Chapter Three

Spillways 1
 INDEX
Introduction
Types of spillway
Location of spillway
Energy Dissipation
Construction of spillway

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 INTRODUCTION
 A spillway is a structure constructed at a dam site, for effectively
disposing of the surplus water from upstream to downstream.

 Every reservoir has a certain capacity to store water. If the reservoir is full
and flood water enter the same, the reservoir level will go up and may
eventually result in over-topping of the dam.

 To avoid this situation, the flood has to be passed to the downstream and
this is done by providing a spillway which draws water from the top of
the reservoir.

 Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or
even destroy the dam. Except during flood periods, water does not
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normally flow over a spillway.
 Functions of Spillways
 Primary functions
 For Storage and Detention Dams
To release the surplus water or flood water that can not be contained in the
allotted storage space
 For diversion Dams
To bypass flow exceeding those turned from the diversion systems
 Additional Functions
 Maintaining normal river water functions (compensation water supply)
(outlet works)
 Discharging water for utilization (outlet works)
 Maintaining initial water level in the flood-control operation
 Controlling floods
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 Lowering water levels (depleting water levels in an emergency)
 2. Types of Spillways

2.1 Classification scheme

Based on various criteria, spillways can be classified
A)Classification based on purpose
A) Main / service spillways
B) Auxiliary spillways
C) Emergency spillways
B)Based on control
A) Controlled spillway
B) Uncontrolled spillway
C) Classification based on prominent features

1. Straight drop spillway

2. Overflow spillway
3. Trough spillway or Open channel spillway
4. Side channel spillway
5. Shaft spillway
6. Syphon spillway

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 2.2 Classification Based on Purpose

A. Main / Service spillways

 Designed to pass the Inflow Design Flood (IDF)
 Necessary for all dams
B. Auxiliary Spillways
 Where site conditions permit, service spillways are supplemented by
auxiliary spillways to gain an overall economy
 The service spillway are designed to handle the most frequent floods
 Floods exceeding the capacity of the service spillway are handled by
Auxiliary spillways
  Auxiliary spillways are designed in such a way that their
capacity is less than that required for the IDF
Total spillway capacity = service spillway + auxiliary spillway
capacity
 Auxiliary spillway crest is kept higher than the service
spillway
 Conditions favourable for adoption of auxiliary spillways
 Saddle or depression which lead into a natural water way
 Gently sloping abutment where an excavated channel can be
carried sufficiently beyond the dam to avoid the possibility of
damage to the dam or other structures.
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 Overall economy is obtained by
 Design premise: some damage to some portion of the auxillary spillway
structure from passage of infrequent flow is permissible.
 Except for the control structure, other components can be designed with
reduced safety factors
E.g., Discharge channels in rock foundations can be unlined
C. Emergency spillways
 It is sometimes provided in addition of the main spillways
 It is used during emergencies and acts as an additional safety valve of the dam
 Emergencies:
 Floods exceeding design flood
 Malfunctioning of spillway gates
 It is usually provided in a saddle or a depression along the reservoir rim,
 Its crest level is kept above the maximum water level
 2.3 Classification based on Control
A) Controlled spillways
 Gates are provided over the crest to control the outflow from the reservoir.
 In such spillways, the full reservoir level of the reservoir is usually kept at the
top level of the gates.
 The outflow from the reservoir can be varied by lifting the gates to different
elevations.

Fig 2.6 Gated spillway

B) Uncontrolled spillways
 Gates are not provided over the crest to control the outflow from the reservoir.
Water flows over the crest uncontrollably
 The FRL is at the crest level of the spillway. The water escapes automatically
when the water level rises above the crest level.
C). Classification based on Pertinent Features
1 Free Overfall and Vertical Drop Spillways
Description Free Overfall
 The control structure is a high/ low height, narrow crested weir with vertical
or near vertical downstream face and the water falls freely more or less
vertical Arch dam
Scour hole

Fig 2.7 Free overfall spillway

 It is suited for thin arch or buttress overflow dams or to a crest which has a
nearly vertical downstream face.
 Where erosion can not be tolerated, artificial pool or stilling basins are
provided.
 It is not suitable where the foundation is weak the apron is subjected to large
impact forces which may cause vibration
 1. Straight Drop Spillway Or Overfall Spillway
 This is the simplest type of spillway and may be constructed on small

bunds or thin arch dam.

 It is a low weir and simple vertical fall type structure.

 The downstream face of the structure may be kept vertical or slightly

inclined.
El Atazar Dam (Spain)

Gebidem Dam (Switzerland).

 2. Ogee Spillway Or Overflow Spillway
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 Ogee spillway is an improvement upon the ‘free overfall spillway’.

 Such a spillway can be easily used on valleys where the width of the
river is sufficient to provide the required crest length and river bed
below can be protected from scour at moderate costs.

 The profile of this spillway is made in accordance with shape of the

lower nappe of a free falling jet, over a duely ventilated sharp
crested weir.
 3. Trough
17 Spillway
 Sometimes, gravity dams, a separate spillway is required
because of the narrowness of the main valley.

 The trough spillway is the simplest spillway which can be

easily provided independently and at low costs.

 It is lighter and adaptable to any type of foundations ; and

hence provided easily on earth and rockfill dams.
 3. Trough
18 Spillway
Trough Spillway or Chute Spillway
 4. Side Channel Spillway

 In this flow of water after spilling over the crest, is turned by 90˚
such that it flows parallel to the weir crest (AB).
 This type of spillway is provided in narrow valleys where no side
flanks of sufficient width to accommodate a trough spillway are
available.
 If a crest length equal to AB is provided along AC, heavy cutting
shall be required.
 It required for diverting the flow.

 The slope of the side channel should be sufficient to overcome the

frictional losses as well as to provide acceleration in the direction of
flow against the mass of incoming water.
 5. Shaft Spillway

 In a shaft spillway, the water from the reservoir enters into a

vertical shaft which conveys this water into a horizontal tunnel
which finally discharges the water into the river downstream.

 Sometimes, a vertical shaft may be excavated through some

rocky natural island or rocky spur existing on the u/s of the river
near the dam.

 For small heights, the shafts may be constructed entirely of

metal or concrete or clay tiles.
Shaft Spillway
Description

A shaft spillway is an uncontrolled spillway in which the water enters

over a weir and drops through a vertical or sloping shaft into a conduit
which discharges into the downstream channel.
 6. Siphon Spillway

 A siphon spillway essentially consists of a siphon pipe, one end

of which is kept on the upstream side and is in contact with the
reservoir, while the other end discharges water on the
downstream side

 There are two types of siphon installations which are as below :

1. Tilted outlet type of siphon spillway

2. Hooded types of a siphon spillway

 Location of Spillways
Spillways should be located so that spillway discharge will not undermine the
toe of the dam
Spillways may be located either in the middle or at the edges
Place the spillways in the main gorge so that the flood flows will be confined
with in the banks of the river,
Locate and align the spillways so that the main direction of the flow in the
downstream is maintained unchanged
If a suitable saddle can be found, they may be located away from the dam
Although hydraulically more suitable, it would not be always possible to
design heavy structures such as spillways, if a suitable foundation is not
available in the main gorge. Then, a choice has to be made to locate the
spillway structure on the flank. Saddle

Dam
Fig 10: X-section of a Dam
 Spillway Design Considerations
 In designing a spillway, the following factors have to be given due
considerations
a) It must have adequate capacity
• It should be sized so that there will not be any overtopping
b) It must be hydraulically and structurally safe.
• It has to be safe against
• Overturning,
• Sliding,
• Failure by crushing and tension cracks for various load combinations
c) Its surface should be erosion resistant.
d) It must be located so that its discharge will not erode or undermine the
downstream toe of the dam
Energy Dissipaters
 Function of Energy Dissipaters
As the water flows down through the spillway, the huge potential energy is
converted to kinetic energy.
Dissipation of the kinetic energy generated at the base of a spillway is essential for
bringing the flow into the downstream river to the normal almost pre-dam condition in
as short of a distance as possible.
This is necessary,
to protect the riverbed and banks from erosion, and
to ensure that the dam itself and adjoining structures like powerhouse, canal,
etc. are not undermined by the high velocity turbulent flow.
Variety of devices are used for energy dissipation at the base of spillways,
the dissipation of energy through internal friction and turbulence,
the dissipation of energy by impact and diffusion of the high velocity flow in
the mass of water.
 Types of Energy Dissipators

 Depending upon the energy to be dissipated and erosion control required

downstream of a dam, different types of energy dissipators may be used.
 The energy-dissipating devices can be broadly classified into two types.
1. Devices using a hydraulic jump for the dissipation of energy: internal
friction and turbulence
2. Devices using a bucket for the dissipation of energy: impact and
diffusion of the high velocity flow in the mass of water
Roller buckets
 Flip-buckets
 Choice of the energy-dissipating device at a given spillway is governed by
The tail water depth and
The characteristics of the hydraulic jump, if formed, at the toe.
  Hydraulic Jump Dissipators
 Hydraulic Jump
HJ is a natural phenomena that occurs when supercritical flow changes to
subcritical flow. It is an effective device for reducing the exit velocity to a
tranquil state. A properly designed HJ basin ensures 60-70% energy
dissipation.

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 Quiz _one
1) What are the Spillway , Write its necessity and Where are they provided?
2) Write different types of Spillways (a) Based on its prominent structure and
(b) Based on its purpose
3) What is an ogee Spillway and how is it designed
4) A shaft Spillway is located ----------------
(a) Inside the body of a gravity dam (c) Inside the downstream reservoir
(b) Inside the upstream reservoir (d) On the side flanks of the main dam
5) The spillway can be best built independently of the dam when there is
(a) deep narrow gorge with steep slopes
(b) deep narrow gorge with steep slopes separated from a flank by a hillock with its
level above the top of the dam
(c) wide gorge with a gradual slope
(d) wide valley with moderate slopes