Lecture 07

Hydraulics, Water resources, Irrigation

Engineering

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 Dam and its purposes
 A dam is a physical obstruction constructed across a river to store the water in
reservoir and divert it for multipurpose from its upstream side.
 The pool of water form on the upstream side of the dam, is called as the
reservoir of the dam.
Purposes for Construction of s Dam

Water Supply
•Water stored in reservoirs of the dam is used to provide adequate amounts of
quality fresh water to residential, industrial facilities and mining sites.
•Dams can be used to regulate the flow of water in rivers. This is to say that
water can be released from the reservoir to support wildlife and ecosystems
downstream during a drought, and water can be released for agricultural uses
during the same drought.

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Purposes for Construction of s Dam

Irrigation
•In many countries, cropland irrigation is done using water stored behind dams.

Power Generation

•To generate electricity in hydroelectric power stations

•Hydropower is considered clean because it does not contribute to global warming, air
pollution, acid rain, or ozone depletion

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Purposes for Construction of s Dam

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Structure of Dam

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• Heel: contact with the ground on the upstream side
• Toe: contact on the downstream side
• Abutment: Sides of the valley on which the structure of the dam rest
• Galleries: small rooms like structure left within the dam for checking
operations.
• Diversion tunnel: Tunnels are constructed for diverting water before the
construction of dam. This helps in keeping the river bed dry.
• Spillways: It is the arrangement near the top to release the excess water of
the reservoir to downstream side
• Sluice way: An opening in the dam near the ground level, which is used to
clear the silt accumulation in the reservoir side.
Classification of Dams
1. Based on Material 3. Based On Functionality
1A. Earthen Dam 3A. Storage Dam
3B. Diversion Dam
1B. Masonry Dam
3C. Detention Dam
1C. Steel Dam
1D. Concrete Dam
2. Based on Structural behavior
2A. Gravity Dam
2B. Buttress Dam
2C. Arch dam
2D. Embankment Dam

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1A. Earthen Dam

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1B. Masonry Dam

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1C. Steel Dam

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1D. Concrete Dam

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2A. Gravity Dam

• These dams are heavy and

Reservoir massive wall-like structures
Force of concrete in which the
whole weight acts vertically
downwards.
• As the entire load is
transmitted on the small area
of foundation, such dams are
constructed where rocks are
competent and stable.
2B. Buttress Dam

• Buttress Dam – Is a
gravity dam reinforced by
structural supports
• Buttress - a support that
transmits a force from a
roof or wall to another
supporting structure
• This type of structure can
be considered even if the
foundation rocks are little
weaker
2C. Arch Dam
• These type of dams are concrete
or masonry dams which are
curved or convex upstream in
plan
• This shape helps to transmit the
major part of the water load to
the abutments
• Arch dams are built across
narrow, deep river gorges, but
now in recent years they have
been considered even for little
wider valleys.
2D. Embankment Dam
• They are trapezoidal in shape.
• Earth dams are constructed where
the foundation or the underlying
material or rocks are weak to
support the masonry dam or where
the suitable competent rocks are at
greater depth.
• Earthen dams are relatively smaller
in height and broad at the base.
• They are mainly built with clay,
sand and gravel, hence they are also
known as Earth fill dam or Rock fill
dam.
3A. Storage Dam:
A storage dam is constructed to store water on its upstream side during the period
of excess supply and use it during the period of scarcity.

3B. Diversion Dam:

A diversion dam raises the water level slightly in the river, and thus water is
diverted into a canal system. A diversion dam is always smaller in height and no
reservoir is formed on its upstream to store water.

3C. Detention Dam:

A detention dam is constructed to store water during floods, in order to be able to
release water gradually at a safe rate when the flood recedes. By the provision of a
detention dam, damages downstream due to flood are reduced.

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