Definitions

• Hydraulic Structures are engineering constructions

designed and mechanically fit for managing and
utilizing water resources to the best advantage of the
human being and environment.
• Dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs,
directs or retards the flow, often creating a Reservoir.
• Reservoir is an artificial lake created by flooding land
behind a dam.
• Spillway is a section of a dam designed to pass water
from the upstream side of a dam to the downstream
side.
• Flood is an overflow or an expanse of water submerging
land.
 ELEMENTS OF DAM
ENGINEERING
 A dam is a hydraulic structure built
across a river to create a reservoir on its
up stream side for impounding by
completely blocking the valley of a given river
or drainage system
 Through this blockage, storage is formed, which
can be utilized for various water resources
development or water control purposes
 Thus, retained body of water is RESERVOIR,
the retaining structure whether
earth/rock/concrete is the DAM
 ELEMENTS OF DAM
ENGINEERING
RESERVOI
R
DAM

Spillwa
y
 ELEMENTS OF DAM
ENGINEERING
RESERVOI
R U/S side of the
dam
Spillway

DA
M
D/S side of the
dam
 Reservo
ir

Spillway Spillway
 The preliminary purpose of a dam may
be defined as to provide for the safe
retention and storage of water
 The specific main functions /advantages of
dams and reservoirs are:
 Temporal and quantitative balancing between
available water and demand.
 Water storage for days, weeks, months, years, and
over years for power generation and sediment
control
 Water supply (municipal, industrial or community
water supply, irrigation purposes)
 Flood control
 Regulation/balancing of river flow (such as
navigation, low flow augmentation)
 Recreation
 Multipurpose
The main disadvantages
include:
 Distraction of fauna and flora in the dam
valley
 Interference in the landscape through dams

and reservoirs
 Change of ground water level

 Strong influence on sediment balance

 Change in water temperature and quality

 Influence on fish

 Displacement of people from reservoir site

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 Classification of
Based on use: Reservoirs
 Storage for water supply
 Storage for irrigation
 Storage for hydropower
 Storage for low flow augmentation
 Storage for cooling water
 Flood storage
 Artificial lakes, e.g. for recreation, fish protection,
nature protection
 Single or multiple purpose reservoirs
Based on storage or balancing period:
 Day, week, month, year storage
Based on art of storage:
 Surface storage
 Subsurface storage (Caverns, Ground water)
 Classification of
a. Storage Dams
Dams
Classification Based on Purpose

1. Flood control
2. Water supply: domestic, municipal, industrial,
irrigation
3. Hydroelectric power
4. Recreation storage
5. Pollution control
b. Stage control Dams
1. Diversion
2. Navigation
3. Check
c. Barrier Dams
1. Levees and dykes
2. Coffer dams
d. Multipurpose Dams
 Classification of
Dams
Classification based on Hydraulic design
a. Overflow dams
b. Non overflow dams
c. Composite dams

Classification According to Material of

construction
a. Embankment Dams
b. Concrete Dams
c. Steel Dam
d. Timber Dam
 Navigation
Diversion Weir
Coffer Dam
Stage Control
Stage Control
Barrier Type
Overflow
Type Type
Type
Based on Hydraulic Design

Overflow Type
Based on Hydraulic Design
 Non
Composite
- Overflow
Type
Type
Based on Hydraulic Design
Composite Type
Based on Hydraulic Design
 Non - Overflow Type
ased on Hydraulic Design
 Classification of
Dams
Dam
Concrete Embankment Timber

Gravity Earth Fill Steel

Arch Rock Fill

Buttress
Composite
Arch - Gravity
Classification of Dams
Embankme
nt Dam
Concrete Dam
Gravity Dam
Arch Dam
Concrete
Bottom
Arch Buttress Dam
Outlets

Buttress Dam
Composite Concrete
Embankment Dam
Timber Dam:- it consists of a framework m
timber with facing of timber planks. The fram
work is comprised of struts and beams. It tra
the water pressure on the up stream planks
foundation.
Steel Dam:- it consists of a framework mad
Steel, with a steel skin plate on its upstream
 General Characteristics
of Embankment Dams
built of soil or rock-fill or
both. generally built of
locally available materials
in their natural state with a
minimum of processing.
relatively (compared with
concrete dams) soft and
elastic structures (non-
rigid). Upstream and
downstream faces are
similar and moderate
angles, giving a wide section
and a high construction
volume relative to height.
 Loads are transmitted into the dam body, it
resist the exerted force upon it mainly due
the shear strength of the soil and gravel.
 The foundation requirement is less
compared to gravity dams, they can be built
in a wide range of foundation, however, the
dam heights depend on foundation
material. Most of the dams today (more
than 60%) are embankment dams.
Decked
Centralu/s
Homogenous asphalt
Clay
dam withCore /
toe drai
concrete membrane

Asphalt / concrete
Inclined Core
Central wide core with external fi
Central core
Decked u/s asphalt membrane
Gilgel Gibe Rock fill dam
 Earth fill dams
 This indicates type of dam constituting
more than 50% compacted earth fill.
 constructed primarily of engineering
soils compacted uniformly and
intensively in relatively thin layers and at
controlled moisture contents.
 They are designed to resist loads by

gravity and by mechanisms of

embankment stability.
 They are strictly non overflow types
 Rock fill dams
 This indicates type of dam constituting
more than 50% compacted rock fill.
 The section includes a discrete
impervious element of compacted earth
fill or a slender concrete or bituminous
membrane.
 Rock fill embankments employing a thin

upstream membrane of asphalt concrete,

reinforced concrete or other non natural
material are referred to as ‘ decked rock
fill dams’
 Boulder
Rock grain sizerock material
arrangement
 Advantageous of

ED
Suitability to wide valley & steep gorges alike
 Adaptability to wide range of foundation
conditions
 Use of natural materials, minimizing cost of
transportation of processed materials
 Insensitive (can accommodate) to settlement
 Insensitive (can withstand) to earth quake
 Simple construction, effectively continuous
construction & high mechanized process, less
skilled labour is required
 Unit cost of embankment risen much more
slowly in real terms than mass concrete
 Dam heightening is simple

 Disadvantageous of

ED
Sensitive to wave action
 Higher free board is needed (3-4m)
 Overtopping is not allowed (intake structures
and spillways should be constructed separate
from the dam structure & adequate spillway
size should be ensured )
 Erosion danger on the down stream sides
unless berms are provided
 Construction material and construction
progress are affected by weather
 Huge mass volume (large transportation,
settlement)
Construction of Embankment Dam
General Characteristics
of Concrete Dams
 Concrete dams are hard,
none yielding and rigid
structures

 Loads are transmitted

through the dam body
and to the foundation
and to the abutment

 It requires strong and

more or less uniform
rock foundation
 Advantageous of
CD
 Good for narrow valleys.
Except arc or cupola, also
suitable for wide valleys.
 Smaller construction fill
volume (compared to
embankments)
 Construction can takes place
irrespective of weather
condition
 Smaller free board (1-1.5m)
 Can be constructed as
overflow dam, i.e. can
accommodate spillway, hence
cost for separate spillway
reduced.
 Outlet pipe work, valves and
other ancillary works can be
provided within the body of
 Disadvantageous of
CD
 Sensitive to settlement,
demanding sound rock
foundation
 Sensitive to earth quake
 Depending on the dam type,
it’s construction is
demanding (technical
personnel, machine
requirement, form work)
 Difficult dam heightening
(simplification by pre-
stressing)
 Bad interference in to natural
landscape
 Completed unit costs are
much higher than
embankment fills, which
seldom balanced by the much
lower volumes of concrete
required in a dam of certain
Different types of concrete Dams
Load Resisting
Mechanism
Gravity
Dam

Arch Dam
Buttress Dam
 Factors for the location
of dam
Plan for the use of water
Width and shape of the valley
Load carrying capacity and
impermeability of foundation
Seepage lose in the reservoir area
Quantity, quality and transport
distance of the construction
materials
Suitability for appurtenant
structures (bottom outlet, intake,
spillway, power house)
 Factors for the location
of dam
 Danger due to slide, avalanche, etc
 Influence on environment and landscape

 Recreation value

 Available storage area

 Dam heightening and capacity

augmentation possibilities
 Cost

 Social and political implications

Valley Shapes
Valley Shapes
Tekeze Hydropower
Project Dam Site
 Valley Shape
Sound rock for foundation
Valley Shapes
Valley Shape
Valley Shape
The selection of the height
of a dam influenced by:

 Local topographic conditions

 Dam type
 Required storage
 Finance (Cost of the dam)
selection of dam types
 Topography and valley shape
 Foundation (stability,
impermeability)
 Geological condition (layers,
fishers)
 Required length and height of
the dam
 Purpose of the dam
 Climate Condition (ice)
 Flood spillway size and location
Factors for the selection
of dam types
 Availability, quality (nature,
state) of construction materials
 Construction (Supply, transport,
equipment, qualification of
personnel)
 Landscape
 Overall Cost (economics)
 Earth quake hazard
 Diversion problems
 Environmental consideration
Valley profile in relation to
dam types
Valley profile in relation to
dam types
 Foundation Excavation and Treatment

o Subjected to very high stress as the entire

loads acting on the dam are ultimately
transmitted to the foundation
o Foundation should consists of solid and sound
rock
o Geological investigation is crucial in order to
determine the suitability of the foundation
 Foundation Excavation and Treatment

o Removing the entire loose rock and over

burden up to sound bed rock
o The rock surface is suitably dressed and
stepped in order to increase the frictional
resistance
Valley profile in relation to dam types
 USBR expression for the required
depth back filling of concrete
a) d = 0.0066bH + 1.50 for H <=46m
b) d = 0.3b + 1.50 for H > 46m

b – width of weak zone

d – depth of excavation in the weak zone below
the surface of the adjoining rock
H – height of the dam above general foundation
level
 Foundation Treatment
Foundation treatment is a technique of
improving the foundation property for the
construction of high structure (s)

 It improves the load bearing capacity of the

foundation
 It reduces the seepage, results reduction of uplift

pressure which is the main destabilizing force

These comprises the following techniques

1. Grouting
 Consolidation or area grouting
 Blanket grouting
 Dental grouting
 Contact grouting
 Curtain grouting
2. Cut off
3. Plastic Diaphragm
 Grouting
Pressure grouting is the process of injecting
suitable cementitious slurries or similar
materials into inaccessible places, such as the
underlying formation of foundation of dams,
powerhouses and other structures for the
purpose of sealing seams, cracks and fissures or
filling voids and also used to improve the
strength and elastic properties of the material
into which it is injected.
Consolidation or Area grouting

The primary purpose of consolidation grouting is

to strengthen the rock, creating in effect a
strong monolithic slab below or around the
structure
 Consolidation or Area grouting
o Low pressure grouting
o Drilled on a grid pattern
o Depth usually b/n 3 – 15m
o Spacing b/n primary holes – 12 – 30m
o Holes are washed with water and compressed air to remove
all loose material and drill cutting
o Holes are tested with water under pressure to check water
tightness of the rock
o Ratio of cement and water 1:3 to 1:8
o Grouting pressure 300 – 400KN/m2
o Increase bearing capacity of the foundation
Primary Secondary Tertiary
holes holes holes
 Blanket Grouting
The features of blanket grouting are similar to
consolidation grouting except that the purpose
of the blanket is to reduce uplift pressures under
the structure. Such grouting is done in the
reservoir area of dams
 Dental Grouting
Dental treatment consists in excavating
objectionable materials from solution cavities,
fault zones, or other rocks imperfections and
filling with concrete the cavities so excavated.
 Curtain Grouting
The objective of curtain or high pressure
grouting is to create a deep curtain at the head
of the dam which will prevent leakage from the
reservoir and development of uplift pressure on
the dam due to hydrostatic head.
Curtain Grouting
Curtain Grouting
 Curtain Grouting
o High pressure grouting
o Impervious barrier in the foundation just d/s of the heel of the dam
o To reduce uplift pressure on the dam
o To reduce seepage through the foundation
o Curtain grouting are quite deep
o One line of grout holes parallel to the axis of the dam is sufficient
o Primary holes spacing 4.5 – 7.5m depending upon the nature of the rock
o Holes are washed, tested and grouted
o Depth depend upon the nature of the rock and height of dam
o 30 – 40% depth of water in the reservoir for strong foundation
o 70% depth of water in the reservoir for weak foundation
o Grouting pressure 25D(KN/m2) – D – depth of grout in meter