3 Spillways

SPILLWAYS
Mr. V. P. Kumbhar
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
NECESSITY OF SPILLWAY
• The height of the dam is always fixed according to the
maximum reservoir capacity. The normal pool level
indicates the maximum capacity of the reservoir. The water
is never stored in the reservoir above this level. The dam
may fail by over turning so, for the safety of the dam the
spillways are essential.
• The top of the dam is generally utilized by making road. The
surplus water is not be allowed to over top the dam, so to
stop the over topping by the surplus water, the spillways
become extremely essential.
• To protect the downstream base and floor of the dam from
the effect of scouring and erosion, the spillways are
provided so that the excess water flows smoothly.
FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION
OF SPILLWAYS
The Bureau of Indian Standards code

IS: 10137-1982 “Guidelines for
selection of spillways and energy
dissipaters” provide guidelines in
choosing the appropriate type of
spillway for the specific purpose of the
project. The general considerations
that provide the basic guidelines are as
follows:
• Safety Considerations Consistent with
Economy
Spillway structures add substantially to the
cost of a dam. In selecting a type of spillway
for a dam, economy in cost should not be the
only criterion. The cost of spillway must be
weighed in the light of safety required below
the dam.
• Hydrological and Site Conditions
 The type of spillway to be chosen shall depend
on:
a) Inflow flood;
b) Availability of tail channel, its capacity and flow
hydraulics;
c) Power house, tail race and other structures
downstream; and
d) Topography
• Type of Dam
This is one of the main factors in deciding the
type of spillway. For earth and rockfill dams,
chute and ogee spillways are commonly
provided, whereas for an arch dam a free fall
or morning glory or chute or tunnel spillway is
more appropriate. Gravity dams are mostly
provided with ogee spillways.
• Purpose of Dam and Operating Conditions
The purpose of the dam mainly determines
whether the dam is to be provided with a
gated spillway or a non-gated one. A diversion
dam can have a fixed level crest, that is, non-
gated crest.
• Conditions Downstream of a Dam
 The rise in the downstream level in heavy floods and
its consequences need careful consideration. Certain
spillways alter greatly the shape of the hydrograph
downstream of a dam. The discharges from a siphon
spillway may have surges and break-ups as priming and
depriming occurs. This gives rise to the wave travelling
downstream in the river, which may be detrimental to
navigation and fishing and may also cause damage to
population and developed areas downstream.
• Nature and Amount of Solid Materials
Brought by the River
Trees, floating debris, sediment in suspension,
etc, affect the type of spillway to be provided.
A siphon spillway cannot be successful if the
inflow brings too much of floating materials.
Where big trees come as floating materials,
the chute or ogee spillway remains the
common choice.
Suitability of Spillways
• Ogee Spillway
It is most commonly used with gravity dams.
However, it is also used with earth and rockfill
dams with a separate gravity structure; the
ogee crest can be used as control in almost all
types of spillways; and it has got the
advantage over other spillways for its high
discharging efficiency.
• Chute Spillway
a) It can be provided on any type of foundation,
b) It is commonly used with the earth and rockfill dams, and
c) It becomes economical if earth received from spillway
excavation is used in dam construction.
The following factors limit its adaption:
a) It should normally be avoided on embankments;
b) Availability of space is essential for keeping the spillway
basins away from the dam paving; and
c) If it is necessary to provide too many bends in the chute
because of the topography, its hydraulic performance can
be adversely affected.
• Side Channel Spillways
This type of spillway is preferred where a long
overflow crest is desired in order to limit the
intensity of discharge, It is useful where the
abutments are steep, and it is useful where
the control is desired by the narrow side
channel.
The factor limiting its adoption is that this
type of spillway is hydraulically less efficient.
• Shaft Spillways (Morning Glory Spillway)
a) This can be adopted very advantageously in
dam sites in narrow canyons, and
b) Minimum discharging capacity is attained at
relatively low heads. This characteristic makes
the spillway ideal where the maximum
spillway outflow is to be limited. This
characteristic becomes undesirable where a
discharge more than the design capacity.
• Siphon Spillway
 Siphon spillways can be used to discharge full capacity discharges, at
relatively low heads, and great advantage of this type of spillway is its
positive and automatic operation without mechanical devices and moving
parts.
 The following factors limit the adoption of a siphon spillway:
 It is difficult to handle flows materially greater than designed capacity,
even if the reservoir head exceeds the design level; Siphon spillways
cannot pass debris, ice, etc; There is possibility of clogging of the siphon
passage way and breaking of siphon vents with logs and debris; In cold
climates, there can be freezing inside the inlet and air vents of the siphon;
When sudden surges occur and outflow stops; The structure is subject to
heavy vibrations during its operation needing strong foundations; and
 Siphons cannot be normally used for vacuum heads higher than 8 m and
there is danger of cavitations damage.
• Overfall or Free Fall Spillway
This is suitable for arch dams or dams with
downstream vertical faces; and this is suitable
for small drops and for passing any occasional
flood.
Dam Outlets
• To draw water from the reservoir available below normal pool level or crest
level of spillway as and when needed for various purposes , it is necessary that
outlet work are provided either through the body of the dam or adjacent to it
through some hill side at one end of dam
• The water may be discharged into the downstream channel below the dam or
may be transported at distances where required through pipes or canals.
• The openings i.e. pipe or tunnel provided for this withdrawal of water is known
as a dam outlet or sluiceways.
• The outlets of most of the dams consists of one or more sluiceways with their
inlets at about minimum pool levels , and provided at different levels for greater
control on discharge.
• It is a pipe o tunnel having circular or rectangular in section.
• For gravity dam, these can easily passed through the body of dam or spillway.
• But for earthen dam, it is preferred to place them outside the limits of the
embankment. If no such condition available the it pass through the embankment
with provision of projecting collar to reduce seepage.
Types
• The interior of sluiceway tunnel or pipe must be smooth and without any
projections or cavities. The projections or cavities, etc. if at all present, causing
development of negative pressures and the consequent danger of cavitation.
• The entrance of sluiceway is also very important. It has various types but
Square edged entrance and Bell-mouthed entrance most commonly used.
Square Edged Entrance Bell-mouthed Entrance

• But, square edged entrance is likely to cause more possibility of cavitation as
compared to bell-mouthed entrance or some other type of entrance,
• The shape of the bell mouth is generally elliptical. And Douma has suggested
following equations for it.
• For Circular Conduits:
• For Rectangular Tunnels or Conduits:
• The discharge passing through the dam outlet can be calculated easily by
using the equation-

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SPILLWAYS

The Bureau of Indian Standards code

Square Edged Entrance Bell-mouthed Entrance

• For Rectangular Tunnels or Conduits:

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