governed by
the following factors.

• Suitable foundation must be available.

• For economy, the length of the dam should be as small as possible, and
for a given height, it should store the maximum volume of water.

• The general bed level at dam site should preferably be higher than that of
the river basin. This will reduce the height of the dam.

• A suitable site for the spillway should be available in the near vicinity.

• Materials required for the construction of dam should be easily available,

either locally or in the near vicinity.

• The value of land and property submerged by the proposed dam should
be as low as possible.
• The dam site should be easily accessible, so that it can be economically
connected to important towns and cities.

• Site for establishing labor colonies and a healthy environment should be

available near the site.