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Dam Engineering

What is a dam?

A dam is a barrier built across a stream, river or estuary to hold and control the flow of water for such uses as drinking water supplies, irrigation, flood control and hydropower generation etc.

What is a dam?

Benefits of Dams

The benefits of dams are usually to the advantage of humans. They may include:
Irrigation
Hydroelectric Flood

production

control Recreational opportunities Navigation Industrial and Domestic water supply Aeration of water

IRHAFIN

Purpose Distribution of Dams


0.60% 5.30% 5.40%
Irrigation Hydropower

10.00% 48.60% 12.70%

Water Supply Flood Control Recreation Navigation and Fishing Others

17.40%

Source: International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)

Disadvantages of dams
Changes

in temperature and flow in the river downstream from the dam alteration of the fish community in the region of the river

Possible

Small

scale earthquakes in the area


of loss of life and property in case of failure of of people from the area

Danger

dam
Displacement

Changes

in the climate

EPDTFC

Classification of dams:
Dams are classified on several aspects, some of the important aspects are as follow: 1) Based on Hydraulic Design: Over flow dams (e.g. concrete dams) Non over flow dams (e.g. embankment dams) 2) Based on Structural Design: Gravity dams Arch dams Buttress dams 3) Based on Usage of Dam: Storage dams Diversion dams Detention dams

UCHMS

Classification of dams:
4) 5)

Based on Construction Material: Concrete / Masonary dams Earthfill dams Rockfill dams Earthfill rockfill dams Concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRD) Based on Capacity: Small dams Medium dams Large dams

Selection of dam Type:


The choice of dam is decided upon by examining foundation conditions, load strains, temperature and pressure changes, chemical characteristics of ground water and possible seismic activity. Followings are the important factors considered for the selection of type of dams:
1)
2)

3) 4) 5)

Topography Geology and nature of foundation Bearing capacity of the underlying soil Foundation settlements Permeability of the foundation soil Availability of construction materials Spillway location Safety considerations

GTA-SS-EPA-L

Selection of dam Type:


6) 7) 8) 9)

Earthquake zones Purpose of dam and economics Aesthetic considerations Life of the Dam

Site selection of a dam:


Following are the important factors considered for the selection of site for a dam:
1) 2) 3)

4)
5) 6) 6)

7)
8) 9)

Catchment characteristics Length of dam Height of dam Foundation conditions Availability of suitable Spillway location Availability of suitable construction materials Storage capacity Construction and maintenance cost Access to the site Options for diversion of river during construction

Site selection of a dam:


Following the important factors considered for the selection of site for a dam:
10) 11) 12)

13)

Compensation cost for property and land acquisition Quality of water Sediment transport Environmental conditions

Types of Storage Dams


Reservoirs are readily classified in accordance with their primary purpose, e.g. irrigation, water supply, hydroelectric power generation, flood control etc. Dams are of numerous types and type classification is sometimes less clearly defined. An initial broad classification into generic groups can be made in terms of the principal of construction material employed: Embankment Dams: Constructed of earth-fill and/or rock-fill. Upstream and downstream face slopes are similar and of moderate angle, giving a wide selection and high construction volume relative to height. Gravity Dams: Constructed of mass concrete. Face slopes are dissimilar, generally steep downstream and near vertical upstream and dams have relatively slender profiles depending upon type
Note: Embankment dams are numerically dominant for technical and economical reasons, and account for over 85-90% of all dams built

Types of Storage Dams

Embankment Dams Earth-fill Dam


Earth-fill dams, also called earthen, rolled-earth or simply earth dams, are constructed as a simple embankment of well compacted earth.

Concrete Dams
Gravity

Dam

Gravity dams are dams which resist the horizontal thrust of the water entirely by their own weight. These are typically used to block streams through narrow gorges.

Buttress

Dam

Rock-fill

Dam

Rock-fill dams are embankments of compacted free-draining granular earth with an impervious zone. The earth utilized often contains a large percentage of large particles hence the term rockfill is used.

Buttress dams are dams in which the face is held up by a series of supports. It can take many forms - the face may be flat or curved.

Arch

Dam

An arch dam is a curved dam which is dependent upon arch action for its strength. Arch dams are thinner and therefore require less material than any other type of dam.

Types of Storage Dams

Embankment dam

Gravity dam

Buttress dam

Arch dam

Large Dams: World Register Statistics (ICOLD 1998)


ICOLD= International Commission of Large Dams

Group Embankment Dam

Type Earth Fill Rock Fill

ICOLD* Code TE ER

% 82.9

Concrete Dams including Masonry dams

Gravity
Arch Buttress Multiple arch

PG
VA CB MV

11.3
4.4 1.0 0.4

Total Large Dams

41413

ICOLD defines large dams as dams exceeding15 m in height or in case of dams of 10-15m, satisfying one certain criteria e.g a storage volume in excess of 1x106 m3 or a flood discharge capacity of over 2000 m3/s

Panoramic Views of Dams

Tarbela Dam: Earth and Rockfill Dam

Warsak Dam: Gravity dam

Mangla Dam: Earthfill

Panoramic Views of Dams

Gordon Dam: Arch Dam

Hoover Dam: Arch Dam

Panoramic Views of Dams

Hume Dam: Buttress dam

Coolidge Dam: Buttress dam

Le Prele Dam: Buttress dam

Itaipu Dam: Buttress dam

Merits and Demerits of Earthfill and Rockfill Dams Merits: Demerits:

Raising is possible Adoptability in seismic zone Economical Can be Built on any foundation type Relatively Easy availability of Material Less skilled labor is needed Rapid speed of construction due to recent development

Damaged by heavy rainfall, floods & overflow Maintenance cost is high Silt problems are relative more Sudden failure of dam Not suitable for narrow gorges Cannot be constructed for large height Very regular supervision and instrumentation is needed to study behavior of dam.

Merits and Demerits of Gravity Dam


Merits:

Demerits:

Suitable for

narrow gorges with steep side slopes, areas with heavy rainfall Overflow conditions

Can be built to any height provided that foundation is stable and strong. Low maintenance cost Cost can be reduced by reducing the thickness of sections Outlets can be provided at various elevations Failure is not sudden

Stable and strong foundation is required Availability of construction material and skilled labor Raising of dam is difficult Not recommended in seismic zones

Merits and Demerits of Buttress Dam


Merits:

Demerits:

Lesser concrete is needed which make it economical Structurally stable especially against sliding, Lesser pressure on foundation & lesser uplift pressure Can be built on permeable foundation Powerhouse can be accommodated within space of buttresses Future extension is possible Maintenance cost is low Speed construction Lesser problems of temperature

Reduced stabbility against lateral thrust and earthquakes Rich mix of concrete, reinforcement and formwork More susceptible to damage and failure under military attacks. Highly skilled labor needed Sensitive to deterioration of concrete Closer supervision is needed.

Pros and Cons of Arch Dam


Merits:

Demerits:

Suitable for narrow gorges with lesser base width Structurally stable, Problem of uplift is less

Highly skilled labor needed Good quality formwork is required Low speed of construction

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