See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/343084482

Gravity Dams

Presentation · July 2020

CITATIONS READS

0 6,065

2 authors:

Murtada Mahdi Prof. Dr. Saleh Issa Khassaf

University of Basrah University of Basrah
3 PUBLICATIONS 0 CITATIONS 144 PUBLICATIONS 306 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Murtada Mahdi on 20 July 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Gravity Damns :

A gravity dam is a solid structure, made of concrete

or masonry, constructed across a river to create a reservoir on
its upstream. The section of the gravity dam is approximately
triangular in shape, with its apex at its top and maximum width
at bottom as in Figure (1).

Gravity Dam
Reservoir

Figure (1) Gravity dam.

2. Basic Definition

M.W.L

A.W.L
Structural
Height

River bed Heel Toe

Maximum base width

❑ length of dam:
The length of the dam is the distance from one
abutment to the other, measured along the axis of the dam
at the level of the top of the dam. It is the usual practice to
mark the distance from the left abutment to the right
abutment.

❑ structural height of the dam:

The structural height of the dam is the difference

in elevations of the top of the dam and the lowest point in
the excavated foundation. In general, the height of the dam
means its structural height.
❑ Maximum base width of the dam:

The maximum base width of the dam is the

maximum horizontal distance between the heel and the
toe of the maximum section of the dam.

❑ Hydraulic height of the dam:

The hydraulic height of the dam is equal to the

difference in elevations of the highest controlled water
surface on the upstream of the dam and the lowest point
in the river bed.
3. Forces Acting on A Gravity Dam:
A gravity dam is subjected to the following main forces

I. Weight of the dam

II. Water pressure
III. Up lift pressure
IV. Wave pressure
V. Silt pressure
VI. Ice pressure
VII. Wind pressure
VIII. Earthquake pressure
I. Weight of the dam:
The weight of the dam is the main stabilising force in a
gravity dam. The weight of the dam can be determined by divided
the cross-section of the dam simple geometrical shapes, such as
rectangles and triangles as in figure (3).

W2
w1
W3

• The weight of the dam per unit length is equal to the product
of the area of cross-section of the dam and the specific. weight
(or unit weight) of the material. The specific weight of the
concrete is usually taken as 24 kN/m3, and that of masonry as
23 kN/m3 in designs.
 II . Water pressure:
The water pressure acts on the upstream and
downstream faces of the dam. The water pressure on the upstream
face is the main force acting on a gravity dam. The water pressure
(pw) varies linearly with the depth of the water and is expressed
as:

Pw = γw×H
Where:
Pw = water pressure (kN/ m2)
γw = unit weight of water = 9.81 (kN/m3)
H = depth of water at U.S

The forces due to water pressure are discussed below

separately for the non-overflow section and the overflow section.
(A)Non – overflow section

(1) U.S face vertical

PH = 1/2 γwH2

It acts horizontally at a height of H/3 above the base of the dam.

H
PH

H/3

γw*H
(2) U.S face inclined
When the upstream face ABC is either inclined, or partly
vertical and partly inclined the force due to water pressure can be
calculated. in terms of the horizontal component PH and the
vertical component PV Figure below , The horizontal component
is given by:
PH = 1/2 γwH2
Also, It acts horizontal at a height of (H/3) above the base.
D
C
PV1

H
PH E B K F
PV2
PH' H'
H/3
H‘ /3
A G
γw*H γw* H'
• The vertical component PV of water pressure is equal to the
weight of the water in the ABCD. the weight of water is found in
two parts PV1 and PV2 by dividing the ABCD into a rectangle
BCDE and a triangle ABE. Thus:

Pv = PV1 + PV2

• The lines of action of PV1 and PV2 will-pass through the

respective centroids of the rectangle and triangle.

(3) D.S face

The total water pressure is horizontal and vertical component is
given by: PH' = l /2 γ (H')2 (4)
PV' = weight of water in triangle KFG, The force PV' acts at the
centroid of the triangle KFG.
Obviously, when the water depth H' is zero, the water pressure
force is zero.
(B) Overflow section:
(1) U.S face vertical as in Figure (6) shows the overflow
section (spillway section) of a gravity dam with the upstream face
vertical. The water approaching the dam has a velocity of
approach (Va). The head Ha due to the velocity of approach is
equal to Va2/2g, and the total energy line (TEL) is at a height of
Ha above the water surface. The horizontal component of force
due to water pressure of the dam is given by:

PH= γ(H1 + Ha) (H2 - H1) + 1/2 γ (H2 - H1) (H2 - H1)

The total force PH acts at a height of 𝑍̅ above the base, given by:
(2) Inclined U.S face
as shown in figure below the overflow section of a gravity
darn with upstream face inclined. The force due to water pressure
can be obtained from the vertical component and the horizontal
component. as in the case of a non-overflow section.
(3) Dynamic pressure on the D.S face
as in figure below The downstream face of the
overflow section is usually of the curved shape due to change in
momentum, the water exerts a dynamic force on the dam. The
horizontal and vertical components of the force can be
determined by applying the impulse momentum equation to the
water in the control volume a-b-e-d. The equation is applied in
the horizontal and vertical directions.

In the horizontal direction

where Σ FH is the sum of forces acting on the control volume

in the horizontal direction, V2H and V1H are the horizontal
components of velocities at points 2 and 1, respectively and q
is the discharge intensity.

In the horizontal direction

 where Σ FV is the sum of forces acting on the control
volume in the vertical direction, V2V and V1V are the vertical
components of velocities at points 2 and 1, respectively.
III. Uplift pressure:
Intensity of uplift pressure: The uplift pressure at any
point depends upon the depth of water at that point. At the base
of the dam the intensity of uplift pressure at the upstream is
equal to the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to full reservoir
level and
that at the downstream is equal to the hydrostatic pressure
corresponding to the tail water level.
❖Total uplift force on the base of the dam,

U= U1 + U2 =γw H' x B+ 1/2 γw (H-H')B

where U1 and U2 are the uplift pressure to the rectangle 1-2-3-4

and triangle 1-4-5, respectively.

The lines of action of U1 and U2 are at distance of B/2 and 2B/3

from the toe, respectively.

Uplift pressure in the body of the dam: The uplift pressure

distribution on any horizontal plane within the body of the darn
is found in the same way, taking the corresponding pressures at
the upstream and downstream faces. For example, at a depth h
below the water surface, where the width is equal to b and the
tail water depth is h':
Effect of drains on uplift pressure: To reduce the uplift pressure,
drains are formed through the body of the dam.

The uplift pressure intensity at the line of drains is given by:

U = γ Hd = γ [H' + 1/3 (H - H')]
Hd = the uplift pressure head at the line of drains.
IV. Wave Pressure:
when the wind blows over the water surface of the reservoir,
it exerts a drag on the surface, due to which ripples and waves are
formed. When these waves strike the upstream face of the darn, they
cause a force on the upper portion of the dam. The force due to wave
pressure is horizontal and is computed as follows:
(a) Height of wave: The force depends upon the characteristics
of the waves.

Where hw is the wave height (m), F straight length of water

expanse measured normal to the axis of dam in (km) and V is
the wind velocity (km/hr).

(b) Wave pressure distribution: the actual distribution is

difficult to determine. The total height of the triangle is (5/3)
hw with a height of (4/3) hw above the still water level. The
maximum pressure intensity occurs at a height of (hw/8) above
the still water level, and is given by:
Pw = 2.4 γw*hw
The line of action of pw is at the centroid of the area a-b-c, which
is at a height of 0.375 hw above the still water level. The total
water pressure force is given by:

pw = 1/2 (5/3 hw) (2.4 γ hw) (15)

or
pw = 2·0 γw*hw2

V. Silt Pressure:
All rivers carry a large quantity of silt during floods. The
silt is deposited in the reservoir on the upstream of the dam. This
silt exerts the earth pressure on the dam. As the silt is submerged,
the silt pressure is computed assuming the submerged conditions.
It is the usual practice to assume that the silt is fully saturated,
cohesionless soil.
The silt pressure can be evaluated in two cases:
 (1) If the upstream face of the darn is vertical, the force is
horizontal and is given by:
Psilt = ½ γs hs2 ka
where: ka = ( 1-sin Φ) / (1+sin Φ) where γs, is the submerged unit
weight of the soil, hs is the depth of silt above the bed and Φ is the
angle of shearing resistance of the silt.

(2) If upstream face of the darn is inclined The vertical component

of the force (Pv) is equal to the weight of the submerged weight of
silt in the area (abcd)

b
c
psv d
silt
psh
psh
a
IV.Ice Pressure:
in the cold climates, ice is formed in the reservoir and
the reservoir surface. gets covered with a sheet of ice The
thickness of ice depends upon the climatic conditions..
Subsequently, when the temperature of atmosphere rises, ice
sheets expands and causes a thrust on the dam because the
coefficient of thermal expansion of ice is about 5 times that of
concrete. When the temperature falls, the ice sheet contracts and
cracks, and these cracks subsequently get filled with water. The
magnitude of the force due to ice pressure depends upon the
following factors:
(1) Thickness of ice:
The thickness of ice in a particular reservoir depends
upon a number of factors and cannot be easily estimated.
Generally, it is obtained from the existing records in the
region. The thickness is usually not more than 1 m, but in
some sub-zero regions it may be even 2 m or more.
(2) Restraints of rim walls:
the ice pressure exerted on the dam depends upon the
rigidity of the rim walls of ice. If these walls are strong the
maximum force is caused on the dam. On the other hand, if
these walls are yielding the force on the dam is reduced.]

(3)Rate of rise of temperature:

the greater is the rate of rise of temperature, the greater
is the force on the dam.
The average value of ( 250 kN/m2 =250 kpa) may be taken as
an ice force.

VII.Wind pressure:
wind pressure acts on the exposed surface of the dam when
winds blow. Generally, the wind pressure is not significant for
the design of gravity dams and is therefore neglected. However,
in the design of gravity dam the wind pressure can be taken of (1
to 1.5 kN/m2) over the area exposed to high winds.
(8) Earthquake forces:
1. Effect of Horizontal acceleration: the horizontal acceleration can
occur in either upstream or downstream direction. Because the dam is
designed for the worst case, the horizontal acceleration is assumed to
occur in the direction which would produce. The directions are
different for the reservoir full condition and the reservoir empty
condition.
(a) Reservoir full condition For the reservoir full condition, the worst
case occurs when the earthquake acceleration acts towards the
upstream direction and the corresponding inertia force acts in the
downstream direction.
(b) Reservoir empty condition For the reservoir empty condition, the
worst case occurs when the acceleration due to earthquake acts
towards the downstream direction
and the corresponding inertia force acts in the upstream direction.
Horizontal force The horizontal force due to the earthquake is equal
to the product of mass M of the dam and horizontal earthquake
acceleration.
View publication stats