Design Example Gravity dam

Design the non- overflow section of a gravity dam with the following data for an
extreme loading condition:
I. R. L. of deepest foundation level= 100 m
II. R. L. of roadway at the top of dam =161 m
III. Full reservoir level =152 m
IV. Design flood level =155 m
V. Maximum tail water level=106.9 m
VI. Minimum tail water level =100 m
VII. Maximum deposited silt level on the upstream =105.3 m.
VIII. Location of center of drainage gallery form u/s face of dam =7 m
IX. Roadway width at the top= 6.1 m
X. Downstream vertical face up to El. =154.28 m
XI. Upstream face of dam vertical
XII. Downstream face of dam 0.9 horizontal to 1.0 vertical
XIII. Dry density of silt =1360 kg/m3
XIV. Unit weight of concrete =25 KN/m3
XV. Safe bearing capacity =1672 KN/m2
XVI. Shearing resistance of concrete (average) =2060 KN/m2
XVII. Shearing resistance of foundation (average) =1300 KN/m2
XVIII. Minimum allowable shear friction factor under
a. Normal loading = 5.0
b. Extreme loading = 4.0
XIX. Maximum coefficient of sliding under Normal loading = 0.75
XX. Horizontal seismic coefficient = 0.2
XXI. Vertical seismic coefficient = 0.1
XXII. Fetch distance =18 km
XXIII. Average wind speed =25 m/s

Design

A. Selection of Dam Profile

The base width as provided for the given section:
B = 0.9*(54.28) + 6.1 = 54.95 m
The angle of the downstream face from the vertical is: tan-1(0.9/1) = 41.987o
Preliminary section:
Depth of water at the deepest foundation level (h): 152-100 = 52m
Specific gravity of the section material (G) = unit weight of concrete/ unit weight
of water= 25/9.81 = 2.55
The bottom width of the elementary profile will be:
H
 For no overturning condition, B = = 52/(2.55-1)0.5 = 41.77 m where ,S
√ S−1
is the specific gravity = unit weight of concrete/ unit weight of water
 For no sliding condition, B = 52/(0.7*2.55) = 29.13 m
Thus the minimum bottom width to be provided will be the maximum of the above
results B = 41.77 m.
This confirms that the provided (54.95 m) is safe and can be adopted.
B. Steps in the Stability Analysis
1. Determination of forces and their moments All the force acting on the dam
should be written first. For earthquake, the direction of acceleration should be
mentioned, so as to determine the force correctly.
Dead load:
The weight of the dam section can be found by dividing the section into simpler
geometrical shapes, like triangle, rectangle, etc. The area of each part can be easily
calculated and multiplying by the unit weight of concrete (25 KN/m3), the weight
of each part can be calculated.
The weight W1 in the dam section is the weight of the rectangular section with
width 6.1 m and height 61 m; the weight W2 in the dam section is the weight of the
triangular section with width 48.85 m (0.9*54.28) and height 54.28 m. taking the
thickness of the dam section perpendicular to this page as 1 m. The total dead load
will be: (6.1*61 + 0.5*54.28*48.85)*1*25 = 42448.582 KN
Moment arm length of the dead load from the toe of the dam will be:
(6.1*61*(48.85 + 6.1/2) + 0.5*54.28*48.85*(2*48.85/3))/(6.1*61 +
0.5*54.28*48.85) = 36.8 m
Moment of the dead load about the toe positive will be:
42448.582*36.8 = 1562107.82KNm
We consider all clockwise moments about toe as negative all anticlockwise
moments as positive.
Thus the moment due to the dead load is positive.
Water Thrust
The water pressure that acts horizontally on the upstream face is given by ½ϒhu2.
In this case,
water thrust = ½*52*52*9.81 = (-) 13263.12 KN. It acts at a distance of h/3 i.e.
52/3 m from toe.
Hence moment is negative and equals to 13263.12*52 /3 = (-) 229894.08 KNm.
The water pressure that acts horizontally on the downstream face is given by
½ϒhd2. In this case,
water thrust = ½*6.9*6.9*9.81 = (+)233.527 KN. It acts at a distance of h/3 i.e.
6.9/3 m from toe.
Hence moment is positive and equals to 233.527*6.9 /3 = (+) 537.112 KNm.
The tail water weight that lies over the downstream face is given by:
9.81*½*6.9*(0.9*6.9) = (+) 210.174 KN.
It acts at a distance of (0.9*6.9) /3 i.e. 2.07 m from toe.
Hence moment is positive and equals to 210.174*2.07 = (+) 435.06 KNm.
Uplift forces
The uplift intensity at the upstream heel end is ϒh i.e. 52*9.81= 510.12 KN/m2
and on the downstream toe it will be ϒhd i.e. 6.9*9.81 = 67.689 KN/m2

For extreme load combination design of a gravity dam the drains are assumed to be
choked thus the uplift pressure force is computed as:
½ (510.12 + 67.689)*54.95 = (-) 15875.302 KN
Its line of action from the toe will be 54.95*(2*52 + 6.9)/(3*(52 + 6.9) = 34.49 m.
Thus the moment about the toe is negative and equals (-) 547500.722 KNm.
Silt load (sediment load)
The silt pressure that acts horizontally on the upstream face is given by ½(ϒs -
ϒw)hs2. In this
case, silt thrust = ½*5.3*5.3*(13.34 - 9.81) = (-)49.601 KN. It acts at a distance of
hs/3 i.e. 5.3/3 m from toe.
Hence moment is negative and equals to 49.601*5.3 /3 = (-) 87.629 KNm.
Inertial forces due to earthquake
Horizontal inertial force on the dam is computed as: αh*(W1 + W2) =
0.2*42448.582=(-) 8489.72 KN.
Its line of action is through the centroid of the dam i.e.
(6.1*61*(61/2) + ½*54.28*48.85*(54.28/3))/(6.1*61 + 0.5*54.28*48.85) = 20.8 m
above the toe of the dam.
The least stable structure of the dam exists if this horizontal force acts in the
downstream direction (note the earth quake acts upstream in such cases).
Hence moment is negative and equals to 8489.72*20.8 = (-) 176586.10 KNm
Vertical inertial force on the dam is computed as: αv*(W1 + W2) = 0.1*42448.582
= (-) 4244.86 KN.
Its line of action is through the centroid of the dam i.e. 36.8 m from the toe of the
dam. The least stable structure of the dam exists if this vertical force acts in the
upward direction (note the earth quake acts in the direction of gravity in such
cases).
Hence moment is negative and equals to 4244.86*36.8 = (-) 156210.8 KNm.
For upstream impounded water the vertical inertial force on the impounded water
is computed as: αv*(½ϒhu2) = 0.1*13263.12 = (+) 1326.312 KN.
For downstream water αv*(½ϒhd2) = 0.1*233.527 = (-) 23.353 KN.
(Note the vertical inertial force tries to increase or decrease the net acceleration of
the impounded water i.e. the unit weight of the water. Altering the unit weight has
an impact on the horizontal water pressure).
Their line of action is at 52/3 and
6.9/3 from the toe of the dam for the upstream and downstream water, respectively.
The least
stable structure of the dam exists if this vertical force acts in the upward direction
(note the earth
quake acts in the direction of gravity in such cases). Thus this force should be
reduced from the
respective water pressure forces of the upstream and downstream. For the upstream
water the
moment is positive and equals to 1326.312*17.33 = (+)22989.408 KNm. However
the moment
is negative and equals to (-) 53.711.
Vertical inertial force on the tail water weight is computed as: αv*(Wtw) =
0.1*210.174 = (-
)21.017 KN. Its line of action is through the centroid of the tail water section i.e.
0.9*6.9/3 =
2.07 m from the toe of the dam. The least stable structure of the dam exists if this
vertical force
acts in the upward direction (note the earth quake acts in the direction of gravity in
such cases).
Hence moment is negative and equals to 21.017*2.07 = (-) 43.505 KNm.
Vertical inertial force on the silt accumulated is computed as: αv(½(ϒs - ϒw)hs2)
= 0.1*49.601 =
4.96 KN. (Note the vertical inertial force tries to increase or decrease the net
acceleration of
the accumulated silt i.e. the unit weight of the silt and water. Altering the unit
weight has
an impact on the horizontal silt pressure). Its line of action is at 5.3/3 from the toe
of the dam.
The least stable structure of the dam exists if this vertical force acts in the upward
direction (note
the earth quake acts in the direction of gravity in such cases). Thus this force
should be reduced
from the silt pressure force and/or the moment could be taken as positive and
equals to
4.96*5.3/3 = 8.763 KNm.
 Hydrodynamic Pressure due to earthquake
The horizontal earthquake will produce a force given by: Fe = 0.726 Peh, where pe
= c αhϒ h; c = cm (at the base where h = z); cm = 0.73*90/90 = 0.73; (Since αh =
0.20 and upstream face is vertical) pe = 0.73*0.2*9.81*52 = 74.48 KN/m2
Fe = 0.726*74.48*52 = (-)2811.68 KN
The moment about heel is given by 0.3peh2 = -0.3*74.48*52*52= (-)
60418.18KNm.
As the line of action of the hydrodynamic force equal from both toe and heel, this
momentum is also acts with the same magnitude about the toe.
 Wave pressure
The wind speed in km/hr will be 25*60*60/1000 = 90 km/hr.
Since the fetch distance (18 km) is less than 32 km, the wave height is computed
as: hw = 0.032*(90*18)1/2 + 0.763 – 0.271(18)1/4 = 1.5 m
The total pressure due to waves is given by 2ϒhw2. Fw = 2*9.81*1.52 = (-)44.145
KN. Since the pressure due to waves acts at height of (3hw/8) = 0.5625 m from
reservoir surface, lever arm of the pressure about the toe = 52 + 0.56 = 52.56 m.
The moment about toe is negative and is equal to 44.145*52.56 = (-) 2320.37
KNm.
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom
line from heel is determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the
eccentricity of the resultant force is found.

The eccentricity e will be: e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 =

9.03 m < 54.95/6

The total stress can be computed as:

Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 +
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 + 6*9.03*22517.58/54.95 =
By
comparing the major principal stress at the toe with the bearing strength of the
foundation (1672
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 +
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 + 695=
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 + 6*9.03*22517.58/54.95 =
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 +
Dividing total moments (algebraic addition of positive and negative moments) by
the total
vertical force, the point of application of the resultant on the dam bottom line from
heel is
determined. Subtracting half bottom width from the above, the eccentricity of the
resultant force
is found. The eccentricity e will be:
e = 54.95/2 - (1586078.16 - 1170794.78)/ 22517.58 = 9.03 m < 54.95/6
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 +
Factor of safety against overturning:
FSo = 1586078.16/1170794.78 = 1.35 (For extreme loading condition the FSo
shall be greater
than 1.25. Thus the structure is safe against overturning)
Factor of safety against overturning:
FSo = 1586078.16/1170794.78 = 1.35 (For extreme loading condition the FSo
shall be greater
than 1.25. Thus the structure is safe against overturning)
Coefficient of friction = 23072.67/22517.58 = 1.02 > 0.75, check for shear friction
factor:
SFF = (0.7*22517.58 + 0.5*1300*54.95)/23072.67 = 2.23 (For extreme loading
condition the
recommendation is that SFF shall be >1.3 for foundation rock. Thus the structure is
safe against
sliding)
The total stress can be computed as:
Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 + 6*9.03*22517.
The total stress can be computed as:

Total stress at the toe: 22517.58/54.95 + 6*9.03*22517.58/54.952 = 813.82KN/m2

Total stress at the heel: 22517.58/54.95 - 6*9.03*22517.58/54.952 = 5.74 KN/m2

There is compression at both toe and heel. The maximum major principal stress at
the toe occurs when there is no tail water load and is computed as:
819.57*Sec2(41.987) = 1483.57 KN/m2. By comparing the major principal stress
at the toe with the bearing strength of the foundation (1672 KN/m2) it can be seen
that there will not be any failure due to overstress

Coefficient of friction = 23072.67/22517.58 = 1.02 > 0.75, check for shear

friction factor: SFF = (0.7*22517.58 + 0.5*1300*54.95)/23072.67 = 2.23 (For
extreme loading condition the recommendation is that SFF shall be >1.3 for
foundation rock. Thus the structure is safe against sliding)

Factor of safety against overturning: FSo = 1586078.16/1170794.78 = 1.35 (For

extreme loading condition the FSo shall be greater than 1.25. Thus the structure is
safe against overturning)
Example:-A concrete gravity dam had maximum reservoir level 150.0m, base
level of dam 100.0m, tail water elevation 110.0m, base width of dam 40m, location
of drainage gallery 10m from u/s face which may be assumed as vertical. Compute
hydrostatic thrust and uplift force per metre length of dam at its base level. Assume
50% reduction in net seepage head at the location of the drainage gallery.

Solution Consider 1m length of dam

Free board =5% of dam height = 0.05 x 50 = 2.5 say 3m

Dam Height = 50+3 = 53m

Top width = 0.14H or 0.55 H1/2

, where H ,is height of the dam=0.14 x 53 = 7.5 or 0.55 5–√31/2= 4m, adopt 7.5m
Uplift pressure at drainage with 50% reduction =10.0 +1/2(50.0-10.0) = 30t

Uplift pressure U1

= 20 x 10/2 = 100t = (30 + 10 X 2/3) = 36.67 3667t.m.

Uplift pressure U2

= 10 x 30 x 1 = 300t (30+10/2) = 35 10500t.m.

Uplift pressure U3

= 10 x 30 x 1= 300t (30/2) = 15 4500t.m.

Uplift pressure U4

= 20 x 30/2 x 1=300t (30 x 2/3) = 20 6000t.m.

Uplift pressure U=1000t

=M2

= -24,667t.m.

=V=W−U=2671−1000=1671t,M=M−M2=71,031−24,667=46364t.m.

Water pressure, u/s face P′=wh22=(1∗50∗50)2=1250503=(−)20,833

d/s face, P′=wh22=1∗10∗102=50

=103+167

Pressure acting downstream = 1250 - 50 = 1200, M3=(−)20833+167

=(-)20,666

Net moment = 46,364 - 20,666 = 25,698t.m.

Position of resultant from toe, x¯=MV=256981671=15.38m

Eccentricity, e=B2−x¯=402−15.38m=4.62m

Normal compressive stress at toe, Pn=VB(1+6eB)

=167140(1+6∗4.6240)=70.73t/m2

Normal compressive stress at heel =VB(1−6eB)

=167140(1−6∗4.6240)=12.82t/m2

Maximum principal stress at toe, σ=Pnsec2α−P′tan2αs

, here P′=10

tanα=40/50andsec2α=1.64

Therefore, σ=70.73∗1.64−10(40/50)2=110t/m2

Intensity of shear stress on a horizontal plane near toe,

τ0=(Pn−P′)tanα

τ0=(70.73−10)40/50=49t/m2
Galleries 8m d/s of u/s face

Uplift pressure

At heel= 100% , at toe= 0% and at drainage gallery= 50%