Topic #4:

Dams and
spillways
Dams - definition
A dam is a structure built across a stream or river to hold water back. Dams can be
used to store water, control flooding, and generate electricity.
Dams - Gravity Up to about 150m high

• Earth or rock (80%): very

wide base, weak
foundation
• Concrete gravity dams
(11%): strong rock
foundation
Dams - Arch Up to about 260m high

• Uses only 20% of concrete relative to gravity dam (4% of world’s dams)
• Requires a narrow, steep sided valley or gorge.
• Technically complex to build
Dams - Buttress
• Uses 60% of concrete relative to gravity dam Up to about 220m high
• 2% of world’s dams
• Complex structure
 Type: cracking, overturning, sliding and material failure
Failure Causes: overtopping, erosion of earth embankments (due
to failure of spillway), earthquakes, foundation failure, and
poor design and construction (especially of spillways)
Sluice gate (#1)

Structure that control

discharge in a channel or river

ao is the area of the opening

 For free flow Submerged
Sluice gate(#2)
The actual discharge
depends on a discharge
coefficient (similar to
the drag coefficient)

D1 D2
CD = Cc x CV
C is a more general sluice gate
coefficient

H2 > D1 à jump cannot occur = gate is submerged

H2 < D1 à jump = free flow
 For free flow Submerged
Sluice gate(#3)
The actual discharge
depends on a discharge
coefficient (similar to
the drag coefficient)

For free flow

CD = Cc x CV
C is a more general sluice gate
Submerged
coefficient

DN / Y
Spillway - general
A spillway is a structure
designed to “spill” waters
under controlled (i.e. safe)
conditions. Flood waters can be
discharged beneath the dam
(e.g. culvert and bottom
outlet), through the dam (e.g.
rockfill dam) or above the dam
(i.e. overflow spillway).
Spillway - components

Increased
Jump (&/or) roughness
Design of overflow spillway - crest
Starting concept: short-crested weir

Coefficient of
discharge (C or Cd)
Discharge per unit width
Design of overflow spillway - crest
Ogee-crest weir: shape following the lower nappe of the sharp-crested weir

NOTE: the spillway should work for any

discharge (min, avg, des and beyond)
Design of overflow spillway - crest
Ogee-crest weir: shape following the lower nappe of the sharp-crested weir

Coefficient of discharge
Design of overflow spillway - Chute

Ideal fluid flow

Vmax from trial-and-error

q is discharge per unit width

NOTE: Design components are heigh & slope q > 45o -55o
Design of overflow spillway - Chute

In practice the
downstream flow
velocity V is
smaller than the
theoretical velocity
Vmax because of
friction losses
Design of overflow spillway – Stilling basin (dissipator)

Length of Jump
Target:
= f(Fr,dconj)
Dconj = TWRL = DN

TWRL = tailwater rating

level

Lbasin ≥ Ljump
NOTE: The stilling basin
needs to function for
any discharge! Including
beyond the design value
Design of overflow spillway – Stilling basin (dissipator)
Dconj = JHTL > TWRL = DN à the jump occur downstream of the apron. The flow above the apron becomes a jet
flow and insufficient energy dissipation takes place.

SOLUTIONS: (1) redesign the spillway/jump (e.g. change slope) and/or (2) lower the stilling basin with an end sill

Dconj DN
JHTL > TWRL
Design of overflow spillway – Stilling basin (dissipator)
Dconj = JHTL < TWRL = DN à The jump is ‘pushed’ upstream onto the chute.

SOLUTIONS: (1) redesign the spillway/jump (e.g. change slope) and/or (2) rise the stilling basin level

Dconj DN
JHTL < TWRL
Design steps:
Dam spillway with hydraulic jump energy dissipator (#1)
Design steps:
Dam spillway with hydraulic jump energy dissipator (#2)