THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

2017 ACADEMIC YEAR FIRST TERM

TEST

CE 5311 - WATER MANAGEMENT AND HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Attempt all 5 questions.
2. Questions do not carry equal marks.
3. If you fail to answer part of a question, assume a value and use it in the subsequent calculations

TIME: TWO (2) HOURS CLOSED BOOK TEST

Question 1
Given below are monthly flows, pan evaporation, rainfall and demand rates for a proposed
reservoir site. Prior water rights require the release of natural flow or 0.6m 3/s, whichever is
least. Assume that the average reservoir area is 200km 2, evaporation pan coefficient of 0.8 and
that 10 percent of the rainfall on the land area to be flooded by the reservoir has reached the
stream in the past. Use 30 days for each month. What reservoir capacity is required?

Mean flow Demand Evaporation Rainfall

Month 3 3
m /s 1000m mm mm
January 2.0 2000 100 200
February 2.0 2000 100 200
March 2.0 2000 100 100
April 2.0 2000 100 100
May 0.5 2000 100 0
June 0.5 2000 100 0
July 0.5 2000 100 0
August 0.5 3000 200 0
September 0.5 3000 200 0
October 0.5 3000 200 0
November 2.0 2000 100 100
December 2.0 2000 100 200

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 Reservoir
area 200 km2
Evap.
pan coeff 0.8
Runoff
coeff 0.1
water
rights 0.6 m3/s

Req.
Mean Downstream Adjusted from
Month Flow Demand Evaporation Rainfall req Evaporation Rainfall flow storage
m3/s 1000m3 mm mm m3/s 1000m3 1000m3 1000m3 1000m3
Jan 2 2000 100 200 0.6 16000 36000 23628.8
Feb 2 2000 100 200 0.6 16000 36000 23628.8
Mar 2 2000 100 100 0.6 16000 18000 5628.8
Apr 2 2000 100 100 0.6 16000 18000 5628.8
May 0.5 2000 100 0 0.5 16000 0 -16000 -18000
Jun 0.5 2000 100 0 0.5 16000 0 -16000 -18000
Jul 0.5 2000 100 0 0.5 16000 0 -16000 -18000
Aug 0.5 3000 200 0 0.5 32000 0 -32000 -35000
Sep 0.5 3000 200 0 0.5 32000 0 -32000 -35000
Oct 0.5 3000 200 0 0.5 32000 0 -32000 -35000
Nov 2 2000 100 100 0.6 16000 18000 5628.8
Dec 2 2000 100 200 0.6 16000 36000 23628.8
-
15 27000 1500 900 6.6 240000 162000 56227.2 159000

Question 2
a) When considering minimum pool level in a reservoir, will there be any difference for a water
supply project and a hydropower one? Briefly explain.
The minimum pool level for a water supply project is fixed by the elevation of the lowest
outlet in the dam while for hydropower it is fixed by conditions of operating efficiency for the
turbines
b) What consideration (s) do you take when selecting the wind speed to use for calculating
wave height in a reservoir?
Only winds which can occur during the season of maximum pool levels should be
considered
c) Why are abutments stripped and excavated at right angles to the line of thrust for arch
dams?
To prevent sliding of the dam
d) Give a reason (s) for taking more care for arch dams than for other types of concrete dams
in the mixing, pouring and curing of the concrete.
To secure adequate resistance to seepage and weathering since cross section of an arch
dam is relatively thin
e) Mention two ways one can use the reliability curves for reservoirs.
Compare costs of achieving various levels of reliability
Determine whether an increase in reliability is warranted
f) Give two ways one can control water so that it will not cause excessive damage to property.
Flood mitigation, land drainage, sewerage, and highway culvert design

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Question 3
a) Mention three methods of controlling reservoir sedimentation (3
marks)
• Designating a portion of the reservoir capacity as sediment storage
• Selecting a site where the sediment inflow is naturally low,
• Using soil conservation methods,
• Providing means of discharge of some of the sediment,
• Removal by earth moving methods
b) The selection of the best type of dam is said to be a problem in both engineering feasibility
and cost. What governs engineering feasibility?
Topography, geology and climate.
c) On what does the relative cost of various dams depend?
Availability of construction material near the dam and accessibility of transportation facilities
d) Mention two general rules for choice of reservoir sites.
Suitable dam site
Cost of real estate not to be excessive
Reservoir site must have adequate capacity
Deep reservoir is preferable to a shallow one
Tributary areas which are unusually productive of sediment should be avoided
The quality of stored water must be satisfactory
The reservoir banks and adjacent hill slopes should be stable

e) Mention ways a gravity dam may fail.

▪ Sliding along a horizontal plane
▪ Rotation about the toe
▪ Failure of the material
Question 4
Given the following inflow data to a reservoir and the reservoir relationship in the figure below, route the
flood through the reservoir. The initial outflow from the reservoir is 1.7m 3/s and the initial value of 2S/t+O
is 9.0m3/s.

Inflow hydrograph
Discharge
Day Hour
(m3/s)
1 Noon 2.0
Midnight 5.2
2 Noon 10.1
Midnight 12.2
3 Noon 8.5
Midnight 4.7
4 Noon 2.3

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Question 5
A concrete dam retaining 6m of water is shown below. The unit weight of concrete is 23.5kN/m3. The
foundation soil is impermeable. The coefficient of friction between the base of the dam and the
foundation soil is 0.48. Determine the stability of the dam.

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 P Mc bd 3
 =  I=
A I 12

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END OF TEST