DESIGN OF CONCRETE GRAVITY DAM

Maximum allowable compressive stress in concrete f = 3000 KN / m2 Concrete compressive strength

Maximum reservoir level = 200 m
R.L. of bottom of dam = 100 m
Specific gravity of concrete S c = 2.4
Unit weight of water yw = 10 KN / m3
Freeboard = 3 m ( 3 to 4 % of dam height. )
R.L. of the top of the dam = 203 m
Height of the low gravity dam = f / yw ( Sc + 1 ) Low gravity dam =
= 88.2 m. < Height of dam. High gravity dam=
Therefore it is a high gravity dam.
So, dam from R.L. 200 m to R.L. 111.8 m designed as a low gravity dam,
and the remaining bottom height of the dam from R.L. 111.8 m to 100 m
shall be designed on the principles of high gravity dam.
Design of low dam between R.L. 200 m to R.L. 111.8
√
Top width required ( a ) = H1 / 3.28
= 5.19 m
Base width required = H / √ s
= 56.96 m
The upstream projection from the vertical face required = a / 16
= 0.32 m ( say )
Total base width ( B1) provided = 57.28 m.
The u/s . Batter starts at a depth of = 2a √ Sc
= 16.1 m from below the M.W.L.
and it ends at a depth of = 3.1a √ Sc
= 24.9 m below the M.W.L.
Design of the Dam from RL 111.8 m to R.L. 100 m
Let us divide this length of 11.8 m into 3 strips.
2 nd Strip = 3.92 m say 4 m
3 rd strip = 3.92 m say 4 m
1 st strip = 3.8 m
Design of the 1 st strip
Consider 1 m length of the dam.
Weight of dam section upto RL 111.8 m. ( i.e. weight of low dam )
= 24 x [ 1/2 x 0.32 x 8.8 + 63.3
+ 3
= 24 x [ 1.43 + 20.5 + 2512.75
= 61706.562 KN
Approximate width of bottom of 1 st strip = 57.28 + 2.43
= 59.71 m
Approximate weight of 1 st strip = 24 x 1 [ 57.28 + 59.71 /2]x
= 5285.18 KN
Weight of water resting on the u/s face = 10 x 1 [ 16.1 x 0.32 + 1/2 x
= 66.4193028 KN
say 67 KN
 Total weight of dam and water at top of 1 st strip , i.e. at base of small dam W 1 = 61706.56
= 61773.56
say 61774
Total approximate weight of dam and water at base of 1 st strip W 2 = 61774 +
= 61774 +
= 67060.00 KN

The correct base width B2 which shall keep the maximum compressive stress within the allowable limits B 2 =
where H2 =

B2 = Sqrt (
= 60.24
Now let us find out the projection X 2 of base B1 on the u/s side.
yw x ss x y1 / 24 [ 3B12 - B22 + 6 X2 ( B1 + B2 ) + 2 B1B2 ] - yw x X2 / 12 [ H1 + H2 ] [ 2 B2 - 3 X2 ] - W1 [ B2-B1/3 - X2 ] = 0
Where y1 = 3.8 m
B1 = 57.28 m
B2 = 60.24 m
H1 = 88.2 m
H2 = 92.0 m
W1 = 61774 KN
3.8 x [ 6213.572 + X2 705.14 + 6901.5434 ] - 0.83
49374.55 + 2654.66 X2 - 18096.86 X2 + 2.5 X22 -
X22 + 46331.79 X2 -11664.911 =0
X2 = - 46331.79 +- 46332.3 / 2
X2 = 0.25 m or -46332.046
X2 = 0.25 m
Hence out of 60.24 m base width at base of 1 st strip , 0.25 m shall be provided on u/s side

Design of 2 nd strip
Corrected weight of 1 st strip = 24 x 1 [ 57.28 + 60.24 /2 ] x 3.8
= 5309.32 KN
Weight of water resting on the u/s face of first strip = 10 x [ 88.2 x 0.25
= 2.5 [ 88.2 +
= 226.9 KN
Total corrected weight at the base of 1 st strip W 2 = 61774 + 5309.32 +
= 67310.20
say 67311.00 KN
Depth of 2 nd strip = y 2 = 4 m
Approximate base width of the bottom of 2 nd strip = 60.24 + 2.58 +
= 63.09
say 64.00 m
Approximate weight of 2 nd strip = 24 x 1 [ 60.24 + 64.00 / 2 ] x
= 5963.72 KN
Approximate weight of water resting on the u/s face of 2 nd strip = [ 92.0 +
= 251.5 KN
Hence ,the total approximate weight of dam and water at base of 2 nd strip W 3 = 67311.00
= 73526.17

The corrected base width B3 at bottom of 2nd strip B3 = √y x H

w 3
3
/ f [ 1 + yw2 x H34 / 4 x W32]
where H3 =
W3 =
f=
yw =
B3 = sqrt( 2949.12 [ 1
B3 = 64.1 m
Now X3 is obtained from the equation
yw x ss x y2 / 24 [ 3B22 - B32 + 6 X3 ( B2 + B3 ) + 2 B2B3 ] - yw x X3 / 12 [ H2 + H3 ] [ 2 B3 - 3 X3 ] - W2 [ B3-B2/3 - X3 ] = 0
Where y2 = 4.0 m
B2 = 60.24 m
B3 = 64.1 m
H2 = 92.0 m
H3 = 96.0 m
W2 = 67311.00 KN
yw = 10 KN / m3
4 [ 14502.63 + X3 746.001265 ]- 0.83 X3 [ 24097.62
X32 + 106.8376 X3 + -60.140753 =0
X3 = - 106.83756 + - 107.9575 / 2
X3 = 0.56 m
Hence , out of 64.1 m of base width the base of 2 nd strip , 0.56 m shall be provided on u/s side

Design of 3 rd strip
Corrected weight of 2 nd strip = 24 x 1 [ 60.24 + 64.09 /2 ] x 4.0
= 5968.01 KN
Weight of water resting on the u/s face of 2 nd strip = 10 x [ 92.0 x 0.56
= 5.6 [ 92.0 +
= 526.4 KN
Total corrected weight at the base of 2 nd strip W 3 = 67311.00 + 5968.01 +
= 73805.39
say 73806.00 KN
Depth of 3 rd strip = y3 = 4 m
Approximate base width of the bottom of 3 rd strip = 64.09 + 2.58 +
= 67.23
say 68.00 m
Approximate weight of 3 rd strip = 24 x 1 [ 64.09 + 68.00 / 2 ] x
= 6340.29 KN
Approximate weight of water resting on the u/s face of 3 rd strip = [ 96.0 +
= 548.8 KN
 Hence ,the total approximate weight of dam and water at base of 3 rd strip W 4 = 73806.00
= 80695.07

The corrected base width B4 at bottom of 3 rd strip B4 = √y x H

w 4
3
/ f [ 1 + yw2 x H44 / 4 x W42]
where H4 =
W4 =
f=
yw =
B4 = sqrt( 3333.3333 [ 1
B4 = 67.9 m
Now X4 is obtained from the equation
yw x ss x y3 / 24 [ 3B32 - B42 + 6 X4 ( B3 + B4 ) + 2 B3B4 ] - yw x X4 / 12 [ H3 + H4 ] [ 2 B4 - 3 X4 ] - W3 [ B4-B3/3 - X4 ] = 0
Where y3 = 4.0 m
B3 = 64.09 m
B4 = 67.9 m
H3 = 96.0 m
H4 = 100.0 m
W3 = 73806.00 KN
yw = 10 KN / m3
4 [ 16415.14 + X4 792.054532 ]- 0.83 X4 [ 26624.51
X +
4
2
111.8105 X4 + -58.309069 =0
X4 = - 111.81046 + - 112.8486 / 2
X4 = 0.52 m
Hence , out of 67.9 m of base width the base of 3 rd strip , 0.52 m shall be provided on u/s side and
the remaining shall be provided on d/s side.

The Design of all the Dam section and strip is shown in figure below.

5.19 m R.L. of top = 203 m

R.L. = 200 3m

8.04 m

16.1 m

24.9 m

8.8 m
 88.2 m

63.3 m

R.L. = 111.8 m
0.32 m 56.96 m
57.28 m
pressive strength

Low gravity dam = Height upto 100 feet.30.48 m

High gravity dam= Height over 300 feet. 91.44 m

x 0.32 + 1/2 x 56.96 x 88.2

x 5.19 + 1/2 x 5.19 x 8.04 ]
+ 15.56 + 20.84 ]

3.8

8.8 x 0.32 ]
 + 67
KN
KN
Approximate weight of 1 st strip
5286.00

√
e allowable limits B 2 = yw x H2 / f [ 1 + yw x H2 / 4 x W2 ]
3 2 4 2

where H2 = 92.0 m
W2 = 67060.00 KN
f = 3000 KN / m2
yw = 10 KN / m3
2595.627 x 1.4 )
m

B2-B1/3 - X2 ] = 0

X2 [ 180.2 ] [ 120.4883 -3 X2 ] - 61039.46 + 61774 X2 = 0

61039.46 + 61774 X2 = 0

vided on u/s side

+ 1/2 x 3.8 x 0.25

1.9 ]

226.9

0.27

4
 96.0 /2x 0.27 ] x 10

+ 5963.72 + 251.5
KN

96.0 m
73526.17 KN
3000 KN / m2
10 KN / m3
+ 0.39 ]

B3-B2/3 - X3 ] = 0

]+ [ 470 ]X32 - 86276.69 + 67311.00 X3 = 0

shall be provided on u/s side

+ 1/2 x 4.0 x 0.56

2.0 ]

526.4

0.56

100.0 /2x 0.56 ] x 10

 + 6340.29 + 548.8
KN

100.0 m
80695.07 KN
3000 KN / m2
10 KN / m3
+ 0.38 ]

B4-B3/3 - X4 ] = 0

]+ [ 490 ]X42 - 94232.01 + 73806.00 X4 = 0

shall be provided on u/s side and