CHAPTER 4
ANALYSIS OF DAMS
ANALYSIS OF DAMS
Dams are structures that block the flow of a river, stream, or other waterway. Some
dams divert the flow of river water into a pipeline, canal, or channel.
Other raise the level of inland waterways to make them navigable by ships and barges.
Many dams harness the energy of falling water to generate electric power.
ANALYSIS OF DAMS
PURPOSES OF A DAM TYPES OF DAM
1 Irrigation and drinking water 1 Gravity Dam
2 Power supply 2 Embankment Dam
3 Navigation 3 Arch Dam
4 Flood control 4 Buttress Dam
ANALYSIS OF A DAM
STEPS OF SOLUTION
I. Consider 1 unit ( 1 meter) length of dam
(perpendicular to the sketch)
II. Determine all forces acting: w3
A. Vertical Forces w1
1. Weight of the dam
w1 = γc V1 , w2 = γc V2 cg
2. Weight of the water in the H
upstream side (if any)
3. Weight or permanent structures F
on the dam cp
4. Hydrostatic uplift w2
U1 = γVU1 , U2 = γVU2
B. Horizontal Forces
1. Total Hydrostatic force acting at
the vertical projection of the U1
submerged portion of the dam,
ത
F = γhA.
2. Wind Pressure U2
3. Wave action
4. Floating Bodies
5. Earthquake Load
ANALYSIS OF A DAM x3
STEPS OF SOLUTION x1
III. Solve for the Reaction
A. Vertical Reaction
R y = σ Fv w3
R y = w1 + w2 + w3 + w4 − U1 − U2 w1
B. Horizontal Reaction
R x = σ Fh cg
Rx = P H x2
IV. Moment about toe
A. Righting Moment, RM (rotation towards F
the upstream side) cp
RM = w1 x1 + w2 x2 + w3 x3 + w4 x4 w2
y
B. Overturning Moment, OM (rotation
towards the downstream side)
OM = Py + U1 z1 + U2 z2 Heel Toe
V. Location of Ry U1
RM − OM Rx
xത =
Ry
VI. Factor of Safety U2 Ry R
A. Factor of safety against sliding, FSs
z
B. Factor of safety against overturning, FSo
μR y RM
FSs = > 1, FSo = >1 xത
Rx OM
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1 0.6 m
3.9 m
A concrete dam of trapezoidal cross-section, with one face 1m
vertical has a thickness of 0.60 m. at the top and 4.2 m. at
the bottom. It is 7 m. high as and has a horizontal base. The
w1
vertical face is subjected to a water pressure, the water 2.4 m
standing 6 m. above the base. The weight of the concrete is 6m
24 KN/m3 per meter length of the dam, evaluate:
a. The total hydrostatic force on the dam in kN. P w2
b. The resisting moment of the dam to overturning in kN-m. 2m
c. Factor of safety against overturning 3.6 𝑚
4.2 m
P = γw hA RM = w1 x1 + w2 x2
P = 9.81
kN
(3 m)(6 m)(1 m) RM = 100.8 kN 3.9 m + 302.4 kN(2.4 m)
m3 𝐑𝐌 = 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟖. 𝟖𝟖 𝐤𝐍 − 𝐦
𝐏 = 𝟏𝟕𝟔. 𝟓𝟖 𝐤𝐍
OM = Py
OM = (176.58 kN)(2 m)
w1 = 0.6 m 7 m 1 m 24
kN
= 100.8 kN 𝐎𝐌 = 𝟑𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟔 𝐤𝐍 − 𝐦
m3
kN RM 1118.88 kN − m
w2 = 0.5 m 3.6 m 7 m (1 m) 24 3 = 302.4 kN FSo = = = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟔𝟖
m OM 353.16 kN − m
ANALYSIS OF A DAM x3
x1
B
e= − xത
2
If e < or = B/6, then: w3
Ry 6e
w1
qmax/min = 1 ± cg
B B
H x2
If e > B/6, then: F
2Ry cp
qmax = y B B w2 B
3തx
3 3 3
qmin = 0 Heel Toe
Rx
Ry R
e xത
B
2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2 2m
The section of a concrete gravity dam shown in the figure.
The depth of water at the stream side is 6m. Neglect
hydrostatic uplift and use unit weight of concrete equal to
24 KN/m3. Coefficient of friction between the base of the 8m
dam and the foundation is 0.6. Determine the following: 6m
a. Factor of safety against the sliding Fx
b. Factor of safety against overturning.
c. The overturning moment acting against the dam.
𝑅𝑦 4m
μR y
FSsliding = ത
Fx = γhA. Fy = γV
Rx
1
6 Fy = 24 (4 + 2)(8)(1)
0.6 (576) Fx = 9.81 (6 x1) 2
FSsliding = 2
176.58
Fx = 176.58 kN = Rx Fy = 576 kN = Ry
𝐅𝐒𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟓𝟕
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2 2m
The section of a concrete gravity dam shown in the figure.
The depth of water at the stream side is 6m. Neglect
hydrostatic uplift and use unit weight of concrete equal to 8m
24 KN/m3. Coefficient of friction between the base of the
w1
dam and the foundation is 0.6. Determine the following: 6m
a. Factor of safety against the sliding Fx w2
b. Factor of safety against overturning.
c. The overturning moment acting against the dam.
𝑅𝑦 4m
RM = w1 x1 + w2 x2
RM 1408 kN − m 2 2
FSo = = = 𝟑. 𝟗𝟗 RM = 384 (4 − ) + 192 ( 2 )
OM 353.16 kN − m 2 3
𝐑𝐌 = 𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟖 𝐤𝐍 − 𝐦
h
OM = Fx ( )
kN 3 6
w1 = 2 m 8 m 1 m 24 = 384 kN
m3 OM = 176.58 ( )
1 kN 3
w2 = m 2 m 8 m (1 m) 24 = 192 kN 𝐎𝐌 = 𝟑𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟔 𝐤𝐍 − 𝐦
2 m3
