DAMS

Dr. Archana M Nair

Dept of Civil Engineering
IIT Guwahati

Mooserboden Dam, Austria

 A dam is a structure which prevents the flow of water and accumulates it in a reservoir
• Dams are massive barriers built across rivers and streams to confine and utilize the flow of water for
human purposes.
• These purposes may be Irrigation, Hydropower, Water-supply, Flood Control, Navigation, Fishing and
Recreation.
• This confinement of water creates lakes or reservoirs.

Contra Dam (Verzasca), Switzerland Roselend Dam, France

Tehri Dam Bhakra Nangal Dam
The highest Dam in India The largest dam in India

Hirakund Dam
The longest dam in India
Dams - Classification Storage Dams

Functions Diversion Dams

Arch Dam Gravity

Shape
Trapezoidal Arch
DAM
Buttress
Construction Stone Masonry
Material
Earth
RCC
Rock fill
Structural
Design
Overflow
Hydraulic
Non-overflow
COMPONENTS of DAMS
Emergency spillway
flow elevation Top of dam
Freeboard
Trash rack
Permanent Emergency spill-way
water level elevation

Principal
spillway riser Diaphragm drain in lieu
Core
of anti-seep collars
Original
Spillway gate
ground
or
other control
device

Cutoff trench
Concrete Footing Riprap outlet
(Ballast) Principal spillway barrel pipe protection
PRIMARY COMPONENTS of a DAM

Reservoir Rim
Abutment

Crest
Upstream Slope
Groin

Downstream slope
Shoulders

Plunge Basin Drain Outlet

Downstream Toe
Type Material Sectional View Plan (Top View)

Gravity Concrete,
rubble masonry

Arch Concrete

Buttress Concrete also

timber and steel

Embankment Earth or rock

 Gravity Dams

Dam Types Buttress Dams

Arch Dams
• The ideal foundation should be built over a uniform formation.
• The underlying rocks should be strong enough to bear weight of dam and to
withstand resultant thrust of pressure of the impounded water and weight of
dam itself.
 Gravity Dams

• Use their triangular shape and the

sheer weight of their rock and
concrete structure to hold back the
water in the reservoir.
• The axes may be slightly curved in
the correct shape or upstream.
• The cross section of the dam is
triangular-like.
• Gravity dams are required to have a
solid foundation.
• The slopes of the valley can have
little inclination, wide V shape.
Grand Coulee Gravity Dam, USA
 Buttress Dams Use multiple reinforced columns to support a dam
that has a relatively thin structure. Because of this,
these dams often use half as much concrete as
gravity dams

• The upstream side of such dams is a flat or slightly

inclined reinforced concrete curtain which stands
against water pressure.
• On the downstream side there are separators that
convey water pressure.
• Consealed weight dams are less concrete than
gravity dams, and the foundation ditch is less.
Power stations and some other constructions may
be located between the piers.
• There are too much burden on the buttress,
however; not too much burden among the pylons.
Zones of weakness (faults, cracks, etc.) are
encountered between the buttresses.
• Buttress can be built in wide V-shaped valleys with
The Daniel-Johnson Buttress Dam, Canada
little slope.
 Utilize the strength of an arch to displace the load of
Arch Dams water behind it onto the rock walls that it is built
into.

• Arch Dam is a water retention facility consisting of a

single curved concrete wall.
• To give the water pressure to the slopes by the eflect of
the arch, the concrete wall is curved towards the fount.
If the pressure is equally distributed and the slopes are
equally distributed, the dam can be made as a gravity or
gravity-arch.
• If a part of the burden can be transferred to the slopes
by the influence of the arch, this dam is called a thin
arch dam. For this, the slopes should be very strong and
the arch should be well clamped into the slope.
• Giving the form of rock to the rocks prevents the
accumulation of stresses and the formation of cracks in
the concrete.
• In order to clamp the arch to the slopes well, it must be
at least 45 degrees at the junction of the arch and the
vane. Also, a large center angle should be given to the
arch as it comes from the hand. El Atazar Arch Dam, Spain
 • Soil dams are water-holding plants made by mixing soil
and rock at a specific location. Such dams are preferred if
Earth Fill Dams the floor is not sufficiently strong and homogeneous.
• Wide and flat earthen dam in the valley is made.

• Homogeneous body
• Regional
➢ Classification of soil dams according to material used
• Rock fill body
in dam body:
• Soil fill body
• Rock-soil body

• Homogeneous body is the same material on each side. The zoned bodies have an impermeable part in the
middle, impermeable part growing gradually outward on the two sides and a filter on the upstream and down
stream heels. The rock fill bodies are made of broken stone. Sometimes the impermeable core is found and
sometimes the upstream face is covered with an impermeable cover (clay, asphalt, steel, reinforced concrete,
etc.).
Preliminary Investigation

Lithology: It provides details of rock type present, their nature and extent of
weathering, occurrence of rock and soil debris etc., in that area.

Structure: It provides information on strike, dip of beds and also details of folds,
faults, joints and unconformities.

Groundwater Conditions: It provides information on springs, seepages, wells,

etc., which provides information on scope for leakage and present of any
cavities.

Topography: It provides information on surface features like valley, hills, trend of

river, stability of slope, scope for occurrence of landslide. The rough assessment
of depth of bed rock.
Detailed Investigation

Surface Investigation: Preparation of geological map of the area, important

engineering properties of rocks such as compressive & tensile strength, porosity,
permeability, durability, etc., The details on orientation of bedding planes,
thickness of bedding planes and any intrusions if present any.

Sub-Surface Investigation: Geo-physical investigations to know the sub-surface

profile. Drilling of bore holes will gives detailed information on cavities &
fractures present and also helps in verifying the Geo-physical investigations.
 Horizontal Beds
• This geological situation is good at
dam site because the load of the dam Reservoir
acts perpendicular to the bedding (R) Weight
planes. of dam

• The seepage of water is also prevented

by weight of dam. Thus, uplift pressure
can be reduced. Beds

• If strata are composed of alternating

hard and soft rocks it shall be Figure: A gravity dam over horizontal beds
undesirable.
Tilted Beds with Gentle Upstream Dip (10°-30°
Inclination)
• It is ideal situation for dam
construction.
Reservoir
• The resultant force acts more or (R) Thrust
less perpendicular to bedding Weight
planes. Hence takes load Resultant force
of dam
effectively.
• Any percolated water is directed
by bedding plane to upstream
side i.e., there is no scope for
leakage of water and uplift
pressures.
Figure: Dam over gently inclined beds in upstream
direction
Tilted Beds with Steep Upstream Dip

• It is not bad but not as advantageous

as that of previous case. Reservoir
Thrust
(R)
• There will not any uplift pressure on
dam and no leakage of water from Weight Resultant force
reservoir. of dam

• The resultant load is not perpendicular

to bedding plane which makes it less
competent than previous case

Figure: Dam over steeply upstream

side inclined beds
Tilted Beds with Gentle Downstream Dip
• It is very undesirable for dam
location. Reservoir
• The resultant load and bedding (R)
Weight
planes are in same direction which of dam Clay bed
makes it less competent to withstand
forces.
• The water in reservoir percolates with
the pressure thereby causing uplift
pressure and loss of water Figure: Dam over downstream
side inclined beds
Tilted Beds with Steep Downstream Dip
• It is very undesirable for dam location.
• The resultant load and bedding planes Reservoir
(R)
are nearly parallel, which makes it less Weight
competent to with stand forces. of dam Clay bed
• The Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej, lies on
such undesirable site composed of
sandstone and shale. Suitable measures
are taken to ensure safety.
Figure: Dam over downstream side
inclined beds
Vertical Beds
• It will not pose problem of uplift
pressure on dam or leakage of Reservoir
(R) Thrust
reservoir.
• It will not have advantage in-terms Resultant force
of competence of rocks.
• The Escales Dam in the Spain, lies on
such site composed of limestone and
cretaceous marl.
Vertical Beds
Folded Beds:
➢ It is generally less dangerous than faulting
➢ The folded rocks will be under strains and are physically fractured along the crests
➢ Grouting and other precautions have to be considered, to improve the stability and competence of
rocks at site

Reservoir

Occurrence of fold is disadvantageous

Occurrence of fold is advantageous = similar to = similar to cases of downstream
cases of upstream dipping of beds
Faulted Beds:
Reservoir
➢ It is generally undesirable.
➢ The active faults causes
displacements of the site and
also increases the chances for
occurrence of earthquake.
➢ Faults increases porosity which F F F F F F
aids for water percolation
which intern reduces
competence and causes
More
leakage of reservoir. Less harmful
harmful
➢ If faults occurs in the upstream
with downstream dipping
faults are dangerous. F
F F F F F
Harmful unless inactive
and properly treated Faults which are not
harmful

Fig. Dam over faulted beds

Beds parallel to length of valley

• There is a danger of slippage of rocks along bedding plane

• The water from reservoir have a adequate chance to percolate below the dam which is undesirable.
• The foundation and abutments of dam rests on different rock which is undesirable

Valley Side Valley side with

possible slips of
rocks

DAM DAM
BEDS

Valley Side BEDS

(a) Plan: Along the valley (b) Across the valley

Influence of Weathering:
• Weathering reduces strength, durability of rock hence the extent of weathering should be carefully assessed to
ascertain whether a rock is suitable or unsuitable.
• Dull appearance, faded color and emitting a dull sound to a hammer blow are some simple indications of
weathering.
Effect of Occurrence of Intrusions:
• Black Dolerites and white quartz occurs frequently as intrusions.
• The intrusive contribute to heterogeneity at dam site and hence undesirable.
• The contact planes of intrusive serve as weak plane.
• Grouting can be done at weak planes to improve the competence of the site.
Effect of fracturing:
• Fracturing is common in all rocks, they reduces the cohesion or compactness of rock.
• Fractures contribute to porosity, permeability of rocks.
• If the fractures are numerous and if occur in large areas they should be treated by grouting.
• Beds which are thick, compact, uniform and without any structural defect are very desirable at dam site.
• Alternating soft and hard beds, when inclined are not desirable at dam site because slippage of hard bed over softer
one occurs.
Effect of Associated Geological Structures:
• The properties of rock gets modified either advantageously or disadvantageously when geological structure occurs
in rock.
• The various geological structures which are common in nature are as follows Horizontal Strata, Beds lie
perpendicular to the length of valley, Tilted Beds, Vertical Beds, Beds which are folded, Faulted Beds, Beds with
joints, Beds parallel to length of Valley
Rocks & their Competency to offer Stable Foundations:

Igneous Rocks:
• The massive plutonic & hypabyssal igneous rocks are most desirable at dam site.
• Volcanic rocks which have vesicular & amygdaloidal are not desirable.
• Massive basalts which are fine grained are desirable at dam site when they don’t have vesicular
structure.
Sedimentary Rocks:
• Shales have slippery base hence undesirable at dam site.
• Well Cemented siliceous and ferruginous sandstones are competent and suitable for dam foundation.
• Laterites, limestone & conglomerates are undesirable.
• Thick massive sedimentary formations with less porosity are desirable.
• Alternating soft and hard rocks of small thickness are undesirable.
Metamorphic Rocks:
• Gneiss unless they posses high degree of foliation and mica minerals is suitable at a dam site.
• Schist are undesirable.
• Quartzite are very hard and highly resistant to weathering. They are neither porous, nor permeable.
• Marbles even tough compact by virtue of their chemical composition they are unsuitable at dam site.
• Slates are undesirable as it is soft, weak and have a slaty cleavage.