Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY-CCAT CAMPUS

Rosario, Cavite
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING

FLUID MECHANICS
ENSC – 26A

FOURTH MODULE AND ACTIVITY

ENGR. LEANDRO T. SAAVEDRA

LECTURER

October 2020
First Semester
 DAMS

A dam is a structure built across a stream for the following purposes:

1. to impound water during the rainy season.

2. to increase the head for development of waterpower.
3. to control the flow for flood protection.
4. to divert the flow into another stream or watershed.
5. to create a lake for recreation or other purposes.
6. other miscellaneous purposes.

FORCES ACTING ON DAMS:

1. Water Pressure. For non-overflow dams, the water pressure acts on the
upstream face. For overflow dams water pressure also acts on top and on
2 the downstream face. Module 4 and Activity 4 ENSC 26A

2. Weight of the Dam

3. Vertical Reaction of the Foundation
4. Horizontal Reaction of the Foundation.
5. Uplift on the Foundation. Due to the raised water level on the upstream
face there is a tendency for the water to seep under the dam and escape at
the lower level on the downstream side. It will exert a hydrostatic uplift
on the dam.
6. Earthquake Forces. For dams, we must consider the earthquake effect on
the dam as well as on the water itself.
7. Earth Pressure. The sand, silt, and gravel usually deposited on the
upstream face of the dam exert a certain amount of pressure.
8. Wind Pressure. Wind acting on the dam also exerts pressure, but usually
this is considered negligible.

FLUID MECHANICS ENGR. LEANDRO T. SAAVEDRA

 9. Wave Action. Waves formed on the water surface add a very slight
increase to the hydrostatic pressure on the dam.
10. Impact of Debris. Floating logs and debris exert pressure on the dam due
to impact. (This pressure is usually neglected)
11.Bearing Pressure on Masonry. For high masonry dam the crushing of
masonry at different sections, usually near the bottom, are considered in
the design.

STABILITY OF DAMS

The design of dams must fulfill certain conditions.

1. There must be no sliding on the base or on any horizontal plane above the
base.
2. There must be no overturning of the dam about the toe.
3 Module 4 and Activity 4 ENSC 26A
3. There must be no tension in the masonry are in the contact plane between
the dam and its foundation.
4. There must be no crushing of the masonry or foundation.

STABLITY AGAINST OVERTURNING

The hydrostatics pressure of the water on the upstream face and thy hydrostatic
uplift on the foundation tend to overturn the dam about the toe. These forces
give rise to an overturning moment. The weight of the dam and any vertical
component acting downward on the upstream face will cause a righting
moment.

Righting Moment
Factor of Safety against overturning ¿ Overturning Moment

FLUID MECHANICS ENGR. LEANDRO T. SAAVEDRA

 STABILITY AGAINST SLIDING

Stability Against Sliding. The horizontal component of the hydrostatic pressure

on the upstream face of the dam tends to cause the dam to slide on its
foundation. Resisted by the frictional force between the dam and its foundation.

Resisting Force
Factor of Safety Against Sliding ¿ Sliding Forces

Activity Number 9

A dam is triangular in cross-section with the upstream face vertical, water is

4 Module 4 and Activity 4 ENSC 26A
flush with the top. The dam is 8 meters high and 6 meters wide at the base, and
weight 2.4 tons per cubic meter. The coefficient of friction between the base
and the foundation is 0.8. Determine the following:

a. the maximum and minimum unit pressures on the foundation

b. the factors of safety against overturning and against sliding.

FLUID MECHANICS ENGR. LEANDRO T. SAAVEDRA