GRAVITY

DAMS
 DAMS
Classifications based on type and materials of construction

Criteria for selection of best dam type:

1. Feasibility
-topography, geology, and climate (& its effect on materials)

2. Cost
-availability of construction materials near the site; accessibility of
transportation facilities

Types Materials of Construction

A. Gravity Concrete, rubble masonary

B. Arch Concrete

C. Buttress Concrete, also timber & steel

D. Embankment Earth or rock

 DAMS
Gravity Dams

Tygart Dam, West Virginia

 DAMS
ARCH DAMS

Boundary Dam, Seattle

 DAMS
BUTTRESS DAMS

Daniel-Johnson Dam, Quebec Bartlett Dam, Colorado

 DAMS
EMBANKMENT DAMS
Generally have some sort of water proof insides (called the core),
which is covered with earth or rock fill. Water will seep in through the
earth or rock fill, but should not seep into the core. The water will
seep into the core material and should stop at the seepage line.

Forces on Embankment Dams:

1. Force of the water (main force)
2. Uplift force
 DAMS
COFFER DAMS
temporary structures (sheet-pile, water-tight) that allow
construction operations
diverts flow from construction areas until work completed
GRAVITY DAMS
• Gravity dams are dams which resist the horizontal thrust of the water
entirely by their own weight.
• They use their weight to hold back the water in the reservoir.
• Usually straight in plan although slightly curved
 Forces on Gravity Dam

1) Gravity (weight of dam)

W = wV = (specific weight of material) (volume)

2) Hydrostatic pressure
2
FH = 𝑤𝐻 wh2 / 2 (horizontal component)
FH =
where, 2
H = depth of water at that section
w = specific weight of water

𝑤𝐻2
FH = 𝑤𝐻2
2
FH =
2
CONT.. Forces on Gravity Dam
3) Uplift
the water under pressure that comes between the base of the dam and
foundation and results in upward (uplift) forces against the dam

U
CONT.. Forces on Gravity Dam

4. Silt pressure: Suggested by Alma Jose using Rankine formula on retaining

walls:
(1  Sin )
FS   s hs 2
2(1  sin  )
where: ϒs is the specific weight of silt (about 14,150 N/m3)
hs is the height of fill (m)
ϴ is the angle of repose of the deposited silt

5. Earthquake forces
results in inertial forces that include vertical motion, oscillatory
increase, or decrease in hydrostatic pressure (all put force against dam).
Usually, the inertia force on the mass of the concrete is.
Ic = Mc ae
Momenary increased pressure force on the water; by Von Karman
Iw = 0.555ae Ɣ h2
 GRAVITY DAMS
Causes of Failure:
1. Sliding along horizontal plane (shear failure)
net force > shear resistance at that level
2. Rotation about the toe
3. Failure of material

Stability Against Sliding and Overturning:

σ(𝑅.𝑀.)
F.S. vs Overturning = Toe > 1.0
σ(𝑂.𝑀.)

μ𝑅𝑦
F.S. vs Sliding = > 1.0
𝑅𝐻

Where μ is the coefficient of static friction between the dam and the
foundation ( value ordinarily ranges from 0.65 to 0.75).
Pressure Distribution on the Foundation of Dams
Eccentricity, e
1
e = [ B – x̄ ]
2

𝑅𝑀 −𝑂𝑀
x̄ =
𝑅𝑦
If e ≤ B/6, Ry is within the middle third and the
foundation pressure is trapezoidal acting from
heel to toe. If e is exactly B/6, the shape of
foundation pressure is triangular also acting
from heel to toe.
𝑅𝑦 6𝑒
q or s = (1 ± )
𝐵 𝐵

For the sign of 6e/B, use (+) at point where Ry is nearest. From the diagram
above, use (+) for qT and (-) for qH. A negative q indicates compressive stress and
a positive q indicates tensile stress. A positive q will occur when e > B/6. In
foundation design, soil is not allowed to carry tensile stress, thus, any +q will be
neglected in the analysis.
If e >B/6, Ry is outside the middle third and the foundation pressure is triangular.

2𝑅𝑦
qe =
3x̄
Sample Problem
1) The section of a masonry dam is shown in the figure
weighs 23.54 kN/m3. If the uplift pressure varies uniformly
from full hydrostatic at the heel to full hydrostatic at the toe,
but acts only over 2/3 of the base, find the location of the
resultant.
ELEV. 85.50. m
W.S.
ELEV. 82.30 m

3
1H :15V
2

W.S.
ELEV. 24.50 m

1
1

H T ELEV. 0 m
 5.487

Solution: A
ELEV. 85.50. m
W.S. B C
ELEV. 82.30 m

3
1H :15V
2

E W.S.
D ELEV. 24.50 m

1
1

H T ELEV. 0 m
G F

5.70 40.667 24.50

70.867
GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES:

BC = 1/15 (82.30) = 5.487 m

HG = 1/15 (85.50) = 5.70 m
GF = DE = 2/3(61) = 40.667 m Base length, B = 70.867 m
FT 1
= /1(24.50) = 24.50 m
 5.487

A
G1 ELEV. 85.50. m

ELEV. 82.30 m

G3

G6
ELEV. 24.50 m
G4
G2
F1 G5

F2

H T ELEV. 0 m
G F
5.70 40.667 24.50
GRAVITY FORCES: wV
70.867
G1 = (9.81) [½ (5.487 x 82.30 x 1)] = 2,215.00 kN
HYDROSTATIC FORCES:
G2 = (23.54) [½ (5.70 x 85.50 x 1)] = 5,736.1095 kN
F1 = ½ wH2 = ½ (9.81)(82.30)2 = 33,222.987 kN
G3 = (23.54) [½ (40.667 x 61.00 x 1)] = 29,197.686 kN
F2 = ½ wH2 = ½ (9.81)(24.50)2 = 2,944.226 kN
G4 = (23.54) (40.667 x 24.50 x 1) = 23,453.879 kN
G5 = (23.54) [½ (24.50 x 24.50 x 1)] = 7,064.943 kN
G6 = (9.81) [½ (24.50 x 24.50 x 1)] = 2,944.226 kN

ƩG = 70,611.8435 kN
 A
G1 ELEV. 85.50. m
69.038
ELEV. 82.30 m

G3

51.611

8.167
G6
ELEV. 24.50 m
G4
G2 44.834
F1 G5
67.067
F2
27.433
16.333
8.167
H T ELEV. 0 m

wh= 240.345 kPa

wh= 807.363kPa
U1
U2 U1 = 240.345 (2/3) (70.867 x 1) = 11,355.019 kN

U2 = ½ (807.363-240.345) (2/3) (70.867 x 1) = 13, 394.288 kN

ƩU = 24,749.307 kN

ƩR.M.= 2215(69.038)+ 5736.1095(67.067)+ 2919.686(51.611)+ 23453.879(44.834)+ 7064.943(16.333)+

2944.226(8.167) + 2944.226(8.167) = 3, 259, 558.511 kN.m.
 A
G1 ELEV. 85.50. m
69.038
ELEV. 82.30 m

G3

51.611

8.167
G6
ELEV. 24.50 m
G4
G2 44.834
F1 G5
67.067
F2
27.433
16.333
8.167
H T ELEV. 0 m

U1
U2

ƩR.M.= 2215(69.038)+ 5736.1095(67.067)+ 2919.686(51.611)+ 23453.879(44.834)+ 7064.943(16.333)+

2944.226(8.167)+ 2944.226(8.167) = 3, 259, 558.511 kN.m.

ƩO.M.= 3322.987(27.433)+ 11355.019(35.434)+ 13394.288(47.245) = 1,946,573.082 kN.m

RH = F1 – F2 = 33,222.987 – 2944.226 = 30,278.761 kN
Rv = ƩG – ƩU = 70,611.8435 - 24,749.307 = 45,862.536 kN
 R.M   O.M 3,259.558.511  1,946,573.082
x   28.629m within the middle
third
Ry 45,862.536
Exercise
Problems
 Exercise # 1
A concrete dam retaining water is shown. If the specific weight of
concrete is 23.5 kN/m3. Assume hydrostatic uplift to vary linearly from full
hydrostatic pressure at the heel to zero at the toe and that the coefficient of friction
𝜇 between the dam and the foundation soil is 0.48. Find:
1) the factor of safety against sliding,
2) the factor of safety against overturning
3) and the pressure distribution on the base.
2.0 m

W.S.

7.0 m
6.0 m

H T

4.0 m
Exercise # 2

Shown in the figure is an overflow dam. If there is

no uplift pressure. Determine the location of the resultant if
the specific weight of concrete is 23.54 kN/m3.

w.s. EL. 8 m.

EL. 6 m.
EL. 4 m.

EL. 0

3m 2m 3m