Arch Dams

An arch dam is curved in plan, with its convexity towards the upstream
side. An arch dam transfers the water pressure and other forces mainly
to the abutments by arch action.

An arch dam is quite suitable for narrow canyons with strong flanks
which are capable of resisting the thrust produced by the arch action.

The section of an arch dam is approximately triangular like a gravity dam

but the section is comparatively thinner.

The arch dam may have a single curvature or double curvature in the vertical
plane. Generally, the arch dams of double curvature are more economical and
are used in practice
Advantages
(i) An arch dam requires less concrete as compared to a gravity dam as the
section is thinner.
(ii) Arch dams are more suited to narrow, V-shaped valley, having very steep
slopes.
(iii) Uplift pressure is not an important factor in the design of an arch dam
because the arch dam has less width and the reduction in weight due to uplift
does not affect the stability.
(iv) An arch dam can be constructed on a relatively less strong foundation
because a small part of load is transferred to base, whereas in a gravity dam full
load is transferred to base
Disadvantages
(i) An arch dam requires good rock in the flanks (abutments) to resist the thrust.
(ii) The arch dam requires sophisticated formwork, more skilled labour and
richer concrete.
(iii) The arch dam cannot be constructed in very cold climates because spalling of
concrete occurs due to alternate freezing and thawing.
(v) The speed of construction is relatively slow.
 Buttress Dams
Buttress dams are of three types: (i) Deck type, (ii) Multiple archtype, and (iii)
Massive-head type. A deck type buttress dam consists of a sloping deck supported
by buttresses.
Buttresses are triangular concrete walls which transmit the water pressure from
the deck slab to the foundation. Buttresses are compression members. The deck is
usually a reinforced concrete slab supported between the buttresses, which are
usually equally spaced
The buttress dams require less concrete than gravity dams. But they are not
necessarily cheaper than the gravity dams because of extra cost of form work,
reinforcement and more skilled labour
Buttress Dams
 Steel Dams
A steel dam consists of a steel framework, with a steel skin plate on its
upstream face
Steel dams are sometimes used as temporary coffer dams during the
construction of the permanent dams. Steel coffer dams are
supplemented with timber or earthfill on the inner side to make them
water tight. The area between the coffer dams is dewatered so that
the construction may be done in dry for the
permanent dam
 Timber Dams
A timber dam consists of a framework made of timber with a facing of
timber planks. The framework is comprised of struts and beams. It
transfers the water pressure on the upstream planks to the foundation
Timber dams are generally used as temporary dams. These are short lived,
but if well-designed, constructed and maintained, they may last even
30 - 40 years.
The timber dams are used at places where timber is available in plenty
and the height of the dam is low. However, because of shortage of
timber, these dams are becoming obsolete
Determination of dam site
◘ Factors should be taken into consideration:
•Topography
•Geology and dam foundation
– (faults and weak geologic formations should be avoided)
– Type of soil affects the overall stability of dam body
•Available of construction materials
•Flood hazard
•Seismic hazard
•Spillway location and possibilities
•Construction time
•Climate (earth fill dam is not appropriate for rainy climates)
•Diversion facilities
•Sediment problem
•Water quality
•Transportation facilities
•Right of way cost
Concrete Gravity Dams
Gravity Dams
 Forces Acting on Dams
To design a dam, various forces must be considered to
insure the safety of the dam. The most important
forces are:
1. Weight of dam
2. Water Pressure
3. Uplift Pressure
4. Wave pressure
5. Silt Pressure
6. Earthquake forces
7. Ice Pressure
 • Weight of Dam
The weight of the dam is calculated as follows:
W   m xVolume
Where γm is the specific weight of the dam’s material.

The weight of the dam is the main stabilizing

force in a concrete gravity dam. The dead
load to be considered comprises the weight
of the concrete or masonry or both plus the
weight of such appurtenances as piers, gates
and bridges
 • Water Pressure
Water pressure acts perpendicular to the surface of the
dam and is calculated per unit width as follows:
1
P   wh2
2

Where γw is the specific weight of water and h is the height of water

• Uplift Pressure
Dams are subjected to uplift force under its
base. Uplift acts upward.

h
1
U   w hB
2
U
B/3
B

Where B is the width of the base of the dam.

The uplift pressure is defined as the
upward pressure of water as it flows or
seeps through the body of the dam or
its foundation.
A portion of the weight of the dam will
be supported on the upward pressure
of water; hence net foundation
reaction due to vertical force will
reduce.

The uplift is assumed to be the

reservoir pressure from the u/s face to
the end of the crack and from there to
vary linearly to the tailwater pressure
at the d/s face. The uplift is assumed to
act over 100 % of the area.
 • Wave Pressure
The upper part of the dam (above the water level) is subjected
to the impact of waves. The maximum wave pressure per unit
width is: P  2 H 2
wave w s

Where Hs is the significant wave height,

Pwave acts at 3/8 Hs above the still water
level.
 H s  0.032 V .F  0.763  0.274 F for F< 32 km

H s  0.032 V .F for F> 32 km

Where V is the wind velocity in km/hr and F is the fetch length in km

Where the Fetch length is 1) The horizontal distance (in the direction of the
wind) over which a wind generates. (2) The horizontal distance along open water
over which the wind blows and generates waves.
Earthquake Forces
Dams are subjected to vibration during earthquakes. Vibration
affects both the body of the dam and the water in the reservoir
behind the dam. Vibration forces are function of both the
intensity (Rechter Scale) and its duration. The most danger effect
occurs when the vibration is perpendicular to the face of the dam.
• Body Forces:
Body force acts horizontally at the center of
gravity and is calculated as: Pem  W
Where α is the earthquake coefficient and
W is the weight of the dam.  Is taken 0.2 W1
0.2 for practical reasons. 0.2 W2
W1

W2
• Water Force:
Water vibration produces a force on the dam acting
horizontally;

2
Pew  C eh 2 h Pew
3
2/5 h

Where Ce is another coefficient (0.82) and h is the

height of the water
 Silt Pressures (Sediment Loads)
The gradual accumulation of significant deposits of fine sediment, notably silts, against the
face of the dam generates a resultant horizontal force, Ps. This force is a function of sediment
depth hs, the submerged unit weight, '
s
   s  w
'
s
Where s is the sediment saturation unit weight
1  sin s
And the active lateral pressure coefficient Ka 
1  sin  s
ɸs is the angle of shearing resistance of sediments
Ps  12 K a s' hs2 KN/m

Silting at US
And
' acts at hs/3 above x-x plane.
Psilt=0.5*γsilt*hsilt2*ka
 s =18-20KN/m3 and ɸs =30o are representative.
Accurate prediction of the accumulated depth hs, is inhibited by major uncertainties. hs is a
time dependent function of sediment concentration, reservoir characteristics and river
hydrograph.
Experiments indicate that silt pressure and water pressure exist together in a
submerged fill and that the silt pressure on the dam is reduced in the proportion
that the weight of the fill is reduced by submergence. IS code recommends that a)
Horizontal silt and water pressure is assumed to be equivalent to that of a fluid
with a mass of 1360 kg/m3, and b) Vertical silt and water pressure is determined as
if silt and water together have a density of 1925 kg/m3.

Ice Pressure
Ice pressure may be generate a considerable horizontal thrust near crest level.
Pressure exerted on the dam is a complex function of ice thickness, scale
and rate of temperature rise resulting in expansion

For ice thickness > 0.6 m, Pice = 145 KN/m2

For ice thickness less than 0.4 mm ice load may be neglected.
 Stability Analysis
Requirements for Stability
Following are the modes of failure of a gravity dam:
1. Overturning
2. Sliding
3. Compression or Crushing
4. Tension.
Therefore, the design shall satisfy the following requirements of stability:
1. The dam shall be safe against sliding on any plane or combination of
planes within the dam, at the foundation or within the foundation;
2. The dam shall be safe against overturning at any plane within the dam,
at the base, or at any plane below the base; and
3. The safe unit stresses in the concrete or masonry of the dam or in the
foundation material shall not be exceeded.
 Overturning
The overturning of the dam section takes place when the resultant
force at any section cuts the base of the dam downstream of the toe. In
that case the resultant moment at the toe becomes clockwise (or -ve).
On the other hand, if the resultant cuts the base within the body of the
dam, there will be no overturning. For stability requirements, the dam
must be safe against overturning.
The factor of safety against overturning is defined as the ratio of the
righting moment (+ ve MR) to the overturning moments (- ve M0) about
the toe

FS 
 Righting Moments

MR

 Overturning Moments  Mo

The factor of safety against overturning should not be less than 1.5.
 Sliding Resistance
Many of the loads on the dam are horizontal or have horizontal
components which are resisted by frictional or shearing forces along
horizontal or nearly horizontal planes in the body of the dam, on the
foundation or on horizontal or nearly horizontal seams in the
foundation.
A dam will fail in sliding at its base, or at any other level, if the
horizontal forces causing sliding are more than the resistance available
to it at that level. The resistance against sliding may be due to friction
alone, or due to friction and shear strength of the joint.

The factor of safety against sliding shall be computed from the following
equation and shall not be less than 1.0.

  W   PU 
FS 
F H
where FS = factor of safety against sliding, ΣW = dead load of the dam, ΣPU =
total uplift force, μ = tan φ = coefficient of internal friction of the material
(varies from 0.65 to 0.75 for concrete),

In low dams, the safety against sliding should be checked only for friction, but
in high dams, for economical precise designs, the shear strength of the joints,
which is an additional shear resistance must also be considered, then the
equation for factor of safety against sliding which is measured by shear friction
 W   PU  B.q
factor (S.F.F) becomes:
S .F .F . 
F H

Where B = width of the dam at the joint, q = average shear strength of the
joint which varies from 1400 KN/m2 (14 kg/cm2) for poor rocks to about 4000
KN/m2 (40 Kg/cm2) for good rocks
 Compression or Crushing
A dam may be fail by the failure of its material, i.e. the compressive stress
produced may exceed the allowable stresses, and the dam material may get
crushed.

In order to calculate the normal stress distribution at the base, or at any

section, let ΣFH be the total horizontal force, ΣFV be the total vertical force and
R be the resultant force cutting the base at an eccentricity e from the centre of
the base of width b which is equal to b/2 − X where X is the distance of the
resultant force R from the toe given by

X 
 M R   Mo 
F V

The normal stress at any point on the base will be the sum of the direct
stress and the bending stress. Thus, direct stress σcc is  FV
 cc 
b 1
 and bending stress σcbc at any fibre at distance y from Neutral Axis is

 cc   
MY
I
The vertical direct stress distribution at the base is given by the following
equation:

Pn   cc   cbc 
 F V

6 FV e

 F V 
1 
6e 

b1 b2 b  b 
Where e = eccentricity of the resultant force from the centre of the base
B = base width
The positive sign will be used for calculating normal stress at the toe, since the
bending stress will be compressive there, and negative sign will be used for
calculating normal stress at the heel. Thus, the normal stress at the toe is

Pn ,toe 
 F V 
1 
6e 

b  b 

and the normal stress at the heel is

Pn , heel 
 F V 
1 
6e 

b  b 
Cases of Tensile strength of the dam
 Tension
From equation for the normal stress at the heel it is evident that if e > b/6, the
normal stress at the heel will be -ve or tensile as shown in Fig. When the
eccentricity e is greater than b/6 a crack of length lc will develop due to tension
which can be calculated as

 cc   cbc   V   F
F My 12 FV e  b 
 V
   l 
b1 b 1
c
I b3 2 

b b 
lc  1  
2  6e 

No tension should be permitted at any point of the dam under any

circumstance for moderately high dams. For no tension to develop, the
eccentricity should be less than b/6. In other words, the resultant should
always lie within the middle third.