Chapter TWO

SPILLWAY
2.1. Spillway types and
Its Design Principles
 Spillway
Is hydraulic structure designed to release water in excess
from reservoir to river D/s of Dam.
Also called safety valve of dam
 Essential Requirements Of a Spillway
The essential requirements of a spillway are:

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, (safe
D/S either the dam or Spillway from erosion)
IV. The bounding surfaces of the spillway must be erosion resistant
V. Some device will be required for dissipation of energy on the d/s
side of the spillway. Requires method or devises to dissipate the
energy
 Spillway Capacity
The required capacity of spillway i.e., maximum outflow rate
through spillway must be determined by flood routing knowing:
I. Inflow rate v/s time
II. Reservoir capacity curve (reservoir surface elevation v/s
reservoir storage)
III. Discharge curve (out flow v/s reservoir water surface
elevation).
 Further Spillway capacity depends on:
A. The inflow flood (I)
B. The available storage capacity (S)
C. The discharge capacity of other outlet works (Q)
D. Whether the spillway is gated or un-gated;
E. The possible damages if a spillway of adequate capacity is not
provided.
 Indians experience for fixing the spillway capacity is shown in the
table below.

Class of Dam Gross storage Hydraulic Inflow flood for safety of

(Mm3) head (m) dam
Small 0.5 to 10.0 7.5 to 12.0 100 years of flood
Intermediate 10.0 to 60.0 12.0 to 30.0 Standard Project flood
(SPF)
Large > 60.0 > 30.0 Probable maximum flood
(PMF)

Reservoir flood and Wave standard by dam category

Data requirements for the design of spillways depend on the level of design
consideration and on the site- specific data requirements include:
1. Topographical data
2. Climatic data.
3. Hydrologic data
4. Geological and seismological data
5. Project requirements
6. flood detention capacity
7. Hydraulic data
8. Structural data
9. Water quality data
10.Special requirements
11.Downstream development and other such as structural, water quality
environment, etc
 Spillways should satisfy their primary function of satisfactorily and safely
conveying the design flood and other reservoir releases to a discharge point
downstream from the dam
Other consideration points while selection process
 Economic factors Project requirements Site conditions. Reliability. Accuracy of
flood estimation. Type of dam. Frequency and duration of operation. And other
factors should be considered in the selection process.
 Selection Procedure
A systematic procedure should be used for spill way selection. A selection. A step-by –step
approach will facilitate the selection and sizing of components.
1. Determine outflow and surcharge (elevation of storage level) to accommodate the
design flood.
2. Select preliminary alternatives. And perform additional flood routings.
3. Combine components
4. Compare alternatives Technically and economically
5. Select most suitable spillway and other release facilities.

The hydraulic design need to address

I. Discharge capacity
II.Geometry of crest
III.Geometry of gate
IV.Energy dissipation ,Hydraulic pressure ,Cavitation effect
Classification based on the time when the spillways come into operation
(a)Main or service spillway : Frequent use, no damage
 Main spillway is the one which comes into operation and is designed to pass the
entire spillway design flood.
B Auxiliary spillway : Infrequent use some damages
 it comes into operation only after the floods for which the main spillway is
designed is exceeded.
C Emergency spillway: reserve protection, damages
 may arise at any time which may not have been considered in the normal design
of main spillway.
 Some of the situations which may lead to emergency are:
 an enforced shut down of the outlet works
 A malfunctioning of spillway gates.
 The necessity of bye passing the regular spillway because of damage or
failure of some part of the structure
 Further an emergency may also arise if a recurring flood occurs before a
Classification according to regulated flow through the spillway
(i)controlled or gated spillway
(ii)un controlled or un-gated spillway …. designed PMF Free board is
necessary

The common types of spillway

1. Free Over fall (Straight Drop) Spillway
2. Overflow (Ogee) Spillway
3. Chute (Open Channel/Trough) Spillway
4. Side Channel Spillway
5. Shaft (Drop Inlet/Morning Glory) spillway
6. Tunnel (Conduit) spillway
7. Siphon spillway
 Types of
SPILLWAYS
OGEE CHUTE SIDE-CHANNEL

SHAFT SIPHON OVERFALL

01/31/2024 13
 Components of a Spillway

A spillway generally has the following component parts:-

i. Entrance channel
ii.Control structure
iii.Discharge channel (or water way)
iv.Terminal Structure (energy dissipater)
v.Exit channel

14
15
 1. Free Over fall (Straight Drop) Spillway
It be provided for a decked over flow dam with a vertical or
adverse inclined downstream face
free falling water is ventilated sufficiently to prevent a
pulsating, fluctuating jet.
Occasionally the crest of this spillway is extended in the form
of an overhanging lip to direct small discharges away from
the D/S face.
Free over
fall or
straight
drop
spillway
Water,
flowing
over the
crest, drops
as a free jet
clearly
away from
the down
stream face
of the
spillway
Straight drop type
 2. Overflow (Ogee) Spillway
•has a crest shaped in the form of an ogee or S-
shape
•the profile of the lower nape of a ventilated
sheet of water falling from a sharp crested
weir,
•Designed according to lower nape
2. Ogee spillway
The shape of such a profile depends upon the
Head
The inclination of U/S face of the overflow section and
The height of the overflow section above the floor of the entrance channel.
The ogee profile should provide maximum possible
 hydraulic efficiency,
 structural stability
 optimal economical
 and also avoid the formation negative pressure at the crest
The following standard ogee shapes known as “WES Standard Spillway Shapes may
be used for finding coordinate (X, Y) for the D/S profile
Profile formula
• K and n varies with U/S slope
 Design Of Crest Of Ogee Spillway
• The shape of the nappe shaped profile depends upon the head
• Ogee crested control structures are also sensitive to the upstream
shape
1. Ogee crests having vertical upstream face
2. Ogee crests having inclined upstream face
3. Ogee crests having over hang on up stream face

1
2 3
 Shape K N R1/Hd R2/Hd a/Hd b/Hd
of U/S
• Coordinate of the lower nape face
determine the crest profile
• Plotting upper nape is useful in Vertical 2.000 1.850 0.5 0.20 0.175 0.282
determining the clearance between 3V: 1H 1.936 1.836 0.68 0.21 0.139 0.237
spillway deck bridge and the top level 3V: 2 H 1.939 1.810 0.48 0.22 0.115 0.240
of training wall
3V: 3H 1.873 1.776 0.45 0.00 0.119 0.000
The discharge over uncontrolled ogee spillway is computed from the basic
equation of weir given below:
Q = Cd Le He1.5

The discharge coefficient is influenced by a number of factors:

(i) Height of spillway above stream bed or depth of approach…height of spillway > 3.0 Hd… 2
(ii)effect of head due to velocity of approach
(iii)Relation of the actual crest shape to the ideal nape shape H < 1.25 Hd no harmful effect
(iv)upstream face slope
(v)downstream apron interference, and downstream submergence
Also when H > Hd lower nape may leave the boundary for some distance on d/s
face and may attach again as the air mass in between the boundary and the lower
nape gets sucked out
Avoid negative pressure as:
(i)It increases overturning moment at the crest
(ii)It increases the force required for lifting of the gates
(iii)It causes decrease in the capability for automatic control
(iv)It causes vibration which extends all over the structure. The vibration also
causes cracks in the mortar of stone lining of the crest.
Effective Length Of Crest Of Overflow Spillway
The pier contraction coefficient, Kp depends on
i) Shape and location of pier nose;
ii) Thickness of pier;
iii) Velocity of approach; and
iv) Ratio of actual head to design head.
The abutment contraction coefficient Ka depends on:
i) Shape of abutment;
ii) Angle between upstream approach wall and axis of
flow;
iii) Approach velocity; and
iv) Ratio of actual head to design head
Abutment coefficients, Ka:
1. Square abutment with head wall at 900 to the direction of flow →
Ka= 0.20
2. Rounded abutment with head wall at 900 to the direction of flow,
when
0.5 Hd ≥ r ≥ 0.15 Hd → Ka = 0.10
3. Rounded abutments where r > 0.5 Hd and headwall is placed not
more than 450
to the direction of flow → Ka = 0.00.
Ogee spillway
16.4
27.4
D/S
U/S
Cont.…..
Quiz time 10min!!!
1. AS A water resource engineer write down The hydraulic design
need to address as an out put ( at least three out puts)
2. Write down the data that need to be collected for designing a
spillway (at least 5 type of data)
 3. Chute (Open Channel/Trough) Spillway
• called as open channel or trough spillway
• Water conveyed to downstream river level through an open
channel, placed either along a dam abutment or through a
saddle
• control structure for the chute spillway need not necessarily be
an overflow crest, and may be of the side-channel type
• consists of a steeply sloping open channel
• used in conjunction with embankment dams
• Chute spillways are simple to design and construct and
• have been constructed successfully on all types of foundation
materials,
  It is lighter & adoptable to any type of foundation and hence provided easily on
Earth & Rock-Fill dam.
 If it is constructed in continuation of the dam at one end, it may be called a
Flank weir.
 If it is constructed in a natural saddle in the bank of the river separated from
the main dam by a high ridge it is called a Saddle Weir.
Entire chute spillway:
(i)Entrance channel
(ii)Control structure
(iii)Chute channel or discharge carrier
(iv)Energy dissipation arrangement at the bottom in the form of stilling
basin.
 Chute Spillway design
Control
Dam crest
Structure or a Low ogee weir
Spillway location Flood level
Design discharge level

hd
Spillway crest
h

Bottom flank Level

Spillway Height=NPL – Bottom flank level

If NPL < Natural level of bottom of flank, then excavate and provide a flat crest at NPL
Control Structure or
a Low ogee weir

Chute slope

Vertical
In vicinity

Vertical or sloping
Minimum
slope of the
chute channel
should
correspond to
a supercritical
flow for as
long a
distance as
possible
 Side walls (called) Training Walls)
• Height not to allow any spilling over it.
• Height = Free Nappe + Free Board
• Free Board = 0.61 + 0.4 Vm (Dm)1/3
• Where Vm =mean velocity in the chute
• Dm =mean depth of water in the chute
• Walls in the vicinity of ogee weir should be made vertical
in the later portion it can be vertical or sloping.
 Design of small ogee weir required as control
structure for chute spillway
Equation for D/S profile with crest of ogee taken as origin is given as

XN = a (He)N-1Y
Table showing equations for D/S profile of low ogee weir
N
Value of Ha/He Range h/He a

0.00 >1.0 1.852 1.780

0.08 1.00 – 0.58 1.869 1.750

0.12 0.58 –0.30 1.905 1.747

Coordinates of U/S profile should merge in a slope of 1:1
X/ He Y/ He Y/He Y/He
X/ He Ha/He =0.00 Ha/He =0.08 Ha/He =0.12
-0.020 0.0004 0.0004 0.0004
-0.060 0.0036 0.0035 0.0035
-0.10 0.013 0.0101 0.0099
-0.012 0.015 0.015 0.0147
-0.140 0.0207 0.028 0.0199
-0.150 0.0239 0.0235 0.0231
-0.160 0.0275 0.0270 0.0265
-0.175 0.0333 0.0328 0.0325
-0.190 0.0399 0.0395 0.0390
-0.195 0.0424 0.042 -------
-0.200 0.0450 ------ -----
Radius of curve at toe = 2He
Avoid sharp convex and concave vertical curves, Provide flat curves where ever required.

Design of Vertical curve of Chute

Concave Curve Provided when the chute floor changes from Steeper slope to
less steep.
Curve is made tangential to the u/s and d/s slope
Should be large radius to minimize the dynamic force on the floor.
R >(2γ d V2/pg)
R> 10d except at the toe of crest where R could be 5d
where V is the velocity , d is the depth of flow; p is the permissible intensity of
dynamic pressure
R >(2γ d V2/pg)
 Y = {x tanθ }+ {x2/ 4K(d + hV) cos2 θ}

θ is the angle of u/s floor just at the beginning

of the curve
K is a factor of safety > 1.5
ᶱ

Convex Curve : Provided when the chute floor changes from Steep slope to
steeper.
Curve starts tangentially from the end of u/s sloping floor
convex curve is usually parabolic as given by equation
Y = {x tanθ }+ {x2/ 4K(d + hV) cos2 θ}
θ is the angle of u/s floor just at the beginning of the curve
K is a factor of safety > 1.5
 4. Side channel Spillway
• placed approximately parallel to the upper portion of
the discharge channel,
• flow over the crest falls into a narrow channel, turns an
approximate right angle
4. Side channel Spillway
5. Shaft (morning glory ) Spillway
• funnel-shaped spillway
• water enters over a horizontally positioned lip, drops through a vertical or
sloping shaft
• The structure may be considered as being made up of three elements,
namely, an overflow control weir, a vertical transition, and a closed
discharge channel.
Shaft
 6. Tunnel Spillway

•closed channel used to convey the discharge

around a dam through the adjoining hill sides
•Tunnel spillways are advantageous for dam
sites in narrow gorges with steep abutments
•Conduit spillways are generally most suited to
dams in wide valleys
7. Siphon Spillway
 Discharge on ogee crests

Q is the discharge ,
Cd is the coefficient of discharge,
Le is the effective length of crest (in m),
including velocity of approach head.
 Cd is the coefficient of discharge,
depends on the following factors:
a) Depth of approach, p
b) Heads differing from design head
c) Upstream face slope
d) Downstream apron interference and
downstream submergence
 Depth of approach, p
• spillway the velocity of approach decreases and the coefficient of
discharge increase.
• approach velocity is negligible when  P ≥ 1.33 Hd
Effect of heads differing from the design head:

for P > 1.33 Hd He = HD, the coefficient of discharge is equal to 2.2.
 Effect of upstream face slope

(P/HD) small for sloping upstream face a spillway higher coefficient of discharge than vertical
upstream face.
large ratio (P/HD) the coefficient of discharge for spillways with sloping upstream face tends to
decrease.
Downstream apron interface and submergence effects

• coefficient of discharge is reduced due to submergence

• due to submergence  cannot discharge freely
• Where the hydraulic jump coefficient of discharge may
decrease due to back pressure effect of the downstream apron
Ogee spillway
 Horizontal curves may also be required if the
alignment is not straight

An entrance channel called approach channel trapezoidal shaped with

side slope 1:1 to lead the reservoir water up to control structure (low ogee
weir). Friction head loss in discharge channel = n2V2L/( R)4/3
Saddle Syphon
 Discharge through Saddle Syphon
The usual siphon discharge formula is Q = CA (2gH) 0.5
Where A= Area of cross section at crown = L*b
Where L is the length of the throat and b is the height of the throat
H= Operating Head
= Reservoir Level - Center of outlet, if outlet is discharging freely.
= Reservoir Level -Down stream tail-water level, if outlet is
submerged
C= Coefficient of discharge, the average value may be taken as 0.65
The discharge equation can be expressed in terms of radii of crest and crown
Let R1 = Radius of crest
R2 = Radius of crown
Q = qL = R1.L. (2gh0)0.5 ln(R2/R1) h0 = H - Losses through the siphon
 Class work

• Compute the discharge over an ogee weir with the coefficient of discharge
equal to 2.4 at a head of 2m .the length of the spillway is 100m . The weir
crest is 8 m above the bottom of approach channel having the same width as
that of the spill way( assume the depth approach velocity has effect )