Module 3 Gravity dams

Forces acting on a gravity dam, causes of failure of a gravity dam, elementary profile, and
practical profile of a gravity dam, limiting height of a low gravity dam, Factors of Safety –
Stability Analysis, Foundation for a Gravity Dam, drainage and inspection galleries.

A gravity dam is a solid structure made of concrete or masonry that holds back water by its
own weight. It resists the hydrostatic pressure (force of water) due to its mass and stability,
without requiring additional support like arches or buttresses.

Ex: Karanja Dam and Almatti Dam are examples of gravity dams.

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Linganamakki Dam, Sagara taluk, Shivamogga district, Karnataka, on the Sharavathi River
Forces acting on a gravity dam
A gravity dam is subjected to various forces that influence its stability. Below are the key
forces acting on a gravity dam
1.​ Self-Weight of the Dam (Gravity Force)
○​ The weight of the dam itself acts vertically downward through the centroid of
the structure.
○​ It provides resistance against external forces and is the primary stabilizing
force.
○​ The Weight of the Dam is a major resisting force. For analysis purposes,
generally unit length of the dam is considered. The cross section of the Dam
may be divided into several triangles and rectangles and weights W1, W2,

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W3, etc. of each of these may be computed conveniently, along with

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determination of their line of action.
○​ The total weight W of the Dam Acts at the CG of its section.

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γ𝑚 = W * V IL
Where γ𝑚 = Unit Weight of the dam materials
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W = Weight of the dam

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V = Volume the dam materials

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2. Water Pressure (Hydrostatic Force)

○​ The pressure exerted by the reservoir water on the upstream face of the dam.
○​ It increases with depth and acts perpendicular to the dam face.

Horizontal Water Pressure

●​ This is the lateral (sideways) pressure exerted by water on the structure.

●​ It is typically given by Pascal’s Law, which states that pressure increases with
depth: P = γ*h

Where γ is the unit weight of water and h is the depth of water in the
dam.

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There are the two cases for the horizontal water pressure

i) No Tail Water in D/S side

ii) Tail Water on the D/S side.

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Vertical Water Pressure
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●​ In addition to horizontal pressure, there is also vertical pressure due to the

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weight of the water column resting on the sloping upstream side.

●​ This vertical pressure acts on a portion of the base of the structure, denoted
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as length ‘b’.
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The Resultant Horizontal Force on the Dam (water pressure on the dam) is computed
according to
Where w: specific weight of water. Usually it is taken as unity.

H is the height up to which water is stored in m.

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Water pressure at downstream of a dam structure

General Notation

ρ (rho) Density (kg/m³)

ν (nu) Kinematic viscosity (m²/s)

μ (mu) Dynamic viscosity (Pa·s or N·s/m²)

γ (gamma) Specific weight (N/m³)

σ (sigma) Stress (N/m²) or Surface tension (N/m)

τ (tau) Shear stress (N/m²)

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Fluid Mechanics, Hydrology, Water resource Engineering, Irrigation Engineering &
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Hydraulic structure Notation
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h or H Head (m)
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Q Discharge or Flow rate (m³/s)

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g Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)

P Pressure (Pa or N/m²)

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V Velocity (m/s)
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A Cross-sectional area (m²)

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F Force (N)

W Weight (N)
3. Uplift Pressure (Seepage Force)

○​ Water seeps through the dam foundation, exerting an upward force on the
base.
○​ It reduces the effective weight of the dam, potentially causing instability.

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Uplift pressure
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○​ Uplift pressure acts beneath the dam due to water seeping under its base. It is
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located at B/3 from the heel (upstream side) and reduces stability. To control
uplift, drainage pipes, cut-off walls, holes in the dam, or pressure grouting are
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used. uplift, drainage pipes, cut-off walls, holes in the dam, or pressure
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grouting are used.

4. Silt Pressure

○​ Accumulated silt in the reservoir exerts additional pressure on the upstream

side of the dam.
○​ It acts similar to hydrostatic pressure but with a lesser magnitude.
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Silt Pressure on the Dam

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○​ The weight of the dam and its foundation is the main force resisting water pressure.
○​ This force acts at h/3 from the base.

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○​ It is calculated using
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𝑃𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑡 = 2
γh𝐾𝑎
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○​ The calculation involves:

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■​ Active earth pressure coefficient of silt.

■​ Internal friction angle of soil (cohesion is ignored).
■​ Submerged unit weight of silt.
■​ Height of deposited silt (h).

5. Wave Pressure

➔​ Wave Generation:
○​ Waves form on the reservoir surface due to wind.
○​ These waves exert pressure on the upper part of the dam above the
water level.
➔​ Wave Pressure Calculation:
 ○​ The pressure is calculated using specific formulas
○​ It depends on wave height (h), which is determined by:
■​ For F < 32 km

■​ For F > 32 km

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➔​ Parameters Affecting Wave Height:
○​ ℎ𝑤 = Distance from the wave crest (top) to the trough (bottom) in

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meters.
○​ V = Wind speed in km/h.
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○​ F = Fetch length (the straight stretch of water over which wind blows) in
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km.
➔​ Maximum Wave Pressure:
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○​ The highest pressure occurs 0.5 meters above the still water level.
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➔​ Total Force Due to Waves:

○​ The force due to wave action is calculated using
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○​ The total wave force acts at 3/8 of the wave height above the reservoir
surface.
 ➔​ The force depends on wind speed, fetch length, and water depth.

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■​ Wind Speed (V): Stronger winds create bigger and more powerful waves.

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■​ Fetch Length (F): The longer the wind blows over the water, the bigger the
waves grow.
■​ Water Depth (d): Deeper water allows waves to become larger and hit

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structures with more force.
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6. Earthquake Forces (Seismic Forces)
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➔​ Earthquake Effects on Dams

○​ In seismic regions, earthquakes induce horizontal and vertical accelerations in
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the dam.
○​ These forces are considered based on seismic zone classifications.
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○​ Earthquakes create waves in all directions.

○​ For design, these forces are divided into horizontal and vertical components.
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○​ The horizontal component has a greater impact on the dam.

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➔​ Seismic Effects on Dam and Water

●​ Vibrations affect both the dam structure and the water in the reservoir.
●​ Two major dynamic loads are generated:
1.​ Inertia force of the dam – Due to the dam’s own weight.
2.​ Hydrodynamic force – Due to the movement of water in the reservoir.
➔​ Inertia & Seismic Force Calculation

Inertia force of the dam is calculated using the formula:

 Seismic force formula:

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➔​ seismic Coefficients:
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➢​ αh​= Horizontal seismic coefficient

➢​ αv​= Vertical seismic coefficient
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➔​ Weight of the Dam:

➢​ Represented by W, It is the total weight of the dam structure.

7. Ice Pressure (Applicable in Cold Regions)

➔​ Formation of Ice:
●​ In cold countries, ice forms on the reservoir's water surface.
●​ When temperatures rise, the ice melts and expands.
➔​ Effect on the Dam:
●​ The expanding ice pushes against the dam face.
 ●​ This force acts along the dam’s length at the reservoir level.
➔​ Magnitude of Force:
●​ Ice pressure varies between 250 to 1500 kN/m² based on temperature
changes.
●​ Under normal conditions, an average value of 500 kN/m² can be
considered.

8. Temperature Stresses

○​ Variations in temperature cause expansion and contraction of concrete,

leading to stresses in the dam body.
○​ Proper expansion joints are provided to manage thermal stresses.

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9. Wind Pressure

○​ Acts on the exposed portion of the dam, especially in tall dams.

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○​ Generally small in magnitude but considered in stability analysis.
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10. Soil Pressure (if dam has backfill material on downstream side)
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○​ If soil or rockfill is present on the downstream side, it exerts lateral pressure
on the dam.
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○​ It can provide additional stability by counteracting overturning forces.

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Causes of failure of a gravity dam

Failure of a gravity dam can occur due to various reasons, broadly categorized as:
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➔​ Overtopping:
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◆​ Insufficient spillway capacity.

◆​ Unforeseen floods.
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◆​ Wave action.
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Insufficient spillway capacity.

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Unforeseen floods/Unexpected Rainfall.

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​ ​ ​ ​ Wave Action
➔​ Foundation Failure:
◆​ Shear failure.
◆​ Settlement (uneven or excessive).
◆​ Erosion (piping).
◆​ Weak rock/soil.
➔​ Structural Failure:
◆​ Cracking (thermal, seismic).
◆​ Sliding (inadequate shear strength).
◆​ Overstressing (exceeding material limits).
◆​ uplift pressure (excessive water pressure under the dam).

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Cracking (thermal, seismic).

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Sliding (inadequate shear strength).

 uplift pressure (excessive water pressure under the dam).

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➔​ Seismic Activity:
◆​ Earthquakes (ground shaking).

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◆​ Liquefaction (foundation instability).
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➔​ Deterioration:
◆​ Concrete degradation (alkali-aggregate reaction).
◆​ Freeze-thaw cycles.
◆​ erosion due to water.
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Concrete degradation (alkali-aggregate reaction).

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Freeze-thaw cycles.
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Erosion Due to Water

➔​ Human Error:
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◆​ Design flaws. (Design Imperfection)
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◆​ Construction defects.
◆​ Operational errors.
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◆​ inadequate monitoring.
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Elementary Profile of a Gravity Dam

If the dam is subjected to horizontal water pressure, self-weight of the dam, and Uplift
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pressure. Then the profile of the gravity dam is called an Elementary profile or
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Theoretical profile which is a right-angled triangle.

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Elementary profile of Gravity Dam

❖​ The base width of the elementary profile of a gravity dam is maximum because the

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highest water pressure is at the bottom.
❖​ The top thickness of the dam is zero since no water pressure acts at the top.
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❖​ Hydrostatic pressure decreases linearly from the bottom to the top, so the dam's
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profile is also linear.
❖​ This elementary profile provides maximum stability against forces like overturning
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and sliding.
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❖​ When the reservoir is empty, no tension (pulling force)develops in the dam.

❖​ The weight of the dam acts at a distance of b/3 from the upstream vertical face.
❖​ A triangular profile offers more stability than a right-angled triangle, but it may cause
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tension at the toe, leading to failure by overturning.

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 Triangular profile of gravity dam with inclined upstream face

Forces Acting on Gravity Dam While Determining the Elementary Profile

Following are the forces acting on the elementary profile of the gravity dam.

1. Weight of the Dam (W)

The weight of the dam is due to its self-weight and acts vertically downward.

It is given by the formula:

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​

where:

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○​ b = base width of the dam
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○​ ρw = unit weight of the dam material
○​ H = height of the dam
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This force acts at the center of gravity (CG) of the triangular dam section, which is
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located at a distance of H/3 from the base.

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2. Water Pressure (P)

Water exerts horizontal hydrostatic pressure on the dam.

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The total force due to water pressure is given by:

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where:

○​ w = unit weight of water

○​ H = height of the water level behind the dam

This force acts horizontally at a distance of H/3 from the bottom of the elementary profile.

3. Uplift Pressure (U)

The total uplift pressure is given by:

where:

C= Uplift pressure intensity coefficient (depends on permeability and drainage

conditions)

w= Unit weight of water

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H= Height of the dam

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b = Base width of the dam

Base Width of the Elementary Profile of a Gravity Dam

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The base width of a gravity dam is determined based on two key conditions:
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1.​ Stress Basis (To avoid tension in the dam)
2.​ Stability Against Sliding (To prevent movement due to water pressure)
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1. Stress Basis
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●​ To avoid tension in the dam, the resultant force (combined effect of all forces) should
pass through specific points:
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○​ When the dam is empty, the resultant force should pass through the
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middle-third point of the base.

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○​ When the reservoir is full, the resultant should pass through the outer
middle-third point (closer to the downstream side).
●​ To find the base width, we take moments of all the forces acting on the dam about
the outer middle-third point and set the equation to zero.
●​ This ensures that the dam remains stable and does not develop tension that could
cause cracks or failure.
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Practical Profile of Gravity Dam

Limiting height of a low gravity dam: High & Low Gravity Dam

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Drainage and inspection galleries

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1. Drainage System Meaning:

●​ It helps remove excess water from structures like dams, tunnels, and bridges.
●​ Prevents water pressure buildup, which can damage structures.
●​ Includes pipes, weep holes, and drainage channels.

2. Types of Drainage Systems:

●​ Surface Drainage – Removes rainwater and prevents waterlogging.

●​ Subsurface Drainage – Drains underground water using pipes and filters.

3. Inspection Galleries:
 ●​ These are underground tunnels or passages in large structures like dams.
●​ Used for inspection, maintenance, and monitoring water leakage.
●​ Helps engineers check structural safety and collect data.

4. Purpose of Inspection Galleries:

●​ Allows easy access for engineers to monitor the structure.

●​ Helps in detecting cracks, leaks, and seepage.
●​ Ensures the stability and safety of the structure.

5. Importance in Civil Engineering:

●​ Prevents structural failure due to water pressure.

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●​ Ensures the longevity of dams, tunnels, and other water-retaining structures.

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●​ Helps in regular maintenance and safety checks.

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