Chapter 6:

Dam and Spillways

Lesson goals
At the end of this topic, student should be able to:-

Identify the types and functions of dam and

spillways

Evaluate the dam and its storage

Consider the design concept of dam and

spillway structures
Introduction

Dam is any artificial barrier and its appurtenant

works constructed for the purpose of holding water
or any other fluid.

Detention/Retention Basin is any structure that

functions as a dam.
Typically, it serve multiple purposes, including
water supply, flood control, hydroelectric power
generation, navigation, and water based recreation
activities.
Introduction

Photo credit; http://thecolumbiaexperience.wordpress.com/dams/

Types of reservoir
Valley dam reservoir, dam constructed in a valley relies
on the natural topography to provide most of the basin of
the reservoir. Dams are typically located at a narrow part of
a valley downstream of a natural basin. The valley sides act
as natural walls with the dam located at the narrowest
practical point to provide strength and the lowest practical
cost of construction

Bank-side reservoirs may be constructed to store the

water pumped from the river. The use of bank-side
reservoirs also allows a water abstraction to be closed
down for extended period at times when the river is
unacceptably polluted or when flow conditions are very low
due to drought.

Service reservoirs store fully treated potable water close

to the point of distribution. It perform several functions
including ensuring sufficient head of water in the water
distribution system and providing hydraulic capacitance in
the system to even out peak demand from consumers
enabling the treatment plant to run at optimum efficiency.
Type of dams

Gravity concrete dam, is a solid concrete structure that uses its mass
to hold back water. It requires massive amount of concrete to provide
the weight necessary to withstand the hydrostatic force exerted by the
water impounded behind the dam.

Buttress dam have triangular supports called buttresses on the

downstream side to strengthen it and to distribute water pressure to the
foundation. Used to support a foundation that too week to stand the
pressure of gravity dam.

Concrete arch dam, has a curvature design that arches across a

canyon and has abutments embedded into solid rock walls. Requires
less concrete but must have solid rock as anchor for the abutments.

Earthen embankment dam, more than 50% of the total volume of an

earthern dam consists of compacted earth materials. Normally have an
impervious core of clay or other material of low permeability that
prevent water from rapidly seeping through or beneath the foundation
of structure. Have drain installed along the downstream toe of the dam.
Type of reservoir and dams

Coffer dam, a temporary

structure enclosing all or part of
the construction area so that
construction can proceed in the
dry. A diversion cofferdam
diverts a stream into a pipe,
channel, tunnel, or other
watercourse.

Diversion dam , a dam built to

divert water from a waterway or
stream into a different
watercourse.
 Type of reservoir and dams
Hydropower Dam, a dam that uses the difference in water level between
the reservoir pool elevation and the tailwater elevation to turn a turbine to
generate electricity.

Photo credit; WTC Berhad

Dam in Peninsula Malaysia
List of dam location in Peninsular Malaysia:

Johor – Machap dam, Sembrong dam, Sultan Iskandar Reservoir,

Bekok dam.
Melaka – Jus dam, Durian Tunggal dam
Perlis – Timah Tasoh dam
Perak – Bukit Merah dam, Perting dam, Pontian dam, Kemeriang dam,
Temenggor dam, Piah dam.
Pahang – Repas Baru dam, Perting dam, Pontoan dam, Chematu
dam, Chereh dam, Chini dam, Kelau dam.
Kedah – Beris dam.
Kelantan – Bukit Kwong dam, Pergau dam.
Langkawi – Padang Saga dam.
Penang – Itam dam, Mengkuang dam, Teluk Bahang dam.
N.Sembilan – Gemencheh dam
Selangor – Batu dam, Langat dam, Selangor dam, Semenyih dam,
Subang dam, Tinggi dam.
Terengganu – Kenyir dam.
KL – Klang gates dam.
How dam works
A typical dam is a wall of solid material built across a river
to block the flow of the river thus storing water in the lake
that will form upstream of the dam as water continues to
flow from the river upstream of the dam.

The main purpose of most dams is to create a permanent

reservoir of water for use at a later time.

The dam must be watertight (ie impermeable or impervious

to water) so that water does not leak out of the dam and
escape to downstream.
Dam wall must have sufficient strength
i. to stand permanently under its own weight
ii. resist the water pressure in the lake (greater the depth
of water stored behind the dam and the greater the
water pressure on the dam wall.

A dam must have some way of releasing water in controlled

amounts as it is needed ( ie an outlet valve of some
type).
Uses of dams
Dams are usually built for one or more of the following
reasons:

i. To provide a supply of water for towns, cities and

mining sites
ii. To contain and store waste (tailings) from mines;
iii. To provide a supply of water for the irrigation;
iv. To generate electricity in hydro-electric power
stations;
v. To help control or mitigate floods
Dam failures
Dam failures are of particular concern because the failure
of a large dam has the potential to cause more death and
destruction than the failure of any other man-made
structure. This is because of the destructive power of the
flood wave that would be released by the sudden collapse
of a large dam.
Dam failures
The most common causes of dam failures are:

1) Overtopping of embankment dams due to inadequate

spillway discharge capacity to pass flood waters,
2) Faults in construction methods,
3) Geological problems with the dam foundation,
4) Landslides which fall into the storage reservoir,
5) Earthquakes can certainly cause damage to dams
Concept of Dam Design
A gravity dam shall be:
Safe against overturning at any horizontal plane within
the dam.
Safe against sliding at any horizontal place within the
dam.
So proportioned that the allowable stresses in both the
concrete and the foundation shall not be exceeded.
Concept of Dam Design
Existing Dams - Design Flood

Existing dams that are being rehabilitated should have

adequate spillway capacity to pass the following floods
without overtopping:

Hazard Classification Spillway Design Flood (SDF)

A 100 year
B 150% of 100 year
C 50% of PMF

The Service Spillway Design Flood (SSDF) for existing

dams is the same as shown for the new dams on Table 1.
Basic assumptions in the design of masonry
(rock/ concrete) dams.
The rock that constitutes the foundation is strong enough
to carry the forces imposed by the dam
The bearing power of the geologic structure is great
enough to carry the total loads imposed by the dam without
rock movements of detrimental magnitude.
The rock formations are homogeneous and uniformly
elastic in all directions
The flow of the foundation rock under the sustained loads
adequately.
The base of the dam is thoroughly keyed into the rock
formations along the foundations and abutments.
Construction operations are conducted so as to secure a
satisfactory bond between the concrete and rock materials
Basic assumptions in the design of masonry
(rock/ concrete) dams.

The concrete is uniformly elastic in all parts of the

structure,
Contraction joints are properly grouted under adequate
pressures, or open slots are properly filled with concrete,
Sufficient drains are installed in the dam to reduce such
uplift pressures as may develop along areas of contact
between the concrete and rock materials
Assumptions of maximum earthquake accelerations
Effects of foundation and abutment deformations
Action at locations along the sloping
Dam Analysis – Gravity Dam
Stability Analysis

The basic loading conditions investigated in the design and

guidance for the dam profile and layout.

Preliminary layout of the structure followed by a stability

and stress analysis. If the structure fails to meet criteria
then the layout is modified and reanalyzed. This process is
repeated until an acceptable cross section is attained.
Stability analysis and failure sequence
Dam Analysis – Gravity Dam
Flow Net Analysis

Flow nets used to estimate seepage direction and volume

and pore pressure at points within the embankment
(CANMET 1977).

A flow net is a graphical solution of Darcy's law to show

steady flow through porous media and is often used to
show ground water flow.

The variables include flow characteristics (either in terms of

flow or head), information on the boundaries of the area to
be modeled, and information on the hydraulic conductivity
within the area
Static and Dynamic Stress Analyses
Stress Analysis

i. To determine the magnitude and distribution of stresses

throughout the structure for static and dynamic load
conditions
ii. To investigate the structural adequacy of the sub-
structance and foundation.

Gravity dam stresses are analyzed by either approximate

simplified methods or the finite element method depending
on the refinement required for the particular level of design
and the type and configuration of the dam.

The finite element method is ordinarily used for the feature

and final design stages if a more exact stress investigation is
required.
Finite element analysis.

Finite element models are used for linear elastic static and
dynamic analyses and for nonlinear analyses that account
for interaction of the dam and foundation.

Provides the capability of modeling complex geometries

and wide variations in material properties. (ie; stresses at
corners, around openings, tension zones, thermal behavior
and couple thermal stresses and etc

Dynamic Analysis
The structural analysis for earthquake loadings consists of
two parts: an approximate resultant location and sliding
stability analysis using an appropriate seismic coefficient
and a dynamic internal stress analysis using site-
dependent earthquake ground motions
SPILLWAYS
 A spillway is built in a reservoir to allow the flow of water
to safely move downstream when the reservoir is full;

 The spillway capacity must accommodate the maximum

design flood;

 A spillway is shaped as a rectangular concrete channel

that connects the upstream and downstream regions of a
weir;

 A spillway is located at the top of the reservoir pool.

Dams may also have bottom outlets with valves or gates
which may be operated to release flood flow, and a few
dams lack overflow spillways and rely entirely on bottom
outlets..
There are two main types of spillways: controlled and
uncontrolled.

A controlled spillway has mechanical structures or gates to

regulate the rate of flow. This design allows nearly the full height of
the dam to be used for water storage year-round, and flood waters
can be released as required by opening one or more gates.

An uncontrolled spillway, in contrast, does not have gates; when

the water rises above the lip or crest of the spillway it begins to be
released from the reservoir. The rate of discharge is controlled only
by the depth of water within the reservoir. All of the storage volume
in the reservoir above the spillway crest can be used only for the
temporary storage of floodwater, and cannot be used as water
supply storage because it is normally empty.

Free overall spillways, ogee spillways, drop inlet or morning

glory spillways, and chute spillways are common types.
Main decision in designing spillway
The main decisions that have to be taken during the design
of a spillway for a dam are:
How large a flood should the dam be capable of
withstanding, ie what is the Probable Maximum Flood
(PMF);

How much of the PMF does the spillway have to handle

(ie maximum discharge capacity);

To what extent is it necessary to line the spillway with

concrete;

To what extent is it necessary to provide energy

dissipation structures at the downstream end of the
spillway.
Functions of a Spillway
The principal function of a spillway is to pass down the
surplus water from the reservoir into the downstream river,
there are precisely seven functions that can be assigned to
spillway as follows:
1. Maintaining normal river water functions (compensation
water supply)
2. Discharging water for utilization
3. Maintaining initial water level in the flood-control
operation
4. Controlling floods
5. Controlling additional floods
6. Releasing surplus water (securing dam and reservoir
safety)
7. Lowering water levels (depleting water levels in an
emergency)
Classification of spillway
Spillways have been classified according to various criteria
such as;-
a) Most prominent feature
b) According to function
c) According to Control Structure

a) According to the most prominent feature

i. Ogee spillway
ii. Chute spillway
iii. Side channel spillway
iv. Shaft spillway
v. Siphon spillway
vi. Straight drop or overfall spillway
vii. Tunnel spillway/Culvert spillway
viii. Labyrinth spillway
ix. Stepped spillway
Classification of spillway
b) According to Function
i. Service spillway
ii. Auxiliary spillway
iii. Fuse plug or emergency spillway

c) According to Control Structure

i. Gated spillway
ii. Ungated spillway
iii. Orifice of sluice spillway
OGEE SPILLWAY OVERFALL SPILLWAY
CHUTE SPILLWAY
LABYRINTH SPILLWAY
SHAFT SPILLWAY
TUNNEL/CULVERT SPILLWAY
SIFPHON
SPILLWAY
STEPPED SPILLWAY
 Storage and Capacity in the reservoir/dam
The storage zone as shown in figure below present a
simplified view of reservoir capacity, since sedimentation
storage capacity must generally be provided in all storage
zones.

Maximum pool elevation

Flood storage capacity
DAM
Normal pool elevation
Active storage

Minimum pool elevation

Dead storage
Firm & secondary yield
Storage and Capacity in the reservoir/dam
Typically, sediment reserve storage capacity is provided to
accommodate sediment deposition expected to occur over
a specified design life which for large projects, is typically
on the order of 50 - 100 years.

Reservoir sedimentation amounts are predicted as the

sediment yield entering the reservoir multiplied by trap
efficiency.

Se dim ent amount deposited

Trap efficiency (%)  x 100
Se dim ent amount entering
Example 1
A reservoir covers an area of 850 km2 and has an average
depth of 18.7m. The inflow to the reservoir is from a
river with an average flowrate of 2500 m3/s and a
suspended sediment concentration of 250 mg/L.
Estimate the rate at which the depth of the reservoir is
decreasing due to sediment accumulation and the time
it will take for the reservoir storage to decrease by
10%. Assume that the accumulated sediment has a bulk
density of 1600 kg/m3.
Given;
Inflow rate = 2500m3 / s  7.88x1010 m3 / yr

Sus.sediment = 250mg / L  0.25kg / m

3

Area of reservoir = 850 km 2

 8.5 x108
m 2

Sediment load = inflow rate x suspended sediment

concentration
x 0.25 kg  1.97 x1010 kg
2
 7.88 x10 m
10
yr m3 yr

Storage capacity = area of reservoir x average depth

 8.5x10 m x 18.7m  1.59 x10 m

8 2 10 3
 strorage capacity 1.59 x1010
Ratio of storage   10
 0.2 see chart
annual inf low 7.88 x10

Based on ratio of storage capacity = 0.2, sediment trapped = 93%.

The rate sediment accumulate in the reservoir

 0.93 x 1.97 kg  1.83x1010 kg

yr yr

Sediment volume accumulation rate

1.83 x1010 kg
yr 3
  11.45 x10 m
6
yr
1600 kg
m3

Rate of sediment accumulation

11.45 x106
  0.0135 m  1.35 cm
8.5 x108 yr yr
This rate, it will take approximately 1385 yrs for the reservoir
capacity to decrease by 10% due to sediment accumulation.
Since 93% sediment is trapped, 1.83x1010kg/yr sediment
load delivered by river,

Sediment release from the reservoir =

 (1  0.93)(1.83x1010 kg yr )  1.28 x109 kg yr

9
1 .28 x10 kg yr mg
Sediment cont. =  0.065 kg m 3
 65
1.97 x1010 kg yr L

Therefore, reservoir reduce the suspended sediment

concentration = 250 mg/L to 65 mg/L = (74%)
Reservoir trap efficiency (93%) ≠ reduction suspended sediment
cont. (74%)
Planning Guidelines
Recommended steps in the planning and investigation of
dam and reservoir projects are as follows :

i. Identification of project objective approximate

magnitudes
ii. Selection of a dam and reservoir site
iii. Preliminary sizing and determination of dam type
iv. Preliminary surveys
v. Hydrologic Investigations
vi. Hydrologic analysis