GRAVITY DAMS

Forces Acting on Gravity Dam

A gravity dam is subjected to the following main forces:
1. Weight of the dam
2. Water pressure
3. Uplift pressure
4. Wave pressure
5. Earth and Silt pressure
6. Ice pressure
7. Wind pressure
8. Earthquake forces
9. Thermal loads. Prof.: Engr. Romeo B. Pulmano
 GRAVITY DAMS
FORCES ACTING ON THE GRAVITY DAM
Water surface G2
G H I
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6 G3
J K
F1

F2 h2
(heel)A F E D (toe)
γwh2
γwh1

U
 water surface G H G2 I
G1 V4 = volume of concrete ABF
B C V5 = volume of concrete BCEF
V6 = volume of concrete CDE

G5
h1 G4 G6
G3
J K
F1

F2 h2
A F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

Notations: U
b = base of the dam
γw = specific weight of water V1 = volume of water ABHG
γc = specific weight of concrete (24 kN/m3) V2 = volume of water BHIC
μ = coefficient of friction between the base and the foundation V3 = volume of water JKD
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6
G3
K
F1

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

U
A. Forces acting on Gravity Dam

1. Pressure Forces __
1.1 Water on Upstream Face: F1  A1 w h 1
__
1.2 Water on Downstream Face: F2  A2 w h 2
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C γs = specific weight of the silt
hs = height of the silt
φ = angle of repose
G5
h1 G4 G6
J G3
F1 K

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

U
Continuation of pressure forces,
 s hs 2  1  sin  
Silt on Upstream Face : F3  2  1  sin  
 

Note: F1 and F2 are the horizontal components of the forces on inclined surfaces AB and
JD, respectively. F3 is not shown in the figure.
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6 G3
J K
F1

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

U γw = specific weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3

2. Gravity Forces
Water on Upstream Face: G 1 = V 1 γw
Water on the crest: G 2 = V 2 γw γc = specific weight of concrete = 24 kN/m3
Water on the downstream Face: G 3 = V 3 γw
Concrete: G 4 = V 4 γc
G 5 = V 5 γc
G 6 = V 6 γc
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6
G3
F1 K

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

U
U  b w h1   w h2 
1
3. Hydrostatic Uplift:
2
Note: If the foundation is impervious, U = 0
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6
G3
F1 K

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
b γwh2
γwh1

U Note : I1 and I2 are located at a

4. Inertia Forces ( not shown in the figure )
Water on Upstream Face :
Water on Downstream Face:
Concrete:
distance of 4h1/3π and4h2/3π
I1 = 0.555aeγwh12 from the base, while I3 is located
at the centroid of the concrete.
I2 = 0.555aeγwh22
ae = acceleration of the earthquake
I3 = Mcae Mc = mass of the concrete
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C RM = righting moments about the toe.

OTM = overturning moments about

G5 the toe.
h1 G4 G6
G3
F1 K

F2 h2
F E D (toe)
Rh
b γwh2
γwh1
x
U
Rv R
B. Magnitude and Location of the Resultant, R
(a) Horizontal Component, Rh = ΣFh { + right, - left }
(b) Vertical Component, Rv = ΣFv { + down, - Up }
(c) Distance from the toe, x
x
RM  OTM 
Rv
 water surface G H G2
G1
B C

G5
h1 G4 G6
G3
F1 K

F2 h2
ΣRM
F E D (toe)
b μRv
γwh2
γwh1

C. Factors of Safety Rv

( a) Against sliding : Rh

(b) Against overturning: RM

OTM
 water surface G H

B C

h1

J K

e h2
x
A F E Rh D (toe)
b
fmin
fmax
Center line of Rv b/2
the base
D. Pressure Distribution Along the Base Due to the Forces on the Dam
Rv  6e  e = eccentricity of R from the centroid of the base
f  1   b
bL  b  e x
2
f max  ; f min   L = length of the dam perpendicular to the board
( usually 1.0 m for unit length analysis)
Reaction turbine
Example 1. A masonry dam of trapezoidal cross-section, with one
end face vertical, has a thickness of 0.60 m at the top and 3.0 m at
the bottom. It is 6.75 m high and the vertical face is subjected to
water pressure, the water standing 4.60 m above the base at the
upstream side. Where will the resultant force intersect the base.
What are the maximum and minimum pressures along the base due
to the forces acting on the dam? Assume that the hydrostatic uplift
varies uniformly at the heel to zero at the toe.
Solution. 0.60 m
A. Forces acting per unit width of the dam

2.15 m (a) F = AγwЋ = (h x 1.0)(γw)(h/2) = ½ (γwh2)

G1 =½(9.81)(4.60)2
G2 = 103.790 kN
(b) G1 = V1γc =(0.60 x 6.75 x 1.0)(24) = 97.20 kN
h = 4.60 m (c) G2 = V2γc =(½)(2.40 x 6.75 x 1.0)(24) = 194.40 kN
F (d) U = (½)(3.0 x 45.126 x 1.0) = 67.689 kN

Toe
9.81(4.60)=45.126 kN/m2
U 3.0 m
Cont. 0.60 m

2.15 m (b) Rv  Fv

G1
G2 Rv  G1  G2  U

h = 4.60 m Rv  97.20  194.40  67.689

F
Rv  223.911kN 
Rh
Toe
9.81(4.60)=45.126 kN/m2
U Rv x
C. Location of R from the toe,
3.0 m
RM  OTM
B. Components of the Resultant x
Rv
(a) Rh  Fh (a) RM: G1 x 2.70m = 262.44 kN m
G2 x (2/3)(2.40m) = 311.04 kN m
Rh  F  103.790kN 
(b) OTM: F x (1/3)(4.60m) = 159.145 kN m
U x (2/3)(3.0m) = 135.378 kN m
 0.60 m

2.15 m
G1
G2

h = 4.60 m
F
Rh
Toe
9.81(4.60)=45.126 kN/m2
U x
Rv
3.0 m
RM  OTM
x
Rv

x
262.44  311.04   159.145  135.378
223.911
x  1.246m
 Rv  6e 
f   1  
bL  b 

where: e = 1.5 m – x = 1.5 m – 1.246 m

e = 0.254 m
Rh

fmin e 223.911kN  6 x0.254m 

x fmax f  1  
Rv 3.0m(1.0m)  3.0m 
b =3.0 m
Center line of the base f max  112.553kN / m 2

f min  36.721kN / m2
Example 2. A masonry dam of trapezoidal cross-section, with one face vertical has
A thickness of 0.60 m at the top, 3.70 m at the bottom, and 7.32 m high. What is
the depth of the water on the vertical side (upstream side) if the resultant force is
to intersect the base at the downstream edge of the middle third. Assume that the
uplift head varies uniformly from full hydrostatic head at the heel to zero at the toe.
0.60 m
SOLUTION:
A. Forces acting per meter length

G1 (a) F = AγwЋ = (h x 1)(γw)(h/2)

= (1/2)(γw)(h2)
= 4.905h2
G2 7.32 m
h (b) G1 = V1γc =(0.60x7.32x1)(24)
= 105.408 kN
F

h/3 (c) G2 = V2γc

= (1/2)(3.10x7.32x1)(24)
b = 3.70 m Rh
= 272.304 kN
γwh =9.81h b (d) U = (1/2)(9.81h)(3.70 x 1.0)
Rv 3 = 18.148 h
U
 0.60 m

C. Location of R from the toe

G1 3.70 RM  OTM
x 
3 Rv
G2 7.32 m

h (a) RM: G1 x 3.4 = 358.387 kN m

F G2 x (2/3)(3.10) = 562.762kN m
ΣRM = 921.149 kN m
h/3
b = 3.70 m Rh (b) OTM: F x h/3 = 4.905h2 x h/3
toe = 1.635 h3
γwh =9.81h b U x (2/3)(3.70) = 44.765h
Rv 3 ΣOTM = 1.635h3 + 44.765h
U
B. Components of the Resultant 3.70 921.149  1.635h 3
 44.765h

3 377.712  18.148h
Rh = ΣFh = F = 4.905h2
Rv = ΣFv = G1 + G2 – U = 105.408 + 272.304 – 18.148h = 377.712 – 18.148h
3.70 921.149  1.635h3  44.765h

3 377.712  18.148h

h 3  13.690h  279.244  0

h  5.841m
 G1 G3

2.0 m
__ __ G2
hy
G6
G5 G7 G4
6.0 m G
P
F1
4.0 m
F2

HEEL TOE
3.0 m 2.0 m 3.0 m
 G1 G3

8.0 - y
__ __ G2
hy
G6
G5 G7 G4
y G
P
F1
4.0 m
F2

3.0 m 2.0 m 3.0 m

 G1 G3

8.0 - y
__ __ G2
hy
G6
G5 G7 G4
y G
P
F1
4.0 m
F2

3.0 m 2.0 m 3.0 m

 G1 G3

8.0 - y
__ __ G2
hy
G6
G5 G7 G4
y G
F1 P
4.0 m
F2

3.0 m 2.0 m 3.0 m