GRAVITY DAM DESIGN 1. Uplift Pressure in Gravity Dams. Concrete dams are built in four basic shapes: the concrete gravity dam; the concrete buttress dam; the arch dam; and the arch-gravity dam. One of the most important problems in evaluation of seismic behavior of concrete gravity dams is dam-reservoir-foundation interaction. Applicability. Gravity dams are constructed from masonry or concrete. Failure of gravity dam occurs due to overturning, sliding, tension and compression. The dam material (i.e. Contents:Forces Acting on a Dam Structure1. Gravity dams are so named because they are held to the ground by gravity – they weigh a lot, and are typically made from concrete or stone. Reinforced-concrete Dam a dam built mainly from reinforced concrete, which provides structural strength.
Introduction. in the dam or foundation. The model comprises of two parts namely the concrete dam and the foundation rock. Construction of gravity dam Foundation. Gravity Dam is constructed of concrete and/or masonry and/or laid-up stone that relies upon its weight for stability. Gravity Dam 53. Gravity dams may be classified by plan as straight gravity dams and curved gravity A concrete gravity dam is a massive concrete structure, roughly triangular in shape, and designed so that its weight ensures structural stability against the hydrostatic pressure of the impounded water and other forces that may act on the dam. 2. Generally, they are constructed on a straight axis, but may be slightly curved or angled to accommodate the specific site conditions. The section of the gravity dam is approximately triangular in shape with its apex at its top and the maximum width at the bottom. 2. CLASSIFICATION OF DAMS: Dams are classified on several aspects, some of the important aspects are as follow: 1) Based on Hydraulic Design: Over flow dams (e.g. Concrete Gravitv Dams - It is important for a gravity or buttress dam to maintain its structural integrity and remain stable against sliding. Determination of various forces which acts on the structure is the first step in the design of dams. According to the conditions of water flow, reinforced-concrete dams may be of the fixed type (generally at high pressures) or the spillway type, with surface or subsurface openings (at various heads). A cross section of this dam looks like a triangle, and the wide base is about three-fourths of the height of the dam. LEARNING OUTCOME After this lecture, students should be able to (1). Engineers must de-water the river where the dam is meant to be built. A concrete gravity dam is a massive concrete structure, roughly triangular in shape, and designed so that its weight ensures structural stability against the hydrostatic pressure of the impounded water and other forces that may act on the dam. Dam - Dam - The modern dam: Most modern dams are of two basic types: masonry (concrete) gravity designs and embankment (earthfill or rockfill) designs. Chapter III Gravity Dams 3-0 Contents Title Page 3-1 Purpose and Scope 3-1 3-1.1 General 3-1 ... weights of concrete and superimposed back fill, and appurtenances such as gates and bridges. Hence, linear elastic model has been used represent the behavior of unreinforced concrete gravity dam. Types of Concrete Gravity Dams . (5) Houk, I.E. Buttress: A buttress dam is a specific type of gravity dam in which the large mass of concrete is reduced, and the forces are diverted to the dam foundation through vertical or sloping buttresses. Failure of gravity dam occurs due to overturning, sliding, tension and compression. of Civil and Env. Masonry dams are typically used to block streams running through relatively narrow gorges, as in mountainous terrain; although the structures may be very high, the total amount of material required for such sites is limited.
Gravity dams are solid concrete structures that maintain their stability against design loads from the geometric shape and the mass and strength of the concrete. (1992).