SPILL WAYS

Introduction

Spillways are provided for storage dams to release surplus or flood water which cannot
be contained in the allotted storage space, and at diversion dams to by pass flows
exceeding those which are turned into the diversion system.

There are several spillway designs. The choice of design is a function of the nature of the
site, the type of dam and the overall economics of the scheme. The importance of a safe
spillway can not be overemphasized, many failures of dams have been caused by
improperly designed spillways or by spillways of insufficient capacity. Ample capacity is
of paramount importance for earth fill and rock fill dams, which are likely to be destroyed
if over topped, where as concrete dams may be able to with stand moderate over topping.
Usually, increase in cost is not directly proportional to increase in capacity very often the
cost of a spillway of ample capacity will be only moderately higher than that of one
which is obviously too small.

A spill way may be located either within the body of the dam or at one end of the dam or
entirely away from the dam as an independent structure.

Essential Requirements of spillway:

i) The spillway must have sufficient capacity

ii) It must be hydraulically and structurally adequate
iii) It must be so located that it provides safe disposal of water, i.e, spillway
discharges will not erode or undermine the d/s toe of the dam.
iv) The bounding surface of the spillway must be erosion resistant to with stand
the high scouring velocities created by the drop from the reservoir surface to
the tail water.
v) Some device will be required for dissipation of energy of the d/s side of the
spillway.

Spillway Capacity:

The required capacity of a spillway, i.e, the maximum outflow rate through the spillway,
maybe determined by flood routing and requires the following data.

i) Inflow Hydrograph
ii) Reservoir capacity curve
iii) Discharge curve
And the required capacity of a spillway depends on the following factors:

i) the inflow flood

ii) the available storage capacity
iii) the discharge capacity of other outlet works
iv) Whether the spillway is gated or ungated
v) The possible damage if a spillway of adequate capacity is not provided.

Components of a spillway:

i) control structure: regulates and controls the outflow from the

ii) discharge channel /waterway/ conveyance structure: it conveys the water
safety from the reservoir downward to the river (next to the control structure).
iii) Terminal structure/energy dissipater: provided to dissipate the high energy of
flow from spillway before the flow is returned to the river. It is provided on
the d/s of the spillway.
iv) Entrance/approach/channel: required to draw water from the reservoir and
convey it to the control structure.

Type of spillway:

Spillway may be classified:

1. According to their function (or based on the time when the spillway comes
into operation) as:

a) Service ( or main) spillway: design for frequent use in conveying

flood releases from the reservoir to a water course d/s from a
dam. It is designed pass the entire design flood.

b) Auxiliary spillway: Designed for infrequent damages of the

structure from passage of infrequent flood. It is provided as a
supplement to the main spillway and it crest is so located that if
comes in to operation only after the floods for which the main
spillway is designed are exceeded. It is provided in conjunction
with the main spillway. The total capacity of the spillway is then
equal to the sum of the capacities of the main and auxiliary
spillways.

c) Emergency spillway: Designed to provide a reserve protection

against overtopping of a dam and are intended for use under
extreme conditions, such as misoperation or malfunction of
service spillway or other emergency conditions. The control crest
 is usually located at/or above the designed maximum reservoir
water service.

Some of the situations which may lead to emergency are:

a) An enforced shut down of out let works

b) A malfunctioning of spillway gates
c) The necessity for by passing the regular spillway b/s of maintenance,
damage or failure of some part of the structure

2. According to mode of control:

a) Free (uncontrolled) spillways

b) Gated (controlled) spillways

3. Based on prominent features pertaining to the various components of the

spillway (hydraulic criteria)

a) Free overfall or straight drop

b) Overflow or ogee spillway
c) Side channel and chute spillway
d) Siphon spillway
e) Shaft or Morning glory spillway
f) Conduit or tunnel spillway

Free overfall spillway

Spillway crest

Free over fall

Over hanging lip

Aerated nappe Plunge pool

 Simple structure
 Used for low earth dams
 For thin arch dams
 For dams having vertical or nearly vertical d/s face and would permit free fall of
water (height of dam< 6m)
* Overflow or ogee spillway

 is an improvement upon the free overfall spillway.

 Water is glided smoothly over the crest of the spillway and also made to flied
over the down face of the spillway.
 The most widely adopted type of spillway used on masonry or concrete dams, If
used with earth fill dams, it needs a separate concrete structure.

Ogee Spillway

* Chute Spillway

For embankment dams it is not possible to provide overflow spillway further for concrete
dams constructed an narrow valleys & if the nature of stream bed is erodible, it may
impossible to provid an over flow spillway. In such cases a chute spillway, which may be
isolated from the main dam may be provided.

Reservoir

Side channel

Side Channel &chute

chute spillway

* Syphon spillway

A siphon spillway is a closed conduit system formed in the shape of an inverted U,

positioned so that the inside of the bend of the upper passage way is at normal reservoir
storage level. Such a spillway occupies less space and regulates the reservoir level within
narrow limits. The initial discharge of the spillway, as the reservoir level rises above
normal pool level is similar to How the over a weir . Symphonic action takes place after
the air in the bend over the crest has been exhausted. Continuous flow is maintained by
the suction effect due to the gravity pull of the water in the lower leg of the siphon.
 M.P.L
* Priming : the action of the siphon spillway
from the moment the water just begins to
flow over the crest to the instant when the
syhon duct starts running full.

M.P.L

* Shaft or Morning glory spillway:

Shaft spillway is one in which the water enters over a horizontally positioned lip, drops
through a vertical shaft , and then flows to the downstream river channel through a
horizontal or nearly horizontal conduit or tunnel. The structure is made up of three
elements namely an overflow control weir, a vertical transitim, and a closed dischage
channel.

Morning glary spillway

This spillway is suitable for narrow gorges where other types of spillways do not find
adequate space.

* Conduit or Tunnel Spillway

It is one in which a closed channel is used to convey the discharge around or under a
dam. The closed channel may be in the form of a vertical inclined shaft and horizontal
 tunner or conduit. The control structure for this spillway may be in the form of an
overflow crest.

Tunnel Spillway.

Design of an over flow or ogee spillway

The shape of the nappe shaped profile depends up on the head, the inclination of the
upstream face of the spillway and the height of the spillway above the stream bed or the
bed of the entrance channel. (which influences the velocity of approach to the crest of the
spillway)

Several standard ogee shapes have been developed by U.S. Army corps of Engineers at
their ways Experimental stations (WES) known as ‘WES’ standard spillway shaps.

Fig WES- Standard spillway shape (vertical upstream face)

The downstream profile can be represented by:

n 1
X n  KH a y

Where, x,y- coordinates of the points on the crest profile with the origin at the highest
point of the spillway (APEX)
Hd- design head excluding head due to velocity of approach
K,n- Constants depending on the slope of the upstream face.

U/S face slope k n a b R1 R2

Hd Hd Hd Hd
Vertical 2.00 1.850 0.175 0.282 0.200 0.500
1H:3V 1.936 1.836 0.139 0.237 0.210 0.680
2H:3V 1.936 1.810 0.115 0.214 0.220 0.480
3H:3v 1.873 1.776 0 0.119 - 0.450

Table: values of k,n and other constants

According U.S Army corps of Engineers the u/s curve of the ogee spillway (u/s of origin,
in the form of compound curve) having a vertical u/s face should have the following
equation.

0.724( x  0.270Hd )1.85 0.375

y 0.85
 0.126H d  0.4315H d ( x  0.270H d )0.625
Hd

Where the u/s profile extends up to

X =0.270 Had and

The corresponding y value
Y =0.126 Hd

The curved profile of the crest section is continued tangentially along the straight sloping
surface which forms the d/s face of the spillway. The location of the point of tangency
(P.T) depends on the slope of the straight portion of the d/s face of the spillway which in
turn depends on the stability requirements and an the factors of the stilling basin at toe of
the spillway. The slope of the straight portion varies b/n 1v:0.6H to 1v:0.8H. At the end
of the sloping surface a curved bucket is provided to crate a smooth transition of flow
from the spillway to the outlet channel or the river on the d/s side and preventing
scouring.

The approximate radius R of the bucket may be obtained from (empirical)

( v  6.4 Hd  4.88 ) ( 3.6 Hd 19.52 )
R  10

V= velocity of lfow at toe of spillway (m/s)

Hd= head excluding due to velocity of approach (m)
V  2 g ( z  Ha  y )

Discharge of overflow spillway:

3
Q  CLe He 2

Where, Q= discharge (m3/s)

C= coeff. Of discharge
Le= effective length of crest spillway (m)
= L-2 (NKp+Ka)He
He= total head over the crest including that due to velocity approach (Ha + Hd)
For high ogee spillway Ha is very small  He=Hd

L= clear span of the crest

N= No. piers
Kp= pier contraction coefficient
Ka= apartment contraction coefficient

An overflow spillway has a relatively high coefficient of discharge, the maximam value
of which may be about 2.2 if no negative or suction pressure is allowed to develop. Its
value depends on the following factors:

a) Depth of approach
b) Heads differing from design head
c) Upstream face slope
d) D/s apron interference and d/s submergence.

With increase in the height of spillway the velocity of approach decreases and the
coefficient of discharge increases.

Examples:

1. The crest of dam spillway has been kept at 723.70m while the maximum level
in the reservoir is to be 734.50m. Calculate the maximum discharge through
the overflow spillway when the flow takes place through 5 units of 12.2m
width each of the crests of the spillway.

Solutions:
 Examples:

The crest level of dam spillway has been kept at 723.70m while the maxm level in
the reservoir is to be 734.50m calculate the maximum discharge through the overflow
spillway, when the flow takes place through 5 units of 12.2m width each at the crest of
the spillway.

Solution:

Assume pointed nose piers and rounded abutments

Effective length of spillway crest

Le= L-2 (Nkp+Ka) He

L=5*12.2= 61m

Max. flood rise over the crest, H = 734.5-723.70

= 10.8m
Neglecting velocity of approach and taking C=2.2
Le = 61.2 4*0+0 10.8=61m
Q = Cle H3/2
2.2*61*10.83/2=4763 m3/s

If square nosed piers and square abutments are assumed:

Le= 61-2(4*0.02+0.2)10.8=54.952m
Q= 2.2*54.952*10.83/2= 4291m3/s

2. Compute the discharge over an ogee shaped spillway whose coefficient of discharge
is 2.2 at ta head of 6m on the crest. The flow takes place through & units of 12.5m
width each at the crest of the spillway. The spillway crest is 10m above the bottom of
the approach channel which has the same width that of the spillway

Solution

L= 12.5*4=50m
 Le=L-2 (NKp+ka)He
He= Hd+Ha
Ha≈Hd
First, neglect velocity of approach
Le= 50-2(3*0.015+0.10)*6=48.26m
Q=2.2*48.26*63/2=1560.4m3/s

Calculate Va (velocity of approach)

Q Q 1560.4
Va     1.95m / s
A L( p  Hd ) 50(10  6)
va 2 1.952
Ha    0.194m
2g 19.62
1.952
He  Hd  Ha  6   6.194  6.2m
19.62

3
 Q  2.2 * 48.26 * 6.2 2  1639m3 / s
Q 1639
Va    2.05m / s  He  6.21m.
A 50(16)
 Q  1643m3 / s  Va  2.05m / s  He  6.21m
 Q  1643m3 / s and He  6.21m

Design a suitable section for the overflow portion of a concrete gravity dam having the
d/s face sloping at 07H”1v. The design discharge for the spillway is 8000m3/s. the height
of the spillway crest is kept at 204m. the average river bed level a the site is 100.00m. the
spillway crest length consists of 6 spans having a clear width of 10m each. Thickness of
each pier may be to hen as 2.5m.

Solution:
The given spillway looks like high weir. Assume
C=2.2
Le=Lnet length of crest  first approximation=6*10=60m
Q=CleHe3/2
8000=2.2*60*He3/2
He= 15.5mHd (neglecting Hd)
Height of spillway crest a bone river bed
P= 204-100=104m
p 104
  6.71  1.33  High spillway
Hd 15.5
effect if velocity of approach is negligible.
 Hd  d He  p

He He
Also
 15.5  104
 7.71  1.7
15.5
The discharge coefficient is not affected by toil water conditions and hence the
spillway remains as high spillway  effect of velocity of approach is negligible

ha  d
 1 .7
He
Also
hd  d He  p 15.5  104
  7.71  1.7
He He 15.5

The discharge coefficient is not affected by tail w3ater conditions and hence the
spillway remains as high spillway effect of velocity of approach is negligible
Effective crest length of spillway, Le
By assuming , rounded-nose piers ,Kp =0.01
Round abutments, Ka =0.1
N= 6-1=5

Assume that the actual value of He is slightly more than the approximate value worked
out, Let it be 16.30m
Le= L-2 (Nkp+ka) He=60-2 (5*0.01+0.1) 16.3= 55.11m
Q= 2.2*55.11*He3/2 (Q=8000m3/s)
He= 16.4m16.3m
Hence, assumed value of He is alright. Thus, the crest profile will be designed for
HdHe=16.4m
(as velocity of approach is negligible)

Q 8000
Va    0.916m / s
A [60  5 * 2.5][104  16.4
Cheak
Va 2 (0.916) 2
Ha    0.043m
2g 2 * 9.81
This is very small and could be neglected.
D/s profile of the agee crest for WES standard d/s profile for a vertical water surface is
given by:

X1.85=2Hd0.85y
X 1.85 X 1.85
Y  
2 Hd 0.85 2 * (16.4) 0.85
X 1.85
Y 
21.6
Point if Tangency (PT) The tangent point is determined as follows:
D/s slope of the dam is 0.7H:1V
dy 1
  tan  
dx 0.7
differentiating the equation q the d/s profile w.r.tx

0.85
dy 1.85 X 1
 
dx 21.6 0.7

 X 0.85  16.8
 X  27.4m

X 1.85 ( 27.4)1.85
Y  
21.6 21.6
 21.6

Co-ordinates q point q tangency (PT) is given by (27.4,21.2)

The coordinates of the d/s spillway profile from x=0, to x= 27.4m will be worked out as
follows.

X(m) X 1.85
Y=
21.6
0 0.00
1 0.046
2 0.166
3 0.353
: :
: :
(PT)27.4 21.2

From this d/s profile can be sketched

U/s profile
R1=0.2Hd= 3.28
R2=0.5Hd =8.20
A= 0.175Ha =2.82
B= 0.282Hd=4.625

This uohce is used and u/s profile can be sketched.

V. ENERGY DISSIPATORS
The water flowing over the spillway acquires a lot of kinetic energy by the tine it reaches
near the toe of the spillway due to the conversion of potential energy in to kinetic energy.
Thus, the design of down stream protection work or energy dissipators below hydraulic
structures occupies a hital place in the design and construction of dams, weirs and
barrages. If arrangement are not made to dissipate the huge kinetic energy of the water,
and if the velocity of the water is not reduced, large scale- scour can take place on the
downstream side neat the toe of the dam and away from it. These arrangements are
known as energy dissipation arrangements or energy dissipaters.

For the dissipaters of the excessive R.E possessed by the water the most common
methods adopted are:

i) By converting the supercritical flow in to sub critical flow by hydraulic jump

ii) By using different types of buckets, i.e, by directing the flow of water in to air
and then making it fall away from the toe of the structure.
Jump height and fail water rating curves:
Hydraulic jump can be formed in a horizontal rectangular channel when the following
relation is satisfied b/n the pre-jump depth (Y1) and post jump depth (Y2).

Y2 
y1
2
 
 1  1  8 f12 ..........( a )

for a given discharge intensity q over a spillway,y1 will be equal to q/v1; andv1(mean
velocity of incoming flow) is determined by the drop H1(v1= 2 gH1 ), if head loss is
neglected

hence for a given discharge intengity and given height of a depth equal toY2 is also
fixed. But the availability be guaranted as it depends up on the tail water level Y21
which d/s side. The velocity of Y21 corresponding to different values of q may be
obtained by actual gauge discharge observation and plot of Y21 versus q is prepared,
known as Tail water rating cume (T.W.R.C). The post jump depth (Y2) for all those
discharges, are also prepared from equation (a) and a plot of Y2uersus q may be made
which is known as jump height curve (J.H.C). If J.H.C and T.W.R.C are plotted on
the same graph five possibilities exist regarding the relation positions of these curves.

 
1) T.W.R.C Y21 Coinciding with Y2 curve for all discharges

 
2) T.W.R.C Y21 lying above Y2 curve for all discharges

 
3) T.W.R.C Y21 lying below the Y2 curve for all discharges
  
4) T.W.R.C Y21 lying below the Y2 curve for smaller discharges and lying above
Y2 curve for larger discharges.

The following measures may be taken to develop jump cbse to the spillway.
E-D:- provide a stilling basin with an end sill for developing a jump at low discharges
and combine the basin with a sloping apron for developing a jump at high discharges.

 
5) T.W.R.C Y21 lying above the Y2 curve for smaller discharges and lying below
the Y2curve for large discharges.

Submerged Bucket dissipaters:

When the tail water depth is too great for the formation of a hydraulic jump (i.e, when
T.W depths are too large as compared to the sequent depths required for the formation of
hydraulic jump), dissipaters of the high energy can be effected by the use of submerged
bucket deflector.

They are of two types, viz.

i) solid roller bucket –consists of a bucket like apron with a concave circular
profile of large radius and deflector lip.
ii) Slotted roller bucket.

 Consists of a bucket like apron with a concave circular profile of large

radius and a slotted or dentated deflector lip.

Ski:- Jump / Deflector Bucket/

This type of dissipator has a longitudinal profile which resembles the submerged bucket.
However, the deflector is elevated above the tail water level, so a jet of water is thrown
clear of the dam and falls into the stream well clear of the toe of the dam.