SANCOLDFreeboard Guideline Vol IIFinal March 2011 Rev 01

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/348326610
SANCOLD 2011 Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams Volume II SOUTH AFRICAN

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS
Technical Report · March 2011
CITATION READS
1 2,256
2 authors:
Eddie Bosman Gerrit Basson

Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch University and ASP Technology (Pty) Ltd
26 PUBLICATIONS 64 CITATIONS 111 PUBLICATIONS 273 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Gerrit Basson on 08 January 2021.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

SANCOLD 2011 Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams
Volume II
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS

(SANCOLD)
Guidelines on
Freeboard for Dams
March 2011
Volume II
Compiled for: Compiled by:
SA Water Research Commission Bosman, D.E., Basson, J., Tente, T.

Private Bag X3 and Basson, G.R.
Gezina Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering
0031 Department of Civil Engineering
SOUTH AFRICA University of Stellenbosch
Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602
SOUTH AFRICA
WRC Project No. K5/1759/1
Page i
Volume II
Preface
The revision of the original 1990 SANCOLD Interim Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams coincides
aptly with the draft revision of the Dam Safety Regulations in terms of the National Water Act
(Act 36 of 1998). It is pleasing to note that the 1990 Guidelines have stood the test of time and
only one major change has been advocated which is in respect of wave heights to be used in the
calculations of freeboard. The revised guidelines also have updated wind, earthquake and
landslide information for South Africa. The guidelines are also updated in respect of analytical
tools and the use of computer software.
SANCOLD wishes to acknowledge the collaboration with the Water Research Commission and
the researchers of the Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil
Engineering of the University of Stellenbosch.
South Africa, like many other countries, has legislation to control the safety of dams. To conform
to the requirements of the legislation, the authority administering the Act and approved
professional persons will be called upon to handle the design, inspection and safety evaluation of
a large number of dams throughout the country.
Engineering standards for dams are not prescribed in the legislation and there are no existing
South African codes of practice for dams. However, it seems essential to provide a set of
guidelines to assist not only the designers of new dams but also those charged with evaluating the
safety of existing dams. It should be stressed that the aim of the guideline is to highlight the
philosophy and approaches taken in determining freeboard requirements for dams. Calculation
methods are not detailed and the user should refer to the appropriate literature references. These
guidelines have been prepared with great care, taking into account current practices followed in
other countries.
Comments on these guidelines should be forwarded to: The Secretary, SANCOLD, P O Box
3404, Pretoria, 0001, or by e-mail to [email protected].
DB Badenhorst
CHAIRMAN
SANCOLD
Page 2
Volume II
Summary
This document replaces the 1990 SANCOLD Interim Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams. South Africa
has legislation to control the safety of dams. Engineering standards for dams are not prescribed in the
legislation. This guideline document is therefore essential to assist not only the designers of new dams but
also those charged with evaluating the safety of existing dams.
There is a Volume I report in this series on freeboard which deal with a literature review and case studies.
Volume I also provides more information on a risk analysis approach and on the design of riprap for erosion
protection against wind generated waves at embankment dams.
The key revisions made in this document are:
a) The Milford wind map was replotted for 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 year 1 hour duration wind speeds.
b) Wind generated wave heights; run-up and set-up should be based on the Rock Manual for
analytical calculations, while the SWAN software is proposed for detailed assessment of wind
wave height.
c) The H2% wind wave (the wave height exceeded by 2% of the waves in an irregular wave train) is
proposed in the revised guidelines, which is 1.4 times higher than Hs (the average of the upper
third of the wave heights in a wave train) calculated with the 1990 guidelines. This is probably
the main difference with the old guideline. (It should be noted that Hmax (the maximum wave in a
wave train) is still 1.4 times higher than H2%).
d) Unsteady flow patterns in reservoirs such as seiches, oscillations, flood surges, land slide waves,
etc. should be simulated by mathematical hydrodynamic models.
e) Freeboard combination scenarios based on hazard rating and dam size were revised.
Page 3
Volume II
Acknowledgements
The research in this report emanated from a project funded by the SA Water Research Commission entitled:
REVISION OF THE SANCOLD INTERIM GUIDELINES ON FREEBOARD FOR DAMS (2007-2009)
The Reference Group members of this WRC project were:
Mr Wandile Nomquphu Water Research Commission (chairman)

Mr AG Chemaly Aurecon Group
Prof C Oosthuizen Department of Water Affairs
Prof A Rooseboom University of Stellenbosch
Dr M Shand Aurecon Group
Mr W Tunha Department of Water Affairs
Mr Leo van den Berg Department of Water Affairs
This document was also reviewed by the South African National Committee on Large Dams (SANCOLD)
and officially replaces the 1990 document for use in South Africa. The SANCOLD reviewers included:
Mr D Badenhorst BKS Group
Mr J Nortje Department of Water Affairs
Dr P Roberts Consultant
Mr D van Wyk Aurecon Group
The financing of the project by the Water Research Commission and the contribution of the members of
the Reference Group and reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.
This report was edited by Mr Eddie Bosman and Prof Gerrit Basson of the University of Stellenbosch. Co-
workers on the WRC project of the University of Stellenbosch involved as co-authors of Volume I of the
series were: Mr J Basson, Mr G Cloete, Mr H Kriel, Prof JV Retief, Mr T Tente and Mr C Visser.
Page 4
Volume II
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 9
2. FREEBOARD CALCULATION PROCEDURE ............................................................ 12
2.1 FLOODS .......................................................................................................................... 12

2.2 FLOOD SURCHARGE .................................................................................................... 12
2.2.1 Practical aspects in relation to flood surcharges and freeboard ................................. 14
2.3 WIND WAVES AND RUN-UP ......................................................................................... 15
2.3.1 Selection of design wind speed .................................................................................. 15
2.3.2 Effective fetch ............................................................................................................ 21
2.4 WIND SET-UP ................................................................................................................. 22

2.5 DESIGN WAVE HEIGHT ................................................................................................ 23
2.5.1 Wave parameters ........................................................................................................ 23
2.5.2 Design waves consideration....................................................................................... 24
2.5.3 Empirical methods for wind wave prediction ............................................................ 27
2.5.4 Mathematical model for wind wave prediction ......................................................... 27
2.6 WAVE RUN-UP ............................................................................................................... 30

2.6.1 Run-up on sloped structures ...................................................................................... 30
2.7 SEICHES AND SURGES ................................................................................................. 32

2.8 WAVES AND SURGES DUE TO EARTHQUAKES ........................................................ 33
2.8.1 Background and Seismic hazard map ........................................................................ 33
2.8.2 Estimation of wave heights in at a vertical concrete dam caused by the horizontal
movement of a dam wall due to earthquakes ............................................................ 35
3. COMBINING FREEBOARD COMPONENTS .............................................................. 42
3.1 Deterministic approach .................................................................................................... 42

3.2 Risk analysis approach .................................................................................................... 45
3.2.1 Objectives of assessment ........................................................................................... 45
4. DAM SPECIFIC FREEBOARD REQUIREMENTS ...................................................... 46
4.1 GENERAL REMARKS ..................................................................................................... 46

4.1.1 Different sizes and categories of dams and hazard potentials ................................... 46
4.1.2 General conditions ..................................................................................................... 47
Page 5
Volume II
4.2 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EARTHFILL DAMS .................................................. 49

4.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 49
4.2.2 Settlement of embankment and foundation ............................................................... 50
4.2.3 Top of impermeable zone .......................................................................................... 50
4.2.4 Parapet walls .............................................................................................................. 50
4.2.5 Minimum requirements: Category I Dams ............................................................... 51
4.2.6 Overtopping during extreme floods (SED conditions) .............................................. 51
4.2.7 Fuse plugs .................................................................................................................. 51
4.2.8 Erosion resistance increase ........................................................................................ 52
4.3 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ROCKFILL DAMS ................................................... 52
4.3.1 Characteristics of rockfill dams ................................................................................. 52
4.3.2 Safety against overtopping......................................................................................... 53
4.3.3 Other precautions against overtopping failure associated with minimum freeboard 53
4.3.4 Type of dam ............................................................................................................... 54
4.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCRETE DAMS .................................................. 54

4.5 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOSITE DAMS ................................................ 55
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 56
6. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 59
APPENDIX A Freeboard Drawings

APPENDIX B Wind data for South Africa and Namibia
APPENDIX C Short user manual of SWAN
APPENDIX D Short user manual of SURFER
APPENDIX E CD with SWAN case study example files and Excel spreadsheet to
calculate wave height and period (based on empirical formulae) for selected
wind speed and consequent wave run-up on a sloped (embankment) wave
wall.
Page 6
Volume II
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.3-1 Tropical cyclone occurrence frequency and wind speed (1 knot = 0.514 m/s) on
SA East coast. {White dots and related occurrence frequencies and wind speeds
relate to dotted latitude line}. [adapted from Rossouw, 1999] .......................... 17
Figure 2.3-2 1:25 year hourly wind speed for South Africa ................................................... 18
Figure 2.3-3 1:50 year hourly wind speed for South Africa ................................................... 18
Figure 2.3-4 1:100 year hourly wind speed for South Africa ................................................. 19
Figure 2.3-5 Milford’s proposed (and SABS 0160-1980) relationship between 1:50 year hourly
mean wind speed and other return periods (Milford, 1987) ............................... 19
Figure 2.3-6 Ratio of wind speed of any duration, Ut, to the 1-hr wind speed, U3600 (CEM,
2006). ................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 2.5-1 Exeedance probability of wave heights in an irregular wave train, according to
the Rayleigh distribution (The Rock Manual, 2007).......................................... 23
Figure 2.5-2 Simulated wind wave conditions (Hs in m and dominant wave directions) at
Bloemhof Dam using SWAN (Wind speed 36 m/s in direction of longest straight
line fetch) ........................................................................................................... 29
Box 2.6-1 Recommended wave run-up (R2%) formulae for sloped structures (The Rock
Manual, 2007 – Paragraph 5.1.1.2) .................................................................... 31
Figure 2.6-2 Definition of fictitious surf similarity parameter (ξ) .......................................... 31
Figure 2.8-1 Seismic hazard map from Council for Geoscience (2003) data showing peak
ground acceleration as a ratio of g (gravity acceleration) with a 10 % probability
of being exceeded in a 1:50 year return period (Kijko et al., 2003)................... 34
Figure 2.8-2 Distribution of shock oscillation periods versus number of recordings
(Abrahamson et al. 1997) ................................................................................... 35
Figure 2.8-3 Derived horizontal accelerations versus shock oscillation periods for different
shock magnitudes 10 km away from shock source (Abrahamson et al, 1997). . 36
Figure 2.8-4 Plane wave maker theory. Wave height (H) to Stroke (S) ratios versus relative
depths (2π/L)*h . Piston and flap type wave maker motions. [kp = 2π/L =
2π/(1.56*T^2) for a deep water wave as would be the case since the oscillation
period is short and the water level at a vertical concrete wall is relatively deep].
Dean and Dalrymple (1992). .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 2.8-5 An example of water wave amplitude calculation for concrete dam walls higher
than 15m for 0.1g and 0.2g horizontal seismic accelerations. ........................... 39
Figure 2.9-1 Landslide surge wave definition sketch (Huber and Hager, 1997) .................... 40
Page 7
Volume II
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1 Freeboard contributing components and related driving mechanisms ................... 10
Table 2.1 Dam type, design wave height and run-up ............................................................. 26
Table 3.1 Proposed Design Combinations of Freeboard Conditions to be considered with the
RDD surcharge*...................................................................................................... 43
Table 3.2 Recommended minimum values for applicable freeboard (FB) criteria in terms of
the design combination numbers (Table 3.1) as well as related Dam Category, RDD
and SED .................................................................................................................. 44
Table 3.3 Simplified practical freeboard guidelines .............................................................. 45
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AEP Annual Exceedance Probability
CEM Coastal Engineering Manual
FSL Full Supply Level
HFL High Flood Level
NOC Non-Overspill Crest
RDD Recommended Design Discharge (routed)
RDF Recommended Design Flood (unrouted)
SANCOLD South African National Committee on Large dams
SED Safety Evaluation Discharge (routed)
SEF Safety Evaluation Flood (unrouted)
SWAN Software: Simulating Waves Nearshore
WRC SA Water Research Commission
Page 8
Volume II
1. INTRODUCTION
The SA Water Research Commission initiated this project in 2008 to propose revisions to the
1990 Interim Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams of the South African National Committee on
Large Dams (SANCOLD). Following a peer review process by the WRC Reference group and
SANCOLD, this document now officially replaces the 1990 document. There are two
documents in the series and this Volume II report provides guidelines on the use of updated
methodologies to determine freeboard for dams and also addresses the combination of
freeboard components to be taken into account.
Volume I of this report series documents the present knowledge pool and methodologies for
freeboard determination, with case studies (WRC, 2011).
Freeboard provides a margin of safety against overtopping failure of dams. Sufficient

freeboard has to be provided so that possible spillage over the Non-Overspill Crest (NOC) of
a dam will not endanger the structure and/or human lives. Freeboard allowances for concrete
dams can in general be less conservative than those for embankment dams because of the
greater resistance of concrete dams and in most cases, their foundations to erosion damage
resulting from overtopping. Nominal ‘extra’ freeboard or safety margin is often provided in
addition where hydrological uncertainties do not permit accurate calculations. These
Guidelines are drawn up as an aid to designers and dam safety evaluators. The SANCOLD
guidelines are dynamic documents and these guidelines replace the previous 1990 document.
The total freeboard for a dam is defined as the vertical distance between the normal Full Supply
Level (FSL) and the nominal Non-Overspill Crest (NOC) of the dam, excluding camber
(allowance for consolidation), but including adequately designed parapets and wave barriers
proud of the crest. Freeboard is usually divided into two components namely the flood
surcharge rise above the FSL, the primary component, and a secondary component allowing
for wind, wave and surge effects.
In the calculations of total freeboard adequate provision must be made for the reasonable
combination of conditions which may play a role. The most important components for total
freeboard calculation are indicated in Table 1.1, all of which are not cumulative.
Page 9
Volume II
Table 1.1 Freeboard contributing components and related driving mechanisms

Freeboard contributing component Driving mechanism
(a) Flood surcharge (with allowance for Rainfall and run-off of relevant weather
possible gated spillway or bottom outlet system
malfunctioning)
(b) Wind set-up Wind of relevant weather system
(c) Wave run-up/wave reflection Wind generated wave
(d) Seiche/resonance (oscillating water body Disturbance of water body in dam basin
in reservoir) by:
-Spatial variation of barometric pressure
over dam basin by relevant weather
system
-Earthquake
(e) Earthquake induced surge Earthquake shock/acceleration of dam
water body and earth crust
(f) Landslide induced surge Volume of landslide displacing part of
water body in dam basin and consequent
long wave
Landslide could be caused by:
-High rainfall and subsequent excessive
saturated subsoil
-Earthquake
(g) Flood induced surge -Flood flowing into dam basin water
body, causing water body disturbance and
consequent long wave
-Sudden outflow adjustment
(h) Gate adjustment surges -Rapid gate opening or closure
Some dams are equipped with large capacity bottom outlets and these must also be taken into
account when considering the freeboard.
Page 10
Volume II
Upstream dam failures (cascade effect) should be taken into account in estimating the Safety
Evaluation Flood (SEF) and are therefore not listed here.
Figures 1, 2 and 3, Appendix A, illustrate the above concepts for the non-overtopping cases of
an embankment and a concrete dam.
Page 11
Volume II
2. FREEBOARD CALCULATION PROCEDURE
2.1 FLOODS
The capability of safely passing floods such as the Recommended Design Discharge (RDD)
and Safety Evaluation Discharge (SED) is paramount in any dam’s design. For guidance on
the determination of the incoming design flood, and the safety evaluation flood, references
SANCOLD (1991), Alexander and Kovacs (1988), Alexander (1990), Kovacs and Brink
(1987), Kovacs (1988), and WRC (2007) could be consulted. Flood absorption takes place due
to the temporary storage space above Full Supply Level (FSL) which is mobilized during the
passage of the flood. The spilling flow rate is uniquely determined by the head over the crest
and the spillway crest dimensions and gate openings, if applicable. The maximum rise, or
surcharge is thus calculable and the procedure for determining its magnitude should be based
on level pool routing or hydrodynamic mathematical modelling.
2.2 FLOOD SURCHARGE
The flood surcharge component contributing to the freeboard for dams is outside the scope of
this investigation since it has been treated in detail in SANCOLD (1986). When the decision
has been made on the inflow flood hydrograph(s) to be applied in the dam safety evaluation
exercise, the best current practice to determine the maximum flood surcharge at the dam wall
would be to employ an appropriate hydrodynamic model which takes into account the
characteristics of the selected inflow hydrograph (including possible superposition of dam
break(s) upstream of the dam under consideration), flood absorption of the dam basin, surge
due to the inflowing flood hydrograph, spillway characteristics, etc. Level pool routing or
mathematical hydrodynamic modelling should be carried out. The flood-absorption
calculation procedure is based on:
a) A relationship between storage volume and level above FSL;
b) A discharge rating curve, i.e. discharge versus water level above FSL for uncontrolled
spillways and similar relationships for various gate settings for controlled spillways.
Contraction losses of abutments and possible piers should be taken into account when
Page 12
Volume II
determining the effective length of the spillway. Submergence of especially a side

channel spillway should be taken into account;
c) Operating rules for handling floods where floods gates and/or bottom outlets are
involved;
d) The initial water level condition (normally taken at FSL);
e) Future sedimentation in the reservoir for a minimum period of 50 years. As much as

30% of the sediment could be deposited above FSL which will affect the flood
attenuation;
f) The calculation method i.e. horizontal water surface or backwater; and
g) The shape of the hydrograph.
The Recommended Design Flood (RDF), the Safety Evaluation Flood (SEF) or other floods
with given return periods are chosen, as estimated from several methods given in the
SANCOLD Guidelines on Safety in Relation to Floods (SANCOLD, 1991) and the Flood
Hydrology Handbook (Alexander, 1990).
Once the RDF and SEF have been routed through the reservoir, the peak discharges obtained
at the dam becomes the Recommended Design Discharge (RDD) and Safety Evaluation
Discharge (SED) respectively. Other freeboard contributing components as listed in Table 1.1
should be added to the RDD surcharge calculated at the dam. The total freeboard between FSL
and NOC should not be exceeded during the RDD. The SED only takes into account the
surcharge at the dam and no other freeboard components. The SED is based on a major extreme
flood and no major structural damage to the dam is allowed.
It is realistic and normal practice to make use of the available temporary storage space above
FSL necessary for surcharge for flood attenuation.
The following are cases where this benefit could not be taken advantage of:
a) Where the attenuation for RDF is less than 10 per cent. In this case it is suggested
that for simplicity the outflow peak be regarded as equal to the inflow peak and
adequate freeboard be provided to cope with the unattenuated peak.
Page 13
Volume II
b) Where the time to outflow peak is short as in the case of controlled outlet structures
where the gate operator may be prevented from operating the gates in time. Adequate
freeboard to cope with various scenarios of this kind should therefore be provided.
2.2.1 Practical aspects in relation to flood surcharges and freeboard
Some aspects to be taken into consideration in the determination of flood surcharges and
freeboard and uncertainties thereof are:
a) Uncontrolled spillway. Here surcharge and freeboard are accurately calculable and
uncertainties are minimal.
b) Combinations of uncontrolled + gated spillways. Here surcharges and freeboard are

less predictable relating to the reliability of operation. An advantage is that pre-releases
are possible which permit a reduction in total water level rise. In the case of
maloperation of some of the gates, adequate freeboard must be provided for this flood
discharge by way of the uncontrolled spillway.
c) Fully gate-controlled spillway. Maximum releases, where outflow equals inflow and
pool level remains constant, are possible. Gates are not to be overtopped unless there
is specific design provision for this eventuality. The surcharge level must be below or
at dam crest level. Advantage can be taken of the raised gate-leaf top when the gates
are opened for the achievement of flood absorption. This type of operation increases,
however, the water level and increases risk levels.
d) Fully gate-controlled but without additional flood freeboard (surcharge). Total reliance
on effective gate operation must be made. All gates must therefore be able to be raised
together, which it is not suitable for barrages where constant pool levels must be
maintained. Special rules apply to barrages which have to pass floods in an unhindered
way and in the process may even pass floods earlier and at higher levels than would
have occurred naturally.
e) The cascade effect or the sequential breaking of dams, all on the same river course, may
aggravate the process. In the freeboard allowance for each dam consideration should
Page 14
Volume II
be given to the possible inclusion of allowance for the eventuality of a dam break higher
up in the catchment, which may be beyond the jurisdiction of the authority
administering the particular dam under consideration. In such cases a site-specific
approach should be used. A risk analysis which takes into account the shortcomings of
the upstream dam would be a useful means whereby to assess the implied risks, legal
aspects and hence guide the decision makers.
2.3 WIND WAVES AND RUN-UP
Wind generated waves and the corresponding wave run-up on the dam wall must be taken into
account in the freeboard calculation. The factors which govern these effects are discussed
below.
2.3.1 Selection of design wind speed
A prerequisite for calculation of wave height and wave run-up is the selection of a design wind
speed. This selection must take into account the category of dam and hazard potential as well
as the severity of the flood under consideration.
If wind data is available for meteorological stations in the vicinity of the terrain, it should be
analysed to provide a more accurate selection of the design wind speed for the specific site.
Topography plays a major role in the transposition of wind data and could either increase or
decrease the wind speed depending on whether the data is transposed to a relatively flat or
irregular terrain. It should also be noted that major floods in the northern and eastern low lying
areas of the country are caused by cyclonic storms with very high wind speeds close to the
cores of the cyclones. These cyclonic cores are not stationary and can thus result in the most
critical wind direction towards the dam wall occurring during the passage of the flood.
Funnelling effects i.e. wind blowing along valleys onto an exposed water surface can also cause
higher local wind speeds.
For a given atmospheric pressure gradient and meteorological conditions, wind speeds over
water are higher than over land. The adjustment of overland wind speed is treated later in this
Section.
Page 15
Volume II
A tropical cyclone is similar to an extra-tropical cyclone but smaller in diameter (i.e.

approximately 40 km to 80 km in diameter), with much higher wind velocities and rainfall
intensities than in an extra-tropical cyclone. The mean hourly average wind speeds in a tropical
cyclone frequently exceeds 50 m/s. The statistics of wind velocity and occurrence of tropical
cyclones on the east coast of South Africa are presented in Figure 2.3-1 (Rossouw, 1999).
South Africa is not as severely exposed to tropical cyclones as the USA east coast. An historic
example of tropical cyclones, which caused significant storm damage in KwaZulu-Natal, was
Domoina in 1984.
The spatial distribution of wind speed statistics (one hourly average at 10 m above recorded
surface) in SA prepared by Milford (1987) and referred to in the SANCOLD Interim Guideline
Report (1990), has not been updated since no new long-term hourly data are available for South
Africa. The original data used by Milford was however replotted with the cyclone data as
shown in Figures 2.3-2 to 2.3-4.
The 25-year, 50-year and 100-year design isopleths for hourly mean wind speed at 10 m above
surface as given in Figures 2.3-2 to 2.3-4 can be used as a basis for selecting a design wind
speed. The record lengths varied between 10 to 30 years. Some 200 wind stations are currently
available, but no statistical analysis has been carried out by the SA Weather Service. The
database in electronic form only goes back to 1992.
The analysed observed surface wind (over land) data from the Weather Services publication
WB38 (Weather Bureau, 1975) given in Appendix B, can also be used as a basis for selecting
a design wind speed (Weather Bureau, 1975).
.
Page 16
Volume II
Figure 2.3-1 Tropical cyclone occurrence frequency and wind speed (1 knot = 0.514 m/s) on SA East coast. {White dots and related
occurrence frequencies and wind speeds relate to dotted latitude line}. [adapted from Rossouw, 1999]
Page 17
Volume II
1:25 yr hourly wind

speed (m/s)
Figure 2.3-2 1:25 year hourly wind speed for South Africa
1:50 yr hourly wind

speed (m/s)
Page 18
Volume II
1:100 yr hourly wind

speed (m/s)
Milford (1987) also proposed relationships between the 1:50 year hourly average wind speed
and other occurrence frequencies as presented in Figure 2.3-5 below.
Figure 2.3-5 Milford’s proposed (and SABS 0160-1980) relationship between 1:50 year
hourly mean wind speed and other return periods (Milford, 1987)
Page 19
Volume II
The following guidelines can be followed for determining wind speeds for wave and wind set-
up predictions:
a) To adjust the selected 1 hourly wind speed (selected from Figures 2.3-2 to 2.3-4, or
Appendix B), for a site or determined from local recordings) for a particular wind fetch
length of a reservoir, the procedure summarised in the logic diagram as presented in
Figure II-2-20 of the Coastal Engineering Manual should be followed (CEM, 2006 – a
public domain document – refer to References for web download address).
b) The above referred CEM procedure includes adjustment of the wind speed for a
particular wind fetch length of a reservoir in accordance with the wind duration, time
(min) required to reach wave generation equilibrium (refer Figure II-2-3 of CEM,
2006) or tmin calculated according to the empirical formulae discussed in Section 2.5.3
below. If this duration is longer or shorter than one hour, the adjustment of the selected
one hour wind speed is done according to the relationship between the 1 hour mean
(U3600) and the longer or shorter (Ut) duration wind speeds in accordance with Figure
II-2-1 of CEM (2006) as presented in Figure 2.3-6 below.
Figure 2.3-6 Ratio of wind speed of any duration, Ut, to the 1-hr wind speed, U3600
(CEM, 2006).
Page 20
Volume II
2.3.2 Effective fetch

The distance over which the wind acts to generate waves (referred to as the fetch) is affected
by the varying width of the body of water over which the wind blows. It is common practice
to assume that waves are generated from a sector (normally 45º either side of the main wind
direction) radiating from the point at which the wave condition is to be determined. In the case
of applying empirical methods to derive wave conditions in a dam basin (with normally an
irregular plan shape), an effective fetch is usually derived by means of some type of weighting
average. Empirical wind wave prediction methods which are recommended to derive wave
conditions for dam freeboard purposes, are the three methods treated in The Rock Manual
(2007 - a public domain document – refer to References for web download address). One of
these methods includes the method as described in the SANCOLD Interim Guidelines (1990)
with a slight variation. The recommended three methods as contained in The Rock Manual
(2007) are dealt with in more detail in Section 2.5.3 below.
Instead of applying the rather cumbersome methods to derive an effective fetch length for the
different empirical wave prediction methods, it is recommended that the maximum straight line
fetch length be used in the empirical wave prediction methods proposed in these guidelines for
the following reasons:
a) Using the maximum straight line fetch instead of the effective fetch will result in a larger
wave height. This will compensate for probable higher design wind speeds (due to wind
funnel effects in the dam basin valley) than derived under Section 2.3.1.
b) Since the publishing of the SANCOLD Interim Guidelines (1990) third generation
mathematical models became available (refer Section 2.5.1) capable to derive wave
parameters from a wind field more accurate than the above referred empirical methods.
It is also recommended that the main wind direction of the design wind be assumed to be the
same as the maximum straight line fetch direction towards the dam wall. This is recommended
since the available design wind speed data are omni-directional and since a conservative
approach is considered appropriate here.
Page 21
Volume II
2.4 WIND SET-UP
Wind set-up is the result of surface water being driven in the downwind direction with the wind
blowing over a water surface exerting a horizontal stress on the water. This results in a build-
up of water at the leeward end of an enclosed body of water, and a lowering of the water level
at the windward end. It should be assumed for design purposes that the wind (at design speed)
will be blowing towards the dam and causing maximum wind set-up at the wall. Normally
wind setup is relatively small compared to other dam freeboard components.
Wind set-up could be determined approximately by means of simplified analytical methods

(e.g. Rock Manual, 2007 and Kamphuis, 2002 as presented below) or it could be derived more
accurately by means of hydrodynamic mathematical models (e.g. MIKE 11, MIKE 21, MIKE
3 and DELFT3D).
In the case of wind set-up the effects may be transferred around substantial bends in a reservoir
and the fetch length in wind set-up computations is taken as 2 times the effective fetch used for
wave height computations.
The Rock Manual (2007) recommends the following analytical method for an approximation
of wind set-up (nw) for a simplified case (i.e. a closed water domain with constant water depth):
2
1 ρ𝑎𝑖𝑟 U10
nw = ∙ ∙ CD . .F
2 ρ𝑤 gh
Where:
ρair = density of air = 1.2 kg/m³
ρw = density of water = 1000 kg/m³ for fresh water
CD = air/water drag coefficient (0.008 to 0.003); assume 0.005 after
Kamphuis (2002)
U10 = mean one hourly wind speed as derived in Section 2.3.1 at 10 m above
surface
H = average water depth = (average volume at FSL)/(average surface area at FSL)
F = 2 x effective fetch used for wave height computations (Recommendation in
this guideline for F = 2 x maximum straight line fetch length)
g = gravitational acceleration
Page 22
Volume II
2.5 DESIGN WAVE HEIGHT
2.5.1 Wave parameters
It is considered appropriate to briefly describe the wave parameters obtained from both the
numerical models and empirical formulae:
 Wave height – usually the significant wave height (Hs), which is the mean of the top third
of the wave heights in an irregular wave train. The energy based significant wave height
Hm0 (which is obtained from the energy spectrum) is approximately equal to Hs. The
characteristic wave height ratios for an irregular wave state with a Rayleigh distribution of
wave heights are presented in Table 4.8 (page 357) of The Rock Manual and in more detail
in Table 2.5-1 below: eg the ratio between H2%/Hs ≈ 1.4 and Hmax/Hs ≈ 2. H2% is the wave
height in the irregular wave train, which is exceeded 2% of the time and Hmax is the
maximum wave in a reasonably long irregular wave train. These wave heights are relevant
in the determination of wave run-up.
Figure 2.5-1 Exceedance probability of wave heights in an irregular wave train,

according to the Rayleigh distribution (The Rock Manual, 2007)
 Wave period – usually the peak period is used (this is the period in the irregular wave
spectrum where the maximum wave energy occurs). Tm-1,0 which is a spectrum related
period is more recently used in wave run-up calculations and Tp/Tm-1,0 ≈ 1.1. Tm (mean
Page 23
Volume II
wave period) is between 0.71Tp to 0.87Tp. Tp/Tm usually lies between 1.1 and 1.25. Ts
(significant wave period) is between 0.90Tp and 0.96Tp.
 Waves in deep water (where the wave length is shorter than the water depth) which
steepness (wave height/wave length) are greater than 1/7 will become unstable and break
(the simplified formula for a deep sea wave length ≈ 1.56xT²). When the water depth is
less than half the deep sea wave length, the wave is deformed by the depth and can break
due to limited depth.
 More detailed information on wave kinematics in deep and shallower water (such as wave
shoaling, refraction and breaking) can be obtained from CEM Part II (2006) and The Rock
Manual (2007) Paragraph 4.2.4 and more specifically Paragraph 4.2.4.3.
2.5.2 Design waves consideration
The more recently and generally accepted method to determine wave run-up for the design of
hydraulic structures is to use the 2% wave run-up (R2%) which is the wave run-up caused by
the 2% wave height (H2%). H2% is the wave height which is equalled or exceeded by 2% of the
waves in an irregular wave train. The R2% is recommended for the wave run-up contributing
component to the design dam freeboard. (This is different from the 1990 guidelines which
used the so-called significant wave height and the resulting wave run-up. The significant wave
height is defined as the average wave height of the highest one-third of the waves in a wave
spectrum or in a regular wave train. This significant wave height is equalled or exceeded by
13.5% of the waves generated by a particular (design) wind speed – refer Section 2.5.1).
For determination of approximate wave conditions, empirical methods (as described in The
Rock Manual (2007) and referred to below) are recommended. For more accurate derivations
(e.g. for Category II and III dams) the mathematical model SWAN, which are dealt with in
more detail below, is recommended.
Wind generated wave conditions on the upstream side of a dam wall are governed by:
a) Design wind speed and duration (dealt with in Section 2.3.1);
b) Effective fetch (discussed in Section 2.3.2 for used in empirical wave prediction
formulae);
Page 24
Volume II
c) Reservoir depth including bed roughness. This phenomenon is included in both the
recommended empirical formulae and the recommended mathematical model, SWAN;
and
d) Water depth in the wave approach zone upstream of the toe of the dam wall (dam wall
foreshore). In general, wind waves on dam reservoir surfaces fall within the category
of deep water waves (i.e. water depth is larger than half the deep water wave length
with the deep water wave length = 1.56 x (wave period)². However, if the dam wall
foreshore depth is less than half the deep water wave length, the wave height can be
modified by wave breaking – also by wave shoaling and wave refraction. Using the
recommended empirical wave prediction formulae, the shallow water wave adjustment
method, presented in The Rock Manual (Paragraph 4.2.2.4) is recommended. The
recommended SWAN model includes the effects of wave shoaling, wave refraction and
wave breaking.
As indicated earlier in this section, R2% (resulting from the H2% wave height) is recommended
for the wave run-up contributing component to the design dam freeboard – this implies that 2%
of the waves will overtop the dam wall. If more wave overtopping can be tolerated without
endangering the structural stability of the dam wall (such as in the case of a protected
downstream slope of an embankment dam or stable foundation conditions on the downstream
side of a vertical concrete dam wall), it could be considered to reduce the recommended design
R2%. A generalised guideline in this regard (Ref. UK ICE, 1978) is presented in Table 2.1
below.
Page 25
Volume II
Table 2.1 Dam type, design wave height and run-up

Type of dam Design wave height Wave run-up component to
in terms of Hs wave design freeboard in terms of the
height (UK recommended design R2%
ICE,1978) (assuming Rayleigh wave height
distribution and linear relation
between wave height and run-up)
Concrete dam 0.75 0.55 R2%
Rockfill dam with road on crest 1.0 0.71 R2%
Earthfill dam with road on crest 1.1 0.79 R2%
and selected grass on
downstream slope
The above multiplication factors should also be seen in relation to the probability of exceedance
of a particular wave height. A design wave height with a multiplication factor of 1.1 could on
average be equalled or exceeded by 9% of the waves in the wave spectrum as against a
corresponding exceedance of 32% where a factor of 0.75 is used.
The above UK ICE guideline is very generalised and does not consider the stability against
wave overtopping of specific dam wall designs – this guideline should therefore be treated with
caution. A more reliable basis for considering the reduction of the recommended design wave
run-up (R2%.), is to determine the rate of overtopping for different dam wall crest levels and
compare it with available data on tolerable overtopping for different types of dam walls and
types of protection.
The method to calculate wave overtopping as presented in Paragraph 5.1.1.3 of The Rock
Manual (2007) is recommended together with tolerable overtopping rates as presented in Table
5.4 of The Rock Manual (2007), Table VI-5-6 of the CEM (2006) and in Paragraph 3 of the
EurOtop Manual (2007 - a public domain document - refer to References for web download
address). [A link to a useful online tool to calculate wave overtopping for a large variation of
dam wall configurations are also available in EurOtop Manual (2007)].
Page 26
Volume II
2.5.3 Empirical methods for wind wave prediction
For the purpose of a desk-top study, simplified empirical formulae could be applied to
determine wave parameters. It is recommended that the following three methods, as described
in Paragraph 4.2.4.6 (page 371 to 374) of The Rock Manual (2007), be used to determine wave
conditions:
a) Saville method (or SBM method with effective fetch – refer also to SPM (1987) for the
version of the SBM formulae which include water depth);
b) Donelan method; and
c) Young and Verhagen method.
The input required by these formulae include wind speed (refer Section 2.3.1), fetch length
(Section 2.3.2) and mean water depth. The relevant output data include wave height (Hs) and
wave period (either Tp or Ts – these can be converted to Tm-1,0 with the ratios presented in
Section 2.5.1 to apply in the run-up formulae).
It is recommended that all three formulae be used for correlation purposes and that the output
of the formula which gives the maximum wave height be used. A spreadsheet to calculate the
relevant wave parameters with the above referred three formulae is attached in Appendix E.
2.5.4 Mathematical model for wind wave prediction
To enable the calculation of wave run-up, relevant wave parameters (caused by the selected
wind velocity) must be determined. The current more sophisticated (and more accurate)
method is to apply numerical wave models eg:
a) SWAN (Simulating waves nearshore) developed by the Technical University of Delft

in The Netherlands by Booij et al, 2006). The model has been made available in the
public domain and can be downloaded at: website
http://vlm089.citg.tudelft.nl/swan/index.htm. SWAN provides many output quantities
including two-dimensional spectra, significant wave height, mean wave and peak
period, average wave direction and directional spreading, root-mean-square of the
Page 27
Volume II
orbital near-bottom motion and wave-induced force (based on the radiation-stress

gradient). The SWAN model has successfully been validated and verified in several
laboratory and (complex) field cases (see e.g. Ris, 1997). The SWAN model was
developed at Delft University of Technology, Delft (the Netherlands), where it is
undergoing further enhancements. It is specified as the new standard for nearshore
wave modelling and coastal protection studies.
b) STWAVE. This model was developed by the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory -
Engineer Research and Development Center Waterways Experiment Station -
Vicksburg, Mississippi –US Army Corps of Engineers. The website where more
information of this model can be obtained is:
Website http://chl.erdc.usace.army.mil/chl.aspx?p=s&a=Software
The main input data required for the above numerical models are dam basin water surface
configuration, basin bottom topography, and wind speed and direction over the reservoir (all
in grid formation). The main results obtained from the above models include significant wave
height (Hs), peak wave period (Tp), mean wave period (Tm), and average wave direction
spatially over the surface of the reservoir.
The above numerical models account for all the main factors relevant to wind wave generation
including, wave refraction, wave diffraction, wave reflection and wave energy loss due to wave
breaking (white capping), bottom friction and wave-wave interaction.
The SWAN model was tested on three case studies: Berg River Dam, Voëlvlei Dam and
Bloemhof Dam (See Volume I of this report series).
A short user manual for SWAN has been developed and is attached in Appendix C. The
software used with SWAN to generate contours and to represent results is SURFER (see
Appendix D). A spreadsheet to set up the input file for SWAN is enclosed on the cd in
Appendix E.
Typical SWAN simulated wave height and direction results of Bloemhof Dam for a wind speed
of 36 m/s is indicated in Figure 2.5-2. In Bloemhof Dam all the analytical methods used gave
wave heights higher than those estimated by SWAN. Bloemhof Dam is a very long and narrow
Page 28
Volume II
dam and the wave energy is dissipated along the shores of the dam in the narrow reaches.
SWAN includes this energy loss in its estimation while the analytical methods do not.
Hs (m)
Figure 2.5-2 Simulated wind wave conditions (Hs in m and dominant wave directions)
at Bloemhof Dam using SWAN (Wind speed 36 m/s in direction of longest straight line
fetch)
Page 29
Volume II
2.6 WAVE RUN-UP
Wave run-up is defined as the difference in vertical height from still water level (that would
prevail without waves) to the maximum level attained by run-up of the design wave against the
dam wall, as defined for an embankment type dam in Figure 2.6-1 below for the H2% wave
height. Wave run-up for both sloped structures (such as embankment dams) and vertical walls
are addressed in this section.
2.6.1 Run-up on sloped structures
The empirical formulae as presented in The Rock Manual (2007) are recommended for sloped
structures. These formulae are summarised in Box 2.6-1 below. The basis of these formulae
is the fictitious surf similarity parameter (ξ) as defined in Figure 2.6-2 below. It is important to
note that to calculate the fictitious wave steepness (Hs/L), the wave height at the toe of the wall
and the deep water wave length are used. The formulae in Box 2.6-1 use different wave periods
(i.e. Tp, Tm-1,0 and Tm – refer Section 2.5.1) to calculate the deep water wave length and
these also reflects in the symbols for the surf similarity parameters (i.e. ξp, ξm-1,0 and ξm).
Reduction factors (γ) are applied in the formulae to provide for slope roughness, oblique waves,
shallow foreshores and bermed structures.
Figure 2.6-1 Wave run-up (R2%) caused by a H2% wave height on a smooth embankment
slope (Pullen et al, 2007)
Page 30
Volume II
Box 2.6-1 Recommended wave run-up (R2%) formulae for sloped structures (The
Rock Manual, 2007 – Paragraph 5.1.1.2)
Figure 2.6-2 Definition of fictitious surf similarity parameter (ξ)
Page 31
Volume II
2.6.2 Vertical walls
The wave run-up ratio (run-up/design wave) for a vertical upstream dam wall face in deep
water is 1.00 (the design wave being the H2%), but it is to be noted that this ratio could approach
2.0 in some circumstances in shallow water. This could be the case when a standing wave, is
formed at the wall face due to the reflection of a wave spectrum from the vertical or nearly
vertical face as described in the US Shore Protection Manual (United States Army Corps of
Engineers, 1984 – refer Figure 7-14). It would, however, appear that a ratio higher than 1.33,
or 1.5 at the most, need not be considered for dam design except for rather special cases where
an upstream vertical face in shallow water is exposed to very high wind waves.
2.6.3 Other considerations
As indicated earlier in Section 2.5.2, if a tolerable overtopping rate (which would not cause the
dam to fail) for a specific design is known, wave overtopping rates could be derived according
to the formulae presented in Paragraph 5.1.1.3 of The Rock Manual (2007). The wall crest level
which would result in a tolerable overtopping rate for the design wave height could then be
determined by trial and error. The EurOtop Manual (2007) contains the same overtopping
formulae for sloped structures as in The Rock Manual (2007) but also contains formulae for
vertical walls (it also has a link to a useful online overtopping calculation tool).
2.7 SEICHES AND SURGES
These are periodic oscillations or unique rises in reservoir level due to atmospheric pressure
variations or sudden inflows.
These phenomena have been known to exist for a long time but have been difficult to quantify.
Observations by Kovacs et al, (1984) indicate that there may be oscillations of the order of 0.5
to 1 m in height in moderate size reservoirs (Floriskraal Dam) and more than 1 m in larger ones
like Pongolapoort and Gariep Dams. An allowance of 0.5 to 1 m could be made in freeboard
calculations in these cases. Alternatively the effect of a low pressure zone could be built into
a fully hydrodynamic mathematical model (1D or 2D (depth averaged)), with the initial water
level at the dam say 0.5 to 1.0 m lower than the upstream end of the reservoir.
Page 32
Volume II
A long-period oscillation or “seiche” might persist long after the waves have died down.
According to (Rainchlen, 1983) a reservoir basin is set into oscillation in one or more of its
natural modes by externally arriving long-period waves. Such oscillations die down by being
absorbed by a subsequent flood.
It is proposed that for Category II and III dams, mathematical models 1D, 2D and/or 3D are
used to analyse unsteady flow patterns considering:
 Local wind data;

 Gate operation;
 Inflow flood hydrograph characteristics;
 The reservoir and river bathymetry; and
 Local low pressure effects.
2.8 WAVES AND SURGES DUE TO EARTHQUAKES
2.8.1 Background and Seismic hazard map
Earthquake excitation could cause rapid oscillatory motions of the body of water resulting in
standing waves or seiches.
The existing SABS 0160 (1989) seismic hazard map has been updated and it is recommended
by (Kijko et al, 2003) that this updated map should replace the seismic hazard contained in the
SABS code. The updated seismic hazard map is presented in Figure 2.8-1 below.
Page 33
Volume II
Figure 2.8-1 Seismic hazard map from Council for Geoscience (2003) data showing peak ground acceleration as a ratio of g (gravity
acceleration) with a 10 % probability of being exceeded in a 1:50 year return period
Page 34
Volume II
2.8.2 Estimation of wave heights in at a vertical concrete dam caused by the horizontal
movement of a dam wall due to earthquakes
a) Background on earthquake oscillation periods
The study “Empirical response spectral attenuation relations for shallow crustal earthquakes”
by Abrahamson et al, (1997) is relevant under this subject. The latter study is based on
worldwide data which consists of strong ground motions from shallow crustal events in active
tectonic regions, excluding sub-duction events. The number of recordings used was 853 from
98 main-shocks and aftershocks with magnitudes greater than 4.5. Figure 2.8-2 shows the
distribution of shock oscillation periods versus number of recordings as obtained from the
analysis of the data.
Figure 2.8-2 Distribution of shock oscillation periods versus number of recordings

(Abrahamson et al, 1997)
Figure 2.8-3 presents the derived horizontal and vertical accelerations versus shock oscillation
periods for different shock magnitudes 10 km away from shock source for different shock
magnitudes (M).
Page 35
Volume II
Figure 2.8-3 Derived horizontal (left) and vertical (right) accelerations versus shock
oscillation periods for different shock magnitudes 10 km away from shock source
(Abrahamson et al, 1997).
b) Estimation of seismic generated water wave heights on the upstream vertical face
of a dam wall that moves horizontally at different periods and accelerations due
to earthquakes
The following steps could be followed to estimate the order of magnitude of seismic generated
water wave heights on the upstream vertical face of a dam wall that moves horizontally at
different periods and accelerations due to earthquakes (assuming the dam wall as a horizontal
moving wave generating paddle):
(i) Estimate a horizontal acceleration from a seismic hazard map (e.g. Figure 2.8-1).
(say 0.1g and 0.2g);
(ii) Select different shock oscillation periods in the dominant oscillation period range –
refer Figure 2.8-3.
(e.g. 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2s);
(iii) Calculate the amplitude of the horizontal oscillation for the parameters assumed
under (i) and (ii) above, by assuming the shock wave orbital motion as circular (this
Page 36
Volume II
is a reasonable assumption since observed vertical and horizontal seismic

accelerations are near equal – refer Figure 2.8-3). The formula for calculating this
amplitude is then :

Amp  Acc
4
 T  
2
Where:
Amp = amplitude of horizontal oscillation = horizontal stroke length

of wall (S)
Acc = horizontal acceleration due to shock (e.g. 0.1g and 0.2g)
T = period of seismic oscillation = water wave period generated
by it
π = 3.1415
(iv) Calculate the water wave amplitude, assuming the vertical wall face moving as a
horizontally moving wave paddle. To calculate the wave height caused by a
horizontal movement, the linear wave maker theory can be applied as given in
Chapter 6 of Dean and Dalrymple (1992). The online tool of Dalrymple could also
be used for this purpose
(website: http://www.coastal.udel.edu/faculty/rad/wavemaker.html ).
However, based on Figure 2.8-4 below (obtained from the latter referred reference),
it can be shown that the water wave amplitude (H/2) generated by a dam height
higher than 15 m is approximately equal to the horizontal seismic stroke length of
the vertical wall with a period of approximately 4s and smaller (the zone to the right
of point A in Figure 2.8-4).
Page 37
Volume II
Figure 2.8-4 Plane wave maker theory. Wave height (H) to Stroke (S) ratios versus
relative depths (2π/L)*h . Piston and flap type wave maker motions. [kp = 2π/L, where
𝒈𝑻𝟐 𝟐𝝅𝒉
L is the wavelength, 𝑳 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒉 ( )]. Dean and Dalrymple (1992).
𝟐𝝅 𝑳
Figure 2.8-5 below presents an example calculation for concrete dam walls higher than 15 m
for 0.1g and 0.2g horizontal seismic accelerations. The consequent dam wall stroke length and
water wave amplitude generated by it on the upstream of the wall are presented.
Page 38
Volume II
Figure 2.8-5 An example of water wave amplitude calculation for concrete dam walls
higher than 15 m for 0.1g and 0.2g horizontal seismic accelerations
2.9 WAVES AND SURGES DUE TO LANDSLIDES
Reservoirs surrounded by steep unstable slopes are subject to landslides which can displace
material into the reservoir causing volumetric displacement of water over the dam and setting
up surges and waves in the water body. Volumetric displacement by material can be dealt with
as an incoming volume and subsequently leading to a capacity reduction. Calculation of the
slip volume possibly threatening a dam can be made from a geological analysis of the surrounds
of a basin. Three types of slips occur according to Vischer, (1986) namely (i) falls, such as
rock masses of a cliff, with a low volume and high energy intensity, (ii) slides such as slip-
circle type slides, also known as debris-flow and (iii) more gradual flows which are associated
with long time intervals.
The surges and waves caused by landslides in enclosed bodies of water can be severe. Surges
or long period waves can give rise to extreme seiching oscillation, run-up and overtopping.
There are various methods that could be used to predict the landslide generated wave height:
 General equations developed from model tests;
Page 39
Volume II
 Prototype-specific model tests;

 Numerical simulations;
 Empirical equations derived from field data; and
 Analytical methods.
Noda (1970) developed an analytical method to estimate the wave height, while Davidson
(1975) developed model tests to analyze and verify the models by the use of historical data.
Huber and Hager (1997) developed simplified formulas based on 2-D physical modelling to
calculate the initial impulse wave height. Their simplified method allows the assessment of
the initial impulse wave height caused by a rock fall or mass landslide. The impulse wave
generated is dependent on the parameters of the falling mass. These include the slide volume,
density of falling material, depth of still water, and slope angle at the impact site.
Figure 2.9-1 Landslide surge wave definition sketch (Huber and Hager, 1997)
In flumes and long reservoirs the dimensionless wave height relation is:
𝐻 𝜌𝑠 1 𝑉𝑠 1 𝑑 1
= 0.88 ∙ ( )4 ∙ ( 2 )2 ∙ ( )4 ∙ sin 𝛼
𝑑 𝜌𝑤 𝑏𝑑 𝑥
Where:
H/d = Dimensionless wave height
d = Water depth
𝑉𝑠 = Slide volume falling into the reservoir (i.e. the volume of water displaced,
in m3)
b = Slide width (m)
𝜌𝑠
= Density ratio of the slide material to water
𝜌𝑤
𝛼 = Impact angle
𝑑/𝑥 = Dimensionless travel distance
Page 40
Volume II
In pools, propagation direction  is an additional parameter. The propagation distance is

replaced by the radius r measured from the slide impact centre and the equation becomes:
𝐻 𝜌𝑠 1 𝑉𝑠 1 𝑑 2 2𝛾
= 1.76 ∙ ( )4 ∙ ( 2 )2 ∙ ( )3 ∙ sin 𝛼 ∙ cos2 ( )
𝑑 𝜌𝑤 𝑏𝑑 𝑟 3
Where:
𝑟 = Radius measured from the centre of slide impact
γ = Propagation direction
Huber and Hager (1997) suggest that the formulas could predict the wave height with an
accuracy of between ±15% ~ ±20%. The limit of validity for these formulas is for x/d<100 for
2-D situation and r/d<30 for 3-D cases.
It should be noted these simplified formulas should be used with physical and/or numerical
model studies. In recent years with the advances in computer science, it is now possible for
practicing engineers to analyse the wave heights more efficiently. Computer software if
applied correctly could predict the wave height accurately and prove to be a useful tool.
In a comparison of the computer models and physical models it was found that the relative
mean square differences between measured and computed first wave peaks never exceeded
20% if the probes near the impact point and the wave absorber are excluded. From an
engineering point of view, this may be considered a satisfactory performance of the presently
validated computational model (Zweifel et al, 2007).
The propagation of surge waves in a reservoir could be carried out by hydrodynamic

mathematical modelling, by using 1-D models, or in more complex reservoir layouts 2-DH or
even 3-D models.
Page 41
Volume II
3. COMBINING FREEBOARD COMPONENTS
3.1 DETERMINISTIC APPROACH
The recommended design flood (RDF) routed through the dam with appropriate freeboard
provides the basis for design of the dam and spillway system. No damage is to be caused
during these circumstances.
The safety evaluation flood (SEF) routed through the dam (SANCOLD, 1986) with flood
surcharge freeboard only, is an extreme flood considered appropriate for the specific structure
which may cause substantial damage to structures and surroundings but must not be such as to
cause the dam to fail catastrophically causing loss of human life and economic loss. It will be
found that in many cases the determining condition for freeboard will be that for the SED at
non-overspill crest i.e. where overtopping is not allowed. However, the other case (RDD
surcharge and other freeboard components) must also be checked to ascertain the most critical
condition.
In the “Guidelines on Safety in relation to Floods” (SANCOLD, 1986)”, spillage under any of
the generally accepted criteria must not endanger the safety of the structure. These criteria are
not listed in that document, but are proposed here.
The important conditions are grouped in combination numbers (Table 3.1) that should be tested
as shown in Table 3.2. All conditions in the combinations mentioned and indicated in Table
3.1 (for a specifically numbered combination of criteria) are to be met simultaneously.
Site specific conditions at the reservoir which may influence wave run-up and wind set-up
should be duly taken into consideration. Adjustments for direction of wind and possible wind
funnelling effects should be made when specific data are available to substantiate such
adjustments.
Adjustments for uncertainties in the hydrology are to be allowed for on the basis of site specific
conditions as well as sensitivity analyses eg the difference between the flood surcharge for a
particular flood and that for possible smaller/larger flood(s).
Page 42
Volume II
The possibility of simultaneous occurrence or not of the flood peak and maximum wind speed
should be considered based on local data.
Table 3.1 Proposed Design Combinations of Freeboard Conditions to be considered

with the RDD surcharge*
Combination RDD Wind wave Wind Surges Earth- Land-slide Flood
number Surcharge and run-up set-up and quake wave outlets
100-year seiches wave
event
(a) (b) (c)

1 X X
2 X X X X
3 X
4 X X
5 X X X X X
Notes: * Assumed starting level is FSL
a) For cyclonic conditions extra allowance for wind waves is to be made based on local
data.
b) Landslides are considered with storm events.
c) At least twenty five percent (25%) of crest gates or flood outlets considered inoperable
(Also refer to Section 4.5).
Page 43
Volume II
Table 3.2 Recommended minimum values for applicable freeboard (FB) criteria in
terms of the design combination numbers (Table 3.1) as well as related Dam Category
and RDD
Hazard rating
Dam size Dam category,
Floods and Low Significant High
Freeboard
criteria
Dam Category I II III
Small RDD Q20-Q50 Q100 Q100
(H < 12 m) FB Criteria 1 1 2, 5
Dam Category II II III
Medium RDD Q100 Q100 Q200
(H = 12-30 m) FB Criteria 1; 5 2; 5 2; 3; 4; 5
Dam Category III III III
Large RDD Q200 Q200 Q200
(H > 30 m) FB Criteria 2; 3; 5 2; 3; 4; 5 2; 3; 4; 5
NOTES:
a) The RDD criteria as reflected in the Guidelines on Safety in Relation to Floods (1991)
have for the sake of convenience been included in Table 3.2. The Recommended
Design Discharge Flood (RDD) is given in terms of Annual Exceedance Probability
(AEP). QT is defined as the peak flood discharge with an AEP of 1/T.
b) Unforeseen events described in Section 4.1.1 and practical aspects of Section 2.2.1
should be considered when selecting the freeboard criteria.
Should a change be made to the RDD values in a revision to SANCOLD, (1991), then the new
values will supersede those given above.
Certain practical guidelines for the determination of freeboard have been developed by various
organisations over the years and are given in Table 3.3. These practical rules of thumb are
often applicable to small dams and medium sized dams with a low hazard rating and also
provide a check on freeboard calculations. These practical guidelines are also discussed in
further paragraphs dealing with different types of dam.
Page 44
Volume II
Table 3.3 Simplified practical freeboard guidelines

Type of dam Minimum total Minimum difference in Remarks
freeboard (m) level between stillwater
RDD surcharge level and
non-overspill crest (m)
Earthfill (Category I) 0.8 0.5 -
Earthfill (Categories II & III) - 1.5 For RDD
Rockfill (Categories II & III) - 1.5 For RDD
Concrete (Categories II & III) 1.5 1.0 -

Note: Calculated freeboard for Category I and small Category II dams can be replaced from the values in this
table.
Another useful rule of thumb is that the minimum acceptable wave heights for Category II and
III dams used in the wave run-up calculation is 0.75 m.
3.2 RISK ANALYSIS APPROACH
3.2.1 Objectives of assessment
The motivation for considering a risk basis for the treatment of freeboard for dams derives from
the general trend in the application of risk assessment as a rational basis for safety assessment
of public facilities. Risk assessment is also allowed specifically for dam safety assessment in
South Africa. Risk based guidelines for the various elements of dam safety, such as the
provision of freeboard, will enhance such practice and its continuous development. Risk
assessment provides a useful integral view of the effect of various hazards (threats) and failure
mechanisms, which can be compared to independently set risk criteria. It is however not
sufficiently operational to serve as the basis for design, and is therefore used in a
complementary manner to deterministic freeboard calculation procedures.
Page 45
Volume II
4. DAM SPECIFIC FREEBOARD REQUIREMENTS
4.1 GENERAL REMARKS
4.1.1 Different sizes and categories of dams and hazard potentials
Since there are many more dams in Category I, i.e. small, low risk dams than in Category II
and III (medium, large to high risk dams), the probability of a failure of any one of them in any
given period is far greater than the risk of failure of one of the dams in the higher categories.
The careful consideration of risks of all modes of failure for Category I dams are often
overlooked since controls are less stringent.
The Category II and III dams should be designed in a more circumspect way, because there is
more scope for uncertainty factors to enter and if any of these should be overlooked and a
failure should result it is potentially far more damaging to life and property.
The factors relating to unforeseen events (i.e. hydrological and geological conditions) affecting
freeboard and the suggested counteractive steps are:
a) Lack of reliable hydrological data: Design with greater safety margin, e.g. freeboard
and auxiliary spillway capacity, and with upper-catchment dam-breaks in mind.
b) Unknown geological or seismic conditions: Design also with slips, slides and rock-
falls in mind.
c) Unknown human factors (operator, political, future ownership): Design with simplicity
in mind, uncontrolled spillway, fuse plug; overtoppable gates, if gates are to be used at
all.
d) Over-sophistication: Do not rely heavily or solely on flood-warning systems, telemetry,

automation, but provide a simple back-up system that will work, should all else fail.
e) Second line defence: Incorporate second-line defences e.g. a downstream slope resistant
to erosion, an upstream slope with wave reflecting or absorbing characteristics and
Page 46
Volume II
ample wing walls and sufficient camber on embankments, emergency auxiliary

spillways (fuseplugs).
The above remarks apply equally well to dams located in areas with greater hazard potentials,
in that more thorough checks on the adequacy of safety measures should be taken in cases
where high risks to life and property exist.
4.1.2 General conditions
Other conditions having implications on freeboard are:
a) Controlled versus uncontrolled spillways
Uncontrolled spillways lend themselves to much more definite calculations of their behaviour
and no element of uncertainty exists due to time of flood arrival or necessity for operation.
Controlled spillways, on the other hand, introduce various risks such as operator error or
malfunction of automatic systems. Therefore, where controlled spillways are incorporated, a
larger margin of safety should be allowed in the freeboard and related aspects. Pre-release to
draw down the water surface in advance is often mooted as a virtue of gated dams but seldom
implemented locally, except at well controlled major dams such as Vaal, Bloemhof, Grootdraai
and other dams.
b) Accuracy of hydrological data
In the case of short-duration records or inaccurate observations ample redundancies must be

built in, i.e. sufficient uncontrolled spillway capacity or catering for the SED. Where gated
spillways are to be used for other reasons, an auxiliary spillway capable of taking a portion of
the gated flow discharge at HFL should be provided for the eventuality of inoperability of the
gates.
In the case of an embankment dam, an auxiliary spillway should be provided to take sufficient
flow, adequate to keep the SED from overtopping the main embankment. Breaching sections
should be designed to limit sudden increases in outflow.
Page 47
Volume II
c) Shape of hydrograph
For each flood a number of hydrograph shapes should be investigated, with the historic
maximum flood on record as a first example. These floods should be individually routed
through the reservoir applying flood absorption if significant, otherwise neglecting it and the
freeboard determined from the maximum water level rise obtained with the various
hydrographs.
Multiple-peaked hydrographs often occur. In any dam with gated spillways and especially in
fill dams the occurrence of multiple peaks in the hydrograph must be carefully analysed. A
near-full dam experiencing a second hydrograph peak especially during the closing-down stage
of gate operation can present a dangerous situation.
Flood warning with pre-or post-release options should be utilized where possible but should
not be relied upon for safe dam operation. Sufficient reserve capacity and freeboard should be
maintained to absorb the effects of unheralded floods or during conditions of malfunction of
gates or services.
d) Type of dam
Adequate freeboard allowance is more critical for fill dams than for concrete dams due to
failure dangers associated with potential overtopping. This also applies to composite dams
having an earthfill component. Since the objective of freeboard is to provide assurance against
possible overtopping due to various causes, each cause needs to be more carefully considered
in the case of fill dams.
Page 48
Volume II
e) Use of wave or splash walls
The use of wave or splash walls along the upstream edge of the non-overspill crest of an
embankment dam may often be an economical way to prevent overtopping by wind-wave
action, particularly when considering RDD conditions. A wave wall can be shaped to deflect
the run-up water and model studies may be the only means of accurately establishing the
effectiveness of a wave wall on more sensitive designs.
The effectiveness of parapet walls to contribute to freeboard should be discounted, however, if

they are merely ornamental, open or structurally incapable of resisting the shear and bending
moment due to the full static and dynamic water pressure to their tops. If intended to be
considered as contributing to freeboard, i.e. capable of resisting water pressure, they should be
designed accordingly. If only intended to serve as a wave deflector they should be designed to
cope with the dynamic forces of breaking and standing waves.
4.2 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EARTHFILL DAMS
4.2.1 Introduction
Earthfill dams as opposed to concrete dams are built with erodible material. Furthermore, most
earthfill dams settle in time and often in a differential way. The principal consideration for
safety is thus to prevent excessive overtopping resulting in erosion of embankments where this
may lead to the possible loss of the dam.
For large dams located on large rivers the non-overtopping requirement from a safety point of
view is normally dominant in the provision of freeboard (SED condition). This should not,
however be taken as a fixed rule because a dam could have flood and basin shape characteristics
resulting in the freeboard allowance determined on the RDD as the higher one. Examples of
the last mentioned are:
 a large off-channel storage dam in a small catchment, and

 a dam with a large storage capacity above FSL and good flood absorption characteristics.
Page 49
Volume II
4.2.2 Settlement of embankment and foundation
Normally settlement of the embankment and foundation due to consolidation is expected and
compensated for by adding camber to the design crest elevation of the dam and also to the top
of the impervious zone. Soft foundation and inadequate control during construction may
necessitate additional freeboard allowance.
For well-compacted embankments and dense foundations most of the consolidation occurs
during construction. Any additional settlement in the form of secondary consolidation is
normally allowed for by “camber”. Normally, a camber of 1% of local dam height along the
axis is allowed for settlement but may vary from 1 to 2.5% depending on site conditions.
4.2.3 Top of impermeable zone
To control leakage in the case of a zoned embankment, the top of the impervious zone must be
constructed higher than the safe elevation i.e. at least up to the surcharge level for the RDD.
The adequacy of the top portion of the zoned embankment including the filters to prevent
piping during the surcharge event should be evaluated.
4.2.4 Parapet walls
The use of wave walls to provide freeboard allowances for embankment dams may be
considered on a case-by-case basis (see also 4.1.2 (e)). The following criteria are proposed to
be met:
 Normally the parapet or wave deflection wall may only replace the portion of the freeboard
needed to prevent overtopping from wave run-up. If it is to prevent leakage from surcharge
water or other components of freeboard, it should be tied into an adequately impervious
zone for example the core, and it should be conservatively stable against overturning or
other erosional forces.
 Foundation and embankment settlement that would affect the top level or stability of the
wall should be allowed to occur prior to construction of the wall, or the design should
allow for future settlement.
Page 50
Volume II
 Wave walls should be continuous and level. All joints should be watertight to prevent
concentration of flow.
4.2.5 Minimum requirements: Category I Dams
In order to provide safeguards against various uncertainties, the minimum acceptable non-
overspill crest elevation for a Category I fill dam is 0.5 m above the RDD surcharge level for
a low hazard dam, while for significant and high hazard ratings it is 1.0 m.
4.2.6 Overtopping during extreme floods (SED conditions)
Overtopping of fill dams is to be avoided for the following reasons:
 Earthfill is erodible;
 The crest of an embankment dam is not always 100% level due to settlement or other
reasons. Water overflowing the lower parts would have erosional effects there; and
 Overflow water concentrated by concrete walls at the junction between the spillway and
the embankment will have erosive effects, and adequate erosion protection should be
provided in this area should overtopping be likely.
For existing dams it may also be necessary to determine the risk of the dam being washed away
due to overtopping.
4.2.7 Fuse plugs
Fuse plugs or emergency spillways are specially designed embankment sections with the
purpose of breaching during extreme flood conditions or upstream dam failure in order to
protect the main wall from failing. The breaching level depends on economic factors in each
case. Fuse plugs are often designed to breach for floods between the RDD + the 25 year wind
wave condition and the SED. Special care should be taken in design, so that the resulting
outgoing flood is smaller in size compared to the incoming flood. Where a fuse plug is
Page 51
Volume II
provided the adequacy of the freeboard over the rest of the embankment is dependent on its
proper functioning during a flood.
4.2.8 Erosion resistance increase
Ways and means have been developed to increase erosion resistance of downstream slopes of
embankments, especially in smaller structures, e.g. grass planting and riprap. Care must be
taken with such applications and might require the use of large scale models or mathematical
modelling to prove effectiveness.
4.3 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ROCKFILL DAMS
4.3.1 Characteristics of rockfill dams
Rockfill embankments generally have considerably steeper slopes than those of earthfill.
Rockfill also has the characteristic that the roughness of the upstream face ranges between
either very smooth (in the case of a concrete faced rockfill dam) or very rough, similar to the
riprap on an earthfill dam. The effect of these two characteristics, slope and roughness, on
freeboard allowance will be dealt with below.
a) Smooth upstream face
The smooth upstream face of a concrete faced rockfill dam has almost no wave energy
absorption. Wave run-up on the face can therefore be severe and could cause overtopping even
under relatively mild wind conditions. It may be necessary to provide some form of wave
barrier on the top of a smooth faced rockfill dam instead of raising the level of the non-overspill
crest and the choice will be governed by economics. This barrier must be designed not only
for the dynamic impact of the waves but also for hydro-static pressure conditions if these could
arise. The stability of the wave wall is vital to the safety against overtopping of a rockfill dam
and forms a very important component of the overall design with respect to freeboard. If
correctly designed it will contribute to the value of the freeboard.
Page 52
Volume II
b) Rough upstream face, exposed rock surfaces
The upstream face of a central impervious core rockfill dam is usually composed of the coarsest
rock material in the upstream rockfill zone on site and therefore has maximum potential for
wave energy absorption. It is therefore not usually necessary to provide wave walls or any
other form of wave energy dissipation device in these cases. It must, however, be borne in
mind that some additional freeboard can be obtained at fairly modest cost by increasing the
slope of the rockfill from above the level of normal full supply level to the crest.
4.3.2 Safety against overtopping
In all dam designs, some element of risk of overtopping exists. In reviewing old dams which
were designed with less than adequate flood information, the possibility of overtopping could
be very significant indeed. This possibility necessitates consideration of the mechanism of
overtopping and possible damage that might occur. Most modern rockfill dams are built
subject to very careful quality control, with good compaction techniques being exercised and
hence only minor post-construction settlement is likely to occur. Most rockfill dams,
particularly the larger ones, do have quite a considerable longitudinal super elevation
proportional to the local height or “camber” on the crest which is desirable against settlement.
The implication of a cambered crest, i.e. with varying top elevation, however, is that overflow
will occur initially at the abutments and that it will be the toe (i.e. the valley between the
embankment and the abutment) that will be most subject to the erosive forces of water. Lack
of attention to the toe-valleys could therefore result in failure at a rockfill embankment at
relatively modest overtopping levels. Attention must therefore be given to the prevention of
erosion on the shoulders of the abutment and of the embankment itself at the contact with the
abutment, or alternatively no “camber”, but a constant super elevation against settlement
should be specified. Settlement, when eventually occurring will then result in a lower central
portion.
4.3.3 Other precautions against overtopping failure associated with minimum

freeboard
Page 53
Volume II
a) Reinforcement of the downstream face
Rockfill embankments readily lend themselves to reinforcement of the downstream face by

means of reinforced rockfill or paving at comparatively modest costs. This additional feature
which might in any case be required during construction, could be considered as an additional
safety feature available in the design of rockfill embankments against overtopping.
b) Crest treatment
The treatment of the crest of a rockfill embankment can have a major effect on its erosion
resistance. Normally rockfill crests are finished with a layer of gravel, particularly where a
central earth core requires protection from desiccation, however, in many cases the crest of a
rockfill dam can serve the additional purpose of an access road, and if provided with a bitumen
surface such a crest can increase the erosion resistance of the embankment. The choice of
suitable wave walls, parapets or handrails should be investigated and their effect on reducing
dam height, while maintaining adequate freeboard, utilized to the full (see Figure 3, Appendix
A).
4.3.4 Type of dam
In selecting the type of dam, freeboard considerations could become important as an increment
of height on a very high dam could affect the cost markedly differently for a concrete gravity
dam, a rockfill dam or an earthfill dam. The valley shape, broad and flat versus U- or V-shaped
also enters into the marginal cost.
4.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCRETE DAMS
In the calculation of freeboard for Categories II and III concrete dams use the Q100 and Q200
floods respectively to determine the recommended design discharge. The total freeboard will
depend on the fetch and estimated wave height but a minimum of 1 m between RDD surcharge
level and non-overspill crest should be maintained unless otherwise calculated. Keep,
wherever possible, the SED within the confines of the spillway but for this flood allow zero
secondary freeboard. This condition is generally the determining factor. Where this leads to
excessive freeboard or where the spillway width is limited, consider the use of parapet walls
Page 54
Volume II
suitably designed as water retaining structures. On a non-composite concrete dam the SED
could be allowed to overtop the non-overspill crest, with some damage being accepted as long
as the dam is safe under these conditions. In such cases special attention should be given to
the erosion resistance of the foundation.
All dams require special considerations peculiar to the site and application, but this is especially
true for Category I and small Category II dams where freeboard requirements can be relaxed
depending on the hazard potential and the consequences of failure. If the failure of the dam
under extreme flood conditions would not make difference to the downstream effect of the
flood, and if the cost of making provision for handling this particular flood through the dam is
excessive, then a compromise solution might be adopted, and the dam designed for a smaller
flood.
Controlled spillways can be readily incorporated into concrete dams and for these the flood
surcharge could become zero, provided the design flood (RDD) can be passed with the gates
open, and at or below the normal FSL. The gates themselves must also have a marginal wind
freeboard to counteract them being overtopped by wind waves. In some cases gates are
designed to be overtopped allowing to some extent for inoperable possibilities. Due allowance
should be made for each particular case for a proportion of the gated outlets that might not
work, in other words a redundancy of spillway capacity or of freeboard allowance should exist
for large dams. A practical guide which is recommended is that at least one gate in a set of few
gates, or 25% of the gates if there are a large number, should be considered inoperable.
4.5 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOSITE DAMS
A composite dam is a combination of some of the above types of dams, for example an
embankment dam with concrete spillway or concrete main dam with embankment saddles or
flanks. The freeboard for each component should be commensurate with the type of wall e.g.
the wave run-up factor should agree with the value for that particular upstream slope and
roughness. For a concrete/embankment composite dam apply the appropriate freeboard
standards for each component.
Page 55
Volume II
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 above discuss the concept of freeboard, the various quantitative
components thereof, how to calculate them and combine them, and the application thereof to
various types of dam.
While these are guidelines they are to be considered flexible and subject to engineering
judgment also involving costs and risks.
The way of arriving at a combination for determining the total freeboard has been indicated in
Tables 3.1 and 3.2. Some of the components may be given less emphasis, depending on the
size and importance of the dam, others may not, due to the uncertainly of hydrology. Practical
guidelines are given in Table 3.3.
The problem varies from section to section in a composite dam and each component is to be
dealt with both separately and collectively. The provision of fuse plugs, wave walls and
parapets is discussed and relates to cost and risk.
Some of the salient aspects of these Guidelines in comparison with the previous SANCOLD
(1990) guidelines are:
a) The 1990 SANCOLD Interim Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams had a good scientific
basis and only minor changes are proposed in the methodology;
b) The wind data and Milford map has been plotted for 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 year 1 hour
duration wind speeds. Such regionalized maps could be used for Category I and II
dams, but for any detail design studies local wind data should be analysed;
c) Wind wave height, run-up and set-up calculation could be based on the Rock Manual.
In all other cases the SWAN model should be used to determine wind wave height;
Page 56
Volume II
d) The main difference with the 1990 guidelines method is that H2% is calculated with the
new methods, which is 1.4 times higher than Hs calculated with the 1990 methodology.
It should be noted that Hmax is still 1.4 times higher than H2% and 2 times Hs;
e) Unsteady flow patterns in reservoirs such as seiches, oscillations, flood surges etc.
should be simulated by mathematical hydrodynamic models. For planning purposes
and for Category I dams a one dimensional (1-D) model could be used, but for Category
II and III dams 2-D or 3-D models are recommended;
f) The combination of freeboard components could follow a deterministic approach

similar to the method used in the 1990 guidelines, with some revisions to the
combination of scenarios proposed;
g) A risk analysis procedure that incorporate component scenarios could be used

complementary to the proposed deterministic approach, and could be considered
especially for detail design studies of Category II and III dams ; and
h) Minimum dam specific freeboard guidelines have been proposed similar to the 1990
guidelines, but with more scenarios considering the hazard class of a dam.
The following recommendations are made:
a) Adopt freeboard figures developed from calculations above and test their adequacy
under a variety of hydrological scenarios and spillway designs;
b) Calculate the volume and cost of the extra height of dam needed;
c) Investigate whether a less expensive solution in the form of fuse plug, parapet, wave
wall or gated outlet could reduce the bulk of the dam required to establish the necessary
freeboard crest level;
d) Evaluate the greater or lesser risk of failure of the scheme thus devised against the
original calculation in (b) above;
Page 57
Volume II
e) Check the design again against all occurrences considered in (a) above, individually
and collectively where appropriate; and
f) Do final modifications in crest level upwards to increase safety margin, or downwards

to reduce cost to arrive at an optimally balanced freeboard value and hence crest level.
Page 58
Volume II
6. REFERENCES
Abrahamson, N. A., and W. J. Silva (1997), Empirical Response Spectral Attenuation Relations
for Shallow Crustal Earthquakes, Seismological Research Letters, Volume 68, Issue 1, January
1997, Pages 94-109, Seismological Society of America. Document Type: Article, Source Type:
Journal, ISSN: 00128287
Alexander, W.J.R. and Kovacs, Z. (1988). Lessons learnt from exceptional floods in Southern
Africa. ICOLD Congress, San Francisco, USA.
Alexander, W.J.R. (1990). Flood Hydrology for Southern African SANCOLD, Pretoria.
CEM (2006). Coastal Engineering Manual. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s (USACE).
Engineer Manual 1110-2-1100, Washington, D.C. (in 6 volumes). [The CEM (2006) is a public
domain document and is downloadable for free at:
http://chl.erdc.usace.army.mil/chl.aspx?p=s&a=ARTICLES;104 ]
Dean and Dalrymple (1992). Water Wave Mechanics for Engineers and Scientists. World.
Scientific. Singapore-New Jersey-London.
EurOtop Manual (2007). Wave Overtopping of Sea Defences and Related Structures:
Assessment Manual. August 2007. [The EurOtop Manual is a public domain document and is
downloadable for free at: http://www.overtopping-manual.com/ ].
Heller, V., Hager, W.H. and Minor, H.E. (2009). Landslide generated impulse waves in
reservoirs: Basics and computation.
Huber A. and Hager W.H. (1997). Forecasting Impulse Waves in Reservoirs. 18th ICOLD
Congress, Florence, C31: 993-1005.
Kamphuis (2002). Introduction to coastal engineering and management. ISBN: 978-981-02-

3830-8.
Page 59
Volume II
Kijko, A., Graham, G., Bejaichund, M., Roblin, D. and Brandt, M. B. C. (2003). Probabilistic
Peak Ground Acceleration and Spectral Seismic Hazard Maps for South Africa, Report
Number 2003-0053. Council for Geoscience, Pretoria.
Kovacs, Z., Roberts, C.P.R. and Jordaan, J.M. (1984). Overtopping of dams by surging flow.
Trans. SAICE.
Kovacs, Z. and du Plessis, B. (1987). Extreme floods in Southern Africa caused by tropical
cyclone Domoina. International Water Power and Dam Construction.
Kovacs, Z. (1988). TR137, Regional maximum flood peak discharges in Southern Africa.
Department of Water Affairs, Pretoria.
Milford (1987). Maximum wind speeds for South Africa. The Civil Engineer in South Africa.
Noda, E. (1970). Water waves generated by landslides. Journal of Waterways, Harbour and
Coastal Engineering. Div., 96 (4), 835–855.
NR10 (CSIR) Stellenbosch (1979). Vaaldam splash wall model study, CSIR Report No.
C/SEA 7936.
Rainchlen, F. (1983). The excitation of harbours by Tsunamis, Tsunamis their science and
engineering, Terra Sc Publ. CO., (TERRAPUB) Tokyo.
Rossouw. C. (1999). The probability of occurrence and the intensity of tropical cyclones along
the Southern African East Coast. Masters Thesis. University of Stellenbosch.
SANCOLD (1990). Interim Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams. Safety Evaluation Report
No 3. The South African National Committee on Large Dams, Pretoria, September 1990.
SANCOLD (1991). Guidelines on Safety in Relation to Floods. Safety Evaluation Report No

1. South African National Committee on Large Dams, Pretoria..
Page 60
Volume II
Saville, T., McClendon, E.W. and Cochran, A.L. (1962). Freeboard allowances for waves in
inland reservoirs, Journal of the Water Ways and Harbours Division, ASCE, Vol. WW2.
SPM (1984). Shore Protection Manual. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Washington,
D.C.
STWAVE. Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory - Engineer Research and Development Center.
Waterways Experiment Station - Vicksburg, Mississippi –US Army Corps of Engineers.
Website : http://chl.erdc.usace.army.mil/chl.aspx?p=s&a=Software;9
SWAN (Booij et al, 2006). SWAN code and user manual is a public domain document and is
downloadable for free at: : http://vlm089.citg.tudelft.nl/swan/index.htm
The Rock Manual (2007). The use of rock in hydraulic engineering (2nd edition). CIRIA;
CUR; CETMEF. London, 2007. ISBN 978-0-86017-683-1.
[The Rock Manual is a public domain document and is downloadable for free at:
www.kennisbank-waterbouw.nl/rockmanual ].
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Shore Protection Manual Vol. I, II and III, Coastal
Engineering Research Center (1977).
UK ICE (1978). Floods and reservoir safety: an engineering guide. UK Institution of Civil
Engineers, London.
Vischer, D.L. (1986), Rockfall induced waves in reservoirs, Water Power and Dam
Construction.
Vischer, D. L., and Hager, W. H. (1997). Dam hydraulics, Wiley, Chichester, U.K.
Weather Bureau (1975). Climate of South Africa, Part 12. Surface winds. WB 38.
WRC. (2011). Guidelines on freeboard for dams, Volume I, Literature review and case studies.
SA Water Research Commission.
Page 61
Volume II
Zweifel A., Zuccalà D.; and Gatti D. (2007). Comparison between Computed and
Experimentally Generated Impulse Waves, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, pp208-
216.
Page 62
Volume II
APPENDIX A
FREEBOARD DRAWINGS
Page 63
Volume II
Figure A-1 Definition of Freeboard (for the case of an embankment dam)

Page 64
Volume II
Figure A-2 Detail of crest treatments for uncontrolled and controlled spillways
Page 65
Volume II
Figure A-3 Crest treatments for rockfill and concrete gravity dams
Page 66
Volume II
APPENDIX B
Wind data for South Africa and Namibia
HIGHEST OVER LAND (10m ABOVE SURFACE) HOURLY WIND SPEED (m/s)
TO BE EXPECTED IN 25, 50 AND 100 YEARS
STATION 25 years 50 years 100 years
ALEXANDER BAY 25.3 25.9 26.4

BEAUFORT WEST 29.8 31.6 33.5
BLOEMFONTEIN 22.4 23.8 25.4
D.F. MALAN 20.0 21.1 22.1
DURBAN 24.9 26.6 28.4

EAST LONDON 21.3 22.2 23.2
EASTCOURT 16.7 17.7 18.7
GEORGE 20.8 22.2 23.6
JAN SMUTS 21.2 22.7 24.3

KEETMANSHOOP 21.7 22.8 23.9
KIMBERLEY 19.6 20.7 21.8
MIDDELBURG 16.6 17.4 18.2
PIETERMARITZBURG 2.03 22.4 23.4

PORT ELIZABETH 21.1 22.3 23.0
PRETORIA 15.6 16.4 17.2
UPINGTON 21.4 22.4 23.4
WINDHOEK 17.1 18.6 20.2
Page 67
Volume II
APPENDIX C
Short user manual of SWAN
Page 68
Volume II
1. Introduction
SWAN is an acronym for Simulating WAves Nearshore.
The purpose of this Customised User Guide is to provide a basic procedure on how to
use SWAN to obtain realistic estimates of wave parameters (especially wind generated
wave heights) on inland reservoirs. This document contains information only relevant
to the procedure followed by the author.
It is strongly recommended that users who are keen in making use of SWAN for more
complex problems read the SWAN User Manual which can be downloaded free of
charge from http://130.161.13.149/swan/download/info.htm. At the time of preparing
this document SWAN 40.51 was the latest version. Furthermore, the functionalities and
limitation of SWAN can be obtained from the SWAN User Manual.
2. Software required for modelling
The following software packages were utilised by the author.
(a) AUTOCAD - For tracing contours

(b) DXF2XYZ - For converting coordinates into XYZ
(c) Microsoft Excel - For managing large data sets
(d) SWAN - For computation of Wave Heights
(e) Surfer 8 - For digitising and presentations
3. Units and Coordinate system
In SWAN all quantities, input and output parameters are expressed in S. I. units. SWAN
operates in a Cartesian coordinate system or in a Spherical coordinate system, i.e flat
plane or on spherical earth. In the case of inland reservoir design the Cartesian
coordinate system is more relevant.
In the Cartesian system, all geographical locations and orientations are defined in terms
of one common origin (0,0). This origin may be chosen totally arbitrarily by the user.
A computation grid is defined in relation to the chosen origin. The user defines the
geographic location, size, resolution and orientation of the computational grid. Regular
Page 69
Volume II
(rectangular) grids are most often used and are preferable for inland reservoir. The
computational grid parameters to be specified are illustrated in the Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Generalised illustration of problem coordinate system (e.g. available

coordinate system of bed topography of problem case investigated) in relation to
chosen grid system best suited for SWAN.
4. PROCEDURE
Step 1 – Data Acquisition
The data can be obtained in several forms which include but are not limited to the
following:
1. Raw topographic survey data (x,y,z) of the dam basin
2. A satellite image of the dam basin from Google Earth
3. A CAD drawing of the dam basin showing contour lines from which (x.y.z)
values can be obtained (Recommended).
If raw survey data is available – Save the XYZ file and Go to Step 3
If an image of the contour map of the dam basin is available, the user must follow these
instructions:
Page 70
Volume II
 Import the image into AutoCAD,

 Draw polylines to obtain x and y coordinates by tracing the contours on the
image.
 Extend the polyline from one bank to the other along the dam structure to form
a continual line for each level
 Save the traced drawing as *.dxf and Go to Step 2
If a topographic contour CAD drawing of the dam basin is available without the
topographic drawing of the dam wall, import the dam wall cad drawing into the dam
basin drawing to enable the connection of the contour lines from one bank to the other
along the dam structure. Save the drawing as *.dxf and Go to Step 2
Step 2 – Conversion of Raw Data into XYZ
Use DXF2 Program to generate a text file with XYZ values (see Screen-display 1
below).
Screen-display 1
Step 3 – Computational Grid
Page 71
Volume II
The computational grid is required in a specific format because of the way the SWAN
programme is designed to read the Z value each point.
The computational grid can be created manually but this is not advised because
depending on the size of the reservoir one can end up with a large number of points. It
is therefore recommended that users utilise an available digitising software program.
The program, Surfer 8, could be used for for this process.
If Surfer is used, these steps must be followed:
1. Open Surfer.
2. Click on grid, then data. A pop out menu will appear.
3. Change the section on Files of type to All Files [*.*] and mark the created
xyz-file. See Screen-display 2 below
Screen display 2
4. Press open, a pop out menu will appear. Where it says Data columns on the
pop out menu, select the location of the file under which the XYZ file from
Step 1 or 2 above was saved. Create the desired grid by typing the
appropriate numbers in the space provided for Spacing. See Screen-display
3 below.
Page 72
Volume II
Screen display 3
5. Click on OK and the data/map wille be created and saved in the chosen
Output Grid File.
6. Open the new file with Surfer ( File – Open... - newout.dat – press Open)
and save the data as type ASCIIXYZ (*.dat), (change also the name of the
file so that the original will not be lost!)
Note
The user must ensure that the grid line spacing in both X and Y direction
are whole numbers. This can be achieved by adjusting the Minimum and
Maximum values slightly. The X and Y spacing does not need to be equal
but this is preferable.
Some data may be lost if the data points are more than 65000 because
Microsoft Excel has provision for maximum of 65,000 rows. Transfer the
data in batches or reduce the number of nodes in the grid by increasing the
spacing between the grid lines.
7. Create in a separate Excel-sheet another column by subtracting the Z values
from the dam Full Supply Level (FSL) or a selected flood level. In this way
the chosen level e.g. FSL will be zero, negative figures will represent land
and positive value water depth. Open Surfer – File – Open... - chose the
ASCIIXYZ (*.dat) – press Open. Copy the Z-column to an new Exel-sheet
and subtract the FSL or the selected flood level.
8. Copy the created column (FSL-Z) from the Excel spreadsheet and paste it
on a seperat Surfer-worksheet .
9. Save the new worksheed as a ASCIIXYZ (*.txt) file
Page 73
Volume II
10. Rename the ASCIIXYZ (*.txt) to a (*.dat) file. Go to Step 4 –SWAN Code.
Step 4 – SWAN Code

The programming code of SWAN can be found in Appendix C of the SWAN user
manual. This code has extensive functionality, but this guideline will only focus on
applications relevant to inland reservoirs. Certain aspects of the SWAN code will now
be extracted from Appendix C and discussed.
A SWAN file is an ordinary text file saved with a .swn extension, use the Notepad for
writing the SWAN code.
The essential and most applicable commends are described below. The underlined
portion of the command is all that is needed for SWAN to identify the command.
For example, when referring to PROJECT only PROJ is used in the code.
Command PROJ
PROJECT ‘name’ ‘nr’

‘title 1’
‘title 2’
‘title 3’
PROJ - Each .swn file is given a PROJECT name and this command
‘name’ - The user is required to specify the project name
‘nr’ - is to distinguish this run amongst other runs for the same project
‘title’ - can be used for addition information to appear on the output file if necessary.
Command COORD
COORDINATES CARTESIAN
COORD - The user is required to choose the coordinate system

CART - Tells SWAN that the user has chosen the Cartesian coordinate system
Page 74
Volume II
Model Description
Command CGRID
With this required command the user defines the geographic location, size, resolution
and orientation of the computational grid. Regular grids are most often used. The
parameters to be specified are illustrated in the Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: Parameters to be specified to define the computational grad in relation

to the coordinates of the case investigated (i.e. the Problem coordinates).
CGRID REG [xpc] [ypc] [alpc] [xlenc] [ylenc] [mxc] [myc]
CIR [mdc] [flow] [fhigh] [msc]
CGRID -The user is required to define the Computational Grid

REG -Indicates that the computational grid is to be taken as uniform and
rectangular
[xpc] - The x-coordinate (in, m) of the origin of the computational grid
[ypc] - The y-coordinate (in, m) of the origin of the computational grid
Page 75
Volume II
( [xpc], [ypc] can be found in the gridreport of the first grid (xyz), open
the file and click on Options and then Grid info… )
[alpc] - Is the direction (in, degrees) of the positive x- axis
[xlenc] - Length (in, m) of the computational grid in the x-direction
[ylenc] - Length (in, m) of the computational grid in the y-direction
[mxc] - number of mesh spacings in the x-direction for a uniform recti-linear
grid
[myc] - number of mesh spacings in the y-direction for a uniform recti-linear
grid
(The number for mxc & myc is one less than the number of grid points)
Command INP
This command specifies certain parameters of the input grid.
INPGRID BOTTOM REG [xpinp] [ypinp] [alpinp] [mxinp] [myinp] [dxip] [dyinp]
INPGRID - Defines the geographical location, size and orientation of the input grid
BOTTOM - Defines the input grid of the bottom level (i.e. the dam basin bottom
bathymetry).
REG - Indicates that the computational grid is to be taken as uniform and
rectangular
[xpinp] - The x-coordinate (in, m) of the origin of the input grid
[ypinp] - The y-coordinate (in, m) of the origin of the input grid
[alpinp] - Is the direction (in, degrees) of the positive x- axis
[mxinp] - number of meshes in the x-direction of the input grid
[myinp] - number of meshes in the y-direction of the input grid
[dxinp] - mesh line spacing in the x-direction of the input grid
[dyinp] - mesh line spacing in the y-direction of the input grid
Command READ
Page 76
Volume II
With this command the program is informed how to read the input bathymetry grid
READINP BOTTOM [fac] ‘fname’ [idla] [nhedf] FREE
READINP - Controls the reading of values of the indicated variables from file
BOTTOM - Indicates that the bottom levels (m) are to be read from file
[fac] - Is the factor used to multiply values read from the file
‘fname’ - The name of the input file in which the bathymetry (z values) are kept
[idla] - Defines the order in which the bathymetry values are read (see page 55
of the SWAN user manual for various orders)
[nhedf] - Is the number of header lines in the input file to be ignored during
simulation, Default: [nhedf] =0
FREE - With this the user indicates that the values are to be read in free format
Command WIND
Another input parameter that is required to be specified is the dominant wind velocity
and direction.
WIND [vel] [dir]
WIND - With this command the user indicates that wind is constant.
[vel] - Wind velocity in (m/s) .
[dir] - Wind direction in degrees.
Command SETUP
With this command (optional) the wave induced setup is computed and accounted for
in the wave computations.
Page 77
Volume II
SETUP [supcor]
SETUP - If given, SWAN will include wave induced setup.

[supcor] - A user defined setup constant. The user can modify the setup constant at
one point in the computational grid. If the user does not require defining this constant,
the default, which is zero, will be used.
Command NUM
This command deals with iterative process of SWAN and termination of the
computation process.
NUM ACCUR [drel] [dhoval] [dtoval] [npnts]
NUM - Used to influence numerical properties of SWAN

ACCUR - Specifies the criterion for terminating the iterative procedure during
computations
[drel] - Sets allowable difference between wave heights & period from two
consecutive iterations
[dhoval] - Sets the fraction difference between the average significant wave heights
over all wet grid points
[dtoval] - Sets the fraction difference between the average mean wave period over all
wet grid points
[npnts] – The user is not required to specify this parameter, SWAN uses a default value.
Output Requirements
Command GROUP
GROUP ‘sname’ [ix1] [ix2] [iy1] [iy2]
Page 78
Volume II
GROUP - Defines a set of output location on a regular grid

‘sname’ - Name of the frame defined by the GROUP command
[ix1] - Origin of the index in terms of the computation grid in x-direction
[ix2] - The highest index in term the computational grid in the x-direction
[iy1] - Origin of the index in terms of the computation grid in y-direction
[iy2] - The highest index in term the computational grid in the y-direction
Command TABLE
TABLE ‘sname’ HEADER ‘fname’ [XP] [YP] [DEP] [HS] [PDIR] [RTP]
TABLE - Indicated to SWAN that the output should be in table format

‘sname’ - Refers to the group data
HEADER - Specified the heading of the table in the output file
‘fname’ - Name of the data file where the output is to be written.
XP - User instructs SWAN to write the x-coordinate of the output location
YP - User instructs SWAN to write the y-coordinate of the output location
HS - Significant wave height
PDIR - Peak direction
RTP - Peak period in (s)
Command COMPUTE
Orders SWAN to start computing
Command STOP
Indicates to SWAN to ignore any other command after this one.
Save the text file (SWAN Code) with an extension (*.swn) by typing the file name and
extension in the space provided for File name (refer Screen-display 4).
Page 79
Volume II
Screen-display 4: Input data as described under Step 4 above

1. The above (swan-file) must be saved two times ( in the example in Screen-display:
1. INPUT, 2. 100Spacing.swn ) in the folder which contains the following files as
illustrated below (refer Screen-display 5 below):
a. Swan.exe
b. Swaninit
c. Swanrun.bat
d. And the grid file (with z-values) which was created under Step 3 (23) above
Page 80
Volume II
Screen-display 5
2. SWAN runs in dos mode. To access the dos mode, click Start menu then Run.
Type “cmd” on the pop up menu and press OK.
3. To access the folder under which the relevant swan files are saved, Type “cd”
followed each time by the folder name as per the file path.
4. Type “dir” followed by enter to confirm that you are in the correct folder (see
Screen-display 6 below).
Screen-display 6
5. To run swan, Type “swanrun” followed by the filename of the file with the
extension (*.swn) and then Press Enter.
Swan should commence the computation as shown in Screen-display 7 below. If
nothing happens, SWAN will create an error file in the folder from which SWAN is
running. Read the error to establish where the error may have occurred. The
common error is specifying the wrong mesh.
Page 81
Volume II
Screen-display 7
When SWAN has completed the iteration process it will save the output file in the folder
from which SWAN is running.
Screen-display 8
6. Open the output file using Surfer. A typical output file is as shown in Screen-display
9 below depending on the parameter specified by the user in the swan code.
Page 82
Volume II
Screen-display 9
For graphical representation of the results, the user is encouraged to read surfer manual
or to use any available software. A typical plot of wind wave height distribution in a
dam basin as obtained from SWAN and plotted by Surfer is presented in Figure 3
below.
Page 83
Volume II
-3245000
1.5
-3246000
-3247000
0.5
-3248000
88000 89000 90000 91000 92000 93000 94000 0
Figure 3: Typical plot of wave height distribution in a dam basin as obtained from SWAN
and plotted by Surfer (wave heights, Hs are in metres)
5. REFERENCES
1. SWAN computer program, Cycle version 40.41 User Manual and software
downloadable as freeware at: http://vlm089.citg.tudelft.nl/swan/index.htm
2. DXF2XYZ computer program. Freeware downloadable at :
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Science-CAD/Dxf2xyz.shtml
3. SURFER computer program. Downloadable at:
http://www.goldensoftware.com/products/surfer/surfer.shtml
Page 84
Volume II
APPENDIX D
Short user manual of SURFER
Page 85
Volume II
D.1 Creating grid files, contour- and wireframe maps
Surfer has very good basic tutorials. Access the tutorials from the help menu. Do Lessons: 1 –
4. The lessons are easy to follow and will give you a good basic feel for working with Surfer.
When creating a grid file make sure that the grid line spacing in both the X and Y direction are
whole numbers. See Figure D.1. This will make the SWAN programming easier. The X and Y
line spacing does not need to be equal to each other. Also adjust the axis of given data so that
North on the grid is up (the same as SWAN). Doing this will make working with direction
easier when making vector maps.
Figure D.1: Grid data in Surfer
D.2 Creating a *.dat file for SWAN

When creating a grid file for SWAN keep in mind that the mean water level should be equal to
zero with water depths being positive and land being any negative number. After Surfer created
the grid file save the file as an ASCII XYZ (*.dat) file. See Figure D.2. Open the new file from
whichever folder you saved it in and delete the X and Y column. You should now have a grid
file with only the Z coordinates in the first column.
Page 86
Volume II
Figure D.2: Saving grid file for SWAN
D.3 Creating vector maps

Do not attempt before you’ve done the first 4 tutorial lessons. This step-by-step guide will be
done on the wave peak directions of the Voëlvlei dam at a 36.6 m/s wind speed in the direction
of the longest straight line fetch.
Open the *.dat file that SWAN produced as output. Make sure which columns contain the X-,
Y coordinates, significant wave height and the Peak direction. Create 2 grid files: one with the
significant wave height as the Z-axis and one with the peak direction as the Z-axis (X=X-axis,
Y=Y-axis). Make sure that the two grid files have the same grid line spacing.
Open a new plot document. Go to the grid’s math function. See Figure D.3.
Figure D.3: Grid Math’s location
Choose the grid file you created with significant wave height as the Z-axis. Type in the “Enter
a function …” textbox the formula: C=max(A,0). This will substitute negative values of Hs
with 0. (SWAN gives significant wave height as negative on land). This is done because the
vector map will use the Hs grid to draw the length of the vectors (can’t have negative length
Page 87
Volume II
vectors). After clicking ok Surfer will create a grid file named “out.grd” with 0 values in the
place of negative values for Hs.
Figure D.4: Grid Math function
Create a new 2-Grid Vector Map. See Figure D.5.
Figure D.5: 2-grid Vector map location
When asked for the X-component (angle) grid select the grid file you created with the peak
direction as the Z-axis. See Figure D.6.
Page 88
Volume II
Figure D.6: angle-component
After you clicked ok you will be asked for the Y component (length) grid. Select the grid you
created with the grid math function. See Figure D.7.
Figure D.7: length-component
After clicking ok Surfer will create a vector map that will look something like Figure D.8.
Double click on the vector map to open the Map: Vector properties. Change the Coordinate
System to Polar and the Angle to 0 = East. See Figure D.9 and D.10.
Page 89
Volume II
Figure D.8: Vector map 1 Figure D.9: Vector properties
Figure D.10: Vector map after properties was changed
Page 90
Volume II
After you created the vector map you can put it over the contour map you created with Hs as
the Z-axis. Change the colors and levels till you end up with a map that looks like Figure B.11.
Figure D.11: Vector map over a contour map
Page 91
Volume II
APPENDIX E
CD with SWAN case study example files

and
with Excel spreadsheet to calculate wave height and period (based on
empirical formulae) for selected wind speed and consequent wave run-up
on a sloped (embankment) wave wall.
Page 92
View publication stats

SANCOLDFreeboard Guideline Vol IIFinal March 2011 Rev 01

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SANCOLDFreeboard Guideline Vol IIFinal March 2011 Rev 01

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

SANCOLDFreeboard Guideline Vol IIFinal March 2011 Rev 01

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

SANCOLD 2011 Guidelines on Freeboard for Dams Volume II SOUTH AFRICAN

Technical Report · March 2011

Eddie Bosman Gerrit Basson

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS

Compiled for: Compiled by:

SA Water Research Commission Bosman, D.E., Basson, J., Tente, T.

The key revisions made in this document are:

REVISION OF THE SANCOLD INTERIM GUIDELINES ON FREEBOARD FOR DAMS (2007-2009)

The Reference Group members of this WRC project were:

Mr Wandile Nomquphu Water Research Commission (chairman)

2. FREEBOARD CALCULATION PROCEDURE ............................................................ 12

2.1 FLOODS .......................................................................................................................... 12

2.4 WIND SET-UP ................................................................................................................. 22

2.6 WAVE RUN-UP ............................................................................................................... 30

2.7 SEICHES AND SURGES ................................................................................................. 32

3. COMBINING FREEBOARD COMPONENTS .............................................................. 42

3.1 Deterministic approach .................................................................................................... 42

4. DAM SPECIFIC FREEBOARD REQUIREMENTS ...................................................... 46

4.1 GENERAL REMARKS ..................................................................................................... 46

4.2 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EARTHFILL DAMS .................................................. 49

4.4 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCRETE DAMS .................................................. 54

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 56

APPENDIX A Freeboard Drawings

Freeboard provides a margin of safety against overtopping failure of dams. Sufficient

Table 1.1 Freeboard contributing components and related driving mechanisms

2. FREEBOARD CALCULATION PROCEDURE

2.2 FLOOD SURCHARGE

a) A relationship between storage volume and level above FSL;

determining the effective length of the spillway. Submergence of especially a side

d) The initial water level condition (normally taken at FSL);

e) Future sedimentation in the reservoir for a minimum period of 50 years. As much as

f) The calculation method i.e. horizontal water surface or backwater; and

g) The shape of the hydrograph.

2.2.1 Practical aspects in relation to flood surcharges and freeboard

b) Combinations of uncontrolled + gated spillways. Here surcharges and freeboard are

2.3 WIND WAVES AND RUN-UP

2.3.1 Selection of design wind speed

A tropical cyclone is similar to an extra-tropical cyclone but smaller in diameter (i.e.

1:25 yr hourly wind

1:50 yr hourly wind

1:100 yr hourly wind

2.3.2 Effective fetch

2.4 WIND SET-UP

Wind set-up could be determined approximately by means of simplified analytical methods

2.5 DESIGN WAVE HEIGHT

2.5.1 Wave parameters

Figure 2.5-1 Exceedance probability of wave heights in an irregular wave train,

2.5.2 Design waves consideration

Table 2.1 Dam type, design wave height and run-up

2.5.3 Empirical methods for wind wave prediction

2.5.4 Mathematical model for wind wave prediction

a) SWAN (Simulating waves nearshore) developed by the Technical University of Delft

orbital near-bottom motion and wave-induced force (based on the radiation-stress

2.6 WAVE RUN-UP

2.6.1 Run-up on sloped structures

Figure 2.6-2 Definition of fictitious surf similarity parameter (ξ)