Wachemo University (WCU)

Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

(HWRE)

(For G_3 Civil Engineering CEP)

Hydraulics Structures – I

Chapter two: Design Principles

of Dams

Instr: Ms.Tirhas W.
HWRE
 CONCRETE DAMS

 The structural integrity of any dam must be maintained under different

loading circumstances.

 As per the degree of relative importance loads on the dam can be

classified as ;

 Primary loads:- Major important loads irrespective of the dam type;

E.g. Self weight load, water load and seepage & uplift load

 Secondary loads:- Universally applicable loads , even though there

magnitude is less;
E.g. Silt load, hydrodynamic load or wave load, wind Load,
ice load, thermal & dam/foundation interaction effect
 Exceptional loads:- loads which has limited applicability;

E.g. Tectonic load

HWRE
 Force Acting On Concrete Dams
 Loads and their centeroidal location in gravity dams

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont….

HWRE
 Design and Analysis Of Gravity Dams
 Criteria & Principles

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Horizontal normal stress, y
It can be determine by consideration of the equilibrium of the horizontal
shear force operating above & below a hypotheticial horizontal element
through the dam. The difference in shear forces is balanced by the normal
stresses on vertical planes.


HWRE
 Principal stresses

 ,& 3 may be determined from knowledge of z& y & construction

of Mohr’s circle diagram to represent stress conditions at a point, or
by application of the equation given below.

HWRE
Example‐1:
Determine the self weight, water and uplift
pressure for the figure shown below and force
action for point C. Take the unit weight of the
material as 24KN/m3 and unit weight of water
as 10KN/m3 .
solution
 Self‐weight: Theself‐weight can be divided in two:
W1=4*20*24= 1920KN/m acting at (20‐4) +4/2=18m
from point C.
 W2= [0.5*15*(20‐4)*24] = 2880KN/m acting at
2/3*(20‐4) =10.67m from point C.
Cont…
 Water pressure: It has three components as computed
below:
I. U/s water pressure: PH=0.5*10*18^2=1620KN/m
and acts at 18/3=6m from the base.
II. D/s water pressure: Ph’= 0.5*10*5^2=125KN/m
and acts at 5/3=1.67m from the base. iii.
Downward water pressure: W3= 0.5*5.33*5*10=
133.25KN/m
III. Uplift pressure: Wu1= 5*20*10= 1000KN/m and
acts at 20/2= 10m from point C.
IV. Wu2= 0.5*(18‐5)*20*10= 1300KN/m and acts at
2/3*20= 13.33m from point C.
.
Example‐3:
For the gravity dam shown on figure below, determine:
a. the factor of safety against sliding
b. the shear friction factor
c. the factor of safety against overturning
d. the maximum vertical stress, shear stress and normal
stress at the toe
e. check whether there is tension Consider reservoir full
condition and take only the weight of the dam and the
water pressure. Take μ= 0.70, γ material=
24KN/m3 , γ water = 10KN/m3 and q=1400KN/m2
-+
L
+
Exercise‐1:
Determine the uplift force at the base of a gravity dam as
shown on the figure below for the following three cases:
I. No drains, II. with drains at a distance of 5m from the
u/s end and III. Tension crack up to 2m from the u/s
end. Assume the unit weight material as 24KN/m3 and of
water 10KN/m3 .
Exercise‐2

The figure below shows concrete gravity dam (non‐over

flow portion). By neglecting, the earthquake effects,
calculate: i. the maximum vertical stresses at the heel and
toe of the dam ii. the major principal stress at the toe iii.
The intensity of shear stress on a horizontal plane near the
toe.
 CHAPTER 3
Buttress and Arch dams

Buttress dam design and analysis

 A buttress dam consists of a slopping u/s membrane which transmits the water
load to a series of buttress at right angle to the axis of the dam. The principal
structural elements of a buttress dam are the water supporting u/s deck and the
buttresses that in turn support the deck. The buttresses are carefully spaced,
triangular walls proportional to transmit the water load and the weight of the
structure to the foundation.

Relative to gravity dam, buttress dam has the advantages of saving in concrete,
major reduction in uplift and also offers greater ability to accommodate
foundation deformation without damage. However, the advantages offset by
HWRE
considerably higher finished unit costs as a result of more extensive & non
repetitive formwork required. It also requires more competent foundation
because of stress concentration.
 Advantages of buttress dams
 less concrete used compared to a gravity dam of the same height,
 Increased surface area to volume ratio
 Better heat dissipation
 Increased speed of construction
 More safety against overturning and sliding because of the larger
vertical component of hydrostatic force exerted on the dam (highly
inclined u/s face)
 More equal distribution of stresses of foundation.
 Less massive than gravity dam hence may be used on weak foundation
not suitable for gravity dam
 Decreased uplift pressure ( if no spread footing, joining the buttresses
is used)

HWRE
 Disadvantages of Buttress dam
 needs reinforcement and expensive shuttering
 needs more skilled labor
 slabs and columns are highly stressed
 danger of deterioration of concrete of the u/s deck
 more susceptible to damage by sabotage

Forces on buttress dams

Essentially buttress dams are subjected to the same as gravity dams.
Uplift forces may be insignificant as in the case of arch dams. Wind
force on buttress faces may be considerable when high velocity winds
blow diagonally from the downstream side, hence struts (beams) are
usually provided.

HWRE
 Cont…

.

The loading and safety criteria

for buttress dams or buttresses, is
the same as that for gravity dam
section, except that the provided
buttress thickness ‘t’.

the Uplift pressure is considered to

act only under the buttress head,

HWRE
 Design Principle for Buttress Dams
The stability analysis for buttresses is done in a similar fashion as is done
for a gravity dam. However, the design element is not taken to be a slice
of unit thickness as in gravity dams, but the full panel is considered. In
addition to satisfying the stability criteria the buttresses are designed to
conform to the design rules for structural concrete members.
The buttress width is determined by considering the buttress to be a
vertical cantilever beam. The width has to e sufficient to avoid tension at
the upstream face when fully loaded and also to avoid excessive
compression at the downstream face. In order to determine the thickness
of the buttress required to prevent buckling they are considered to be
bearing walls instead of beams. The minimum allowable thickness is
same as that for columns.
The unsupported length is generally reduced by providing struts at
intermediate points

HWRE
 Cont…

Spacing of the buttress is governed by:

 length of the dam
 pressure of spread footing or a continuous floor slap
 presence of spillway over the dam
 slope of the upstream water supporting membrane(slab)
 Unusual foundation or side hill condition.

For high dams greater spacing may be economical. Wider spacing may
entail increased thickness and reinforcement of slabs. The spacing that
will give the most economical balance of concrete steel and formwork
area is determined by the total cost of the items.

HWRE
 Cont…

.

The buttress is designed as a system of columns each carrying the load by

column action to the foundation. These columns are proportioned to
develop a uniform compressive stress and curved to avoid any serious
eccentricity on any horizontal or normal plane when the water and
concrete loads are resolved.

HWRE
 Arch Dams

Arch dam is a concrete dam with a considerable upstream curvature,

structurally resisting the imposed forces by arch and cantilever action.
Arch dam transmits the major portion of the water load to the abutments
or
valley sides rather than to the floor of the valley, hence, large horizontal
reactions are required by the abutments.
Arch dams are restricted to relatively narrow valley sections with strong
abutments. Arch dams are structurally more efficient than the gravity or
buttress dam, greatly reducing the volume of concrete required.
The arch dam offer great economies in volume of concrete. In the case of
a slender double curvature, the saving in volume may exceed 80% of that
necessary for an equivalent gravity profile. Associated savings may also
be realized in foundation excavation and preparation.

HWRE
 Cont…

Type of Arch dams

Arch dams may be classified in to the following types:
Single‐curvature arch dams
Double –curvature arch dams
Arch‐gravity dams
 Single Curvature arch dams

A. Constant radius profile

The constant‐radius profile has the simplest geometry, combining a
vertical upstream face of constant radius with a uniform radial
downstream slope. The downstream face radius therefore varies with
elevation. The profile is shown schematically in Figure below, and it is
apparent that the central angle, 2θ, reaches a maximum at crest level.
A constant‐radius profile is not the most economical in volume, but
has the merit of analytical and constructional simplicity. The profile is
suited to relatively symmetrical U‐shaped valleys

HWRE
 Cont…

Figure: Constant radius arch dam

Double curvature arch dams (Cupola profile)

It has a curvature in the horizontal as well as vertical planes (curved both
in plan and in elevation). It has smaller thickness as compared to other
types and hence is more economical.
HWRE
 Cont…

.

HWRE
 Forces
The forces acting on arch dam are the same as that of gravity dams.
Uplift forces are less important (not significant) as the base width is very
small. Internal stresses caused by temperature changes and yielding of
abutments are very important. Foundation stresses are generally small.
2.3.4 Methods for design of Arch dams
The following methods are commonly used for the design and analysis of
arch dams፡ -
 Thin cylinder theory;
 Thick cylinder theory;
 Elastic arch theory;
 Trial load analysis;
 Shell theory; and
 Finite element method

Here only thin cylinder theory and thick cylinder theory design
methods are discussed.
HWRE
 Cont…
A. Thin cylinder theory
It is assumed that the horizontal section of the arch dam is a part of thin
cylinder of the same radius. The pressure acting on the arch ring is equal to
hydrostatic pressure at the corresponding elevation. It is again assumed that
the entire water load is carried by the arch action and the cantilever action
is absent. As the cylinder is thin, there is no variation of stress across the
thickness of the cylinder
 The ring shown in figure below is subjected to hydrostatic pressure (P).
If the arch ring is at a depth (h) below the water surface in the reservoir,
the intensity of pressure P is equal to γH where, γ is unit weight of water.
 The total pressure (Ph) acting on the entire arch ring per unit height =
Intensity of pressure * Projected area normal to the direction of Ph.
 The pressure force Ph acts in the d/s direction along the axis of
symmetry of the arch ring and resisted by the reactions at the abutments.
 If R is the reaction at each abutment, its component in the u/s direction
which
resists Ph is equal to (Rsinθ/2).
HWRE
 Cont…

.

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 Cont…

As an arch dam is never a complete cylinder, the stresses and dimensions

computed by the thin cylinder theory is quite approximate.
Most Economical Central angle of an Arch dam
The thin cylinder theory can be used to compute the most economical
central angle of an arch dam for which angle; the volume of concrete
required is minimum.

HWRE
 Cont…

For the figure shown above, the volume of concrete per unit height is
given by:
V = re *θ *(t*1 )
. θ= the angle in radians
Where:
t= thickness of the arch ring
re= radius of the extrados ring
Substituting the value of t:

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE
 B. Thick cylinder theory

The figure below shows thick arch subjected to an external pressure, Pe.
The radial and circumferential compressive stresses at a point at a radius
r are given by:
Radial Stress,

HWRE
 Cont…

.

Figure: Thick Arch dam

HWRE
 Cont…

HWRE