Gravity Dam Analysis

The weight of gravity dam will cause a moment opposite to the overturning moment and
the friction on the base will prevent the dam from sliding. The dam may also be
prevented from sliding by keying its base into the bedrock.
 

 
Step 1
Consider 1 unit length (1 m length) of dam perpendicular to the cross section.
 
Step 2
Determine all the forces acting:
1. Vertical forces
 WW = Weight of dam
  FVFV = Weight of water in the upstream side (if any)
 UU = Hydrostatic uplift
 Weight of permanent structures on the dam
2. Horizontal forces
 FHFH = Horizontal component of total hydrostatic force
 Wind pressure, wave action, floating bodies, earthquake load, etc.
 
Step 3
Solve for the reaction
1. Horizontal component of the reaction
Rx=ΣFHRx=ΣFH
2. Vertical component of the reaction
Ry=ΣFVRy=ΣFV
 
Step 4
Moment about the toe
1. Righting moment, RMRM
RMRM = Sum of all rotation towards the upstream side
2. Overturning moment, OMOM
OMOM = Sum of all rotation towards the downstream side
 
Step 5
Location of RyRy as measured from the toe
x¯=RM−OMRyx¯=RM−OMRy
 
Factors of Safety
Factor of safety against sliding, FSsFSs
FSs=μRyRx>1.0FSs=μRyRx>1.0
 
Factor of safety against overturning, FSoFSo
FSo=RMOM>1.0FSo=RMOM>1.0
 
Where μμ = coefficient of friction between the base of the dam and the foundation.
 
Foundation Pressure
Eccentricity, ee
e=|12B−x|e=|12B−x|
 
If e≤B/6e≤B/6, RyRy is within the middle third and the foundation pressure is
trapezoidal acting from heel to toe. If ee is exactly B/6B/6, the shape of foundation
pressure is triangular also acting from heel to toe.
 

q=−RyB(1±6eB)q=−RyB(1±6eB)

 
For the sign of 6e/B6e/B, use (+) at point where RyRy is nearest. From the diagram
above, use (+) for qTqT and (-) for qHqH. A negative qq indicates compressive stress and
a positive qq indicates tensile stress. A positive qq will occur when e>B/6e>B/6. In
foundation design, soil is not allowed to carry tensile stress, thus, any +q+q will be
neglected in the analysis.
 
If e>B/6e>B/6, RyRy is outside the middle third and the foundation pressure is
triangular.
 

 
qe=2Ry3x¯
Problem 911
A concrete dam has the profile shown in Figure P-911. If the density of concrete is 2400
kg/m3 and that of water is 1000 kg/m3, determine the maximum compressive stress at
section m-n if the depth of the water behind the dam is h = 15 m.
 

 
Solution 911
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Consider 1-m length perpendicular to the drawing
W1=2400×12(6)(25)(1)W1=2400×12(6)(25)(1)
W1=180,000 kgW1=180,000 kg
 
W2=2400×3(25)(1)W2=2400×3(25)(1)
 W2=180,000 kgW2=180,000 kg
 
Fw=1000(7.5)×15(1)Fw=1000(7.5)×15(1)
Fw=112,500 kgFw=112,500 kg
 

 
Moment About m
Righting Moment, RM
RM=4W1+7.5W2=4(180,000)+7.5(180,000)RM=4W1+7.5W2=4(180,000)+7.5(
180,000)
RM=2,070,000 kg⋅mRM=2,070,000 kg⋅m
 
Overturning Moment, OM
OM=5Fw=5(112,500)OM=5Fw=5(112,500)
OM=562,500 kg⋅mOM=562,500 kg⋅m
 
Reactions at the Base
Ry=W1+W2=360,000 kgRy=W1+W2=360,000 kg
Rx=Fw=112,500 kgRx=Fw=112,500 kg
 

 
Location of Ry
x¯Ry=RM−OMx¯Ry=RM−OM
x¯(360,000)=2,070,000−562,500x¯(360,000)=2,070,000−562,500
x¯=4.1875 mx¯=4.1875 m
 
Eccentricity
e=4.5−x¯=4.5−4.1875e=4.5−x¯=4.5−4.1875
e=0.3125 me=0.3125 m
M=Rye=360,000(0.3125)M=Rye=360,000(0.3125)
M=112,500 kg⋅mM=112,500 kg⋅m
σa=PA=360,0001(9)σa=PA=360,0001(9)
σa=40,000 kg/m2σa=40,000 kg/m2
σf=6Mbd2=6(112,500)1(92)σf=6Mbd2=6(112,500)1(92)
σf=8,333.33 kg/m2σf=8,333.33 kg/m2
qmax=σa+σf=40,000+8,333.33qmax=σa+σf=40,000+8,333.33
qmax=48,333.33 kg/m2qmax=48,333.33 kg/m2       answer
Problem 5
If the gravity whose cross section is shown in the figure weighs 150 lb. per cu. ft., find
the total weight of a section of a dam 50 ft. long.
 

 
Solution 5
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Volume of dam
V=AbLV=AbL
V=[12(4+12)(15)+4(4)](50)V=[12(4+12)(15)+4(4)](50)
V=136(50)V=136(50)
V=6800 ft.3V=6800 ft.3
 
W=γVW=γV
W=150(6800)W=150(6800)
W=1020000 lbW=1020000 lb
W=1020000 lb×1 short ton2000 lbW=1020000 lb×1 short ton2000 lb
W=510 short tonsW=510 short tons           answer
Problem 353
The forces acting on a 1-m length of a dam are shown in Fig. P-353. The upward ground
reaction varies uniformly from an intensity of p1 kN/m to p2 kN/m at B. Determine p1
and p2 and also the horizontal resistance to sliding.
 

 
Solution 353
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Horizontal resistance to sliding
ΣFH=0ΣFH=0
Rx+Fcos30∘=1000Rx+Fcos⁡30∘=1000
Rx+600cos30∘=1000Rx+600cos⁡30∘=1000
Rx=480.38 kNRx=480.38 kN           answer
 
 
ΣFV=0ΣFV=0
Ry=W+Fsin30∘Ry=W+Fsin⁡30∘
Ry=2400+600sin30∘Ry=2400+600sin⁡30∘
Ry=2700 kNRy=2700 kN
 
Righting moment
MR=11(2400)+4(600)MR=11(2400)+4(600)
MR=28800 kN⋅mMR=28800 kN⋅m
 
Overturning moment
MO=6(1000)MO=6(1000)
MO=6000 kN⋅mMO=6000 kN⋅m
 
ΣMB=0ΣMB=0
x¯Ry=MR−MOx¯Ry=MR−MO
x¯(2700)=28800−6000x¯(2700)=28800−6000
x¯=8.44 m to the left of Bx¯=8.44 m to the left of B
 
Eccentricity
e=12B−x=12(18)−8.44e=12B−x=12(18)−8.44
e=0.56 me=0.56 m
 
 
Foundation pressure (See Analysis of Gravity Dam for more information)
p=RyB(1±6eB)p=RyB(1±6eB)

p1=270018[1−6(0.59)18]=122 kN/mp1=270018[1−6(0.59)18]=122 kN/m           answer

p2=270018[1+6(0.59)18]=178 kN/mp2=270018[1+6(0.59)18]=178 kN/m           answer
Problem 266
Determine the resultant of the three forces acting on the dam shown in Fig. P-266 and
locate its intersection with the base AB. For good design, this intersection should occur
within the middle third of the base. Does it?
 

 
Solution 266
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Rx=ΣFxRx=ΣFx
Rx=10000−6000sin60∘Rx=10000−6000sin⁡60∘
Rx=4803.85 lb to the rightRx=4803.85 lb to the right
 
Ry=ΣFyRy=ΣFy
Ry=24000+6000cos60∘Ry=24000+6000cos⁡60∘
Ry=27000 lb downwardRy=27000 lb downward
 
R=Rx2+Ry2−−−−−−−−√R=Rx2+Ry2
R=4803.852+270002−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−√R=4803.852+270002
R=27424.02 lbR=27424.02 lb
 
tanθx=RyRxtan⁡θx=RyRx
tanθx=270004803.85tan⁡θx=270004803.85
θx=79.91∘θx=79.91∘
 
Righting moment
RM=24000(18−7)+6000(4)RM=24000(18−7)+6000(4)
RM=288000 lb⋅ftRM=288000 lb⋅ft
 
Overturning moment
OM=10000(6)OM=10000(6)
OM=60000 lb⋅ftOM=60000 lb⋅ft
 
Moment at the toe (downstream side - point B)
MB=RM−OMMB=RM−OM
MB=288000−60000MB=288000−60000
MB=228000 lb⋅ft counterclockwiseMB=228000 lb⋅ft counterclockwise
 

 
Location of Ry as measured from the toe
Ryx=MBRyx=MB
27000x=22800027000x=228000
x=8.44 ft to the left of Bx=8.44 ft to the left of B   (within the middle third)
 
Thus, R = 27 424.02 lb downward to the right at θx = 79.91° and passes through the base at 8.44
ft to the left of B which is within the middle third.