DAMS

DAMS
First dam about 3000-5000 years old.

Definition:

A dam is an obstruction or a barrier built across a stream or a river.

Water is collected at the back of the barrier, forming a pool. An impervious barrier across a natural stream to form a reservoir. Two sides of barrier. - Upstream Side. - Downstream Side. The side on which water gets collected is called upstream side. The lake of water formed at upstream is called Reservoir.

Structure of Dam
Upstream
MWL Max. level NWL Normal water level

Crest

Down stream
Spillway (inside dam)

Sluice way

Heel

Toe

USES
Water collected can be used: For Livestock -Used for animal raising as well as other on-farm needs. For Domestic -Household purposes. Reservoir for drinking water. Electricity -Collected water can be used to generate electrical power. -Common purpose for the construction of large dams.

 Flood Control -Dams are used as protections for the towns and cities during floods. -Also store flood water for gradual release year round.
For Planning War - Frequently opened in times of war. - Helps in planning war strategy. - Helps in controlling the advancement of enemies & their forces. Irrigation -It can be tapped off into surrounding farm land for irrigation. Navigation

MODERN DAMS
Aswan Dam - First major engineering project. - Completed in 1902, in Egypt.

 Roosevelt Dam - Completed in 1911, in USA. - Type of Gravity Dam.

Kinds of Dams
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Earth Dams. Rock fill Dams. Solid-Masonry Gravity Dams. Hollow-Masonry Gravity Dams. Steel Dams. Timber Dams. Arch Dams.

1.

Earth Dams.

Also called earthen or earth fill dams. Earth dams are constructed where the foundation or the underlying material are weak to support the masonry dam or where the earth is easily available as compared to concrete & other materials. Earthen dams are relatively smaller in height and broad at the base. They are mainly built with clay, sand and gravel, hence they are also known as Earth fill dam or Rock fill dam.

Cheaper than other types of dams.

High maintenance cost.

Trinity Dam in USA.

Green Mountain Dam in USA.

2.

Rockfill Dams.

Embankment which uses variable sizes of rock to provide stability. Formed of loose rocks and boulders piled in river bed. Reinforced concrete slab is often laid across upstream face to make it water-tight.

Can be constructed rapidly with un-skilled labor.

Cougar Dam in USA.

3.

Solid-masonry Gravity Dams.

These dams are heavy and massive wall-like structures of concrete in which the whole weight acts vertically downward. External forces are resisted by weight of the dam itself.
Expensive but durable.

Solid than earth and rock dams.

Can be constructed on natural foundation strong enough to bear the weight of the dam.

Bhakra Dam in India.

(highest concrete dam in Asia & second highest in the world)

4.

Hollow masonry Gravity Dams.

Similar to solid-masonry gravity dams, but use less concrete, saving up to 35-40% volume.
Also called as Buttress Dam.

Complex structure. Difficult to build, therefore it requires skilled labor.

Lake Tahoe Dam in Britain.

5.

Steel Dams

A type of dam which uses steel plating and load bearing beams as a structure. Used as temporary coffer dams for the construction of permanent dams. Cheaper than other rigid dams. Joints, if any, can be repaired by modern welding process. Lighter in weight, hence not adapted to absorb the shock from vibrations of water.

Red Ridge Steel Dam.

6.

Timber Dams.
Ancient type of dam.

Suitable, where timber is easily available.

Suitable for any type of foundation.

Initial cost is low but high maintenance cost.

Life=30 to 40 years.

Small in size.

7.

Arch Dams.

Arch dams are made of thin RCC section hence, are lighter than gravity dams. Curved in plan. Convex side facing upstream.

This shape helps to transmit major part of water load to abutments.

Best suited where dams must be high and narrow. Can be constructed on moderate foundations because small part of water load is transferred to the foundation.

Gordon Dam in Tasmania.

Factors Governing Selection of Type of Dam

Selection of a type of dam at given site depends upon many physical factors, such as: 1. Topography: The first choice of dam is usually governed by the topography for the site. For example, a low rolling plains suggests an earth dam. A narrow stream flowing between high rock walls suggests a concrete dam. Geology & Foundation conditions: If foundation consists of sound rock, with no fault, any type of dam can be constructed on it.

2.

Silt of fine sand foundations have the problems of settlement & seepage.
Clay Foundations have problems of long range consolidation under the weight of dam, resulting in cracks.

3.

Materials Available: Cost of construction of any dam depends upon the availability of materials.
Type of dam selected on the basis of above two physical factors may be dropped if that material is not available in nearby area.

4.

Spillway Size & Location: The safe discharge of flood water through dam is essential. Suitable site for spillway should be available.
Depending on the size and area of spillway, a type of dam is selected. For example, if the area is such that a large spillway capacity is required, concrete gravity dam is prefferd.

5.

Roadway: If roadway is to be passed over the top of dam, an earth dam or gravity dam is preferred.

6.

Length & Height of a Dam: If length is long & height is low, earth dam is preferred.
If length is small & height is more, gravity dam is preferred.

7.

Life of Dam: Concrete or masonry gravity dams have long life.

Earth & rockfill dams have intermediate life. Timber & steel dams have small life.

Before selecting the best type of dam, its economy, safety, availability of labor & equipment, time required for construction, cost of protection, local problems, etc are also taken into account.

Problems in Dam Construction

Apart from advantages & uses, dams have some drawbacks and disadvantages also.
They are: Fish Problem. Submergence Problem. Failure Problem.

1. 2. 3.

1.

Fish Problem

Fishes move from downstream to upstream to lay eggs. When a dam is constructed, they cannot move upstream.

This results in great damage to fish industry & economy of the country.
Fish ladder was devised by which fishes were trapped on one side and passed on to the other side of the dam.

2.

Submergence Problem

When water is stored on upstream side, large area gets submerged due to the rise in water levels. Entire area which gets submerged has to be calculated before and acquired before dam construction. Cost may increase.

3.

Failure Problem

Failure may be caused either due to bad workmanship or due to faulty design.
Due to unanticipated flood. Can fail due to unanticipated earthquakes. Due to engineering advancement, the failures have been considerably reduced.

What Can We Do?

Learn from the past Utilize Risk Assessment

Evolve our Guidelines into Best Practices that continuously capture the state-of-practice

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.
George Bernard Shaw

Thank You