HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005 1

LECTURE 6
Stability analysis
Concept of equilibrium
 The reactive forces developed in the foundation and/or abutments of the dam in
response to applied loads must also be accounted for, to satisfy the conditions for
static equilibrium. Combination of the applied vertical and horizontal static loads
equates to the inclined resultant force, R

 This is balanced by an equivalent and opposite reactive resultant R, derived from

vertical reactions and the reactive horizontal resistance of the foundation. The
conditions essential to structural equilibrium and so to stability can therefore be
summarized as
ΣH=ΣV=0 (3.18a)
and
ΣM=0. (3.18b)
 The condition represented by ΣH=ΣV=0 determines that no translational movement
is possible. The further condition that ΣM=0 proscribes any rotational movement,
e.g. overturning. With respect to the latter condition some qualification is necessary
in relation to the stress distribution as determined by the applied moments.
Analysis
 Criteria and principles
The essential criteria governing the structural competence of a gravity dam follow
from consideration of equations (3.18a) and (3.18b).
Assessed in relation to all probable conditions of loading, including the reservoir
empty condition, the profile must demonstrate an acceptable margin of safety with
regard to

1. rotation and overturning,

2. translation and sliding and
3. overstress and material failure.

Criteria 1 and 2 control overall structural stability. Both must be satisfied with
respect to the profile above all horizontal planes within the dam and the foundation.

The overstress criterion, 3, must be satisfied for the dam concrete and for the rock
foundation.
 Analysis

Assumptions inherent in preliminary analyses using the gravity

method (USBR (1976, 1987)) are:
 The concrete (or masonry) is homogeneous, isotropic and
uniformly elastic.
 All loads are carried by gravity / cantilever action to the
foundation
 No differential movements affecting the dam or foundation
occur as a result of the water load from the reservoir
 Stability factors
5

Over turning failure

 It happens when the resultant force fall out of the base or any horizontal
sections.
 Factor of safety against over tuning (FSO) is the ratio of sum of
stabilizing moment (resisting moment ) to over turning moment about
toe.
 If the dam is safe of tension and crushing then there could be an FSO
1.5 -2.5 it is safe of over turning.
 If the resultant force strikes out of the middle 1/3 either d/s or u/s
tension crack occur on either side respectively.
 This lead to increase uplift pressure and lengthen the crack which
ultimately result in failure due to tension.
 Therefore, such over turning failure is preceded by tension and or crush
failure.
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factors
6

Compression or crushing
 It is a failure due to the failure
of the dam material where the
ΣH
compression stress produced ΣV R
may exceed the allowable
stress. B
Pmax
 The vertical direct stress Pmin + compression

distribution at the base is + Pmax

Pmin -
given by Tension

Pmin Pmax

Fig. 4.11 Res. Full high comp at toe

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stress analysis & Foundation reaction
7

 P=direct stress + bending stress

Pmax 
 V M
 y
 V V * e

min B I B B2 / 6


 V  6e 
1
B  B 

 Where; e = is the eccentricity of the resultant force from

center of the base
 B= base width, ΣV summation of all vertical forces
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Foundation reaction
8
 Compression
 If Pmin exceeds the minimum compressive
stress of the dam (30 kg/cm^2)
 Tension
ΣH
 Concrete dams are designed for no tension u/s
and minimum 5kg/cm2 d/s in the dam. ΣV
R
 Crack result in detach of the dam from the
base foundation, intern reduce B and increase
Pmax +
Pmax, which further increase heel tension and
-P min

toe compression. Pmax

Tension

+ compression
Pmin
 Such condition result in ultimate compression
at the toe and failure.
Fig 4.12 Res empty, high comp. at heel
 NB: a tension crack does not fail the structure
by itself but leads to crush or overturning
failure
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Foundation reaction
9

 In order for the no tension to develop any where,

we must ensure that Pmin equals to zero.
 V  6e 

Pmax 
 V  6e 
1
Pmin 
B 1 
B 
0

min B  B  1
6e
0
B
B
e
6
 maximum eccentricity that can be allowed on either
side of the center equals to the B/6, i.e. the resultant
must lie with in the middle third

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Stability factors
10
 Failure due to sliding
 It occurs when dam slide over its base.
 it happens when sum of resisting horizontal force is less than sum of horizontal
force tend to slid
ΣFH
ΣFV   Fv
FSS 
 Fh
μ ΣFV
In other case sliding factor (SF),
FH to check the stability.

SF 
  tan 
 FV
 θ=is the angel that the resultant force made with the vertical. For safety the SF
less than the coefficient of friction m. tanθ<μ
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factors
11
 In high dams the shear resistance of joints also
considered in addition to the friction.
  Fv  qB
FSS 
 Fh
Horizontal
 Where q is the average joint shear strength joints

range between 14kg/cm2 and 40 kg/cm^2,

based on nature of rock, Tail water
 μ varies 0.65-0.75. to increase the joint shear
heel
strength the foundation is stepped toe

Shear key Rock foundation

 FSS <1 does not mean the dam fail from
sliding.
 In such case the shear friction factor should
be determined, and if it is with in the limit
then the dam is safe of sliding. Fig 4.13
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factors
12
Principal and shear stress
 The vertical stress intensity, Pmax or Pmin
(eq. 4.1)is not the maximum direct
stress produced any where in the dam.
4.1

Pmax 
V  6e 
1  B 
 The maximum or normal
min B
stress will in
 

fact be the major principal stress that

will be generated on the major
principal plane.
B
 When res. full direct vertical stress
Pmax is max at the toe.
 Consider small element near toe, F
uniform stress distribution.
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
Fig 4.14
 Stability factor
13 Principal stress

 Since P’ acts normal to the downstream face of the dam and there is no
shear stress on this surface, it is called a principal stress.
 Principal planes are normal to each other, hence plane AC and BA are
perpendicular to each other and the stress on plane AB (σ) is also the
second principal stress.
 The pressure on plane BC (Pv)is the normal stress. And (τo)is the friction
stress on plane BC
 Considering unit length of the dam, let db,ds,dr are the lengths of section
and Pvdb, P’ds, and σdr are forces on BC, AC and AB respectively.
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factor
Principal
14 stress

Resolving these forces in to horizontal and vertical:

Vertical components near the toe
d r cos   P ' d s sin   Pv d b 4.2
 dr=db*cosα, ds=db*sinα 4.3
 Substituting for dr and ds in to equation 4.2

d r cos   P ' d s sin   Pv d b 4.4

 cos 2   P ' sin 2   Pv 4.5

  Pv sec 2
  P ' tan 2 
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
4.6
 Stability factor
15

Principal stress
 For principal stress to be maximum P’=0
  Pv sec 2  4.7
 Since sec^2 α is greater than 1 then σ>Pv
 For the dam to be safe this value of the principal stress should not be more
than allowable compressive stress of the material
 In case when the hydrodynamic pressure act on the tail water u/s then stress
on face AC is (P’-Pe)

  Pv sec 2   ( P '  Pe ) tan 2  4.8

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factor
16

 This approach will also works for analyzing the

principal stress on the dam at the heel as well
 The principal stress at the heel becomes

2 2
 heel  Pv sec   ( P  Pe ) tan  4.9

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Stability factor
17

Shear on the horizontal plane near the toe

d r sin   P ' d s cos    o d b 4.10..a
 cos  sin   P ' cos  sin    o
 o  [( Pv sec 2   P ' tan 2  )  P ' ] cos  sin 
 o  [ Pv sec 2   P ' (1  tan 2  )] cos  sin 
 o  ( Pv  P ' ) sec 2  cos  sin 
 o  ( Pv  P ' ) tan  4.10...x
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability factor
18

 Neglecting tail water effect

 o  ( Pv) tan  4.11

 If the earth quake is considered

 o  ( Pv  ( P' Pe) tan  at toe 4.12

 o  Pv  ( P  Pe)  tan  at heel 4.13

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Illustrative example 3
19

 Given the reduced level of the

dam,
 Assume 5
RL 290
 no earth quake effect 284 RL 280
 Unity weight of concrete
23.5kN/m^3
 Allowable stress 2500kN/m^2
 Unit weight of water 9.81kN/m^3
210
 Determine
i. Max vertical stress 204
8
66
ii. Major principal stress
iii. Intensity of shear stress on
horizontal plane at the toe Fig 4.15
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Various forces and momentum
Name of force Designation Magnitude kN Lever arm m Momentum about toe kNm

20
Vertical forces W1 =5*86*1*23.5=10105 63.5 + W1*63.5=641667

W2 =0.5*76*61*23.5=54473 40.7 + W2*40.7=2215416

Weight of water P’v =0.5*4*6*9.81=117.72 1.33 + P’v*1.33=156.96

ΣV =55765.72 ΣM1=2089236.46

Uplift pressure U1 =-2406.72 62 =-125149.44

U2 =-2825.28 27 =-62156.16

U3 =-1935.84 63.33 =-122596.7472

U4 =-5807.52 38.67 =-224557.44

ΣV2 =-12975.36 ΣM2=-476391.04

Horizontal water pressure P =-31392.0 26.67 =- 837224.64

=+176.6 2 =+ 353.4

ΣH =-31215.4 ΣM3=- 836518

Net vertical force =+ 42790.36 Net momentum = + 1205087.42

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

21 GRAVITY DAMS

STABILITY ANALYSIS

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 2D Stability analysis gravity dam
22

 Assumptions in analysis
 Concrete is homogeneous, isotropic and elastic
 Dam has number of vertical cantilever which are acting
independent of each other and with thickness 1m
 Stress in the dam and foundation is with in the limit
 Rigid bond between the dam and its foundation
 All loads are transferred to the foundation
 Strong and unyielding foundation, no movement due loading
 Dam behaves as a 2D plane-strain structure
 Vertical stress on horizontal plane varies down ward linearly
 The shear stress on the horizontal plane varies parabolically top
to bottom
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Design and stability analysis
23

 Elementary profile of
gravity dam
 Empty case
 The self weight (W) is
the only force acts at H
b/3 from heel, which is P B/3
W
the inner most position
of the resultant P=γH 2B/3
U

B
Fig 4.16 Elementary dam profiler
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability analysis
24
Empty reservoir case Reservoir full case

V  6e 
 Resultant of all the vertical forces
Pmax  1  B 
min B   P,W,U pass through the outer
middle 1/3
 ΣV=W  For dam be safe in sliding
 e=B/6
a. Take moment about point
W  6 B
Pmax
min

B 

1  *
B 6

resultant pass
2W W(
B
) U (
B
)  P(
H
)  R *0
Pmax  3 3 3
B B H
Pmin 0 (W  U )  P( )  0
3 3
1
W  BHSc *  w
2
1
 Max vertical stress is(2W/B) at U 
2
C w HB

heel and zero at the toe. P 

1
2
 wH 2

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Stability analysis
25

B H
(W  U ) P 0
3 3
BHS c  w C w HB B  wH 3
(  )  0
2 2 3 6
B 2 (Sc  C )  H 2
H
B 
Sc  C
H
B
For Sc  C
no tension will develop at the heel with full reservoir
C=1.0, for no uplift condition (i.e. C=0)
H
B 
Sc

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Stability analysis
26

For dam to be safe of sliding

b. the friction resistance

 V  H
  W  U   H
1 1  1
 BHSc w  HBC w    wH 2
2 2  2
 Sc  C B  H
H
B
 Sc  C 

 Hence the value of B will be fixed based on the

larger B of the two cases above(a&b)
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Stability analysis
27
For practical cases the base width is
given by The principal stress near toe is given by
H
B 
Sc  C
B 
H
,C  0  toe  Pv sec 2   ( P ' Pe ) tan 2 
Sc
 B2 
   w H Sc  C 1  2 
For res. full condition the vertical  H 
stress is given by B
H
Sc  C
B2 1
Pmax 
V 
1 
6 B
*  , V  W  U  H2

Sc  C
B   B 6
min
   w H Sc  C  1,
Pmax(toe )   w H ( Sc  C )
for C  1 & Sc  2.4
Pmin( heel )  0
  2.4 w H

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Stability analysis
28

 The shear stress at horizontal plane near the toe is

given by:
 o  ( Pv  ( P' Pe) tan  at toe
for , P '  0,&nosciesmicforce
B
 o   w H Sc  C *
H
1
 0   w H ( Sc  C ) *
Sc  C
 o   w H 1.4 , Sc  2.4, C  1.0

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 High and low dam design
29

 From elementary profile of dam, the principal

stress is a function of the dam height alone where
other parameters remain constant for given case.
 Hence, for safe condition this stress has to be less
than the allowable shear stress strength of the
material.
 The criticalf height of the dam is given by:
Hc  a

 w Sc  c  1
when C  0, no uplift Hc is low
to be safe
fa
H max 
 w ( Sc  1)

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 High and low dam design
30

 Hence if the dam height is

grater than this value, H ,
max

the dam is called high dam fa

Hmax
 to keep the dam with in safe  w ( Sc  1)

limit, we need to add an

inclined surface to the u/s H1
and d/s face of the dam Low gravity
dam
below the limiting height. High gravity
dam
 For fa=3000kN/m^2, Sc=2.4.
Fig 4.17 dam type based on height
 Hmax
=3000/(9.81*(2.4+1))=90m
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
Practical Section
 Practical section:
 The pointed crest of the theoretical dam is unstable to resist shock
due to floating objects.
 There is need for a free board
 There is also need for top width for a roadway
 For practical section
 Crest of the dam shall have a certain thickness depending on the
height of the dam. For non-overflow dams, most economical crest
width  14 % of the height (10 – 15 %) is normal.
 Free board is provided and usually 3-4% of the dam height is used
as a maximum height of the free board.
 Profile of gravity dam for practical consideration
32

 Elementary ( )profile , where

the max water reach apex is a

theoretical.
 For practical purpose one has to
provide free board and top
2a sc
width.
 Top width 6 to 10 m 3.1a sc
 Free board is 3 to 4% for
practical cases or 3/2hw.
 More over in case of tension
being developed at the toe we a/16 B 
H1

provide additional (batter0 on Sc  C

Fig 4.18 practical dam profile

up/s
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Top width

33

 Reservoir empty
 Resultant force pass through inner third.
Addition of ACQA (W1) shift the resultant a
force to the heel, may result tension at toe A C
 This need to have batter below plane GD
on the up/s face. H’ P Q
 AGD is governed by low dam equation .
W
 For the height of the dam H> H’ there will 1 D
be a need for batter G H

H
B  , and so is
Sc  C
H' F F M1 M2 E E
GD 
Sc  C ’ ’
2 B' H' Fig 4.19 dam profiler under
GH  a   full and empty res.
3 3 3 Sc  C
H '  2a Sc HU
C IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005
 Con’t
34

 Reservoir full.
 The resultant of all forces pass through outer
middle third point. When W1 is added the force
shift more to middle third. To keep it near to the
outer third, the d/s face slope made stepper from
QE to QE’(Fig 4.19)
 In general an economic top width is 6-10 m (or
ACCORDING TO CREEGER 14% of H

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Design of gravity dam
35

 It should be most economical  In order no tension is

and stable developed any where and
 In design if H is less than or economy u/s and d/s faces are
equal to H’ it is low gravity dam. slopes
 Even in high gravity dam the  In conservative design low
upper part follow the low gravity dam is designed as d/s
gravity dam procedure for face untouched a
design
 Design of Low gravity dam
 Economic section of the dam 2a sc
height ‘H1’, top width ‘a’ and free
3.1a sc
board can be drawn as Fig 4.20
H1

H1
HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005 B1 
Fig 4.19 low dam. Sc  C
 Con’t
36
 Design of high dam Design of strip I total base
width required at the
 In case , when H>H’=fa/w(Sc-
C), the upper part height equal
bottom of strip I is B 2

It is given by
to H1,is designed as per low  w H 23   w2 H 24 
B2  1  2 
gravity dam and the remaining fa  4W 2 

lower part can be designed in

different ways
B1
 Strip method is one where the Strip I y1
parts are sub divides in to B2
x2 Strip II y2
strips i.e. strip I, strip II … x3 B3
and the following formula is
used

HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Con’t
37

 X2 which is an increase
 B1 is base width of low
on the up/s side is
dam
given by following
 B2 is base width of at the
equation(xx)
bottom of 1st strip
 H2 is height from MWL
 On the down stream
to bottom of 1st strip side the extension is
 W1 is weight above strip given by (= B -B -x )
 S y 3B  B  6 x B  B 
2 2
2 1 2
1 2 2 1 2
x2  w c
 
1 24
 w x2
  2 B1 B2 
 H1  H 2 2 B2  3 x2 
 W2 is total weight above 12
 B  B1 
strip 2 (bottom of strip I)  W1  2
 3
 x2   0 ( xx)


HU IoT Dam engineering lecture note 2005

 Multiple step design method
 the dam is designed joint by joint (block by block)

 begins at the top making each joint confirm to all gravity dam
design requirements.
 produces a dam with polygonal face that may be smoothened up
for appearance with no appreciable change in stability or
economy.
 A high dam may be divided into seven zones according to design
and stability requirements.
 The method is almost always used for the final design of dams
with a height that does not encroach greatly on Zone V.
Single step Method
 considers the whole dam as a single block.
 used for final design of very high dams that extend well beyond
zone V.

 can be used with an accuracy of 2 to 4% on the safe side; for

preliminary designs to obtain the area of the maximum section
of the dam.

 The dam has a straight downstream face. When extended it

intersects upstream face at the headwater surface.

 dam dimensions are determined in such a way that rules of

Zone IV are satisfied.
Single step Vs. Multiple step design
 Dams of smaller height can be designed economically by
Multiple step method.

 High dams beyond zone IV are designed by Single step

method so that convex curvature of downstream face and
excessive flat slope of upstream face are avoided.

 It may be economical to increase the concrete strength

through the use of more expensive material, so that even a
high dam designed by dividing it into only four zones, thus
eliminating zone V and VI.
Single Step Method

L = 10-15% of h1
H10 = 2L (Considering EQ )
= 3L (No EQ)
H6 = 1.33L
Design Example:
Design a non-overflow concrete gravity dam by multiple-step
method using the following data.
Item Value Item Value
Hmax (depth of headwater 60 m f-Friction coeffnt. 0.75
he ( spillway crest to MWL) 3m sa 560 kPa
Tail water None ssf 5
c 24 kN/m3  0.5
w 10 kN/m3 C 1
Minimum Top width 7.5 m c’ 30 MPa
Earthquake and silt press Ignore F – Fetch length 6.4 km
    V 128 km/hr
Zone I and II
Determine the wave height by
hw  0.763  0.032 vf  0.271 f 1 / 4 ; for f  32km
hw  0.763  0.032 128 * 6.4  0.271 * 6.41 / 4
 1.25m

Rise of water wave = 1.33hw = 1.66 m;

With an allowance of 0.14 m, free board = 1.8m
Fwa = 2.0wh2w = 2.0 * 10 * 1.252
= 31.25 kN/m
Point of application = 3/8 *1.25 =0.47m above still water level.
Zone III Block I
Zone IV Block I
Design Example:
Design a non-overflow gravity dam by the Single-step method
using the following data .

Item Value Item Value

Hmax (depth of headwater) 45 m f (friction factor) 0.75
he ( spillway crest to MWL) 3m sa (Shear strength) 4.5 MPa

Tail water None ssf (Shear safety factor) 5

Top width 7.5  (Uplift factor) 0.5

c (concrete Specific unit weight) 22 MPa C (uplift area factor) 1
w(water specific unit weight) 10 MPa c’ (concrete ultimate strength) 30 MPa

Earthquake small F (Fetch length) 5 km

silt pressure Ignore V (Wind Velocity) 128 km/hr

Partial Design
Determine the wave height by the empirical
equations
hw  0.763  0.032 vf  0.271 f 1 / 4 for f  32km
hw  0.763  0.032 128 * 5  0.271 * 5.01 / 4
 1.17 m

Rise of water wave = 1.33hw

= 1.56 m;
With an allowance of 0.14 m, free board = 1.70m
Fwv = 2.0wh2w
= 2.0 * 10 * 1.172
= 27.40 kN/m

Point of application = 3/8 x 1.17 =0.44m above still water level.

Partial Design
L = 10-15% of h1
H10 = 3L (No EQ )
H6 = 1.33L
 Partial Design
Forces

Horizonta
Line Item Description & dimension l Vertical Lever Moment Remark
1 W0 7.5*46.7*22 7705.5 13.75 105950.6
2 W1 0.5*35*26.25*22 10106.25 26.25 265289.1
Total Partial empty 17811.75 20.84 371239.7
Trial I Estimation of x Z'= 43.75
2B/3=Z' - 25.26 = 22.91 B= 34.37
x= 0.75 Z'' = 9.25
Z''+B/3 = 20.70667 Z''+2B/3 = 32.16333
3 W3 0.5*22.5*0.8*22 185.625 9.75 1809.84
Reservoir Empty 17997.38 [20.73] 373049.5 Ok!
4 Fv Water column 0.3*25*10 253.125 9.63 2437.594
5 Fu Uplift: 0.5*B*0.5h*10 -3866.63 20.71 -80077.8
6 Fh Water Pressure 10125 15 151875
7 Fwa Wave action 27.4 45.44 1245.06
Reservoir Full 10152.4 14383.88 [31.18] 448529.4 Ok!
Partial Design
Check for
sliding
H 10152.4
 tan    0.71  0.75
V 14383.88 Friction alone is sufficient!

Check Stresses for Reservoir empty

W
 6e  17997.38  6 * 5.71 
PV' , PV"  1    1    1045.1 ,0
B B 34.37  34.37 
PV'  1045.1 PV"  0
Pi '  p v' (1  tan 2  ' )  1045.1(1  0.0.033 2 )  1046.3kPa
PV" , Pi '   rock ,all  4000kPa (safe!)
Partial Design
Check Stresses for Reservoir full condition

W
 6e  14383.88  6 * 4.75 
PV' , PV"  1    1    757.7,70.88
B B 34.37  34.37 
PV'  757.7 kPa PV"  70.88kPa
Pi '  pv' (1  tan 2  ' )  757.7(1  1.327 2 )  2092.0kPa
PV" , Pi '   rock ,all  4000kPa (safe!)