DAMS

Abdüsselam ALTUNKAYNAK, PhD

Associate Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering, I.T.U
October 2013 © altunkaynak.net
 Dam

 Dam: It is impervious barrier constructed across a

river to supply demands by storing water.

 Spillway: It serves to evacuate the flood wave from the

reservoir without damaging the structure and
environment.
 Classification of Dams

 ACCORDING TO DAM USE:

 Storage Dams,

 Detention Dams,

 Diversion Dams,

 Hydropower Dams
 Classification of Dams

ACCORDING TO HYDRAULIC DESIGN:

 Overflow Dams (i.e., diversion dams)
 Non-Overflow Dams (i.e., Earth fill and Rock fill dams)

ACCORDING TO STATIC DESIGN:

 Gravity Dams,
 Arch Dams,
 Buttress Dams,
 Embankment (Fill) Dams,
 Prestressed concrete Dams
 Classification of Dams

ACCORDING TO DAMS’ HEIGHT:

 The height of the dam > 15 m

 The crest width of the dam > 500 m

 The storage volume of the dam > 106 m3

called “LARGE DAM”

 Planning of Dams

There are three steps:

 Reconnaissance survey (infeasible alternatives eliminated)

 Feasibility Study

 Planning Study
 FEASIBILITY STUDY

a) Determination of water demand

b) Determination of water potential
c) Optimal plans
 Check out the relation D versus S
d) Determination of dam site
e) Determination of dam type
f) Project design
 FEASIBILITY STUDY

 Determination of dam site

Factors should be taken into consideration:
1. Topography
2. Geology and dam foundation
3. Available of construction materials
4. Flood hazard
5. Seismic hazard
6. Spillway location and possibilities
7. Construction time
8. Climate
9. Diversion facilities
10. Sediment problem
11. Water quality
12. Transportation facilities
13. Right of way cost
 FEASIBILITY STUDY

 Determination of dam type

 Comparative characteristics of dams should be considered
 Project design
 Involves the computation of dimensions of the dam.
1. Hydrologic design
 Maximum lake elevation
 Spillway capacity
 Crest elevation
2. Hydraulic design
 Static and dynamic loads
 Spillway profile
 Outlet dimensions
3. Structural design
 Stress distribution
 Required reinforcement (Failure of the dam  "Dam Break")
 PLANNING STUDY

 Followings are necessary to be done, since dimensions are

already determined:
 Topographic surveys (1:5000 scaled map)
 Foundation study (seepage permeability etc. tests)
 Materials study (quantity of materials)
 Hydrologic study (measurements of hydrologic parameters)
 Reservoir operation study (is to be performed periodically)
 Construction of Dams

1. Evaluation of Time Schedule and Equipments

 A work schedule is prepared using CPM.

2. Diversion
 River flow must be diverted from the site before the construction

 see the figure below for two possible ways to divert water:
Reservoir
 Construction of Dams

3. Foundation Treatment

 Concrete and Rock-fill dams  hard formations

Earth-fill dams  most of soil conditions

 Highly porous foundation  excessive seepage, uplift, settlement

“Grouting Operation” is applied to solidify the foundation and to reduce

seepage
 Construction of Dams

3. Formation of the Dam Body

For Concrete Gravity dams:
Low-heat cements  to reduce shrinkage problem
 Concrete is placed in “blocks”
 “Keyways” are built between sections to make the dam
act as a monolith
 Construction of Dams

 “Waterstops” are placed near upstream face to prevent leakage

“Inspection galleries”:
 Permit access to the interior of concrete dams and
 are needed for seepage determination, grouting operations and etc.
 For Earth-fill dams

 Constructed in multi-layer formation

Layers: impervious, filter and outer

 Firstly place the materials in layers of 50 cm and then compact this structure.

 For high dams, horizontal berms are constructed to enhance slope stability

 Protect the upstream face of dam against wave action

(i.e., concrete or riprap)
 For Earth-fill dams

 Approximately, 80 % of all dams are constructed using massive structural embankments

of earth or rock in order to resist acting forces.

 An impermeable barriers is constructed within embankment using clay or concrete.

 Also, an impermeable membrane can be constructed on the upstream face.

 Embankment dams are most common used for structures in the

15 to 30 m height.

 Embankment dams represent only 25% of the dams over 200 m in height.
 For Rock-fill dams

 Core and filter zones are similarly constructed as the earth dam

 Due to heavy rocks on the sides, these dams

 have steeper slopes

 have less materials

 are economic

 construction period is shorter

 easy to increase the crest elevation

 Width of dam crest: There are two traffic lanes

 Elevation of dam crest: There is no overtopping during design flood

 Freeboard: See the table for recommendations

 Concrete Gravity Dams

 Resists the overturning and sliding forces by gravitational mass of

concrete structure.
 The application of roller-compacted concrete is the most recent
advancement in the construction of concrete dams.
 RCC reduces the mixture of cement,aggregate and water significantly.
 This mixture of cement is placed continuously in lifts of about 0.5 m
 This mixture is compacted with vibratory roller.
 Concrete Gravity Dams

Advantage of RCC

1. has benefit and safety of concrete gravity dam

2. has rapid and economical placement method used in embankment

dam construction.

3. As you see here, RCC application combines the advantage of two

different dams which are concrete dam and embankment dams.
 lower cost

 less potential for damage by flooding

 shorter time for construction compared to classical concrete constructions.

 Concrete Gravity Dams

For dimensions: Check out safety for

 Overturning,

 Shear and sliding,

 Bearing capacity of foundation,

 No tensile stresses are allowed in the dam body.

 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

 The following loads should be considered

A) WEIGHT [WC]: Dead load and acts at the centroid of the section.

B) HYDROSTATIC FORCES:
Water in the reservoir + tailwater causes Horizontal Hh1, Hh2
and Vertical Fh1v, Fh2v

 For tailwater hydrostatic forces

 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

C) UPLIFT FORCE [Fu]: acts under the base as:

Where
 Fu is the uplift force per unit width

 ϕ is the uplift reduction coefficient

 B is bottom width of the dam

 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

D) FORCE OF SEDIMENT ACCUMULATION [Fs]:

This force is determined by earth pressure expression

Where,
• Fs is the lateral earth force per unit width,
• γs is the submerged specific weight of soil,
• hs is the depth of sediment accumulation relative to reservoir bottom
elevation,
• θ is the angle of repose.
 This force acts at hs /3 above the reservoir bottom.
 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

E) ICE LOADS [Fi]:

This force should be considered in cold climate.

Thickness of ice Change in temperature (oC/hr)

sheet (cm)
2.5 5 7.5

25 30 60 95

50 58 90 150

75 75 115 160

100 100 140 180

 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

F) EARTHQUAKE FORCE [Fd]:

This is acting horizontally and vertically at the center of gravity

Where,
k is the earthquake coefficient: Ratio of earthquake acceleration to
gravitational acceleration.
 This force must be assumed to act both horizontally, Fdh and vertically, Fdv
at the center of gravity of the dam.
 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

G) DYNAMIC FORCE [Fw]:

in the reservoir is induced by earthquake as below

Where
• Fw is the force per unit width of dam
• C is a constant given by

 Here θ is angle, in degrees, between the upstream face of the

dam and vertical line
 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

H) FORCES ON SPILLWAYS [∑F]:

are determined by using momentum equation as

Where
• ρ is the density of water,
• Q is the outflow rate over the spillway crest,
• ΔV is the change in velocity between sections 1 and 2 (v2-v1).

Momentum correction coefficients can be assumed as unity.

 FORCES ON GRAVITY DAMS

I) WAVE FORCES:
are considered when a long fetch exists

 Usual loading:
 B and Temperature Stresses at normal conditions
+C+A+E+D
 Unusual loading:
 B and Temperature Stresses at min. at full upstream level
+C+A+D
 Severe loading:
 Forces in usual loading + earthquake forces
 STABILITY CRITERIA

 Dam must be safe against

1. Overturning for all loading conditions

Where F.So is the safety factor against overturning, ∑Mr is the

resisting moments and ∑Mo is the overturning moments about the
toe.

 Safety factor (F.So) =

• 2 for usual loading
• 1.5 for unusual loading
 STABILITY CRITERIA

2. Sliding over any horizontal plane

Where,
 f is coefficient of friction between any two planes,
 ∑V is the vectorial summation of vertical forces
 ∑H is the vectorial summation of horizontal forces acting on the
dam.
 STABILITY CRITERIA

 The value of f can be obtained from Table below

Material Sound rock, clean and Rock, some Gravel and Sand Shale
irregular surface jointing coarse sand

f 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.3

 Safety factor (F.Ss) =

• 1.5 for usual loadings
• 1.0 for unusual or severe loadings
 STABILITY CRITERIA

3. Shear and sliding together

Where A is the area of a shear plane and is allowable shear stress

in concrete in contact with foundation

 Safety factor (F.Sss) =

• 5 for usual loadings
• 3.0 for unusual or severe loadings
 STABILITY CRITERIA

4. Contact stresses (σ) > 0 at all points.

 Linear stress distribution can be computed as below:

Where
• σ is the vertical normal base pressure
• M is the net moment about the centerline of the base (M=∑V.e)
as indicated in Figure
 STABILITY CRITERIA

 e is the eccentricity (B/2 - ̅x)

 ̅x is the moment arm of the net vertical force with respect to the toe, c=B/2

 I is the moment of inertia (B3/12).

• Minimum base pressure (σmin) > 0

• Maximum base pressure (σmax)< allowable stress(σa)
 Arch Dams

 Arch dam are usually constructed in narrow valleys having competent

rock on either abutment.

 Arch dams can be constructed where hydrostatic Forces are transmitted a

long the axis of the dam and into the rock abutments.

 Arch dams constitute less than 5 % of dams worldwide, But they account

for half of all dams over 150 m height.

 Arch Dams

 Arch dams are thin concrete structures and Curved in plan

 Transmit most of water thrust horizontally to the sides abutments by
“arch action”
 Transmit the remaining thrust to the base vertically by “cantilever action”
 Arch Dams

 The arch dam is assumed to be consist of series of horizontal arches and

vertical cantilevers
 COMMON TYPES OF ARCH DAMS

 Arch dams are classified according to the geometric characteristics of the

valley where they are adopted
A. Constant center (variable angle):
 Good for U-shaped valleys
 Easy construction
B. Variable center (constant angle):
 Good for V-shaped valleys
C. Variable center-variable angle:
 combination of the two types
 DESIGN OF THE ARCH DAMS

 Structural Design:
Load distribution on the dam body (based on theories of
elasticity and shells) and beyond scope of this course
 Hydraulic Design:
 Determination of thickness at any elevation
 Effect of uplift force → ignored
 Stresses due to ice and temperature changes - important
 Arch action - near the crest of dam
 Cantilever action - near the bottom of dam
 DESIGN OF THE ARCH DAMS

y
Hh
p=γ h

r
θ/2 θ/2
R
B R
Free body diagram for arch dam analysis

Total horizontal force (Hh):  h: height of arch lib from the reservoir surface
 r: radius of arch
 θa: central angle
 DESIGN OF THE ARCH DAMS

Equilibrium of forces in the flow direction (y):

 Ry: reaction force at the sides in y direction

 Then, reaction of the sides

The required thickness of the rib (when t << r):

 σall: allowable working stress for concrete in compression

 DESIGN OF THE ARCH DAMS

 The volume of concrete for unit height for a single arch:

 L : arch length

 note that θa is in radians

 DESIGN OF THE ARCH DAMS

 The optimum θa for minimum volume of arch rib

1) This is the reason why the constant-angle dams require less concrete than
the constant-center dams
2) Formwork is more difficult
3) In practice; 100o < θa < 140o for the constant-angle dams
 Buttress Dams

 A buttress dam consists of a sloping slab which transmits the water thrust to a
series of buttress at right angles to the axis of the slab
 Buttress Dams

 Depending on the orientation of the slab, a buttress dam can be

classified as flat-slab or multiple-arch buttress dam.

 Although the volume of concrete required in a buttress dam

construction is less than that for gravity dams of similar height,

 Buttress dams may have comparable costs to concrete gravity dams

because of the increased formwork and reinforcement involved

 Problem 1

Analyze the stability of the given gravity dam (Figure 1) for the following conditions: Friction
coefficient between concrete-foundation is 0.70. Allowable shear stress at the foundation level is
2200 kN/m2, allowable compressive and shear stresses in concrete are 2700 kN/m2, and 2400
kN/m2, respectively. Allowable compressive stress in foundation material is 2700 kN/m2. Take
specific weights of concrete and water as 24 kN/m3, and 10 kN/m3, respectively.
 Solution 1

 Forces and loads acting the dam:

Fwh : Hydrostatic force produced by water in the reservoir and tail water in the downstream
Fwv : Water load produced by water weight
Fu : Uplift force produced by groundwater
W : The weight of the dam (W1, W2, W3)
 Solution 1, cont’d

The value of the forces, total vertical and total horizontal forces, and moments:

FORCE (kN/m) MOMENT ARM ABOUT O(m) MOMENT (kN/m/m)

W1 = 6 x ½ x 70 x 24 = 5040 kN XW1 = 1/3 x 6 + 4 + 45 = 51.00 m W1 x XW1 = 257040 kNm

W2 = 4 x 70 x 24 = 6720 kN XW2 = ½ x 4 + 45 = 47.00 m W2 x XW2 = 315840 kNm

W3 = 45 x ½ x 70 x 24 = 37800 kN XW3 = 2/3 x 45 = 30.00 m W3 x XW3= 1134000 kNm

Fwv = 6 x ½ x 65 x 10 = 1950 kN Xwv = 2/3 x 6 + 4 + 45 = 53.00 m Fwv x XFv = 103350 kNm

Fwh = 65 x ½ x 65 x 10 =21125 kN XFwh = 1/3 x 65 = 21.67 m Fwh x XFh = 457779 kNm

Fu = 65 x½ x 55 x10 = 17875 kN XFu = 2/3 x 55 = 36.67 m Fu xFu = 655476 kNm

 MO = 457779 + 655476 = 1113255 kN m/m
 Solution 1, cont’d

 Mr = 257040+315840+1134000+103350 = 1810230 kNm/m

 V = W1 + W2 + W3 + Fwv - Fu = 33635 kN/m
 H = Fwh = 21125 kN/m
 Stability Check For the Whole Dam:
1. Overturning (F.S0): The dam must be safe against overturning for all loading
conditions. F.S0 should be greater than 2.0 for usual loadings, and than 1.5
for unusual or severe loadings.
 Solution 1, cont’d

2. Sliding (F.SS): The dam must be safe against sliding over any horizontal
plane.
F.SS should be
 greater than 1.5 for usual loadings,
 greater than 1.0 for unusual or severe loadings.
 Solution 1, cont’d

3. Shear and sliding together (F.SSS):

The dam also must be checked for shear and sliding together. F.SSS should
be greater 5.0 for usual loading and 3.0 unusual and severe loading.
 Solution 1, cont’d

4. Stress ( max/min):
The contact stress between the foundation and the dam must be greater than
zero, and all points or the dam will be unsafe against overturning. Maximum base
pressure (max) should be less than the allowable compressive stress, and minimum
base pressure (min) should be greater than zero.
 Problem 2

Analyze the stability of given gravity dam for the following conditions:
The temperature changes with 5 oC/h in every 50 cm at the ice thickness at the reservoir surface. Friction coefficients between
concretes, and concrete-foundation are 0.75 and 0.65, respectively. Allowable shear stress at the foundation level is 2000
kN7m2, allowable compressive and shear stress in concrete are 2500 kN/m2, and 2200 kN/m2, respectively. Allowable
compressive stress in foundation material is 2500 kN/m2. Relief drainage may reduce the uplift force by 50%. The earthquake
coefficient is 0.1. Take specific weights of concrete and water as 25 kN/m3, and 10 kN/m3, respectively.
 Solution 2

 Forces and loads acting the dam:

 Fi : Ice Load (for cold climates, and Fi1, and Fi2 for reservoir and tail water in the downstream,
respectively)
 Fw: Water force produced by earthquake Fw1, and Fw2 for reservoir and tail water in the
downstream, respectively)
 Fwh: Hydrostatic force produced by water in the reservoir and tail water in the downstream
(Fwh1 and Fwh2)
 Fwv: Water load produced by water weight (Fwv1, and Fwv2 for reservoir and tail water in the
downstream, respectively)
 Fu: Uplift force produced by groundwater (since the tail water in the downstream, the diagram
of uplift force will be in trapezoidal shape)
 W: The weight of the dam (W1, W2, W3…Wn)
 Fd: Earthquake forces (Fdh1 and Fdv1:horizontally and vertically, respectively)
 altunkaynak.net
Right abutment
Downstream slope
Upstream slope
Principal chute spillway

Spillway training walls

Berm
Top of dam
Riprap

Toe drain outlet

Toe of
embankment

Left abutment

altunkaynak.net
 Solution 2, cont’d

1) Overturning (F.S0):
The dam must be safe against overturning for all loading conditions. F.S0 should be
 greater than 2.0 for usual loading and
 greater than 1.5 for unusual or severe loading.

2) Sliding (F.Ss):
The dam must be safe against sliding over any horizontal plane. F.SS should be
 greater than 1.5 for usual loading and
 greater than 1.0 for unusual or severe loading.
 Solution 2, cont’d

3) Shear and sliding together (F.Sss):

The dam must be also checked for shear and sliding together. F.SSS should be
 greater 5.0 for usual loading and
 greater than 3.0 for unusual and severe loading.
 Solution 2, cont’d

4) Stress ( max/min):
The contact stress between the foundation and the dam must be greater than zero and all points
or the dam will be unsafe against overturning.
 Maximum base pressure ( max) should be less than the allowable compressive stress and
 Minimum base pressure ( min) should be greater than zero.
 Solution 2, cont’d

1) Overturning (F.S0):
The dam must be safe against overturning for all loading conditions. F.S0 should be
 greater than 2.0 for usual loading and
 greater than 1.5 for unusual or severe loading.

2) Sliding (F.Ss):
The dam must be safe against sliding over any horizontal plane. F.SS should be
 greater than 1.5 for usual loading and
 than 1.0 for unusual or severe loading.
 Solution 2, cont’d

3) Shear and sliding together (F.Sss):

The dam must be also checked for shear and sliding together. F.SSS should be
 greater 5.0 for usual loading and
 greater than 3.0 for unusual and severe loading.
 Solution 2, cont’d

4) Stress ( max/min):
The contact stress between the foundation and the dam must be greater than zero and all points
or the dam will be unsafe against overturning.
 Maximum base pressure ( max) should be less than the allowable
 Compressive stress and Minimum base pressure ( min) should be greater than zero.
 Problem 3

Determine the total volume of an arch dam 120 m high to span a 300 m
wide U-shaped valley. The crest width is 6 m. Take  = 10 kN/m3,  = 120o,
all = 6200 kN/m2. Ignore the variation of span width and a in the vertical
direction. Consider vertical upstream face.
Solution 3
Solution 3, cont’d
 Problem 4

Determine the optimum central angle of an arch dam giving the minimum
volume of rib.

SOLUTION 4
The optimum central angle  for a minimum volume of arch rib can be
determined by differentiating the equation written below with respect to  and
equating to zero.

Answer: a = 133o.34’
 TEŞEKKÜRLER

Doç. Dr. Abdüsselam ALTUNKAYNAK

www.altunkaynak.net