Large Gravity Check Dam or Pond
H > 2m
CPMO / NWARA / ADB
1
Kabul, Afghanistan
Faridoon Danesh
Hydraulic Structure Manager 2021
faridoon988@gmai.com
2 Definition:
A gravity dam has been defined as structure which is designed in
such a way that its own weight resists the external forces. This
type of a structure is most durable and solid, and requires very
little maintenance.
Such a dam may be constructed of masonry or concrete. They
can be constructed with ease on any dam site, where there exists
a natural foundation strong enough to bear the enormous weight
of the dam.
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3 Typical Cross-Section:
A typical cross section of a concrete gravity dam is
shown below. The u/s face may by kept throughout
vertical or partly slanting for some of its length
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4 Forces Acting on Gravity Dam:
The various of external forces acting on a gravity dam may be:
1. Water pressure
2. Uplift pressure
3. Pressure due to earthquake forces
4. Silt pressure
5. Wave pressure
6. Ice pressure
7. The stabilizing force is the weight of the dam itself.
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5 1. Water Pressure.
Water pressure (P) is the most major external force acting on such a dam. The
horizontal water pressure, exerted by the weight of the water stored on the u/s
side on the dam can be estimated from rule of hydrostatic pressure
distribution. The resultant forces due to this external water Ph = ½ ɣ(w)*H^2,
acting at H/3 from base.
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2. Uplift Pressure:
6 Water seeping through the pores, cracks, and fissures of the foundation materials,
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 virtually reduces the downward weight of the body of the
dam and hence, acts against the dam stability.
According to the U.S.B.R. recommendations, the uplift pressure intensities at the
heel and the toe should be taken equal the their respective hydrostatic pressures
and joined by a straight line in between, as shown in below fig.
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7 3. Earthquake Forces:
If the dam to be designed, is to be located in region which is susceptible to
earthquakes, allowance must be made for the stresses generated by the
earthquakes.
An earthquake produces waves which are capable 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 the dam in the direction in which the wave is
travelling at the moment. Earthquake wave may move in any direction, and for
design purpose, it has to be resolved in vertical and horizontal components.
Hence, two accelerations, i.e. one horizontal acceleration (αh ) and one vertical
acceleration (αv) are induced by an earthquake.
Effect of Vertical Acceleration (αv). A vertical acceleration may either act
downward or upward. Such acceleration will, therefore, exert an inertia force
αv = 0.05*g, {F = m*av = W/g*0.05g = 0.05*W}
W = total Weight of the dam
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Effects of the Horizontal Acceleration (αh ). The horizontal acceleration may cause
8
the following two forces:
(i) Hydrodynamic Pressures.
(ii) Horizontal inertia force.
Hydrodynamic Pressures. Horizontal acceleration acting towards the reservoir
causes a momentary increase in the water pressure, as the foundation and dam
accelerate towards the reservoir and the water resists the movement owing to its
inertia. The extra pressure exerted by this process is know as Hydrodynamic
Pressure. According to Van-Karman, the amount of this hydrodynamic force (Pe) is
given by:
Pe = 0.555*Kh*H^2* ɣ(w)
And it acts at the height of 4H/3Pi = 0.424H above the base.
Kh = fraction of gravity adopted for the horizontal acceleration, such as (0.1-0.2)
Me = Pe*{4H/3pi} = 0.424*Pe*H
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9 (ii) Horizontal Inertia Force. In addition to exerting the hydrodynamic pressure, the
horizontal acceleration produces an inertia force into the body of the dam. This force
is generated in order to keep the body and the foundation of the dam together as one
piece.
When the reservoir is full, this force would produce worst results if it additive to the
hydrostatic water pressure.
F = W*Kh
Kh = fraction of gravity adopted for horizontal acceleration is (0.1 – 0.2)
W = total weight of the dam.
The earthquake acceleration α is always calculated with α *g, the total α range is
between (0.02 – 0.3), generally taken (0.1 – 0.15)
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4. Silt Pressure
10
Silt gets deposited against the u/s face of the dam. If h is the height of silt
deposited, then the force exerted by this silt in addition to external water
pressure, can be represented by Rankine’s formula as:
Psilt = 0.5*hs^2*Ka*ɣ(sub)
And it acts at h/3 from base
Ka = (1-sinФ/1+sinФ) is the coefficient of active earth pressure of silt, Ф is the
angle of internal friction of soil, and cohesion is neglected.
ɣ(sub) = submerged unit weight of silt material (13.34 KN/M3)
hs = height of silt deposited
The silt force is neglected in design due to reducing the
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5. Wave Pressure
11
Waves are generated on the surface of the reservoir by the blowing winds,
which causes a pressure towards the d/s side. Wave pressure depends upon
the wave height. Wave height may be given by the equation,
hw = 0.032*(V*F)^0.5 + 0.763 – 0.271*F^0.75 for F<= 32 KM (m)
hw = 0.032*(V*F)^0.5 for F > 32KM (m)
hw = height of water from top of crest to bottom of trough in M
V = wind velocity in KM/hr
F = fetch or straight length of water expanse in KM
Pw = 2 * hw^2 * ɣ(w) = 19.62*hw^2 (KN/m)
This force acts at a distance 3/8hw above the reservoir surface
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12 6. Ice Pressure
The ice which may be formed on the water surface of the reservoir in
cold countries, may sometimes melt and expand. The dam face has
then to resist the thrust exerted by the expanding ice. This force acts
linearly along the length of the dam and at the reservoir level. The
magnitude of this force varies from 250 to 1500 KN/M2 depending
upon temperature variations. The average of 500 KN/M2 may be
allowed under ordinary conditions.
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13 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 weight of each along with their c.gs.,
can be determined. The resultant of all these downward forces will
represent the total weight of the dam acting at the c.g. of the dam.
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14 Modes of failure and Criteria for Structural Stability of Gravity Dam
A gravity dam may fail in the following ways:
1. By overturning (or rotation) about the toe
2. By crushing or compression.
3. By development of tension, causing ultimate failure by crushing.
4. By shear failure called sliding.
The failure may occur at the foundation plane ( i.e. at the base of the dam) or at
any other plane at higher level.
(1) Failure Due to Over-turning. if the resultant of all the forces acting on a dam at any
of its section, passes outside the toe, the dam shall rotate and overturn about the toe.
Practically, such a condition shall not arise, as the dam will fail much earlier by
compression. The ratio of the anti clockwise moments to over the clock-wise moments is
called the factor of safety against overturning. Its value, generally varies between 1.5 to
2.5
F.O = ∑MR/ ∑Mo > (1.5 – 2.5)
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(2) Failure Due to Compression or Crushing. A dam may fail by the failure of its materials,
15 i.e. the compression stresses produced may exceed the allowable stresses, and the dam
material may get crushed. The vertical direct stress distribution at the base is given by the
equation:
Fmax = ∑V/B(1+6e/B)
Fmin = ∑V/B(1-6e/B)
e = eccentricity of the resultant force from the center of the base.
∑V = Total vertical forces
B = base width.
If Pmin comes out to be negative, it means that tension shall be produced at the appropriate
end.
If Pmax exceeds the allowable compressive stress of the dam material (generally taken as
3000 KN/M2 for concrete); the dam may crush and fail by crushing.
When the reservoir is full, the stresses act as the Below, and when the reservoir is empty, the
stresses will acts opposite.
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Vertical Stress Distribution for Reservoir full Case
16
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(3) Failure Due to Tension. Masonry and concrete gravity dams are usually
17 designed in such a way that not tension is developed anywhere, because these
materials cannot withstand sustained tensile stresses. If subjected to such stresses,
these materials may finally cracks.
The maximum permissible tensile stress for high concrete gravity dams, under
worst leadings, may be taken as 500 KN/m2.
In order to ensure that no tension is developed anywhere, we must ensure that
Pmin is at the most equal to zero and e = B/6.
Hence, maximum value of eccentricity than can be permitted on either side of
the center is equal to B/6; which leads to the famous statement:
the resultant must lie within the middle third.
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(4) Failure Due to Sliding. Sliding or shear failure will occur when net horizontal
18 force above any plane in the dam or at the base of the dam exceeds the
frictional resistance developed at that level.
To avoid the failure of the dam due to sliding at any horizontal section or at
base, the dam should be designed such that the sliding forces do not exceed
the resisting forces.
The factor of safety against sliding (F.S) is defined as the ratio of forces resisting
sliding to the forces tending to cause sliding thus.
F.S = (Sum of Vertical forces resisting sliding/Sum of Horizontal forces tending to cause sliding)
(a)Considering only friction.
If the shear strength of the joint is neglected, the sliding tendency is assumed
to be resisted by friction developed at the joint. The factor of safety against
sliding is, therefore, given by.
F.S = (∑V*μ)/∑Ph > 1.0
μ = the value of Meo between concrete and rock is 0.65 – 0.75
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(b) Shear Friction Factor (S.F.F). If the factor of safety against sliding F.S is less than
19 unity, it does not mean that the dam will fail due to sliding. In that case, the shear
friction factor (S.F.F) should be determined, considering both the friction and the
shear strength of the joint.
The shear friction factor S.F.F is used for high dams because it is more economy.
F.S.S = (μ*∑V + b*q)/∑Ph
q = average shear strength of material at the horizontal section. for good rock
generally varies from (1400 – 5000) KN/m2
As per U.S.B.R recommendation, the values of SFF should not be less than 5 under
normal or usual conditions and not be less than 4 under unusual condition.
For dams higher than 150m the SFF is taken as 4 and 3.
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Stability Analysis
20 The stability of a gravity dam can be approximately and easily analyzed by
two dimensional gravity method and can be precisely and three dimensional
methods such as analogy method, trail load twist method, or by experimental
studies on models. The two dimensional gravity method is discussed below:
Gravity Method or Two Dimensional Stability Analysis. The preliminary analysis
of all gravity dams can be made easily by isolating a typical cross-section of
the dam of a unite width.
Assumptions. The varies assumptions made in the two dimensional designs of
gravity dams are summarized below:
1. The is considered to be composed of a number of cantilevers, which acts
independent of the other.
2. The foundation and the dam behave as single unit.
3. The materials in the foundation and body of the dam are isotropic and
homogeneous.
4. The stresses developed in the foundation and body of the dam are within
elastic limits.
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Procedure.
21
Tow dimensional analysis can be carried out analytically or graphically.
(a) Analytical method. The stability of the dam can be analyzed in the
following steps:
1. Consider unit length of the dam
2. Work out the magnitude and directions of all the vertical forces acting on
the dam and their algebraic sum, i.e. ∑V.
3. Similarly, work out all the horizontal forces and their algebraic sum, i.e. ∑H.
4. Determine the lever arm of all these force about the toe and find out the
algebraic sum all those moments, i.e. ∑M.
5. Find out the eccentricity (e) of the resultant (R) using e = B/2 – X. it must be
less than B/6 in order to ensure that no tension is developed anywhere in
the dam.
6. Find out the location of the resultant force by determining its distance form
the toe,
X = ∑M(net)/∑V(net)
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22 7. Determine the vertical stresses at the toe and heel.
Fmax = ∑V/B (1+6e/B), Fmin = ∑V/B (1-6e/B)
8. Determined the maximum normal stresses, they should not exceed the max
allowable values. The crushing strength of concrete varies between (1500 –
3000) KN/m2 depending upon its grade M15 to M30.
9. Determine the factor of safety against overturning and sliding.
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Example: the below fig. is cross section of a gravity dam built of concrete and the dimension is noted.
The earthquake forces may be taken as equivalent to 0.1g for horizontal forces and 0.05g for vertical
forces. The uplift may be taken as equal to hydrostatic pressure at the either ends and is consider to act
23 over 90% of the area of the section. Tail water depth is zero. ɣ(w) = 1000kg/m3, ɣ(c) = 2400kg/m3
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Table -Summary of the Calculation
24
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Check all the Parameters
25
∑Mr+ = 65440 + 4957.2 = 70,397.2 Kgr-m
∑Mo- = 16,757.44 + 12,555 + 3,272 + 2366.02 + 6,166.4 = 41,116.86 Kgr-m
∑M(net) = 70,397.2 – 41,116.86 = 29,280.34 Kgr-m
∑W(net) = +36,960 – (6277.5 + 1848) = +28,834.5 Kgr
∑H(net) = -10,811.25 – 1,200.5 – 3,696 + 8,262 = -7,445.3 Kgr
F.S = (∑W(net)*μ)/∑H(net) > 1.0, 0.65*28,834.5/7,445.3 = 2.52 > 1, (Hence, SAVE)
F.O = ∑Mr)/∑Mo > 1.5, 70,397.2 / 41,116.86 = 1.71 > 1.5, (Hence, SAVE)
Calculation of (X), ∑M(net)/∑W(net) = 29,280.34 / 28,834.5 = 1.016 m
Calculation of eccentricity (e), B/2 – X = 3/2 – 1.016 = 0.484 m
Checking for Bed Tension = B/6 > e, 0.50 > 0.484 (Hence, SAVE)
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26 Checking for Stresses.
F(max) = ∑W(net)/B(1+6e/B) = 28,834.5/3(1+6*0.484/3) = 18,925.77 < 254,850 (kgr/m2), SAVE
F(min) = ∑W(net)/B(1- 6e/B) = 28,834.5/3(1- 6*0.484/3) = 297.23 < 42,808 (Kgr/m2), SAVE
Note:
M25 = 2500KN/m3 = 25MPa = 254,850 Kgr/m3 (Concrete in Compression)
M4.2 = 420KN/m3 = 4.2MPa = 42,808 Kgr/m3 (Concrete in Tension)
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27
Thanks for your attention
Faridoon Danesh faridoon988@gmail.com 14-Jul-21
