‘#¥ ack to Main Paral (oontentwateranntml) | Skip to main content Screen Reader Access 4-5 (content wateroniscreenreaderaccess hit} AA Government Of Rajasinan ° WATER RESOURCES ‘SSO Login (ntpeileso.rajasthan gov nfelgnin) \contentiwaterfoniwaterresourcesdepartmant hil) Menu Design of Small Earth Dams Y.cAgarwat synopsis: Cn the earth, most of the dams constructed so far Is de to fauty design. The d ‘earthen dame, Failure ofa numberof ertnen dams gn of diferent components of earthen dam has been narrated inthis paper. This wl help in beter understanding of design of dams and dam fates, atintian:A dam exceocing 15m i height above deopas vor bod levels defined as larg dam. Also a dam in between 101m to 18 m heights trmed as large dam if volume of eartn dam exceeds 0.75 mation cubic ‘mate and storage exceed one milion cubic metre ofthe maximum food discharge exceeds 2000 mai see ‘Adam not salistyng the above eiterion of trge dam is termed a¢ Smal dam, ‘An earthen dam may be homogeneous of zoned yp. omegeneous earth dam: A purely homogeneous type of dam is composed ofa single kre of ‘material. The purely homogeneous type af section, nas now been replaces by a modified homogeneous section, in which small amount of carefully placed pervious material contra the ‘action af seepage 0 a8 fo permit much steeper slopes as compared to pure homogenous dam. a. 1, Zoned sath dam: Zoned earth dams are composed ofa canta imparvious core flanked by zones of materials considerably more pervious called shells (Fig. 2) “The main components of the earh dam are described below: COMPONENTS OF EARTH DAM 2, a 6. z cure Core Casing Internal drainage system and foundstions ‘Slope protection Surface drainage Impervious blanket FUNCTIONS AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 1 Suto: The cut off equied © To reduce loss of stored water trough foundations and abutments «To provent sub-surface erosion by piping, 4. The cutoff shal be located such that ts centre Ine shouldbe within the base of impervious core and shouldbe upstream of centre Ine of dam, The postive cutoff shoul be Keyed at eas oa depth of 0.4 mete Into continuous impervious sub stratum or inerodable roc formation, ‘A minimum boom width of 4.0 mate is recommended 4. Side slopes of atleast 1 or flatter may be proved in case of over burden whl 12:1 and “18:1 may be proved in sot rock and hard rock respectively ‘The bac il mato for cut of rench shall have same propees as those specified for “The cutoff inthe farks on ether side should normaly extend upto the op of impervious If cut off oneh is terminated in rock formation whch s weathered or have cracks, janis ‘and crevices ad percolation tet exhibit a lugoon value of mors than tO(reer 1S 6086- 1984), than rock foundation below the bad of eut of tench shouldbe grouted “The type of eut off should be decided onthe basis of dstaled geological vestigations. is desirable to provide postive ut of. Where this fs not posse, partial cto with or without Upstream impervious blanket may be provided. In any ease, adequate drainage arrangements may be provided onthe down stream The following guidelines maybe adopted for design of cut ft BASIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:2, ore: ‘The core proves impermeable barter within the body ofthe dam, Impervious sols are generally ultable forth cor (1S 1498-1970), Howaver sis having high compressbilty & lu fi, and having organi contents may be avoided, as they are prone to sweling & formation af racks. Falling gudeines ar recommended fr design of cor 4. The core may be locale eithar corral or inclined upstream 2. The minimum op with should be kept 3 motes. 83. The top level of he core shoul be fixed at 0.5 m above NIL. 4 5 ‘The sie slopes may be kept 0.54 and 1:1 Thickness of cove al ary secon shall not be lesser than 30% (preferably nates than 50 orcont) of maximum head of walor acing a hat section 2. Casing: The functon of casing isto impart stablty and protect he core, The relatively pervious materials, hich are not subjecte to cracking on direct exposure to tmosphere, are suitable for casing Top with of dam should be provid as 4.5 m (minimum). The berms may be proved forthe dam, ‘which are more than 10 min height. Minimum berm with may be kept as 3m Internal erainege syst To ensure satay of dam, it's very Important to handle the seepage water inthe dam so as to ‘maintain the cxigira particles of sols in their place. The measures commonly adopted for sate Aleposal of seepage water through embankment dams are; 4. Inclined or vertical ar (chimney iter 2. Horizontal fer 5. Rock toe 4, Toe dain ‘As far as possible locally avalable sand, gra Provided just on down seam slope of core is thickness i kept 1.0 mete (minimum). Hoizonal fier clic the seepage rom chimney titer & foundation, and cries Io the rock oe & toe aan is thickness is kept minimum as 1.0 metre, The standard iter eterion between filer and adoiing soll (casing or foundation) shouldbe satisfied Incase of dam portions, where the head of waters 3 orless isnot requied ta provide chimney fer or horizontal fier. Adequate toe rotation shal however be provided. The height of rock oe is generally provides as 0.2 H, where Hi the height of ‘ombankment, However minimum heght of rock toe be Kept a 1.0 mate. Rock oo not necessary hers height of embankments 3 m ores. “The to drains provided a he downetream toe ofthe earth dam to callac seapage from horizontal {iter rock toe & bough foundation and ta alscharge lt away from the dam by sale suace or sub surface cans, The sotion of to drain should be adequate enough io cary seepage. The bed of foe dean should be givan a suitable slope to lead the seepage to natal drains, Depth of toe drain f ually provided as 1.5 m with bottom with of m minimum and ede slopes of 1:1 Far details 1S 9429-1960 be refered. The filer materia should say the following criteria with the base materia sto should be used. Inclined or vara fier 4.015 (9/015 (0)>4and-<20 2.015 (9/085 (6) <5 A iter that satis the above ceria may yet flit hasan excess or lack of cortin sizes ors no Lunformly graded. The follwing ceria must be flied 41,050 (050 (0) < 25, 2. The gfadation curve f the filer material shoud be nearly paral othe gradation sue of the base materi “The suff stands forthe fiter material and’ forthe base materi 15, §0, 25 percent parle, by weight, respectively refiner than D15, 050 and DSS paricle size. Slope prtection \Upsoam slope: The upsteam slope proletion is ensured by providing prap. For design of ira 18 6297-1985 may be refered. A minimum of 200 mm thick rprap over 150 mm thick er layer may be provided upto th top of dam Downsttsam slope: The down steam slope protection is ensured by turing or rap is usual practice to protect the down stream slope frm rain cuts by providing sutable turing onthe entre downstream slope fom top to toe, For details of downstream slope protection, I 8297-1985 may be refered Sure drainage: For surface drainage of downstream slope a system of open paved dain (chutes) along the stoping sulace terminating inte longicinalcolecing dain a the juneton of berm and slope shal be provided at SO m cleo drain he rain water. The section of erin may be rapezoidal having depth of 30 om. From longitucnal collecting drain, the rain water is carried trough 16-em diameter pipes paced at 50 m clint paved chutes an the ds slope. For details please refer S 8257-1985. ‘Where no berm has been provided, the open paved cain (chutes) should teminate in the downstream rock toe or oe drain The hortzontal impervious blanks proviced to nezease the path of seepage when fll cutoff snot practicable in pervious foundation. The impervious blanket shal be connected tothe core ofthe dam. To avoid formation of crac, the material shoud not be highly plastic. Reference may be made to I: 1498-1970 fo sutaiy of soils for blanket. (Table 2)A 300mm thick ayer of random material ‘over the Blankets recommended to prevent racking due ta exposure to atmosphere. TheImpertous blanket may be designed in accordance wih IS; 8414-1977. As a general gudelne, impervious blanket wit a minimum thickness of 1.0 mete and a minimum length ofS ties th ‘maximum waler hoad measured from upstream loo of core may be provided. Safety against overtooning: 4. Suflent splay capacty shouldbe provide to prevent overoppng 2. The roo board shouldbe sufcont o prevent overtopping by waves and should bo provided ae por IS 10895-1893, The minimum fre board of 7.5m shouldbe provides 8. The fre board shoud be suficientt take ino account the setlement of embankment and foundation. Sabi analysis: “The design of small ombankmont dam sections may be divided into te following tres calogoros based upen the height ofthe embankment ints deapest porn, +L were the height of embankment is Sm ar ess 2. where the height of embankments 10 m or less, bu more than 5 m 3. where the height of embankments 1 m or loss, but more tan 10 m For small dams under category (a) and (e) above, the stably analysis may not be necessary. General guidelines and the recommended slopes are gven In Table * for guidance of the designe. The minimum top wrath may be kept 4.50 However the designer wits his experience and judgement may decide the adequate se slopes "where special technical or acanomc considerations may have tobe taken nto account. Stability analysis may be carried out in accordance with IS 7894-1075 based upon the detailed {oundaton & borrow area investigation and aboratory testing the sol strata below the dam se consist of weak foundation and or the heght of embankments more than 10, Weak foundation conditions inclu fesured clay, expansive sol, shales, over consolidated Fighy Plastic clays, sof Clays, spersive sols ete. within the substratum in the dam seat. Maia problem of sit and clay foundatons is stably. In aditon tothe obvious canger of esting fate of foundations af sit and ely, the design must ake into account elect of saturation of the founcaions ofthe dam ane appuronant works by the reserva Method of treatment (@) To remove sol flow shearing strength (b) To provie arainage of foundation to permit increase of svength during constuction (6) Toreduce magrituge of average shearing stress along potental surface of sling by Mattning Stopes of embankmant Pockets of material substanaly more compressible o lover in stength than the average, are usualy removed. “Tho most practicable solution for foundation of saturate fine-grained sols isto alton the shops of embankment Solo ow density are subjected to large sottements when saturated by th reservoir, although ‘these sols have high dy strength in natural sat, f proper measures are not taken to cone excessive setlemen, false of dam may occur by aiferentalsettement and foundation setement “Tho roqured toatmont of low-donsity foundation would be cctatod by the compression charactrtce ofthe sal, Foundation consoldation wil be achieved dung construction. _Se9page contol and safety agains intemal erosion “The seepoge trough the dam embankment & foundation shoud be such ast con! pping, ‘erosion, sloughing and excessive oss of water, Seepage control measures ae rogues 0 contol seepage trough dam an foundation. Design for contal of seepage through dam shall made in acordance wit provisions contained In 18 9429-1099 "Code of practice for erainage system for earth and rockfll dams. Design for control of seepage though foundation may be made in accordance with IS 8474-1977 "Guidelines for design of under seopage conte measures fr wart and rock il das. Zoning only one ype of sutable materials really avaiable near, a homogeneous section i generaly Prefered, the material avalabeis impervious or semi pervious, a smal quanity ef pervious ‘atrial israquita as casing for protection against cracking. On the other hand fits porous, @ ‘in imperious membranes rogues to form a wator bar Stability at junctions Junetons of embankment dam wt foundation, abutments, masonry structures Ike over, nor-ovetow dams and euets ned spect atenion wih reterence to one o alo th flowing era {@) Good bord between embankment dam and feundations (6) Adoquate creep length atthe contact plane (6) Protecton of emoaniment dam slope against scouring action (4) Easy movement of atte For detais 1S 12109-1987 shouldbe referred REFERENCES: 1 2 a 5 |S 12169:1967 Criteria for design of small embankment dams |. 8237:1985 Code of practice for protection af slope fr reservoir embankment | 9429:1090 Code of practic for arainage system for earth and rok dams |S. 8414:1877 Guidelines for desgn of under seepage control measures for earth and rock fi dams |. 6066:1994 Pressure grouting of rock foundations in ver valley projects - Recommendations (Second revision)6 IS 10835:1988 Guidelines for freeboard requirement in embankment dams 71S 1498:1870 Classfcaion and identification of sols for general enginoering purpose 8S 7894:1975 Code of practice for staily analysis of ears cams ‘TABLE 1, GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR EMBANKMENT SECTIONS = Tas abow tm | Fala T0 onion vestipieem No. ia iontue ‘and upto 10m ‘mand upto 15 m ona Nid | ord mi VomapenowNtitat | oregon | hroatena 1. | ypmatectn yee homogeneous section ‘Homogeneous: homogeneous ~— joreg 2 | oe us [os [us os [us [ow owned eta ar wjowersmse —|notsuale versa | Crt econ ote (@GC.GM.SC.SM at at 24 24 | decided based ‘oentay oe > |r pa oeumaun far arate fa won ee eee 2 [Hewgiow [nove Maybe Prod [cay aitewan |= o a am abow vyreote |= asmstovenin. [250 height. Above 3m height, 1m Ne ae Ne nel, 4 | Retin at | Ave SA ca | ee ht y ‘embankment of embankment roe Deponicet 5 ame netreooay vetrocemny | Pts. Te Taare — rast | Honorees est erage | Trews | oon Vey iabe 66 ee swow [ee Fysaise samen | MESSHSE [spa | oy ew, se.c6 Nese = 0.0408 : (Gitacl fom Appendix A of 12168-1887), Note: Relor IS: 1498-1970 ‘Chesiieation and Identfcation of sol for general engineering purpose (ist revision. * Director, Minor lrgation Schemes, Jlpur-902015Se-srere eomitna indiS’GGtiR owner QF womens ran Our Website Lat pats on 717072022 104336 AM ede 2126661} Copyroh 2018 Waar Resoue» De Support Links Ste Map Yoana iste Pay Geo rmntstanap Hr aepusinen nett pes) Accent Stren conenaerervatrsaurcensenetartaccoabliy Nodal Officer Details Nadal fin for Watt alsa tun): So, Prara Chan, Dy Oa (MS) S756, ER6072871 Ena seopavprmann goin Nodal fica (for ail an lad dei} Mr Naval Khare Dar, Dey Dec, yogy772083780 2100452 Eat thee wrama om Jofn with us f v (https://www.facebook.com/) (https://twitter.com/login?lang=en) in ie (https:/www.linkedin.com/uas/login) (https://www.youtube.com/) Temp