Seminar Report on

EARTHEN DAM

NAI SHAILESHKUMAR 21291311046

JAGADISHBHAI
NAYAK ADARSH 21291311049
NITINBHAI

Under the guidance of

Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department
B.S. PATEL POLYTECHNIC
Ganpat University
A Project report submitted to
Ganpat University
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for
The Degree of Diploma Engineering (4’semester) in
Civil engineering
1
Page
Page
2
 This is to certify that report work embodied in this
semester entitled “EARTHEN DAM” was carried out by
following student studying at B.S.POLYTECHNIC FOR
Partial fulfillment of Diploma
Engineering . The project work has been carried out
under my supervision and is up to my satisfaction.

MEVADA ALAY 21291311044

HARESHKUMAR
NAI SHAILESHKUMAR 21291311046
JAGADISHBHAI
NAYAK ADARSH 21291311049
NITINBHAI
3
Page
 1 Introduction
2 EARTHEN Dam-Its
Components, types,
Advantanges and
disadvantanges
3 Pros And Cons of Earthen
dam
4 Example of An Earthen
dam In India: Banasura
sager Dam:
5 Components of Earthen
Dam
4
Page
 1-Introduction
Earthen dams have been used for centuries to store
water and generate power. They are a relatively simple
structure, but they are still an important part of our
infrastructure. In this article, we will discuss the history
of earthen dams, how they work, and the benefits they
provide. We will also talk about the potential risks
associated with earthen dams and what can be done to
mitigate those risks.
5
Page
 2-Earthen Dam – Its Components,
Types, Advantages & Disadvantages

• Earthen Dam

Earthen dam is a type of dam which is built by the

successive layers of the earth at the bank of the
river where the soil and materials get deposited. A
gate is constructed in the dam to control the flow of
the river.
The embankment is constructed by homogeneous
material. It is also known as an embankment dam. The
dam is constructed by earthen materials like silt, gravel,
stone, and clay. That’s why it is known as the earthen
dam.
6
Page
 • There are some situations as follows that’s
needed to construct the earthen dam:

1. In an area where large construction is not possible

then the earthen dam is constructed.
2. If the flow of the river is continuous throughout the
year then the dam is constructed to control the
flow of the river.
3. If there is plenty of earthen material available
nearby the local area then dam construction is
most economical and suitable.
4. If the foundation is not sufficiently strong then an
earthen dam is constructed.

• Types of Earthen Dam

There are three types of earthen dams are as follows:

1. Homogeneous earthen dam

2. Diaphragm earthen dam
3. Zoned earthen dam

1. Homogeneous Earthen Dam

The earthen dam which is constructed by only one
material or by the same material is used to construct
7

the whole structure then it is called the homogeneous

Page
 earthen dam. If plenty of only one type of earthen
material is available in the local area the dam
construction is most economical.

The homogeneous earthen dam is used for low or

medium-high dams. Due to purely one type of material
used in the dam creates a major problem of seepage So
this needs to be constructed in layered form so this
makes the dam stable and the entire structure safe
against piping.

2. Diaphragm Earthen Dam

This dam is better than the homogeneous dam because
it has an impermeable layer that prevents seepage and
this layer is covered by earth and rock.
The impermeable layer is known as the diaphragm of
the dam, that’s why it is called the diaphragm earthen
8
Page
 dam. The impermeable layer is constructed of wood,
rock, stone, steel, and concrete.

The diaphragm is strong enough to prevent the dam

from seepage and it is located at the center of the dam
section.

3: Zoned Earthen Dam:

It is just a modification of both the previous dam. This
dam has the property to identify or check the seepage.
The impermeable core (which is surrounded by the
transition zone) is at the center of the dam.
This transition is provided to avoid the crack on the
piping and installed at the central part of the dam. The
outer zone is also strong enough to protect the central
impermeable filler l part of the dam and distribute the
9

load to the large area of the foundation.

Page
 • Components of the Earthen Dams

Hearting (core): It is the central part of the dam

constructed by the clayey soil. The soil is compacted to
tighten the soil and provide shear strength to the dam
against slipping.
10
Page
 Rock toe: Rock toe is constructed of small stone or rock
pieces whose size is larger than 20cm. Rock toe provides
stability to the dam and prevents it from seepage

Pitching: Stone of size 30cm can be used for layering

(thickness 30cm -45cm). This layer is known as pitching
in dams and it prevents sudden drawdown and provides
stability.

Turfing: Turfing is a process of planting a special type of

grass called doob or turfing grass on the downstream
face of the dam. It prevents water logging due to heavy
rainfall.

Berms: Berms are the offset provided on the

downstream at 8m to 10m of the interval of width 3m
to 5m. It is used to collect the rainwater and dispose of
it safely. It is constructed to provide roadways for the
vehicle, to reduce the flow of rainwater.

Drain: A series of drains is constructed containing

different types of drains that are longitudinal drains,
cross drains and toe drains on the downstream side of
the dam.
11
Page
 Transition filters: It is a filter provided in between the
clayey soil layer and sandy shell to avoid pore pressure.

• Advantages of Earthen dam

1. It can simply be constructed with locally available

material.
2. The design of the dam is also quite easy so a variety
of materials can be used to construct the dam.
3. It is most economical because it is constructed with
locally available materials.
4. Any type of foundation is suitable for this dam.
5. Where there is a wide layer of the valley it is
suitable to construct.

• Disadvantages of Earthen dam

1. It causes a lot of leakage and soil erosion.
2. Due to improper capacity, it may fail.

• Pros And Cons Of Earthen Dams

• They are cheaper to construct than other types of
dams.
12
Page
 • Earthen dams can be built quickly and easily,
without the need for heavy equipment or
specialized skills.
• The cons of earthen dams include:
• Earthen dams have a shorter lifespan than other
types of dams (typically only 25-50 years).
• They are less durable and more susceptible to
damage from earthquakes, floods, or other natural
disasters than other types of dams.
• Earthen dams may require frequent repairs due to
erosion and seepage issues (this can be mitigated
by using a concrete or metal liner).

4: Example Of An Earthen Dam In India: Banasura

Sagar Dam:
The Banasura Sagar Dam is the largest earthen dam in
India located in Wayanad, Kerala. It was built on the
Kabini River and features a sub-merged Shola forest. It
has been built to supply water for irrigation and
hydroelectric power production. The dam is also a
tourist attraction due to its natural beauty.
13
Page
 5: Components of Earthen Dam

• Embankment Dam
Embankment dams are built by compacting earth to
increase its strength and density. They can range from a
few feet tall to as high as 300 feet (91 m). The tallest is
the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan at 300 ft (91 m). The length
of the dam also varies, from a few hundred feet to over
a mile (1600 ft or 490 m).

• Abutments
Abutments are the two ends of an embankment dam
that rest on solid rock. They help to hold back the water
and keep it from flowing around the end of the dam.
The abutments also help to distribute the weight of the
water on the dam

Spillway
The spillway is a structure at the top of an embankment
dam that helps control the flow of water. It is usually a
wide, open channel with steep sides. The spillway
allows excess water to flow out of the reservoir and
keeps the level of the water from rising too high.
14
Page
 • Outlet Works
Outlet Works is the structure that allows water to be
released from the dam reservoir. It is usually a pipe or
tunnel through which water can flow into the river
below the dam. The outlet works are often used for
irrigation, hydroelectric power production and other
purposes as well.
15
Page
 REFRENCES:

CLICKHERE

https://unacademy.com/content/gate/study-
material/civil-engineering/earthen-dams/

https://expertcivil.com/earthen-dam/
16
Page