HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCE

ENGINEERING
UNIT-V
DAMS AND SPILLWAYS

1
TYPES OF DAMS
Dams - Gravity dams
Elementary Profile of a Gravity Dam - An elementary profile of a
gravity dam is the theoretical shape of its cross-section when it is
subjected to only three main forces, viz. self weight, water
pressure, and uplift pressure. Moreover, the elementary profile
has zero top width and no free board.
The right-angle triangle is the most suitable section for the
theoretical profile. For reservoir empty condition, a right-angled
triangular profile as shown in fig. 1, will provide the maximum
possible stabilizing force against overturning, without causing
any tension in the base. In this case, the only force is due to the
self weight of the dam acting at B/3 from the upstream face of the
dam and hence satisfies the middle third rule.
(i) Self Weight of the Dam –

Weight of dam (W) = 1/2 × B × H × G × w

where, G = Specific gravity of dam material which is

generally taken as 2.4 for concrete

w = Specific weight of water (9.81 kN/m3)

B and H = Base width and height of dam.

The weight (W) acts vertically through the centroid of

the triangle at a distance of B/3 from the heel.
(ii) Water Pressure -

p = wH × H

= wH2, which acts at a height of H/3 from the base.

(iii) Uplift Pressure -

U = × B × CwH

where C is the uplift pressure intensity factor. It indicates that

the uplift pressure is CwH at the upstream edge of the base. The
uplift pressure (U) acts at a distance of B/3 from the heel in
upward direction as shown in fig. 1.
Base Width of Elementary Profile – The base width of the
elementary profile is to be determined under following two
criteria -

(i) Base Width with No Tension Basis - When reservoir is

empty, for no tension to develop, the resultant should act at
the inner third point A. For the full reservoir condition, let R
be the resultant of all forces acting on the dam, for no
tension at the heel, the resultant R must pass through the
outer middle third point B as shown in fig. 1. The maximum
value of eccentricity (e) is B/6 when the resultant R passes
through the point (B).
Taking the moment of all forces about B and equating it to zero, we get W.B/3 - U.B/3 – P.H/3 = 0

     
(ii) Base Width for No Sliding - For no sliding to occur, the
forces causing sliding should not be greater than the forces
resisting sliding. In the limiting condition the two forces must be
equal and opposite. It is usually assumed that the sliding is
resisted by the friction only thus,

μΣV = ΣΗ

where, u is the coefficient of friction.

The minimum base width required for the elementary profile should be greater of the
two values obtained from the equations (i) and (ii) However generally equation (i) is
used to calculate base width.
Stresses Developed in the Elementary Profile – The normal stresses
at the heel and toe of the gravity dam may be expressed as

For the reservoir full conditions, the maximum stress occurs at the
toe and the minimum stress at the heel.

For the reservoir empty conditions, the maximum stress and the
minimum stress occurs at the heel and toe respectively.
PRACTICAL PROFILE OF A GRAVITY DAM
•The elementary profile cannot be adopted as such. Some
modifications have to be incorporated, to make it adaptable in
practice.
•Modifications in elementary profile are necessitated due to
following reasons:
1. Some free board is essential whereas elementary profile does
not provide any free board.
2. Roadway is generally provided at the top of the dam. This
necessitates quite thick top of the dam, whereas elementary profile
does not provide any thickness at the top.
3. Additional load due to extra height, provided for free board and
also due thick top of the dam, induces some additional stress in the
dam section.
•Some extra darn section has to be provided at the base of the dam
along the U/S face to counter act such additional stresses.
•The amount of free board usually provided is 1.5 hw where hw is
the height of waves in metres between through and crest.
•Minimum top width of the dam should be about one-seventh the
First when the reservoir is in empty condition,
When the reservoir is empty on self-weight(W) of the dam is acting
as a force at a B/3 distance from the point of the heel. So, action
line of W will create a maximum stabilizing moment without
causing tension or overturning in this condition.
So the stress distribution in this condition in a vertical manner,
 Practical Profile of a Gravity Dam
We have already seen that the elementary profile of a
gravity dam is triangular in shape, having zero width at the
top.
However, a truly triangular section is not practical nor is it
necessarily the most economical section.
The elementary profile of the gravity dam is only a
theoretical profile. However, such a profile is not possible in
practice because of the provision of :
(i)top width or roadway at the top,
(ii)additional loads due to the roadway, and
(iii)freeboard.
EARTH DAM CLASSIFICATION

Homogeneous Zoned

Diaphragm
 HOMOGENEOUS EARTH DAM

Composed of only one material

•Material either Semi-impervious or impervious
•Seepage through such dam is very high
•Construct when only one material is available
MODIFIED HOMOGENEOUS EARTH DAM

Internal drainage system is provided.

•It results the phreatic line within the body of dam
•Reduction in pore water pressure
•Steeper side slope can also be possible
ZONED EARTH DAM

Composed of one or more than one type of soil

•Consist of central impervious core which is covered
by pervious material on upstream and downstream
•Transition filter is usually required between core
and shell to prevent piping
•Commonly construct in practice
DIAPHRAGM EARTH DAM

Consists of thin impervious core called ‘Diaphragm’

•Dam also called as ‘thin core earth dam’
•Difference between Zoned and Diaphragm earth dam
is only the thickness of core
•If the thickness of core at any elevation is less than
the height of embankment above that or 10m that
dam is considered as Diaphragm dam
PHREATIC LINE
The line at the upper surface of the seepage flow at
which the pressure is atmospheric.
•Below Phreatic line, there is a positive hydrostatic
pressure.
•Above Phreatic line soil is usually dry or moist.
•Used to calculate the quantity of seepage through
dam
•To ensure the phreatic line does not intersect the d/s
face
•Used to mark the boundary between dry or moist soil
and saturated soil.
•Used to determine the stability during steady
seepage and sudden draw down condition
CAUSES OF FAILURE OF EARTH DAM

•Hydraulic Failure
•Seepage Failure
•Structural Failure
HYDRAULIC FAILURE
•Overtopping
•Erosion of up stream face
•Erosion of down stream face
•Erosion of down stream toe
•Frost action
SEEPAGE FAILURE
Piping through the dam
•Piping through the foundation
•Conduit leakage
•Sloughing of downstream toe
CAUSES OF PIPING

Poor Construction
•Differential Settlement
•Burrowing Animals
•Surface Cracks
•Presence of Roots
•Soluble Saults
•Piping Through Foundation of Dam
•Conduit Leakage
•Sloughing of Downstream
STRUCTURAL FAILURE

Slides in Embankments
•Foundation Slides
•Liquefaction Slides
•Failure by Spreading
•Failure due to Earthquake
•Failure due to hole caused by Burrowing
Animals
•Failure due to hole caused by leaching of
water-soluble saults
CRITERIA FOR SAFE DESIGN OF EARTHEN DAM

•No Overtopping
•No Seepage Failure
•No Structural Failure
•Proper Slope
Protection
•Proper Drainage
•Economic Design
DRAINAGE ARRANGEMENT

Some water always seeps through dam

•Water which seeped should be suitably
drained away from downstream portion
•Seepage occurs through the body of
dam and through foundation of dam
PROVISION FOR SEEPAGE THROUGH BODY OF DAM

Horizontal Drainage Blanket

•Rock Toe
•Chimney Filter
•Strip Drain
•Drainage of upstream portion
•Drainage for construction pore
water pressure
PROVISION FOR SEEPAGE THROUGH BODY OF DAM
PROVISION FOR SEEPAGE THROUGH FOUNDATION OF DAM

•Provision of Toe Drain

•Provision of Drainage Trench
•Provision of Relief wells
•Provision of Vertical Sand Drains
COMPONENT PARTS OF EARTHEN DAM