7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

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Components | Design Criteria

October 20, 2020 by Sanjay Singh

In this article, we explain various forces acting on gravity dam

like water force, ice pressure, earthquake forces, uplift pressure,
Post Per
etc with formula. components of gravity dam, design criteria of
Month
gravity dam like overturning criteria, sliding criteria, tension
criteria, etc. therefore read the article till the end.
Select Mont

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

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Table of Contents
1. What is gravity dam?
2. Components of Gravity Dam:
3. Forces acting on gravity dam:
4. Design criteria of Gravity dam:
5. Advantages of Gravity Dam
6. Disadvantages of Gravity Dam
7. Frequently Asked Questions:

What is gravity dam?

Gravity dam is a types of dam in which all the forces resist by its
own weight and transfer to the soil by the action of gravity.

Gravity dam is most durable.

Gravity dam require less maintenance.
Gravity dam require high construction cost.
Gravity dam easy to construct on any site.

The line of the upstream face in sloping, is taken as the

reference line for layout purpose, etc. and is known as the base
line of the dam or the axis of dam.

The highest gravity dam in the world is GRAND DIXENCE dam

in Switzerland (284m).

Components of Gravity Dam:

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

1. Parapet Wall
2. Crest
3. Spillway
4. Sluice way
5. Toe
6. Heel
7. Free board
8. Drainage gallery

1. Parapet wall:

Parapet walls are provides on top of the Gravity dam on both

side for the safety purpose.

2. Crest:

Topmost surface (top level of dam) of the gravity dam is known

as crest. In case of overflow dam, water flow over the crest. But
in non-overflow dam, water flow below the crest.

3. Spillway:

Spillway is a water release concrete structure, constructed

across the river within dam or out of dam for the purpose of

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

removing excessive water of reservoir.

4. Sluice way:

Sluice way is also known as sluice wall. Sluice way is a special

arrangement, constructed near the ground level, for the purpose
of removing accumulated silt from the reservoir.

5. Toe:

Toe is the foot (lowest portion) of the dam at the downstream

side.

6. Heel:

Heel is the foot (lowest portion) of the dam at the upstream side.

7. Free board:

Free board is the vertical distance between Maximum flood level

to top of the dam.

8. Drainage Gallery:

A drainage gallery is provided in the dam to tackle with Uplift

pressure. Drainage gallery is also provided for the inspection
purpose in the dam. A higher dam is necessary required
drainage galleries.

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Forces acting on gravity dam:

1. Water pressure
2. Uplift pressure
3. Silt pressure
4. Earthquake Force

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

5. Ice pressure
6. Wave pressure
7. Self weight of dam

1. Water pressure:

Water pressure is major load of gravity dam which is calculated

by hydrostatic pressure law. We separate water pressure in two
cases which are explain below.

Case-1 : No Tail water in Downstream side

In this case water pressure is equal to

P1 =  (1/2)×(Ywh2)

Where,        

P1 = Water pressure acting on dam

Yw = Unit weight of water
h = height of water in upstream side.

This water pressure acting on dam at h/3 height from the

bottom.

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

Case-2 : Tail water in Downstream side

If the tailwater present on the downstream side, that means it is

also developed pressure and acts on the dam. Therefore tail
water pressure is also calculated by hydrostatic pressure law.

Upstream side water pressure

P1 = (1/2)×(Ywh2)

This water pressure acting on dam at h/3 height from the bottom.

Where,        

P1 = Water pressure acting on dam

Yw = Unit weight of water
h = height of water in upstream side.

Tail water pressure

P2 = (1/2)×(Ywh’2)

This water pressure acting on dam at h’/3 height from the

bottom.

Where,        

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

P2 = Tail water pressure acting on dam

Yw = Unit weight of water
h’ = height of tail water in downstream side.

2. Uplift pressure:

Water seeping from the pores, fissures, cracks etc, exert uplift
pressure on dam. Calculation of uplift pressure explain below.

Case-1: No drainage gallery in gravity dam with no tail water

P3 = (1/2)×(Ywh × B)

Case-2: No drainage gallery in gravity dam with tail wate

P3 = Area of stress diagram

P3 = (1/2) × (Ywh × B) + (1/2)×(Ywh’×B)

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

Case-3 : Drainage gallery in gravity dam with tail water

P3 = area of stress diagram.

Where,

P3 = Uplift pressure on gravity dam

Yw =  Unit weight of water
h = height of water
B = base width of dam
h’ = height of tail water

3. Silt pressure:

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

If silt deposited on upstream side, which exert pressure on dam

that is known as silt pressure. Silt pressure represent in the form
of rankine’s formula which is given below.

Ps = (1/2) × (Ysub × hs2 × Ka)

Where,

Ps = Silt pressure
Ysub  = Submerged density of water
hs = Height of silt deposited in upstream side
Ka = Coefficient of active earth pressure

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4. Earthquake pressure:

If the gravity dam is constructed in seismic region, then it is

necessity to design gravity dam including earthquake forces.

The gravity dam is affect by horizontal acceleration and vertical

acceleration generated through earthquake force.

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

The effect of horizontal acceleration and vertical acceleration

explain below.

Effect of Vertical acceleration:

Vertical acceleration may be act in downward or upward. If it act

as upward direction then foundation of gravity dam lifted upward.
Hence the effective weight of dam increases, stress will increase.

If the vertical acceleration act downward then the foundation try

to move downward. Hence the effective weight of dam
decreases stability of dam decrease.

Such acceleration exerts inertia force. Calculation of inertia force

is given below.

= (W/g) × αv

Net effective weight of dam

= W(1 – Kv)

Where,

W = total weight of dam

αv = vertical acceleration due to earthquake
Kv = Fraction of gravity

Kv = αv/g

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Effect of horizontal acceleration:

1. Hydrodynamic Pressure
2. Horizontal  inertia force

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

1. Hydrodynamic pressure:

Horizontal acceleration acting toward the reservoir causes a

momentary increase in water pressure, as the foundation and
dam accelerate towards the reservoir and the water resists the
movement owing to its inertia. The extra pressure exerted by this
process is known as hydrodynamic pressure.

Pe = 0.726 × Cm × Kh  × Yw  × h2

And the moment of the force from the base is

Me  = 0.442  × Pe  × h2

Where,

Cm = 0.735 (θ/90)
θ = Angle in degree which us side of dam make with
horizontal
Kh = Fraction of gravity

= αh/g

h = height of water

2. Horizontal inertia force:

Horizontal acceleration produce inertia force.

Force = (W/g) × αh

5. Wave pressure:

Waves are generated on the surface of the reservoir by the

blowing winds, which causes a pressure toward the downstream
of gravity dam.

Wave pressure depends on wave height.

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

Pw = 2 × Yw × hw

If F< 32 km

hw = (0.032(V×F)^(1/2)) + 0.763 – 0.271 (F)^(3/4)

and if F> 32km

hw = (0.032(V×F)^(1/2))

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6. Ice pressure:

In cold countries, the ice formed in the reservoir. This ice may be
expanded or melt due to temperature variation. Due to the
melting or expanding of ice, exerting pressure on the gravity
dam.

This force acts linearly along the length of the dam and the
reservoir level.

The magnitude of this force varies from 250 to 1000 kN/m3

depending upon the temperature variation.

7. Self weight of dam:

Self weight of gravity dam is calculated by multiplying volume

(area × 1) of dam with is density.

Area × 1 is a volume of dam per meter length.

Self weight of dam is a resisting force of gravity dam that is resist

all type of external forces.

P4 = Yt × volume (area × 1)

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

Design criteria of Gravity dam:

1. By overturning about the toe
2. By crushing
3. By development of tension, crushing ultimate failure by
crushing
4. Sliding failure

1. By overturning about the toe

When the resultant force pass through the toe of dam at that
situation dam overturn.

The ratio of anti-clockwise moment about toe to clockwise

moment about toe is called as Factor of Safety against
Overturning.

2. Crushing:

If the compressive stress exceed the allowable stress of

concrete, which causes failure of dam against crushing.

Generally allowable stress of concrete is 3000 kN/m2

Pmax = (ΣV/B) × ( 1+( 6e/B))

Pmin = (ΣV/B) × ( 1-( 6e/B))

Where,

ΣV = Total  vertical force

e = eccentricity
B = base width of dam

3. By development of tension:

Gravity dam or other concrete structure are design in such a way

that no tension developed anywhere. If tensile stress appear in

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

dam causing a cracks in dam.

The maximum permissible tensile stress for concrete = 500

kN/m2

In order to ensure that no tension is developed anywhere in dam,

we must ensure that Pmin is at the most equal to zero.

Maximum value of eccentricity that can be permitted on either

side of the centre is equal to B/6

4. Sliding failure:

Sliding or shear failure of the dam will occur when the net
horizontal force at base of dam exceed the frictional resistance of
base of dam.

Simply,

Sliding occur when, Net horizontal Force > µΣV

Factor of safety against sliding = (µΣV)/ΣH

In high dam, for economical design,

Shear force friction Factor = (µΣV + Bq)/ ΣH

Where,

µ = poisson’s ratio, Generally varies from 0.65 to 0.75

B = base width of dam

q = Average shear strength

for poor rock = 1400kN/m2

for good rocks = 4000kN/m2

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

Advantages of Gravity Dam

1. Gravity dams are relatively more strong and durable than
earth dams.
2. Gravity dams can be constructed of any height, provided
suitable foundations are available to bear the stresses.
3. Gravity dams are well adapted for use as an overflow
spillway crest.
4. A gravity dam requires the least maintenance.
5. Gravity dams are especially suited to such areas where
there is likelihood of very heavy downpour.
6. The failure of a gravity dam is not sudden.
7. Scouring sluices can be used in, the gravity dams to
remove silt deposited in the reservoir.
8. A gravity dam is cheaper in long run. The benefit-cost
ratio is always higher.

Disadvantages of Gravity Dam

2. The initial cost of gravity .dam is always higher than an
earth dam.
3. Mechanised plants for manufacturing and transporting
concrete are required.
4. Gravity dams require skilled labor for its construction.
5. It is very difficult to allow a subsequent rise in the height of
a gravity dam

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is Gravity Dam?

Gravity Dam is a type of dam in which all forces acting

dam are resist by its own weight.

2. What are the forces acting on gravity dam?

The forces acting on gravity dam are listed below.

1. Water Pressure

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

2. Silt Pressure
3. Earthquake Force
4. Wave Pressure
5. Ice Pressure
6. Silt Pressure
7. Self-weight of dam

3. What are the causes of failure of gravity dam?

The causes of failure of gravity dam are listed below.

1. Overturning
2. Sliding
3. Development of Tension stress
4. Crushing

4. What is the highest gravity dam in the world?

Bhakra Dam is the Highest Gravity Dam in the World.

5. What is limiting height of gravity dam?

Limiting height of gravity dam is 90m.

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7 Major Forces Acting On Gravity Dam | Components Of Dam

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