JIMMA UNIVERSITY

Department of hydraulics and

water resource engineering

HYDRAULIC STRUCTURE I

01/02/2008 EC.
 The course provides students with basic principles of
General Course design analysis of dams and its appurtenant structures.

Objectives

 Main Points to be addresses in this course

What is hydraulic structure?
From what material can be it constructed?
What are the main category of h.s?
What are the criteria to classify dams?
What types of dams are commonly known in the world?
What are factors governing the selection of dam type and location of dam?
What are the measures to be taken for foundation treatment?
What are forces acting on gravity dam?
What types of failure can occur on gravity and earthen dam?
How can we check the stability of gravity dam and earthen dam?
What are the classification of concrete dame?
What are the methods of analysis for gravity dam and earthen dam?
What are the classification of embankment dam?
What are the method of stream diversion ?
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Hydraulic structure I Compiled by Habtom M
 Chapter One
Elements of Dam Engineering

1.Introduction to hydraulic Structures

what is H.S?
 Because of the different perception about hydraulic structures,
different textbooks defined hydraulic structures in different context.

 Hydraulic structures are those structures which are in contact with

water.

 Any structures designed to handle water in any way.

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1.1 Classification of hydraulic structure

 The principal hydraulic structures can be grouped under

the following three categories :
1.Heading‐up and Control of water
The main purpose of these hydraulic structures is to raise the upstream
water level to feed the canals/tunnel which take their demands
from the reservoir and hence they are called heading‐up works.
They also serve in controlling and regulating the rate of flow and
measurement of flow in the stream.
It comprise:
 weirs,
 barrages,
valves
 regulators and etc.

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2. Conveyance and Navigation works
These are hydraulics structures which are used for
transportation and to transport the fluid it self.

 These structures comprise:

 navigation locks and channels,
 pipes,
 open channel,
 pressure conduit,
 canals
 sewers and etc.

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3. Storage works:
Storage structures used to store water for future
use. This stored water can be used when the
natural flow is less than the required demand.
It comprises:
 dams/Reservoir
 Tanks and etc.

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 Classification of Hydraulic Structures
by function

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Brief list of Hydraulic Structures (including
those out of the scope of this module are)
 Dams
 Intakes
 Outlets
 Spillways
 Energy Dissipaters: Stilling basins, Plunge
pools, Flip Buckets, Ski Jumps, Aprons
 Navigation structures- Locks, Ship-lifts and
inclined plane, inland ports
 Pumping stations
 Canals, (Navigation and Water
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cont…
 Conveyance), (Spawning canals)
 Other conveyance structures like pipelines
 Drop structures, Culverts and siphons
 Steel structures like gates, valves, air
vessels, air vents, silt outlets
 Diversion work structures (Diversion dams
and Weirs, river intakes, settling basins)
 Fish ladders and passes

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 Cont…
 Check dams
 Hydropower stations
 Earth retaining structures
 Other river training structures
 Bridges, aqueducts
 Tunnels
 Irrigation structures
 Levees and canal dikes
 Revetments
 Breakwaters
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 Images of Hydraulics structures

Check dam

culvert

Gravity dam

Shaft spill way

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Gravity dam

Embankment dam

Check dam
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Intake tower

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 1.2 Classification of dams
 Dam: Is a barrier across flowing water/river that obstructs, directs
or retards the flow of water, often creating a Reservoir.

There are various ways of classification of

dams. Some of them are as discussed below:
 a) Classification based on function served
 b) Classification based on hydraulic design
 c) Classification based on material used
 d) Classification based on rigidity
 e) Classification based on structural behavior

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i. Classification according to use
 a. Storage dam
 b. Diversion dam
 c. Detention dam
 d. Debris dams
 e. Coffer dams

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ii. Classification according to hydraulic
design

 a. Overflow dam: They are designed to pass the surplus

water over their crest. They must be made of materials which will not
be eroded by such discharges .E.g. concrete, masonry etc…

 b. Non‐overflow dam: They are those which are not designed

to be overtopped. This type of design extends the choice of materials to
include earth fill and rock fill dams.

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 iii. Classification according to
construction materials used

 a) Masonry dams: ‐ made of masonry.

 b) Concrete dams:‐ made of concrete .
 c) Earth dams:‐ made of earthen materials.
 d) Rock‐fill dams:‐ made of rock.
 e) Timber dams: ‐made of timber.
 f) Steel dams: ‐ made of steel.

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iv. Classification based on rigidity

 a. Rigid dam …...

.
It is constructed from
rigid materials such as masonry, concrete,
steel or timber
 b. Non‐rigid dam . It is constructed from
non‐rigid materials such as earth fill and/or
rock‐fill.

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v. Based on structural design
 1. Gravity dams 2. Earth dams
 3. Rock‐fill dams 4. Arch dams
 5. Buttress dams 6. Steel dams
 7.Timber dams

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 End of
lecture one!

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 What type of dams are constructed and being constructed in Ethiopia?
List with there purpose ( function).

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 1.3. Characteristics of dam
1, Concrete gravity dam
 It is constructed from concrete materials.
 Its stability is based on its own weight.
 The gravity dam profile is essentially triangular
to ensure stability and to avoid over-stressing
of the dam or its foundation.
 It is suited to wide valleys, provided that
excavation to rock is less than about 5m.
 Requires imported cement.

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Gravity dam

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Hollow gravity dam

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 reservoir

Dam axis
Spill way

Tail water

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 2, Arch dam
 Arch dam is dam with upstream curvature which
constructed from concrete materials.
 Stability is obtained by a combination of arch and
gravity action.
 Utilizes the strength of an arch to resist loads placed
upon it by 'arch action‘.
 The strength of the rock mass at the abutments and
immediately down valley of the dam must strong
enough.
 It is suited to narrow gorges/ V-shape valley.
 High abutment loading.
 50-85% concrete saved relative to gravity dams.
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 The foundations and abutments must be competent
not only to support the dead weight of the dam on the
foundation but also the forces that are directed into the
abutments because of arch action in response to the
forces acting on the dam.

Arch dam can be classified as

 Single‐curvature arch dams
 Double –curvature arch dams
 Arch‐gravity dams

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Single curvature Arch dam

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Arch gravity dam
Double curvature arch dam/ Cupola

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Arch dam

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Arch dam

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 3,buttres dam
 Buttress dam is constructed from concrete materials.
 The up stream face is supported by a continuous regular
intervals down stream buttresses.
 It normally needs up to 60 % less concrete than gravity
dam of the same height, but needs form work and
reinforcement.
 hence it made more economical for dams over 14m.
 Threat of deterioration of concrete from the impounded
water is more likely than from a thick gravity section.
 There is also an elimination of a good deal of uplift
pressure.
 create higher contact stress, needs sound rock.
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Butters dam

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 4,Embankment dam
 Any dam constructed of naturally excavated materials placed without
addition of binding material other than those inherent in the natural
material.
 It is suited to either rock or compressible soil foundation and wide
valley.
 It can accept limited differential settlements.
 Embankment dams are usually referred to be types such as Earth fill,
Rock fill, and Hydraulic fill.
I. Earth fill dam: An embankment dam constructed primarily of
compacted earth in either homogeneous or zoned areas containing
more than 50% of earth.
II. Rock fill dam : The term rock fill dam usually represents dams that
contain more than 50% compacted or damped pervious rock
III. Hydraulic Fill dam: An embankment dam constructed of earth, sand,
gravel or rock generally from dredged material conveyed to the site
of placement by suspension in flowing water.
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5, timber dam

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1.4 Dam Site Assessment and Investigation
steps
A) Prior to construction
i. Preliminary studies
 Field trips- reconnaissance of dam site and
reservoir area, downstream area.
 Collection and evaluation of existing data
. socio economic
. political
. environmental
. Physical data
preparation of topographic map

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Cont…
 hydrologic data

 Meteorological Data
Average monthly temperature
Average monthly rainfall
Maximum recorded storm intensities
Annual rate of evaporation

 Geologic Data:
Dam and Spillway sites
Geological map of the site
Subsurface investigation

 Earthquake information
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Cont…
 Material type
possible quarry sites for these materials should be identified with
in a reasonable distance from the construction site.

 Miscellaneous data
 Erosion condition in the catchment area.
Identify expected sources of erosion.
 Transport.
 Existing facilities and rates.
 Local labor.

 Preliminary dam design including selection of the

type of dam, main dimensions, approximate site,
costs, etc
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ii. Feasibility studies
 Detailed investigation of site conditions.

 Final selection of site.

 Final selection of dam type, main dimension

and layout.

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iii. Basic design
 Completion of detailed site investigations
 Detailed design, cost estimates, construction
schedules,
 Development of:
 Basic report
 Tender documents for the construction of civil works
(drawings, specifications, general and special
contract conditions)

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B) During Construction

i. Detailed (design and construction execution)

 Stepwise detail of dam design ahead of
construction.
 Site investigations oriented towards construction.
ii. Construction activities

 Preliminary installation of contractor at site

 Construction of required infrastructure (road, camp,
plant, water and energy supply, etc)
 River diversion
 Construction of dam and associated structures

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iii. Construction and assembly supervision

 Preparation of manuals for testing, monitoring

and operation of equipment.
 Maintenance.

C) After construction
Monitoring, surveillance, operation
Reading of instruments,
 evaluation of results
Planning of operation
Execution of operation activities
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1.4.Dam site assessment and investigation

1. General planning and preparation of location maps:

Before undertaking actual investigation it is
necessary to prepare location maps indicating:
 Dam and spillway site,
 Proposed relocation of approach roads,
 Quarry sites for construction material,
 Stream gauging stations,
 Proposed camp site,

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Cont…
 Existing utilities like lines of communication,
transmission lines, rail/road.
 Communication,
 Other important features.
2. Hydrologic data and investigation:
 Collection and analysis of stream flow and precipitation
records,
 Data collection like, precipitation, run off, evaporation,
infiltration and percolation condition of the site.
 Assessment of available yield and estimation of flood peaks,
 Ground water studies.

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3. Topographic survey:
 Detailed survey for the dam site covering sufficient area
on the u/s and d/s as well as above the likely height of the
dam on both banks,

 Detailed survey for areas proposed for constructing

spillway, diversion tunnels, outlets, power houses etc.

 Preparation of detailed maps to various scales based on

the data collected.
 Investigation of slope, shape and etc. of the
construction site.
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4. Surface geologic investigation:
 Identification of boundary and nature of deposits
and overburden;
 The characteristics and structure, of rock beds;
 Shape and magnitude of folds and fault zones.
5. Subsurface or foundation exploration:
 sinking open pits,
 drilling holes,
 driving shafts and drifts,
 Geophysical prospecting using latest techniques.

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6) Construction material survey:
 Location and estimate of quantities of
available construction material,

 Estimation need to be supported by

laboratory tests to determine suitability of
various materials for construction of dam and
other structures.

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1.5. Dam structures and reservoirs

 1.5.1 dam structure

 Structures related to dams include:
 spillway,
 bottom outlet,
 intakes,
 gates,
 service roads,
 reservoir
 bridges
 Diversion structure and etc.

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 1.5.2 Reservoir:
 Reservoir is artificial lake of water which is formed upstream of the
dam structure.

Reservoir
Downstream
Upstream

Dam

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  Depending upon the purpose served by a given reservoir, the reservoir
may be broadly classified

1) Storage or conservation reservoir:- are those reservoirs which retain

excess supplies during period of peak flow and can release them gradually
during low flows or when the need arises.

2) Flood control reservoirs:- store a portion of flood flows in such a way to

minimize the flood peaks at the area to be protected downstream.

3) Multipurpose reservoirs:-are those reservoirs which are planned and

constricted to serve not only one purpose but various purpose together.

Hydraulic structure I Compiled by Habtom M 60

 The various purposes for which storage works
are required are mentioned below.

 1. Irrigation
 2. Hydro-electric power generation,
 3. control of destructive floods
 4. Low water regulation for navigation
 5. Domestic and industrial water supply
 6. Recreation
 7. Preservation and breeding of useful
aquatic life, etc.

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1.6 Storage Components
•The reservoir volume is subdivided in to the following parts, when seen in
its vertical section Spillway crest
Maximum pool level
Normal pool level

Outlet

Live storage

Minimum pool level

Dead storage
River bed

Spillway

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Live storage: ‐ The volume of storage in which water will be taken for demand,
using service outlet. It is the portion of the storage capacity in which water will normally
be stored and withdrawn for beneficial uses.

Dead storage: ‐ The portion of the storage capacity from which water is not normally
withdrawn, in accordance with operating agreements. It is the storage that lies below the
invert of the lowest outlet and thus cannot be evacuated by gravity.

Bottom outlet: ‐ The outlet which is mainly used to discharge the water from
the reservoir for the environmental flow and for flushing of sediments. Some times it
is also opened to discharge when there is flooding on the upstream.

Service outlet: ‐ It is used to discharge the required amount of water for

downstream beneficiaries as their need.( h.p .irrigation , water supply…)

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 1.7 Storage Capacity of the dam
 Storage capacity is the most important physical characteristics/ parameter of
the reservoir that store water and stabilize the flow.

 The capacity of reservoir on dam site, is determined from the contour maps of
the area.
 After the topographical survey of the dam sites is carried out and contour map is
prepared, the area
S enclosed within each contour can be measured with a planimeter.

h

A2 A1

Hydraulic structure I Compiled by Habtom M 65

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1.8 Selection of site for a dams

The selection of an appropriate dam for a given site depends up on many

physical factors such as

 The following factors shall be considered when selecting the

site of a dam.
 1. Topography: ‐ As much as possible, the dam
should be located where the river has narrow gorge which
opens out upstream to create a large reservoir.
 2. Suitable foundation: ‐ Suitable foundation is
necessary for dam site. If not available but can
be improved by adopting various treatment measures.

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i. Rock foundation: ‐ any type dam can be constructed on good rock
foundation. Such foundations have high bearing capacity and resistant to erosion
and percolation and are ideal for all types of dams.

ii. Gravel and coarse sand foundation: ‐ such foundation has low bearing
capacity and earth and rock fill dams are selected. As there may be high seepage,
cut‐off may be provided.

iii. Fine sand and silt foundations: ‐ it is suitable only for earth and low height
concrete dams. As there is settlement, piping, seepage erosion at the d/s toe
and liquefaction failure, measures should be done.

iv. Clay foundation: ‐ it is not suitable for construction of dam. These

foundations have very low bearing capacity, the settlement is quite large, and
hence it needs foundation treatment before dam construction.

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3. Spillway site: ‐ a good site for spillway should exist at or near the dam site.

4. Availability of construction materials: ‐ dam requires large amount of construction

materials and hence, there should be sufficient amount of construction material with high
quality and quantity at nearby to reduce transportation cost.
5. Water tightness of reservoir: ‐ the bed and side should be water tight to reduce seepage
loss.

6. Submergence area: ‐ the area submerged on the upstream of the dam should be small
and should not submerge costly land and property.

7. Accessibility: ‐ the site should be easily accessed for transportation of construction

material. If there was no road to the site, access roads should be constructed prior the
construction.

9. Sediment rate: ‐ the incoming water should be relatively free from sediment in order to
increase the life span of the reservoir.

10. Minimum overall cost: ‐ it should be relatively minimum cost including maintenance
and operation.

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70
1.10 Foundation of dams and their treatment
 Foundation treatment is a technique of improving the foundation
property for the construction of high concrete structures.
 For convenience, foundation may be classified as rock, coarse‐grained
materials and fine‐grained materials foundations
 The foundation treatments commonly adopted are
 surface preparation and
 foundation grouting.
 surface preparation
 Removing the entire loose soil till sound bedrock is exposed without damaging the
underlying rock.
 If faults, seams or shattered rock zones are detected in the exploratory geological
investigations, special steps and remedies must be taken to ensure their removal.
 Foundation Grouting
 Pressure grouting is the process of injecting suitable cementations’
slurries or similar materials into inaccessible places, such as the
underlying formation of foundation of dams for the purpose of sealing
seams, cracks and fissures or filling voids and also used to improve the
strength and elastic properties of the material into which it is injected

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 In general, grouting for foundation treatment may be classified as follows:
a. Consolidation or Area Grouting
b. Curtain grouting

1. Consolidation or Area Grouting

 The objectives of consolidation grouting are to strengthen the rock, to stop water
passage through the disintegrated rock, to increase bearing strength of the strata.

 It is done in an area, usually the entire dam foundation, by drilling shallow holes (3 to 15
m deep) on a grid pattern at a spacing of 5 to 30 m.

 This comparatively shallow and low pressure grouting is done for the general
consolidation of the foundation before concreting of the dam section and is followed by
high pressure grouting after some concreting of the dam has taken place.

 It also helps in checking the leakage of high‐pressure grout used later in the curtain
grouting

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 2..Curtain grouting

 Curtain grouting (or high pressure grouting) is done to form a deep curtain wall or an
impervious barrier in the foundation just d/s of the heel of the dam.

 It is high pressure grouting is required and relatively deeper holes are drilled near the
heel of the dam.

 It helps in reducing seepage through the foundation and reduces the uplift pressure.
 Holes required for curtain grouting are quite deep. The holes are usually vertical but
some times it could be inclined. Inclined holes are required to intercept the inclined joints in
the rock to develop an effective grout curtain.

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End of chapter one