Dams

DAMS:
Dams are structures that block the flow of a river, stream, or

other waterway.
Purpose of a Dam:

Dams are built for the following purposes:

1. Irrigation and drinking water

2. Power generation (hydroelectric)

3. Navigation

4. Flood Control

5. Multi purposes
TYPES OF DAMS:
1. Gravity Dams use only the force of gravity to resist water
pressure that is, they hold back water by the sheer force of
their weight pushing downward.
>>> Grand Coulee Dam, Grand
Coulee, Washington, USA
TYPES OF DAMS:
2. Embankment Dam is a gravity dam formed out of loose
rock, earth, or a combination of these materials.
>>> Ambuklao Dam, Bokod, Benguet, Philippines
TYPES OF DAMS:
>>> Magat Dam, Cagayan, Isabela, Philippines
TYPES OF DAMS:
>>> San Roque
Dam, Pangasinan,
Philippines
TYPES OF DAMS:
>>> San Roque Dam, Pangasinan, Philippines
TYPES OF DAMS:
3. Arch Dams are concrete masonry structures that curve
upstream into a reservoir, stretching from one wall of a river
canyon to the other.
>>> Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado River, Arizona, USA
TYPES OF DAMS:
4. Buttress Dam consists of a wall, or face, supported by
several buttresses on the downstream side.
>>> Buttress Dam, France
ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DAM:
Dams are structures whose purpose is to raise the water level on the
upstream side of river, stream, or other waterway. The rising water
will cause hydrostatic force which will tend the dam to slide
horizontally and overturn about its downstream edge or toe.
ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
The raised water level on the upstream edge or heel will also cause
the water to seep under the dam. The pressure due to this seepage is
commonly called hydrostatic uplift and will reduce the stability of the
dam against sliding and against overturning.
ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 1: Consider 1 unit length (1 m
length) of dam perpendicular to the
cross section.
With reference to the figure :
ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 2: Determine all the forces acting:

A. Vertical Forces
1. Weight of the dam
W
1
=
c
V
1
; W
2
=
c
V
2
; W
3
=
c
V
3

2. Weight of water in the upstream
side (if any)
W
4
=V
4

3. Weight of permanent structures on
the dam

4. Hydrostatic Uplift
U
1
=V
u1

U
2
=V
u2

Where:
= unit wt. of water
c
= unit wt. of concrete
c
= 2.4 (usually taken as 23.5 kN/m
3
)
With reference to the figure:
ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 2: Determine all the forces acting:

B. Horizontal Force

1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at
the vertical projection of the
submerged portion of the dam.

2. Wind Pressure

3. Wave Action

4. Floating Bodies

5. Earthquake Load

ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 3: Solve for the Reaction

A. Vertical Reaction, R
y

R
y
= F
v

R
y
= W
1
+ W
2
+

W
3
+

W
4
-

U
1
-

U
2

B. Horizontal Reaction, R
x

R
x
= F
h

R
x
= F
ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 4: Solve for the Reaction

A. Righting Moment, RM (rotation
towards the upstream side)

RM=W
1
x
1
+W
2
x
2
+W
3
x
3
+W
4
x
4

B. Overturning Moment, OM (rotation
towards the downstream side)

OM = F(y)+ U
1
z
1
+U
2
z
2

ANALYSIS OF DAMS:
Step 5: Location of R
y
, ( )

FACTORS OF SAFETY:
1. Factor of safety against sliding, FS
s
:
2. Factor of safety against overturning, FS
o
:
Where:
= coefficient of friction between the base of the dam and
the foundation
FOUNDATION PRESSURE:
1. For eccentricity, e B/6:
Note: Use (+) to get the stress
at point where R
y
is nearest.
In this figure, use (+) to get q
T

and (-) to get q
H
A negative stress indicates
compressive stress and a
positive stress indicates tensile
stress.

FOUNDATION PRESSURE:
2. For eccentricity, e > B/6:
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
A gravity dam of trapezoidal cross-section with one face vertical and
horizontal base id 22 m high and has a thickness of 4m at the top. Water
upstream stands 2m below the crest of the dam. The unit weight of concrete
is equal to 23.5 kN/m
3
and the coefficient of friction between the base of the
dam and the foundation is 0.5.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
Neglecting hydrostatic uplift, determine the following:
1. Factor of safety against sliding
2. Factor of safety against overturning
3. Overturning moment acting against the dam
4. Foundation Pressure
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
Considering uplift pressure to vary uniformly from full hydrostatic pressure
at the heel to zero at the toe.
1. Factor of safety against sliding
2. Factor of safety against overturning
3. Overturning moment acting against the dam

Dams

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DAMS:

Dams are structures that block the flow of a river, stream, or

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