rMax. WL.

Gm
4m
9m
Upstream face
may be vertical
19.2. Typical Cross-section or slanting 75m 2
Drainage gallery
A typical cross-section of a concrete
gravity dam is shown in Fig. 19.1. The Sianting face
upstream face may by kept throughout ver Vertical tace
tical or partly slanting for sorne of its Heel Toe
length, as shown. A drainage gallery is -56m
provided in order to relieve the uplift pres
sure exerted by the seeping water. Fig. 19.1. A typical cross-section of
a concrete gravity dam.
19.3. Forces Acting on Gravity Dam
The various external forces acting on a gravity dam may be:
(1) Water Pressure
(2) Uptift Pressure
(3) Pressure due to earthquake forces
(4) Silt Pressure
(5) Wave Pressure
(6) Ice Préssure
(7) The stabilising force is the weight of the dam itself.

An estimation and descr1puon of these forces is

given below :
(1) Water Pressure. Water pressure (P) is the
most major external force acting on such a dam. The
H P=
horizontal water pressure, exerted by the weight of
the water stored on the upstream side on the dam can
be estimated from rule of hydrostatic pressure dis
HÊ3
tribution ; which is triangular in shapc, as shown in
Fig. 19.2 (a). and (b). When the upstream face is ver
tical; .the intensity is zero at the water surface and
equal to Yu at the base ; where Y, is the unit weight Where yu= unit weight of water
9.81 kN/m'= 1000 kgf/m
of water and His the depth of water: as shown in Fig. Fig. 19.2. (a)
19.2 (a). The resultant force due to this external water
-H, acting at H/3 from base.
When the upstream face is partly vertical and partly inclined (Fig. 19.2 (6)], the
resulting water force can be resolved into horizontal component (P) and vertical com
ponent (P,). The horizontal component Pa=2 Haçts at from the base ; and the
vertical component (P) is equal to the weight of the water stored in column ABCA and
acts at the c.g. of the area.
 (2) Uplift Pressure. Water seeping through the pores, cracks and fissures of the
foundation material, and water seeping through dam body and then to the bottom through
the joints between the body of the dam and its foundation at the base ; exert an uplift
pressure on the base of the dam. It is the second major external force and must be
accounted for in all calculations. Such an uplift force vitually reduces the downward
weight of the body of the dam and hene, açts against the am stability.
The amount of uplift is a matter of research and the present recommendations which
are followed, are those suggested by United States Bureau of Reclamation (U.S.B.R.).
According to these recommendations, the uplift pressure intensities at the heel and the
toe should be taken equal to their respective hydrostatic pressures and joined by a

WM.L MWL

rDrginage
gallery
No drainage Tail
Water
gallery

Heel Toe

ordinate of uplift
Uplift diagram of of
when there is gallery
no drainage
Pu gallery
Fig. 19.3 (a) Uplift pressure () diagram, Fig. 19.3 (b) Uplift pressure () diagram,
when no drainage gallery is provided. when drainage gallery is provided.
straight line in between, as shown in Fig. 19.3 (a). When drainage galleries are provided
to relieve the uplift, the recommended uplift at the face of the gallery is equal to the
hydrostatic pressure at toe (Y,H) plus rd the difference of the hydrostatic pressures
at the heel and the toe ; as shown in Fig. 19.3 (b) ; ie.Y H+(YH-YH),t
is also assumed that the uplift pressures are not affected by the earthquake forces.
 (3) Earthquake Forces. Ifthe dam tobedesigned, is to be located in a region which
is susceptible to earthquakes, allowance must be made for the stresses generated by the
earthquakes.
An earthquake produces waves which are capab<e of shaking the Earth upon which
the dam is resting, in every possible direction.
The effect of an earthquake is, therefore, equivalent to imparting an acceleration to
the foundations of thedam in the direction in which the wave is travelling at the moment.
Earthquake wave may move in any direction, and for design purposes, it has to be
resolved in vertical and horizontal components. Hence, two accelerations, i.e. one
horizontal acceleration (a) and one vertical acceleration () are induced by an
earthquake. The values of these accelerations are generally expressed as percentage of
the acceleration due to gravity (g), i.e. a=0.1 g or 0.2 g, etc.
st tion
against 5.
of Silf
Pressure
silt, the
it
stream
erts

ure The
base
silt
of
carried
onthe
the dam
dam. by.the
year
So,after river
ons
year and
its
ributáries
deposites
uld
After gets
erable
be
made

to
deposi.
resist
 per surface wind 6.
ind, the formed
wave part Wave
or
epth which
of tornadoof
epends the Pressure
of the
oir dam. exert
reservoir, flows
pressure
onThe When
and the over
magnitude
elocity
the waves
on the very
area the water
high
of of of. upare
med
mation .
lce
at
he
Pressure
on
t the of
ntire ice
of
txpected is
water This

rface
g pressure
on
the ofthe
should
reservoir
ss the
rvoir, be
ofcounted
surface.
on
then
When
it only
exerts
and in
the
places
ion
ressure
sSheet
where
of
on
with the ice
isthe
 (7) Weight of the Dam, The weight of the dam body and its foundation is the major
resisting force. In two dimensional analysis of a gravity dam, a unit length of the dam
is considered. The cross-section can then be divided into rectangles and triangles. The
of all these
weight of each along with their c.gs., can be determined. The resultant the dam.
downward forces will represent the total weight of the dan acting at the e.g. of
stream
dam by combined takeentire caused
crete friction. 2. a
force
(i.e.
tical 1. Ihe
4. 3. By point when By
By
crushing By place solid
on,racking or dam
Sliding Over
the
masonry
Over outsideat
of face resistancewhen at the total gravity CAUSES
ack due
Stressing downstream
its Turning
of horizontal
the its,
the to
exceeds th e base The dam
overstressing middle-third self OF
will dam. The offered
total or total may
The FAILURE
orm tensile along weight).
If due Ifhorizontal horizontal edge forces
due the solid fail
in to by any
the stressesto permissible
some of ofacting In because
of shearing
horizontal any the such gravity OF
ody some the forces DAM
adverse
concrete forces
of
asons, should horizontal base case,the a on GRAVITY
of
the dam
the workingresistanceacting of the
sectionacting
dam conditions,
not the may
damfollowing
or
and
themasonry.be on section.resultant dam.
through
passes are fail
nsion compressive of th e of on
ly allowed the a The greater by
the dam reasons,
then dam. dam OVer
is to joint are overturningforce
loped the tend than
turning
greater The
is develop damstress and
sliding to the
wil may the slide total at
of than may
use in on static its
the the fail con the may the be ver-
he l