4.2.

ARCH DAM
4.2.1 General
An arch dam may be defined as a solid wall curved in plan standing a cross the entire
width of the river, in a single span. It is one type of concrete dam.
Unlike a concrete gravity dam which carries the entire load by its self weight an arch dam
obtains its stability by both the self weight and to a great extent by transiting the imposed
loads by arch action in to the valley walls. The geometry of the dam site is therefore the
most basic consideration in the selection of an arch dam. As a general rule an arch dam
requires a site with abutments of sufficient strength to support the arch trust. Concrete
saving in such dams relative to gravity dam is 50-85% & abutment stability is critical to
the structural integrity & safety of an arch dam.
The concept of overturning and sliding stability applicable to gravity or buttress analysis
has little relevance to the arch. An arch represents a stable structural form and given that
the integrity of the supporting abutments is assured, failure can occur only as a result of
overstress. Arch dam design is therefore centered largely up on stress analysis & the
definition of an arch geometry which avoids local tensile stress concentrations and /or
excessive compressive stress. In a achieving this objective it is frequently necessary to
adopt varying curvatures & thicknesses b/n arch crown & abutments & also from crest
level to base.
Valleys suited for arch dams
Narrow gorges provide the most natural solution for an arch dam construction, the
usually recommended ratio of crest length to dam height being 5 or less.
4.2.2 Types of Arch Dams
Arch dams may be divided in to two types via, the massive arch where a single curved
wall, usually vertical or nearly so spans the full width b/n abutments and the multiple
arches, consisting of a number of smaller arches usually inclined, supported on piers or
buttresses.
Massive arch dams may be further divided in to
i) Constant radius arch dams
ii) Constant angle arch dam
iii) Variable radius arch dam
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Constant radius arch dams: - A constant radius of arch dam is the dam in which the
radius of some prominent feature, such as the upstream face (or extrados) is constant at
all elevations from the top of the dam to its base. However, the radius of the d/s face (or
intrados) gradually decreases as the depth below the crest is increases to provide
increased concrete thickness towards the base to account the hydrostatic water pressure.

Constant angle arch dam: - The central angle of the horizontal arch rings is of the
same magnitude at all elevations. Theoretically, for economical design of constant angle
arch dams central angle of arch rings equal to 133 0 34 may be adopted. However the
practical range of central angle from 1000 to 1500 depending on the valley shapes. Due to
large central angle greater arch action will be developed for the arch rings at all
elevations. Hence water load at all elevations is carried by arch action. In general the
thickness of constant angle arch dam is smaller than that of constant radius arch dam. As
a result under same condition it requires only about 70% concrete as compared to
constant radius arch dam.
Constant angle arch dams are suited to narrow V-shaped valleys with large central angle
fairly large arch action will be developed even at lower elevations & hence the design
will be economical.

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Variable Radius Arch Dam; neither the radius nor the central angle is constant. Radius
is maximum at the top & minimum at the base. The central angle of the arch rings usually
vary b/n 80 to 1500 & these are so adjusted that large arch action is developed even for
arch rings at lower elevations. The radii at various elevations are also so adjusted that the
over hangs are avoided or minimized. Further in this dam, centers of the arch rings at
various elevations do not lie on the same vertical line.
This type of arch dam is suited to u-shaped valleys as well as for narrow V-shaped Valley
b/c by adjusting the radii & the central angles a fairly large arch action may be developed
even for arch rings at lower elevations.
As compared to the constant angle arch dam a variable radius arch dam is less
economical since under the same conditions a variable arch dam requires about 17%
more concrete than constant radius arch dam since under the same conditions the concrete
required for a variable radius arch dam is only about 82% of that required for a constant
radius arch dam. Hence it is a compromise b/n constant radius & constant angle arch
dams.
4.2.3 Methods of Design of Arch Dams
Commonly used methods of design or arch dams are
i) Thin cylinder theory
ii) Thick cylinder theory
iii) Elastic arch theory
iv) Trial load analysis

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Thin cylinder theory: - In this theory the horizontal section of the arch dam is assumed
to behave as part of thin cylinder ring at the corresponding elevation. Further it is
assumed that the horizontal water load is carried entirely by arch action. The pressure on
the arch ring equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the corresponding elevation and the
stress distribution across the arch ring is uniform.

The figure shows a section of a thin arch ring having extrados radius re, subtended angle
of arch ring  and thickness t
If the arch ring is at a depth of h below reservoir water surface
Then P= h (the hydrostatic pressure acting in the radial) direction
And the total hydrostatic pressure force p is given by
P= h ×2re sin  / 2
P= 2 h resin  / 2
If R is the abutment reaction its component in the upstream direction which resist the
pressure force P is equal to R sin  / 2
2Rsin/2 = 2h re sin/2
R= h re
If the thickness (t) of the arch ring is small compared with re it may be assumed that
uniform compressive stress is developed in the arch ring.
If  is the compressive stress developed in the arch ring at the abutments then
hre (  =R) (Average
 
t *1 A

Stress).

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 If f is the allowable compressive stress for the arch material then in the limiting case
  f and
hre
t= f

This equation indicates that the thickness t of the arch ring increases linearly with depth
below the water surface and for a given pressure the required thickness is proportional to
its radius.
Thickness relation in terms of intrados, ri and mean radius r, can be derived as follows.
ri =re-t  re=ri+t
hri
t= f  h

r= re-1/2 t  re= r+ t/2

hr
t
f  0.5h

Most Economical central angle

The concrete volume of any given arch is proportional to the product of the arch
thickness and the length of the center line arc. For a fixed combination of span, loading
and permissible cylinder theory stress, it can be shown that the arch of the arc in plan is a
minimum when
2= 133034’
Or when r= 0.544 
Where 2= the total angle subtended by the arch of the arch
 = the arch span
In a site with a variable span length, a constant - radius dam can have the correct central
angle only at one elevation.
The smallest concrete volume for the whole dam, with constant radius is obtained by
increasing the top angle to get the best average angle. For a given site the top angle which
gives the best average can be found by trial but it is usually impracticably large.
Topography seldom permits a value as great as 1500 for 2 at the top of the dam.
 The central angle is usually ( 1000 to 1400)