Hydraulics Prof. B.S.

Thandaveswara

32.4 Bhavani Type Stilling Basin

A new type of stilling basin was designed for the Lower Bhavani Dam, Tamil Nadu, India

and is designated as Bhavani Stilling basin.

The design consists of a depressed apron provided with T-shaped floor blocks that

allow the length of the apron to be materially reduced. Energy dissipation is

accomplished by the formation of the hydraulic jump and by impact of the high-velocity

flow on the T-shaped blocks.

Dimensions of the Bhavani -type stilling basin is reduced compared to the conventional

stilling basin. Flow over the 32.92 m spillway discharges the flow to the stilling basin 9.1

m long and 3.05 m deep. A single row of T- shaped blocks at 4.87 m (center to center )

is shown in the figure given below. Each of the blocks is buttressed against the vertical

end wall of the basin by a long wall of 1.22 m wide and 1.52 m deep. The design is

developed by the Poondi Irrigation Research Station, Tamil Nadu. Cavitation of the

blocks in the Bhavani basin is unlikely to occur in this case in view of the large

submergence.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

T blocks

2.44 m

Bhavani Type Stilling Basin

Similar type of Stilling Basin was adopted in Amaravathi Spillway,
Gangikota Spillway, Pykhara Dam Spillway

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

Further experimentation may indicate the desirability of standardizing this design for

general use. Until this is done, individual model tests should be conducted to determine

the merits of each design.

Bhimgoda Barrage
The design of Bhimgoda barrage in Hardwar on Ganga was tested for the velocity and

pressure on the friction blocks and end sill. The barrage width is 455 m with 7

undersluice bays each of 18 m width. The barrage is designed for a flood discharge of

19 ,300 m 3 / s with an adequate length of the apron. It became necessary to incorporate

baffle blocks and T blocks, where a normally good modified jump is formed on the apron

to minimise the action at the end baffle wall.

Matatila Dam Spillway

The spillway of 31 m high Matatila dam constructed on Betwa river in district Jhansi, has

been provided with 25 bays , 18.29 m width each and seperated by 3.05 m thick piers. It

has been designed for a maximum flood of 16 ,990 m3 / s . The bed rock in the spillway

portion is granite. The invert level of stilling basin below different bays was kept in

accordance with the rock level available at site. The dam was completed in the year

1957-58. Soon after putting the spillway into operation heavy damage to the

downstream works and river bed specially below bays 1 to 3 were observed. Based on

subsequent model studies properly anchored T-shaped blocks of size 4.88 m * 2.44 m *

2.44 m were added in basins below bays 7 to 18 in 1967 while no modification was

carried out in remaining bays. 84 numbers mild steel bars of 25 mm diameter anchored

to a depth of 1.5 m were provided in each block for holding them in position. The T-

blocks provided better stilling conditions resulting in the reduction of damages below

bays wherein these were added. However, during the flood of 1969, 14 out of 24 blocks

were got uprooted and thrown out of the basin due to excessive drag force exerted by

the high velocity flow. As an alternative, an arrangement of jet deflector blocks

consisting of a central block with two side blocks having a passage for guiding the flow

to secure direct impingement of emerging jets was evolved. These blocks besides being

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

more effective in energy dissipation will be subjected to 2.25 times lesser hydrodynamic

drag as compared to T-blocks. The construction of jet deflector blocks will involve large

scale drilling and grouting thereby endangering the safety of the spillway. Heavy C.C.

blocks of size 1.5 * 1.5 * 1 m were laid in the form of apron.

Reference
Kuttiammu T.P and J.V. Rao "Bhavani stilling basins for spillway of large dams, fourth

congress, Large dams, Report Number 44, New Delhi, India, 1955.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras