DAMS

AND
SPILL WAYS
GROUP - 1
 Introduction Page 02

Dams and spillways are critical components in water

resource management and infrastructure development.

Dams serve to store water, control floods, and generate

hydroelectric power, while spillways safely release
excess water to prevent structural failures. Their design
integrates engineering, geology, and hydrology to
ensure functionality and safety.

These structures are crucial for addressing global

challenges like water scarcity, renewable energy
demands, and climate resilience, making them highly
relevant for sustainable development and disaster risk
reduction.
 Page 03
Importance and Relevance

Water Management: Dams provide water for

agriculture, drinking, and industrial uses.

Energy Generation: Many dams support hydroelectric

power, a renewable energy source.

Flood Control: Spillways protect downstream areas

from flooding during heavy rainfall or dam overflow.

Economic Development: Properly constructed dams

support irrigation, navigation, and tourism, boosting
local economies.

Climate Adaptation: Dams help manage water

availability amid increasing climate variability.
 Page 04

Issues from Improper Construction

1, Structural Failures:
Inadequate geological surveys can lead to foundation instability or
seepage, risking collapse.

2, Flood Risks:
Poorly designed spillways may fail to manage excessive inflow,
causing catastrophic flooding.

3, Environmental Impact:
Faulty planning may lead to excessive sedimentation, habitat
destruction, and ecosystem imbalance.

4, Economic Loss:
Dam failures result in costly repairs, loss of agricultural
productivity, and displacement of communities.

5, Human Safety:
Neglecting seismic considerations can cause dam failures
in earthquake-prone areas, endangering lives.
 Page 06

Terminology and Basic Aspects

of Dam Construction
Crest: The top of the dam.
Abutments: The parts of the dam that rest on the
side slopes of the valley.
Freeboard: The vertical distance between the top of
the dam and the water surface of the reservoir.
Heel: The upstream end where the dam meets the
foundation.
Toe: The downstream end of the dam's base.
Headwater: The water upstream of the dam.

Tailwater: The water downstream from the dam, often influenced by discharge or backwater effects.

Gallery: An open space within the dam for machinery, grouting, drainage, and monitoring instrumentsn
process involves selecting a dam site based on geological and environmental factors. Subsurface
exploration (e.g., drilling) helps evaluate the foundation's suitability, while the presence of faults, joints,
and other weak geological features can compromise the dam's stability .
Types of Dams and Their
Functions
1. CONCRETE DAMS - A concrete dam is a large
structure built across rivers, streams, or other
bodies of water to store, control, or divert
water.

Gravity Dams Arch Dams Buttress Dams

2.MASONRY DAMS - acts as an impermeable Types of Dams and Their
barrier against leakage of reservoir water.
Functions
3. ROCK-FILL DAMS - is a type of dam constructed
primarily from rock or gravel, with a relatively
small core of impermeable material such as clay or
concrete to prevent water from seeping through.
The dam's main body is made up of layers of large
rocks, which are used to provide stability, weight,
and resistance against water pressure.
Types of Dams and Their
Functions 4. EARTH DAMS - also known as an embankment dam, is a type of dam
made primarily of natural materials such as earth, clay, sand, and
gravel. It is often used to create reservoirs, control floods, and provide
water for various purposes. Earth dams are commonly constructed by
compacting these materials in layers to create a stable structure that
can withstand the pressure of the water.
SPILLWAYS AND GATES
1. NORMAL SPILLWAYS- also called a gravity
spillway or overflow spillway, is a crucial
feature in dam construction. Its primary
purpose is to safely release excess water from a
reservoir when water levels rise above the safe
operating level, ensuring that the dam doesn't
become overwhelmed and potentially fail due
to excessive water pressure.

2. PIPE SPILLWAYS- In pipe spillway (Fig. 14.16),

the discharge structure is made of a pipe passing
through the dam body. The pipe is laid for some
lengths of the dam in a dig and cover manner for
the low headwater projects.
3. TUNNEL SPILLWAYS- In a tunnel spillway (Fig.
14.17), a tunnel punctures the upper end working
SPILLWAYS AND GATES
as intake of discharge and the lower end (almost
horizontal) discharges the water. It is provided
with a gate chamber for free fl ow or fl ow under
pressure.

4. GLORY HOLE (OR SHAFT) SPILLWAYS- The glory

spillway (Fig. 14.18) is in the form of a vertical or
steeply inclined shaft for water to fl ow freely or
under pressure. Its head structure may be gated or
ungated
 5. SIDE CHANNEL SPILLWAYS- is a type of spillway
used in dam construction where the water flows
from the reservoir through a separate channel
located at the side of the main dam structure.

OUTLET WORKS- A portion of the reservoir water

may be diverted through a tunnel or conduit for
the purpose of supply to irrigation canals, water
supply schemes, or hydroelectric plants for power
generation. This water diversion structure is
termed the outlet.

SPILLWAYS AND GATES

GATES OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS 1. PLAIN GATES- These are commonly known as
planks and work by translation movement along
Gates are mobile structures that facilitate closing slots in piers across the spillway crest. It may be of
or opening passes for water to fl ow down. They lift or slide type, as shown in Fig. 14.21(b).
can be opened completely or partially to allow
controlled discharge.
2. RADIAL GATES- These operate by rotary
turning on hinges, see Fig. 14.22
Geomorphology and Dam
Design
Dams are designed to meet strict safety standards while minimizing costs.
Factors like river valley shape, foundation materials, and availability of
construction resources are crucial in determining the optimal dam design.
Factors Affecting Dam Construction
River Valley Foundation Materials
Wide, shallow valleys are well-suited The depth to bedrock and material Availability of suitable construction
for embankment dams, while deep, properties of the foundation are critical materials like rock, soil, and cement
narrow valleys favor concrete dams. for structural integrity. can impact feasibility and cost.
Geological Evaluation for
Dam Sites
1 Site Assessment
Thorough geological surveys identify potential issues like
fault lines, weak rock formations, or unstable slopes.

Material Testing
In-depth analysis of soil, rock, and other construction
2 materials ensures they meet design specifications.

Monitoring
Ongoing monitoring and instrumentation track the dam's
structural performance and integrity over time.
3
CAUSATIVE FACTORS OF DAM DISASTERS

Geological Causes Other Causes

-Weak or Porous Foundation Rocks -Faulty Spillway Design

-Laminated or Weak rocks -Drainage Issues

-Faulted or Cavernous Foundation -Natural Calamities

-Landslide and Slope Failure -Poor Construction Materials

Preliminary Investigation and Selection of a Dam Site Page 07

Purpose: Identify geological weaknesses to

ensure feasibility and minimize costs.

Key Tasks:
- Map geological features (1:1000 scale).

Use remote sensing and satellite imagery for site

analysis.

Study faults, shear zones, slide scars, and slope

characteristics.

Compare multiple site options based on geological

and engineering factors.
Detailed Investigation of a Dam Site for Design purposes

Purpose: Provide surface and subsurface data for dam

design and cost estimation.

Key Tasks:
- Create detailed maps (1:100–1:500 scale) of
lithology and structures.

Conduct trenching, drilling, and core logging to

assess rock types, weak zones, and permeability.

Perform lab tests for density, porosity, strength, and

load-bearing capacity.

Analyze faults, folds, and cavities for stability and

leakage risks.
Source of Building
Materials for Different
Types of Dams
Insights from Engineering Geology

Building materials are a critical component in the

construction of dams, determining their safety,
durability, and cost-efficiency. This section
emphasizes identifying and sourcing appropriate
materials for various types of dams
Building
Materials for
Concrete
Dams
aggregate materials
Building materials are a critical component in the
construction of dams, determining their safety,
durability, and cost-efficiency. This section
emphasizes identifying and sourcing appropriate
materials for various types of dams
 Building Materials
for Dams

Concrete and Cement Rock and Earth Fill Earth Dams

Use clayey soils and sand for impermeable
Use sand, pebbles, gravel, and crushed Require durable rock-fill materials,
cores, mixed to achieve the required
rock as aggregates typically sourced from nearby quarries.
properties.
Testing: Crushing strength, impact
resistance, shape, and size.
In practice, concrete used in the construction of a dam may have more than one type of mix. Table 14.3 provides a list of
different mixes (weight of aggregates and cement) used in the Umiam concrete dam in Meghalaya for one cubic metre of
concrete.
Building
Materials for
Concrete
Dams
Boulders and Rock Fragments for
Masonry Dams
Masonry structures are constructed using large
boulders of river deposits. When boulders of the
requisite size and quality are not available in river
beds, these are obtained in large fragments or slabs by
quarrying rocky hill faces and are used in masonry
works after chiselling into blocks. The main
considerations in masonry dam construction are
availability and suitability of the rocks conforming to
the specifi cation of the ISI
Building
Materials for
Concrete
Dams
Fill Materials for Rock-fill Dams
Compared to masonry dams, rock-fi ll dams are more
favoured in modern time as they are more economical.
A rock-fi ll dam uses the entire deposit in a river or
terrace as fi ll materials constituted of boulders,
pebbles, gravels, sand, and clay. The rock fragments
quarried from nearby rocky hill slopes are also used. In
the mountainous terrains, the river valleys, hill slopes,
and terraces contain plenty of construction material for
rock-fi ll dams, and if the dam is proposed in the
valley, the haulage charge will also be less. However,
the overall quality of the bulk material will conform to
the design requirement.
Building
Materials for
Concrete
Dams
Sandy and Clayey Material for
Earth Dams
Sand, silt, and clay, the decomposed products of
rocks, are available in plenty in most parts of the
projects, especially in the reservoir basins. The
decayed rock of hill slopes especially in areas
composed of sedimentary rocks are generally devoid
of pebbles and boulders and are found to have good
quality material for use in earth dams. Both pervious
and semi-pervious types of materials are necessary for
the earth dams
Building
Materials for
Concrete
Dams
Sandy and Clayey Material for
Earth Dams
Sand, silt, and clay, the decomposed products of
rocks, are available in plenty in most parts of the
projects, especially in the reservoir basins. The
decayed rock of hill slopes especially in areas
composed of sedimentary rocks are generally devoid
of pebbles and boulders and are found to have good
quality material for use in earth dams. Both pervious
and semi-pervious types of materials are necessary for
the earth dams
Rip-rap for Dam Slope Purpose

Protection Rip-rap protects dam slopes from erosion

caused by nature and wave action.

Material Selection

Hard, durable rocks are preferred, sourced

from riverbeds, terraces, or quarries.

Compressive Strength
Desirable compressive strength is 350
kg/cm2, achieved by various rock types.

Alternative Material
Concrete blocks can be used as rip-
rap if durable rocks are unavailable.
Impervious Core Materials for a Dam
The selection of suitable materials for rock-fill and earth dams is crucial for their structural integrity and performance.

Ideal Material Composition

A well-graded mixture of sand, gravel, and fines with highly plastic tough clay, exhibiting a plasticity index greater
than 20, is ideal for the core of a rock-fill dam. The shell can consist of crushed soft rocks blended with clayey earth.
Alternative Materials
When sufficient quantities of suitable earth materials are unavailable, alternative materials such as crushed soft
rocks can be utilized, as demonstrated by the Beas project in Himachal Pradesh.
Beas Project Example
In the Beas project, 50% crushed sandy-rock was mixed with 50% clay-shale to create a core material that satisfied
the design requirements.
River Diversion and
Construction Work
is a common practice when building
infrastructure near or across rivers. It involves
temporarily rerouting the river's flow to allow
for construction activities within the normally
submerged area. This can be necessary for
building bridges, dams, levees, or other
structures that require a dry worksite.
Common methods for river diversion:

Cofferdams: These are temporary

walls built around the construction
area to hold back the water.

Tunnels: Water is diverted through

tunnels or pipes that bypass the
construction site.

Channels: A new channel is dug to

carry the river's water around the
construction area.
Methods of Diverting River
Methods of diverting a river typically involve
constructing structures like diversion dams, weirs,
canals, culverts, or pipes which raise the water level at a
specific point, allowing the water to be redirected to a
designated area, often through a separate channel,
away from its natural flow path; this can be done for
various purposes like irrigation, flood control, or
construction projects. Key methods of river diversion:

Diversion dams: The most common method, where a

dam is built across the river to raise the water level
and divert a portion of the flow into a canal or
channel.
Weirs: Similar to dams but smaller, used to divert
smaller amounts of water.
Canals: Man-made channels constructed alongside
the river to carry diverted water to a desired location.
Culverts: Pipes or underground channels used to
divert water under a barrier like a road or
embankment.
Pumping systems: In some cases, pumps can be used
to lift water from a river and transport it to another
location.
Foundation Preparation
refers to the process of clearing, leveling, and
compacting the ground at a construction site to create Key aspects of foundation preparation include:
a stable base for building a foundation, which typically
involves removing debris, excavating to the required Site clearing: Removing trees, vegetation, rocks, and
depth, and compacting the soil to ensure the structure other debris from the construction area.
can properly support the weight of the building above
it. Excavation: Digging out the soil to reach the desired
depth for the foundation.

Grading and leveling: Shaping the excavated area to

create a flat and even surface.

Soil compaction: Using specialized machinery to

compact the soil, increasing its load-bearing
capacity.

Soil testing: Analyzing the soil properties to

determine if additional stabilization measures are
needed.

Drainage considerations: Implementing drainage

systems to prevent water accumulation around the
foundation.
Construction Approaches
for Different Types of Dams

When constructing different types of dams, the primary

construction approaches vary based on the dam design,
with gravity dams utilizing large blocks of concrete,
arch dams relying on curved concrete structures to
transfer water pressure to the valley walls, and
embankment dams being built by compacting layers of
earth or rockfill materials, each requiring specific
techniques for excavation, placement, and jointing
depending on the site conditions and desired function
of the dam.
Main Dam Types and Construction Approaches:

Gravity Dams:

Construction Method: Large blocks of concrete are poured in sections, with joints carefully designed to manage thermal
stresses and ensure watertight seals.

Key Considerations: Proper foundation preparation, precise placement of concrete, and monitoring of thermal expansion
and contraction.

Arch Dams:

Construction Method: Concrete is poured in curved sections, utilizing the natural shape of the valley to distribute water
pressure laterally onto the abutments.

Key Considerations: Precise alignment of the arch curvature, strong foundation rock quality, and managing the forces
acting on the abutments.

Embankment Dams (Earth-Fill and Rock-Fill):

Construction Method: Layers of compacted earth or rockfill are placed in a controlled manner, often with a central
impervious core to prevent water seepage.

Key Considerations: Proper soil selection and compaction, managing water control during construction, and ensuring
stability of the slopes.

Buttress Dams:

Construction Method: A variation of gravity dams with a series of buttresses supporting the dam face, allowing for reduced
concrete volume while maintaining stability.

Key Considerations: Designing the buttress geometry to effectively transfer loads.

Other Considerations:

Cofferdams: Temporary structures used to divert water flow during dam

construction, allowing access to the excavation area.

Diversion Structures: Channels or tunnels built to redirect water flow

around the construction site.

Grouting: Injection of grout to seal cracks or improve the foundation

stability.

Monitoring and Instrumentation: Sensors and monitoring systems to

track dam behavior during construction and operation.
POST-CONSTRUCTION WORK
Engineering geology plays a crucial role in the construction and post-construction phases of dams. It involves
understanding the geological conditions of the dam site, selecting suitable materials, and addressing potential
problems that may arise during and after construction. This presentation will delve into the importance of
engineering geology in dam projects, highlighting key aspects of pre-construction investigations, construction
supervision, and post-construction monitoring.

Post-Construction Challenges:
Landslides and Earthquakes
Seepage
Reservoir filling can trigger landslides or
Seepage is a common post-construction earthquakes that affect the dam or its
problem. Tracer studies and grouting are often appurtenant structures. In-depth geological
employed to address seepage paths and seal study is crucial for identifying and addressing
leaks. these risks.

Scouring
Drainage Issues
Scouring or cavity formation at the dam's
Blockage of drainage holes or malfunctioning downstream part due to spilled water is a common
grout curtains can lead to uplift pressure, problem. The Sikasar project in Madhya Pradesh
requiring immediate attention and remedial experienced scouring due to soft shale and quartzite
measures. in the spill channel foundation, requiring a flexible
sausage training wall to stop the scouring.