ANALYSIS OF
DAMS
DAMS
Dams are structures that block
the flow of a river, stream, or
other waterway. Some dams
divert the flow of river water into
pipeline, canal, or channel.
PURPOSE OF DAM
Irrigation and drinking water
Power supply (Hydroelectric)
Navigation
Flood control
Multi purposes
ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DAM
STEPS OF SOLUTION
I. Consider 1 unit (1 m) length of dam (perpendicular to the
board)
II. Determine all the forces acting:
A. Vertical forces
1. Weight of the dam:
……,
2. Weight of water in the upstream side (if any)
3. Weight of permanent structures of the dam
4. Hydrostatic Uplift
STEPS OF SOLUTION
B. Horizontal Force
1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at the vertical projection of
the submerged.
2. Wind pressure
3. Wave action
4. floating bodies
5. Earthquake Load
STEPS OF SOLUTION
III. Solve for the reaction
A. Vertical reaction
B. Horizontal reaction
STEPS OF SOLUTION
IV. Moment about the Toe
A. Righting Moment, RM (rotation towards the
upstream side)
+++
B. Overturning Moment, OM (rotation towards the
downstream side)
++
STEPS OF SOLUTION
V. Location of ()
Where:
FACTOR OF SAFETY
Factor of safety against sliding,
Factor of safety against overturning, :
FOUNDATION PRESSURE
Case I:
FOUNDATION PRESSURE
Case II :
PROBLEM 1
A concrete dam retaining water is shown in the
figure. If the specific weight of concrete is 23.5 kN/.
Assume hydrostatic uplift varies uniformly from full
hydrostatic pressure at the heel of the dam to dam
zero at the toe and that the coefficient of friction
between the dam and the foundation is 0.45.
a. Find the factor of safety against sliding.
b. Find the factor of safety against
overturining.
c. The pressure intensity at the heel.
d. The pressure intensity at the toe.
PROBLEM 2
A gravity dam of trapezoidal cross-section with
one face vertical and horizontal base 22m high
and has thickness of 4m at the top. Water
upstream stands 2m below the crest of the
dam. The s.g of masonry is 2.4.
A. Neglecting hydrostatic uplift:
1. Find base width B of the dam so that the resultant
force will cut the extreme edge of the middle third
near the toe.
2. Compute the factors of safety against sliding and
overturning. Use = 0.5.
PROBLEM 2
A gravity dam of trapezoidal cross-section with one
face vertical and horizontal base 22m high and has
thickness of 4m at the top. Water upstream stands
2m below the crest of the dam. The s.g of masonry
is 2.4.
B. Considering uplift pressure to vary uniformly full
hydrostatic pressure at the heel to zero at the toe.
1. Find base width B of the dam so that the
resultant force act at extremity of the middle
third near the toe.
2. Compute the max. and min. compressive stress
acting against the base of the dam.
