CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DAM OUTLET WORKS

 Intakes
 Gates
 Spillways
o Spillway Design
o Profile of Spillways
 Energy Dissipaters

• Dam outlet works consist generally of

spillways and bottom (high-head) outlets
• Spillways are basically dam appurtenances*

Dam outlet work structures can be classified:

1) According to their purpose,
2) Their physical and structural arrangement,
3) Their hydraulic operation.

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 1) According to their purpose,
 Irrigation Outlets
 Water Supply Outlets
 Hydropower Outlets
 Flood Control Outlets
 Navigation Outlets
 Sediment Control Outlets
2. Their physical and structural arrangement,

 Conduit-Type Outlets
 Tower-Type Outlets
 Open Channel Outlets
 Gated Outlets
 Bottom-Outlets
 Shaft Outlets
 Side Channel Outlets

3) Their hydraulic operation.

 Free Flow Outlets (Ungated Outlets)
 Controlled Flow Outlets
 Pressurized Flow Outlets
 Non-Pressurized Flow Outlets
 Energy Dissipating Outlets

 Dam outlet work structures can be classified based on their purpose into the
following categories:
1. Irrigation Outlets
•Designed to release water for agricultural purposes.
•Ensure a controlled supply to downstream irrigation systems.
2. Water Supply Outlets
•Provide water for domestic, industrial, or municipal uses.
•Deliver water with specific flow and quality requirements.
3. Hydropower Outlets
•Deliver water to turbines to generate electricity.
•Designed to handle high-pressure and high-flow conditions.
4. Flood Control Outlets
•Help discharge excess water during floods to prevent overtopping of the dam.
•Typically equipped with large spillways or sluices.
5. Navigation Outlets
•Facilitate water release to maintain navigable water levels in downstream rivers and
canals.
•Often used in conjunction with locks for ship movement.
6. Sediment Control Outlets
•Help remove accumulated sediments from the reservoir.
•Maintain the reservoir's storage capacity and improve water quality.

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  The classification of dam outlet work structures based on their physical and
structural arrangement includes the following types:
1. Conduit-Type Outlets
•Comprise tunnels or pipes passing through or around the dam.
•Used to convey water from the reservoir to downstream areas.
2. Tower-Type Outlets
•Involve intake towers that draw water from different levels of the reservoir.
•Often connected to conduits or pipelines for water discharge.
3. Open Channel Outlets
•Comprise surface spillways or open channels that release water over the dam or through side
slopes.
•Typically used for flood control.
4. Gated Outlets
•Use gates or valves to regulate water flow.
•Can be incorporated in conduits, tunnels, or open channels.
5. Bottom-Outlets
•Located at or near the base of the dam.
•Used for sediment flushing, reservoir emptying, or emergency water releases.
6. Shaft Outlets
•Use vertical or inclined shafts to convey water from the reservoir to downstream areas.
•Often paired with tunnels or conduits.
7. Side Channel Outlets
•Positioned to divert water along the sides of the dam.
•Frequently used for hydropower or irrigation purposes.

 The classification of dam outlet work structures based on their hydraulic

operation focuses on how water flows through the outlet. This includes the
following types:
1. Free Flow Outlets (Ungated Outlets)
•Water flows freely under the influence of gravity without any obstruction.
•Flow is controlled by the geometry of the outlet structure.
Examples: Spillways or open conduits without gates.
2. Controlled Flow Outlets
•Equipped with gates, valves, or other mechanisms to regulate water discharge.
•Allow precise control of flow rates.
Examples: Gate-controlled sluices, Valve-controlled pipes or conduits.
3. Pressurized Flow Outlets
•Water flows under pressure through closed conduits, tunnels, or pipelines.
•Often used for hydropower and water supply systems.
Examples: Penstocks for turbines.
Pipelines delivering water to municipal systems.
4. Non-Pressurized Flow Outlets
•Water flows in open channels or conduits without significant pressure buildup.
•Typically used for irrigation or flood release.
Examples: Open channel spillways, Low-level outlet channels
5. Energy Dissipating Outlets
•Designed to reduce the kinetic energy of water before discharge to minimize erosion
downstream.
•Often includes structures like stilling basins, energy dissipators, or baffled aprons.
•Used in conjunction with spillways or conduits.

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4.1 SPILLWAY

Types and Its Design Principles

 Spillway is a structure constructed to pass surplus
flood water to the d/s of Reservoir and Dam.

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 Essential Requirements of a Spillway
 The spillway must have sufficient capacity.
 It must be hydraulically and structurally adequate.
 It must be so located that it provides safe disposal
of water
 Usually some devices are needed for energy
dissipation on the d/s side of the spillway

Types of Spillway
1. Classification based on the time when the
spillways come into operation
 Main or service spillway
 Auxiliary spillway
 Emergency spillway
2. Classification according to flow through the
spillway
 controlled or gated spillway
 uncontrolled or un-gated spillway

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 3. For control structures discharge channels etc.,
the spillway is classified into the following types.
 Free over-fall or straight-drop spillway
 Overflow or Ogee spillway
 Chute or open channel or trough spillway
 Side channel spillway
 Shaft or Morning Glory spillway
 Conduit or tunnel spillway
 Siphon spillway

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 a) Overflow dams with vertical u/s face

The following equation as given by U.S. corps of engineers may be

used for finding coordinates (X , Y) for the d/s profile
x1.85 = 2 (Hd) 0.85 y
Xn=K(Hd)n-1*y

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 Where X & Y are coordinates as shown in the

figure and Hd is the design head.

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 b) Overflow dams with sloping u/s face
The D/S profile may conform to the following equation:
xn = K (Hd)n-1 y
n, K depends on the inclination of u/s face of the dam

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 Values of constant K,n , R1,R2, a and b

Shape of
U/S face K N R1/Hd R2/Hd a/Hd b/Hd
Vertical 2.00 1.850 0.50 0.20 0.175 0.282
3V: 1H 1.936 1.836 0.68 0.21 0.139 0.237
3V: 2 H 1.939 1.810 0.48 0.22 0.115 0.240
3V: 3H 1.873 1.776 0.45 0.00 0.119 0.000

Waterways Experimental Station (WES)

The u/s profile should conform to the following
equation:
y = {0.724 (x+ 0.270 Hd)1.85/(Hd )0.85 }+ 0.126 Hd -
0.4315(Hd)0.375(x + 0.270 Hd)0.625
Where the upstream profile extends up to x = -0.27Hd
The corresponding y value is equal to 0.126 Hd

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 Discharge Computation of over ogee crest
 The discharge over ogee spillway is given by:
Ha
Q = Cd Le He1.5 He Hd

He = Hd + Ha

Ha=Va2/2g
 The effective length (Le) of Ogee spillway is
given by:
 Le = L – 2 (N*Kp +Ka) *He
 Where , L= The net clear length of the spillway crest
Kp = Pier contraction coefficient
Ka = Abutment contraction coefficient
N = Number of piers
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 • Model tests have shown that for h > 1.33 Hd
the head due to the velocity of approach is
negligible and
• when the total head of flow is equal to the
design head, i.e. He = Hd, the coefficient of
discharge is equal to 2.2
Where h is the height of the spillway

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4.2 Energy Dissipaters

 Energy Dissipaters are structures designed to reduce the kinetic
energy of water flowing downstream from a dam or spillway,
preventing erosion and structural damage to the riverbed or
surrounding infrastructure.
 Purpose of Energy Dissipaters
 Protect downstream areas from erosion.
 Safeguard the structural integrity of the dam and spillway.
 Control sediment transport in rivers.
 Enhance safety by reducing high flow velocities.

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 Types of Energy Dissipaters
1.Stilling Basins:
• Structures that create a hydraulic jump to dissipate energy.
• Commonly used downstream of spillways and outlets.
2.Flip Buckets:
• Direct water into the air in a jet-like trajectory to disperse energy.
• Often used in high-head dams.
3.Baffle Blocks:
• Concrete blocks are placed in stilling basins to disrupt the flow and
enhance energy dissipation.
4.Chute Blocks and End Sills:
• Placed at the start and end of a stilling basin to control and redirect
water flow.
5.Roughened Channels:
• Channels with rough surfaces or stepped profiles to dissipate energy
gradually as water flows downstream.
6.Stepped Spillways:
• Spillways with a series of steps that slow water velocity through
turbulence.

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4.2 Hydraulic jump stilling basin

The stilling basin is the most common form of energy dissipater converting the
supercritical flow from the spillway into subcritical flow compatible with the
downstream river régime.

Hydraulic Jump type Stilling Basin

Horizontal apron type
Sloping apron type

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 Bucket-type energy dissipaters
• Solid roller bucket type
• Slotted roller bucket type
• Sky jump Bucket type (trajectory or shooting or
flip

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 The hydraulic jump equation for the rectangular

section with pre-jump and post-jump is given by:
y2 1 y2 8q 2
 (1  1  8F12 )  1 (1 
2
1 )
y1 2 y1 gy 13
Fr =v/(gy)^0.5 V2
 The specific energy is: ES  y  
2g

 The average velocity is: V Q 

qB q

A BY Y

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 4.3 Dam outlets, Sluice ways, Intakes, gates, and valves
Bottom outlet works are constructed:
 To ensure the conveyance of water from the
reservoir into the lower part, downstream of the
dam
 To facilitate the lowering of the level of the
reservoir,
 To ensure water for the biological minimum in
the riverbed downstream of the works.

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According to their position in relation to the dam,

bottom outlet works are classified in two groups:

1. outlet structures passing through the body of the dam

2. Outlet structures that are placed in the bank, outside the
body of the dam

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 Intakes
The intake structure (head regulator) is a hydraulic
device constructed at the head of an irrigation or
power canal or a tunnel conduit.
The main purposes of intake structures are:
 To admit and regulate water from the source, and
possibly to meter the flow rate.
 To minimize the silting of the canal i.e to control
the sediment entry into the canal at its intake
 To prevent the clogging of the entrance with
floating debris

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Gates and valves

The main operational requirements for gates and
valves are :
 the control of floods, water tightness, minimum
hoist capacity, convenience of installation and
maintenance and above all failure free performance
and avoidance of safety hazards to the operating
staff and the public.
Gates are divided :
 Crest gates:
 High-head gates and valves:

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 Example

Slope of U/s face K n

Vertical 2.0 1.850
3 on 1 1.936 1.836
3 on 2 1.939 1.810
3 on 3 1.873 1.776

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Solution

He=17.15m is not the correct value. It has been calculated again by the
effective length of the spillway.

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X Y
-4.887 2.28
-2.5 0.384042644
-2 0.235991095
-1.5 0.126258462
-1 0.050849246
-0.5 0.006899903
0 0
2 0.154
4 0.555
6 1.174
Ogee Profile 8 2.000
-5
10 3.022
-10 0 10 20 30 40
0 12 4.234
14 5.631
5 16 7.209
Ogee Profile
18 8.964
10
20 10.893
15 22 12.993
24 15.262
20
26 17.698
25 28 20.299
Where: the upstream profile extends up to x = -0.27Hd 30 23.062
The corresponding y value is equal to 0.126 Hd 30.19 23.333

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