4 Water Retaining Structures - Dams

4.1 Definition
Dams are retaining structures constructed for achieving
desired functions such as:
• containment of water, debris, lava
• diversion of required amount of water
• creating hydraulic head.
4.2 Classification

4.2.1Based on function served

• Storage dams -to regulate hydrograph)

• Detention dams -to retard flow during flood by storing
some water)
• Diversion dams -to divert river water to the off- taking
canal (conduit) with certain reliability )
• Debris dam/Check dam (Sabo works in Japanese) -to
retain debris such as sand, gravel and drift wood
flowing in the river.
• Coffer dams -temporary ot part of the permanent
structure (often the main dam) constructed fn order to
facilitate the construction of the main structure
4.2.2Based on material used
• Concrete
o Gravity, Buttress and Arch (l?.eu- · ,c;J . Alwak. daR.)

4-1
 • Embankment
o Earthfill (homogeneous and zoned earthfill)
o Rockfill ( fully rockfill, zoned rockfill)
• Masonry
• Timber
• Steel
4.2.3Based on hydraulic design
• Overflow - surplus water permitted to pass over the
crest of the spillway
• Non overflow- overflow not permitted or permitted
only over part of the dam, a separate spillway
provided away from the dm for eg. along a saddle
4.2.4Based on hydraulic head available

• Low head, H < 15 m

• Medium head 15m< l-I <50 m
• High head 50m < H < 250 m
• Very high head H >250m
4.2.5Based on rigidity of the structure

• Rigid - made up of stiff material like ma~ry, steel,

timber etc
• Semi-rigid- made ~of relatively less:"Wraterials like
rockfill (some deformations allowed)
• Non-rigid- made up of materials with low stiffness,
earthfill, large settlentent

4-2
 t- "

,, -:F

Fig. i 4.1.
Reservoirs (man-made lake)
1. Active storage
2. lnactive storage
J. Live stcrage
1. Dead storage
5. Flood storage
6. Reservoir eaBacity; gross capacity of reservoir; gross storage; storage capacity
7. Retention water level; top water level; normal top water level; full supply level; normal
water level (Am.)
8. Flood surcharge; sureharge
9. Maximum water level; top of joint use (Arn)
The term "joint use" (Am.) rneans that part of reservoir capacity including both
surcharge and the emBty Bart of active storage, assigned to flood control or
eons€rvation depending on the time of the year.
'r0. Minimum operating level; top of inactive storage (Am).
11 . Freeboard
 Fis. t 4.2.
Dan terminology,
1. Height above lowest
fcundation of dam
L. Heigfit above ground level
3. Top of dam

/aa I e\
# (AA &
4.
5.
6.
Crest of dam
Crest length
Thiel:ness sf dam {generally
\r/ I
for gravity cr arch dam)
n
7. Heel of dam (concrete dams)
8. Upstream toe of dam
{others)
o Toe of dam (concrete dams)
10. Downstream toe of dam
(others)
11. Base thickness {generally
for gravity or arch dam)
12. Base width (generally for
other darns)
1? Top thickness (generally
for gravity or arch dams)
15. Top width
16. Elevation of top of dam
17. -- do --
1 8, Cross section at crown
(arch ciim)
19. Maximurn cross-section of
dam
20. Body of dam; mass of dam
(Am.)
21. Drainage gallery
26. Axis of dam
27. Setting out line
 Fis. 14.4
Concrete dams "
1. Face
2. Facing
3. Anificial abutment;
abutment block
4. Block
5. JoinU construction joint
6. Joint face
7. Temporary hole located
at joint between blocks
for passage of river flow
(no English word)
8. Construction joint
o Concrete lift;
placement lift (Am).

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 Fi7. 14.5.
Buttrcss dam.
1. Flat slab eram;
Ambursen dam;
deck dam {Am")
2. Multiple areh dam
3. Round head bucress €
4. Length of buttress
5. Thickness of buttress
t). Buttress spacing;
distance between
buttress centres
7. Bu?tr€SS lr'€b
L Splayed footing
9. ButtreSS strut

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:::'.i.i.^{3ir:j:::<i ij:...:. : ':" ::.' .: ll 1..: ..:,,,1 ., .. :.. :.'",i: 1.,.,1.':,..,.r .., ..:,::.,,. ::,
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(a) Homogeneous with toedrain: (b) Modern homogeneous

small secondary dams chimney drain
m = i.5-2.5 m = 2.5-3.5

.; u:::"+;.' ,' #r;' i,.:, : :., :,, :-: j,, i;,

it,:::*iiiii;ji;t'i+i)i *,#. :

(c) Slender central clay core: (d) Central concrete core:

lgth-century 'Pennines' type - smaller dams obsolescent -
obsolete rn = 2.0-3.0
m = 2.0-3.0

transitisn/ zone 4 transition/drain

zone 2 drlin
m

.. ,... .'i ,-...i,.''. :i",: ':,:r:i:1.:.i:i-:.;;i ..1 :':,.:. : .- t.:,::.:,.ltil:',.,i i:r11;i.r.r,*';i'i'-

-r'
i;::i:i:,rl?:ri ii t.i:,...:..::.; 1.;.:.,,.,:1,i: ;.;.,.,..,

(e) Rolled clay core: zoned rvith (D Earthfill/rockfill with central rolled
transitions and drains clay core: zoned with transitions and
m = 2.5-3.5 drgins m = 1.6-2.0
Fig' l4'8' Principal varianrc of eartfill aitd eartfill/rockfilt embankment
dams.

transitioni drains transition/drains.

. .1':::. j-.a.: .:=, .. ,'- : .,.. i ., . .ii:::.i:.:iiii.;.:. -*;i.:i.':i.til:iiiji..+j,.li;li;,,,1:;.1:.t:,:,,i.;,_:il

:
::,; .ii:: i.::,:.i::l*ri-t .:r,;,:,,

(a) Central rolled clay core (b) Inclined rolled clay core
m = 1.6-2.0 m = 1"6-2.0

transition,/drain

(c) Decked: upstream asphaltic (d) Central asphaltic membrane

concrete rnembrane m = 1.6-2.0
l A,_1 A
 (a) Overtopping leading to
rrashsui; less eohesive siltso
sands, ete. at greatest
short'term risk

{b) lnternal erosion snd

piping with migratioa of
frnes from core etc" tnote
regression of 'pipe' and
formation sf internal
cavities; may initiate by
formation of internal craek
'"* piping regression or by seepage alorrg eulvert
perinreter etc.)

(c) Ernba*kmcnt and

fsundation settlement
(deforrnctisn and internal
cracking); $ote also
cro$-voll€y defornnati*n
modes:
!Ee-r
(d) Instability {l):
dorrnstre*q slnpe too high
andlor too steep in relation
to shear strength of the
shoulder material

drawdown (e) Instability (2): upstreem

slope slip fcllowing rapi'd
\T drawdown of water lev€i

(0 Instability (3): failure of

downstream foundation due
t0 overstress of soft
horizons

Fig" v4.3CI" Embankn'tent defeet meehanisms and faifure nnodes.

 shoulder
underdrain

PERVIOUS
IMPERVIOU
-r.>
local grouting if required discharge monitored

hydraulic grade line through pervious zone (b) Grouted cut-ofT

(need not penetrat6'-'
impervious horizons)
head loss
through
grout caP cut-off
J J
width t

(c) Diaphragm cut-off

(need not penetrate
impervious horizons)

(d) Upstream blanket

clay blanket (may employ underdrain
extension of relief wells with relief wells)
core

Cut-offs and control of underseepage.