LECTURE 2

Dam basics
Features and classifications of dams
 Dam Basics

Reservoir
Dam

River

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DAM PROFILE
COMPONENTS/FEATURES

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COMPONENTS/FEATURES

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COMPONENTS/FEATURES

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FEATURES

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DAM TYPES

CLASSIFICATION OF DAMS

 Based on Size
 Based on function
 Based on material used
DAM TYPES
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PURPOSE
 Storage /reservoir
 Hydro-electric dam
 Irrigation dam
Single purpose

 Water supply dam for city for the purposes of drinking water,
recreation, navigation thro canals, industrial use. Habitat dam
for fishes & wild life
 Effluent containing dams from industry, mine, factory etc.

 Detention /Flood Control

 dams, dikes
 Diversion

 Weirs, barrage

 Multi-purpose dam: designed for serving combination

two or more of above purpose at a time
DAM TYPES
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION
concret

 Gravity
 Buttress
e

 Arch
 Masonry
Embankment

 Earth Dam
 Rock fill Dam
 Composite Dam

 Based on service time

 Permanent
 temporary
DAM TYPES
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON:

configuration & Way to resist imposed force

 Gravity: Earth, rock fill concrete & buttress
• Arch: transfer the imposed force to adjacent
rock wall on either side of the canyon

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DAM TYPES
Shape of dam as plan view

Gravity Concrete
Concrete Arch (mass)

Earthen Embankment
More than 50%
Compacted earth

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DAM TYPES
 Gravity dam: rigid monolithic structure
 Trapezoidal cross section
 Minimal differential movement tolerated
 Dispersed moderate stress on valley floor and
walls

 Arch dam: high strength concrete wall

 Convex faces upstream
 Thin walled structure
 Relatively flexible
 Huge stresses imposed on valley walls and floor

 Earth dams: bank or earth or rock with

impermeable core
 Core of clay or concrete, extended below ground
 Sand or gravel drains built to cut fluid pressure
 Low stress applied to valley floor and walls
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RELATIVE ADVANTAGES
Gravity (concrete )dam
 Stable strong and durable
 Suite to gorges with steep
slope
 Constructed to great height
 Can use over flow spillway
 Suited to high down pour
 Can be constructed in all
climate
 Use deep-set sluice to
minimize sediment
 Low maintenance cost
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Embankment (earth) dam
 Cheaper , suite to wide
flat slope
 Separate spillway
 Shorter time of
construction
 Less skilled labor
 Suite to subsequent raise
 Are more earth quake
resistant
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 RELATIVE ADVANTAGES
Arch dam vs. gravity dam
 Less concrete
 More suite to V shaped narrow
gorge
 Less affected by uplift pressure
due its small width
 Better on less strong foundation
 But need good rock on the
flank , sophisticated form
work , not constructed in very
cold climate (alternate freezing
and thawing) lead to spalling of
concrete , and slow
construction speed
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Buttress dam to gravity dam
 Less concrete , low cost
 Uplift pressure is not major
factor in design
 Constructed on relatively weak
foundation
 Water on the deck assist
stability
 Better in heat dissipation so
has provision to speedy
construction, provision to raise
 Need costly formwork ,
reinforcement, not suite to
construct in cold climate
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RELATIVE ADVANTAGES

 In expensive if rock
fragments are available
 Rapid construction
 Same as that of the earth
Better withstand earth
dam quake
 Can be constructed in
adverse climate
 But
 Need more strong
foundation
 Need heavy machine for
transport
Rock fill to gravity dam Rock fill to earth dam

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