EE 337: Hydraulic Structures

Lecture 9 : Spillways, Outlets and Ancillary works

Date:16/01/2023

Course instructor: Dr. Catherine Awidi Mushi

 Introduction

 Dams require certain ancillary structures and facilities to enable them

to discharge their function safely and effectively.
 In particular, adequate provision must be made for the safe passage of
extreme floods and for controlled draw-off and discharge of water in
fulfillment of the purpose of the reservoir.
 Spillways, outlets and ancillary facilities are incorporated as necessary
for the purpose of the dam and appropriate to its type
Spillways
A spillway is a passageway to convey flood flows that cannot be contained
in the allotted storage space, or which are in excess of those turned into
the diversion systems past the dam
 The purpose of spillway is to pass flood water safely downstream when
the reservoir is full.
 It has three principal components
 Control structure (usually a weir)
 Spillway Channel (Its purpose is to conduct flood flow safely downstream of
dam)
 Terminal structure
Spillways
 The Spillways can be
 Uncontrolled (Normally)
 Controlled

 The Spillway capacity must accommodate the maximum design flood

Note: Concrete dams normally incorporate an over fall or crest

spillway, but embankments generally require a separate side-
channel or shaft spillway structure located adjacent to the dam.
Spillways

 Spillways function infrequently, at times of flood or sustained high

runoff, when other facilities are inadequate BUT their ample
capacity is of prime importance for the safety of the dam and other
hydraulic structures.

 Hydraulic aspects of spillway design relate to design of the three

major components: control structure, discharge channel and
terminal structure.
Spillways

The control structure regulates outflows from the reservoir and may consist
of a sill, weir section, orifice, tube or pipe.

 The flow released from the control structure is conveyed to the

streambed below the dam in a discharge channel. This can be the
downstream face of the overflow section, a tunnel excavated through an
abutment, or an open channel along the ground surface.

 Design problems here relate to determining the shape of the section

and computing discharge through the section.
Spillways

The discharge channel dimensions are fixed by the hydraulics of channel

flow.

Terminal structures are energy dissipating devices that are provided to

return the flow into the river channel without serious scour or erosion at
the toe of the dam.
Spillways
Types of Spillways
Spillways may be classified, depending upon the type of structure as:
i) Side channel spillway
ii) Straight drop spillway
iii)Overflow or Ogee spillway
iv)Chute or Trough spillway
v) Shaft (Morning glory) spillway
vi)Siphon spillway
Spillways
Side channel spillway
In this type of spillway, the control weir is kept along the side and
approximately parallel to the upper portion of the spillway. The discharge
after passing over the crest turns at about 90o before flowing into a
trough to be discharged.
 This type of spillway is most suited for earthfill and rockfill dams, in
narrow canyons, where construction of other types of spillway is not
possible.
 Also, when a long overflow crest is required for limiting the surcharge
head, this type is suited.
 It is also useful when its discharge is to be connected to a narrow
discharge channel or tunnel.
Spillways
Side channel spillway
Side channel spillway

Upstream

Earthfill dam

downstream
 Spillways
Side channel spillway
 Spillways
Side channel spillway
 Spillways
Side channel spillway
Spillwaysc
Straight Drop (free overfall) Spillway
In this type, water is allowed to fall freely from a low weir and vertical fall
structure. In some cases, the crest of the spillway is extended in the
shape of overhanging lip which keeps the discharge away from the
straight drop section.

Spillway

spillway

With downstream protection

Without downstream protection

Straight drop spillways

Spillways
Straight Drop (free overfall) Spillway
Spillways
Straight Drop (free overfall) Spillway

 The water falls freely from the crest under the action of gravity.
 To prevent scouring at the downstream, an auxiliary dam of artificial
pool is to be constructed at the place of fall of water.
 Straight drop spillway is suitable for arch dams and for small drops
 Usually appropriate for thin dams having almost vertical downstream
faces.
 This type of spillways may be economical for low heads as compared
with overflow spillways because of saving in concrete.
 Not recommended for high heads because of structural instability
problems.
Spillways

Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

It is a special form of a weir whose shape is made to conform to the

profile of lower nappe of a ventilated sheet of water falling from a sharp-
crested weir. The profile is so shaped that the discharging water always
remains in touch with the spillway surface.

Accordingly, the profile of the ogee spillway is made to the shape of the
lower nappe of a free-falling jet.
Spillways
Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

overflow spillway of Caban Curved downstream face of

Coch Dam in Mid-Wales Caban Coch Dam spillway
Spillways
Ogee (Overflow) Spillway
The downstream curve of the ogee has the equation:
x 1.85 = 2 y (h ) ……………..….(1),
0.85

where x and y are the co-ordinates of the crest profile measured from the apex of the
crest, and h is the design water head.
Origin and apex of crest
a

Design head h
x
O
a = 0.175h
r2 b = 0.292h
r1
r1 = 0.50h
r2 = 0.20h

Definition sketch of overflow spillway

Spillways
Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

The upstream curve may be approximated to the following:

0.724(x + 0.27 h )
1.85
y= ……………………….(2)
(h )0.85

For larger discharges, (e.g., flows beyond H.F.L), the nappe may leave the
ogee profile and will cause negative pressure resulting in cavitation and
increase of discharge.
Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

The discharge equation of the ogee-shaped spillway is given by

Q = C.Le.(he)3/2 ------------------------------(3)

Where, Q = discharge over the ogee spillway

Le = effective length of the crest
he = h + v2/2g = total water head at crest including the velocity
approach
C = a variable coefficient of discharge, whose value varies from 2.1 to
2.5
depending on various factors.
Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

The effective length of the crest is given by the equation:

Le = L – 2(NKp – Ka) ---------------------------(4)

Where L = Total clear length of crest

N = No. of piers in the spillway
Kp = pier contraction coefficient
Ka = abutment contraction coefficient
 Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

Pier Contraction Coefficient Kp Abutment Contraction Coefficient (Ka)

Condition of Pier Value Condition of Abutment Value

of Kp of Ka
1 Pointed nose piers 0.00 1 Rounded abutment with head wall as 90o to
2 Round nose piers 0.01 the direction of flow, when 0.5h > r > 0.15h
3 Square-nose pier with 0.02 2 Rounded abutment where r> 0.5Ho and the 0.00
corners rounded on a angle of head wall with direction of flow is
radius 0.1 times pier <45o
thickness 3 Square abutment with head wall at 90o to 0.20
the direction of flow of water
Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway

Worked Example
Design an overflow spillway section for a design discharge of 50,000cfs. The upstream
water surface is at Elv. 800 and the channel floor is 680. The spillway, having a vertical
face, is 180ft long.

Solution
1.Assume C = 3.95
2.from the discharge equation

3/ 2 Q 50,000
h = = = 70.32
CL 3.95(180 )
e

he = 17.1
Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway
3. Depth of water upstream = 800 – 680 = 120 ft.
Velocity of approach vo = 50,000/120(180) = 2.31ft/sec
Velocity head = v2/2g = (2.31)2/(32.2) = 0.08 ft
4. Maximum water head = 17.1 – 0.08 = 17.0ft
5. Height of crest, P = 120 – 17.0 = 103ft.
6. Since he <30 ft, design head, hd = 17.1/1.42 = 12.0ft
7. P/hd = 103/12 = 8.58 > 1.33, high overflow section X (select)ft Y (computed) ft
5 1.18
8. Downstream quadrant of the crest shape 10 4.25
15 9.00
y/12 = ½ (x/12)1.85 or y = 0.06x1.85 20 15.30
30 32.40
Spillways
Discharge over an Ogee (Overflow) Spillway
9. Point of tangency assume a downstream slope of 2:1
(XDT)/h = 0.485(Kα)1.176
where XDT = horizontal distance from the apex to the downstream tangent
point
α – slope of the downstream face
XDT = 0.485[2(2)]1.176 (12) = 30 ft
10.Upstream quadrant. A/h = 0.28, B/h = 0.165
X (selected) ft Y (computed) ft
A = 0.28(12) = 3.36; B = 0.165(12) = 2.00ft 1.0 0.09
2.0 0.39
(x2)/(3.36)2 + (2.0 – y)2/(2.0)2=1 3.0 1.10
3,36 2.00
 Spillways
Chute (Trough) Spillway
 Chute spillway is a type of spillway in which the discharge is conveyed
from a reservoir to the downstream river level through a steep open
channel placed either along the dam abutment or through a saddle.
 In a chute spillway, the velocity of flow is always greater than the critical.
The name chute applies, regardless of the control device used at the head
of the chute, which can be an overflow crest, a gated orifice or a side
channel crest.
 The chute spillway consists of four parts: an entrance channel, a control
structure or crest, the sloping chute and a terminal structure.
 The entrance structure is usually an open channel of sub-critical flow. The
critical velocity occurs when the water passes over the control.
Spillways
Chute (Trough) Spillway
Spillways
Chute (Trough) Spillway

Auxiliary Spillway of Tarbela Dam Service Spillway of Tarbela Dam

Spillways
Chute (Trough) Spillway
Entrance cha. Control structure

Chute section
A

Terminal Structure
B
C

Chute Spillway Section

D E

Flow in the chute is maintained at supercritical stage until the terminal structure DE is
reached. It is desirable that from B to C, where a heavy cut is involved, the chute is
placed on a light slope. From C to D, it follows the steep slope and ends with an
energy dissipating device placed at the bottom of the valley D.
 Spillways
Chute (Trough) Spillway
 The axis of the chute is kept as straight as possible; otherwise, the floor
has to be super-elevated to avoid the piling up high-velocity flow around
the curvature.
 It is preferable that the width of the control section, the chute, and the
stilling basin are the same.
 To prevent hydrostatic uplift under the chute, a cutoff wall is provided
under the control structure and a drainage system of filters and pipes is
provided. When the stilling basin is operating, there is substantial uplift
under the lower part of the chute and upstream part of the stilling basin
floor. The floor must be made sufficiently heavy or anchored to the
foundation.
 Spillways
Slope of the chute channel
It is important that the slope of the chute in the upstream section BC chute, should be
sufficiently steep to maintain a supercritical flow to avoid the formation of a hydraulic
jump. Therefore, slope should always be above the critical slope.
From Manning’s formula;

1 ……………………….(5)
Q= AR 2 / 3 I 1.2
n
For a rectangular channel under critical flow conditions,
h3 = q2/g ……………………….(6)
By putting this into Manning’s formula, the critical slope could be determined. The slope
to be given to the chute must be greater than this critical slope.
A review of existing spillways indicate that the actual slopes of the upstream section of the
chute are 1 or 2 % or more.
 Spillways
Chute sidewalls
Except for the diverging or converging sections, chute channels are designed
with parallel vertical sidewalls, commonly of reinforced concrete 30 to 45cm
thick; designed as retaining wall. The height of the walls is designed to contain
the depth of flow for the spillway design flood by gradually flows hydraulics
equation.
Free board or allowance is made for pier end waves, roll waves and air
entrainment. In view of uncertainties involved in the evaluation of surface
roughness, pier end waves, roll waves and air entrainment, the following
empirical equation is added to the computed depth of water surface profile
Freeboard (ft) = 2.0 + 0.002V h1/3 --------------------- (7)
where V= mean velocity in chute section under consideration, h=mean depth.
Spillways
Morning Glory (or Shaft) Spillways

In this type of spillway, water enters over a horizontal circular crest and then
drops through a circular shaft, and then through a horizontal tunnel or
conduit. This type of spillway is suitable under the following situations:

1. For damsites with steeply rising abutments particularly where a diversion

tunnel can be utilized as discharge carrier.
2. For sites in narrow canyons.
3. For sites where there is inadequate space for locating other type of
spillway.
Spillways
Morning Glory (or Shaft) Spillways
 Spillways
Morning Glory (or Shaft) Spillways
Advantages: The main advantage of such type of spillways are as follows:
1. The nearly maximum capacity may be attained at relatively low heads.
2. It is ideal for sites where maximum spillway overflow is to be limited.
This type of spillway consists of four parts:
1) a circular weir at the entry,
2) aflared transition conforming to the shaft of the lower nappe of a sharp-
crested weir,
3) a vertical drop shaft, and
4) a horizontal or near-horizontal outlet conduit or tunnel. As the head increases,
the control shifts from weir crest, to drop shaft, and to outlet conduit.
 Spillways
Discharge characteristics of a Shaft spillway
Control Point Condition Characteristics Discharge relations
Weir crest Unsubmerged flow Weir flow Q = CLh3/2 …………(12)
Throat of drop shaft Partially submerged Orifice flow Q = c d A1 2 gH a ...C d = 0.95
----------------- (13)
Downstream of Submerged flow Pipe flow 2 gH T ………. (14)
Q = A2
outlet conduit ΣK
∑K = loss coefficient through
pipe

Condition 1: a free-discharging weir prevails as long as the nappe forms to converge into
the shape of a solid jet.
Condition 2: weir crest is drowned out. The US Bureau of Reclamation (1977) indicated that
this condition is approached when Hd/Rs >1, where Hd is the design head and Rs is the radius
of the crest.
 Spillways
Discharge characteristics of a Shaft spillway
Condition 3: Spillway is flooded out, showing only a slight depression and eddy at the
surface. Under condition 3, the head rises rapidly for a small increase in discharge. Thus,
the design is not recommended under this condition (i.e., under the design head, the outlet
conduit should not flow more than 75% full).
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation suggested that the following weir formula may be used for
flow through the shaft spillway entrance regardless of the submergence, by adjusting the
coefficient to reflect the flow conditions.
Q = C(2πRs)H3/2 ----------------------------- (15)

Where C = discharge coefficient related to Hd/Rs and P/Rs , where Hd = design head and P =
crest height from the outlet pipe; Rs = radius to the circular crest; H = head over the weir
(Gupta page 495)
 Spillways
Discharge characteristics of a Shaft spillway

Equation (15) can be used to determine the crest size (radius), Rs for a given
discharge under the maximum head.
Equation (13) can be used to determine the shape of the transition (drop
shaft) that is required to pass the design discharge with the maximum head
over the crest.

Worked Example: A shaft spillway is to discharge 2000 cfs under a design head
of 10 ft. Determine the minimum size of the overflow crest. Also determine the
shape of the transition if the control section is 4 ft below the crest level.
 Spillways
Discharge characteristics of a Shaft spillway

Solution
1. Since the coefficient C is related to P and Rs, assume that P/Rs > 2 and
determine Rs by trial and error.

2. Try Rs = 7 ft.
Hd/Rs = 10/7 = 1.43

From the curve of C as a function of Hd/Rs

Therefore, we choose C = 1.44

 Spillways
Discharge characteristics of a Shaft spillway

3. From equation (S-15)

Q = C(2πRs)H3/2 = 1.44(2π) (7) (10)3/2 = 2002cfs

This Q is practically the same as the required discharged. Hence the crest
radius = 7 ft.

4. Depth of the control section from the water surface;

Ha = 10 + 4 = 14 ft.
5. From equation (13), Q = c d A1 2 gH a ...C d = 0.95
Ha (select), ft R (ft)
R = 2000/{0.95π(2gHa) }
2 1/2
14 4.73
16 4.57
18 4.44
or R = 9.14/(Ha)1/4 20 4.32
 Spillways
Siphon Spillways
 A siphon spillway is a short-enclosed duct whose longitudinal section is
curved. When flowing full, the highest point in the spillway lies above the
liquid level in the upstream reservoir, and the pressure at that point must
therefore be sub-atmospheric. This is the essential characteristics of a
siphon. Siphon spillways can be saddle type or volute type, but the volute is
not very common. The siphon has usually three parts, 1) the inlet or
mouth; 2) throat, and 3) lower limb.
 The siphon spillway functions as follows:
When the water level exceeds the crest level, the water commences to spill
and flows over the downstream slope in much the same way as a simple Ogee
spillway. As the water rises further, the entrance is sealed off from the
atmosphere.
 Spillways
Siphon Spillways

Air is initially trapped within the spillway, but the velocity of flow of water
tends to entrain the air (giving rise to aeration of the water) and draws it out
through the exit. When all the air has been expelled, the siphon is primed and
is therefore acting as a simple pipe. \There are thus three possible operating
conditions depending on upstream depth.
1. Gravity spillway flow
2. Aerated flow (during self priming)
3. Pipe flow (after priming).
 Spillways
Operational problems with Siphon Spillways
The aerated condition is unstable and is maintained while the siphon begins to
prime. In a simple siphon, a small change in H produces a sharp increase or
decrease in the discharge through the spillway. Depending on the discharge
entering the reservoir, the siphon could go through the following cycle:
a) if the spillway is initially operating with gravity flow, then the upstream
(reservoir) level must rise,
b) when the upstream level has risen sufficiently, the siphon primes and the
spillway discharge increases substantially,
c) the upstream level falls until the siphon de-primes and its discharge drops.
The cycle (a) to (c) is then repeated. This obviously can give rise to radical
surges and stoppages in the downstream flow
 Spillways
Operational problems with Siphon Spillways
b = height of throat
H1= operating head
H2= Reservoir level – downstream tail water level if outlet is submerged
H3 = Reservoir level - downstream centre of outlet if the outlet is discharging
freely.
C = Coefficient of discharge. Its average value may be taken as 0.65.
Air vent
Crown

De-primer
Throat

Hood
Crest

Mouth
H1

H2

Fig. Siphon Spillway

Spillways
Operational problems with Siphon Spillways

Other potential problems encountered with siphon spillway are:

i) blockage of spillway entrance by debris ( this problem could be overcome
by submerging the inlet of the hood into the water or installing a trash-
intercepting grid in front of the intake).
ii) Substantial foundations required to resist vibrations during operation of
siphon.
iii)Waves arriving in the reservoir during storms may alternately cover and
uncover the entry, thus interrupting smooth siphon action
 Spillways
Operational problems with Siphon Spillways

The discharge of a saddle siphon can be calculated from the following formula;
Q = CA 2 gH ………………………(16)

where A = area of cross section at crown; A = L x b

L = length of hood (going into the paper)
Spillway
SpillwayororCrest Gates
Crest Gates
 Some spillways are equipped with gates

 Spillway gates are temporary barriers installed over the

permanent crest of the spillway, for storing additional water
during dry weather season.

 The small flows in excess above the spillway gates are

allowed to pass over the gates, but in case of large flood, the
spillway gates are opened, and the full capacity is used to
remove excessive flood water.
Spillway or Crest Gates

Spillway gates can be provided on all types of spillways except

siphon spillway.
The following types of spillway gates are commonly used:
a) Flash board gates
b) Stop logs or needle gates
c) Radial gates
d) Drum gates
e) vertical lift gates
Spillway or Crest Gates

Flash Board Piers

Rubber stopper Groove

Spillway crest

Stop log

Flash Board Gate

Stop logs or needle gates

THANK YOU