Dams are structures that block the flow of a river, stream or other waterways.

Some dams divert

the flow of water into a pipeline, canal, or channel. Others raise the level of inland waterways to
make them navigable by ships and barges. Many dams harness the energy of falling water to
generate electric power. Moreover, it also hold water for drinking and crop irrigation and provide
flood control.

Dams are built for the following purposes:

1. irrigation and drinking water
2. Power supply
3. Navigation
4. Flood control
5. Multi purposes

Figure 1. The Three Gorges Dam in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China (retrieved from google.com).

Types of Dams
1. Gravity dams use only the force of gravity to resist water pressure- that is, they hold back
the water by the sheer force of their weight pushing downward. To do this, gravity dams
must consist of a mass so heavy that the water in a reservoir cannot push the dam
downstream or tip it over. They are much thicker at the base than the top- a shape that
reflects the distribution of the forces of the water against the dam. Gravity dams are
relatively thin near the surface of the reservoir when the pressure is light. A thick base
enables the dam to withstand the more intense water pressure at the bottom of the
reservoir.
 Figure 2. Typical cross-section of a Gravity dam

2. Embankment dam is a gravity dam formed out or lose rock, earth or a combination of
these materials. The upstream and downstream slopes of embankment dams are flatter
than those of concrete gravity dams. In essence, they more closely match the natural
slope of a pile of rocks or earth.
3. Arch dams are concrete or masonry structures that curve upstream into a reservoir,
stretching from one wall of a river canyon to the other. This design, based on the principles
as the architectural arch and vault, transfers some water pressure onto the walls of the
canyon. Arch dams require a relatively narrow river canyon with solid rock walls capable
of withstanding the significant amount of horizontal thrust. These dams do not need to be
as massive as gravity dams because the canyon walls carry part of the pressure exerted
by the reservoir.

Figure 3. Cross-section of an Arch dams

4. Buttress dam consists of a wall, or face, supported by several buttresses on the

downstream side. The vast majority of buttress dams are made of concrete that is
reinforced with steel. Buttresses are typically spaced across the dam site every 6 to 30m
(20 to 100 ft), depending upon the size and design of the dam. Buttress dams are
sometimes called hollow dams because the buttresses do not form a solid wall stretching
across a river valley.
 Figure 4. Cross-section of a Buttress dam

Analysis of Gravity Dam

Figure 5. Typical section of a gravity dam showing the possible forces acting

Steps of Solution
With reference to Fig. 22, for the purpose of illustration, an assumption was made in the shape of
the uplift pressure diagram.
I. Consider 1-unit (1m) length of dam perpendicular to the sketch.
 II. Determine all the forces acting.
A. Vertical forces
1. Weight of the dam
𝑊1 = 𝛾𝑐 𝑉1 ; 𝑊2 = 𝛾𝑐 𝑉2 ; 𝑊3 = 𝛾𝑐 𝑉3
2. Weight of water in the upstream side (if any)
𝑊4 = 𝛾𝑐 𝑉4
3. Weight of permanent structures on the dam
4. Hydrostatic Uplift
𝑈1 = 𝛾𝑉𝑢1
𝑈2 = 𝛾𝑉𝑢2
B. Horizontal Force
1. Total Hydrostatic Force acting at the vertical projection of the submerged
portion of the dam,
𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
2. Wind Pressure
3. Wave Action
4. Floating Bodies
5. Earthquake Load

III. Solve for the reaction

A. Vertical Reaction, Ry
𝑅𝑦 = 𝛴𝐹𝑣
𝑅𝑦 = 𝑊1 + 𝑊2 + 𝑊3 + 𝑊4 − 𝑈1 − 𝑈2
B. Horizontal Reaction, Rx
𝑅𝑥 = 𝛴𝐹ℎ
𝑅𝑥 = 𝑃

IV. Moment about Toes

A. Righting Moment, RM (rotation towards the upstream side)
𝑅𝑀 = 𝑊1 𝑥1 + 𝑊2 𝑥2 + 𝑊3 𝑥3 + 𝑊4 𝑥4
B. Overturning Moment, OM (rotation towards the downstream side)
𝑂𝑀 = 𝑃𝑦 + 𝑈1 𝑧1 + 𝑈2 𝑧2
V. Location of the Ry (𝑥̅ )

𝑹𝑴 − 𝑶𝑴
̅=
𝒙
𝑹𝒚
where:
γ = unit weight of water = 9.81 kN/m3 or 1000 kg/m3
γc = unit weight of concrete, =2.4γ, usually taken as 23.5 kN/m3

Factors of safety
Factor of safety against sliding, FSs:
 𝝁𝑹𝒚
𝑭𝑺𝒔 = >𝟏
𝑹𝒙
Factor of safety against overturning, FSo
𝑹𝑴
𝑭𝑺𝒐 = >𝟏
𝑶𝑴
where:
μ = coefficient of friction between the base of the dam and foundation

Foundation Pressure

For e ≤ B/6
From combined axial and bending stress formula:

𝑹𝒚 𝟔𝒆
𝒒=− (𝟏 ± ) , 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆 ≤ 𝑩/𝟔
𝑩 𝑩

Note: Use (+) to get the stress at point where Ry is nearest. In the diagram shown above,
use (+) to get qT and (-) to get qh. A negative stress indicates compressive stress and a
positive stress indicates tensile stress.
Since soil cannot carry any tensile stress, the result of the aforementioned equation is invalid if
the stress is positive. This will happen if e>B/6. Should this happen, the following formula will be
used.

when e>B/6

𝟐𝑹𝒚
𝒒𝒆 =
̅
𝟑𝒙
Sample Problem (CE Board May 1992)
A gravity dam of trapezoidal cross-section with one face vertical and horizontal base is 22m high
and has a thickness of 4m at the top. Water upstream stands 2m below the crest of the dam. The
specific gravity of masonry is 2.4
A. Neglecting hydrostatic uplift
1. Find the base width B of the dam so that the resultant force will cut the extreme edge
of the middle third near the toe.
2. Compute the factors of safety against sliding and overturning. Use μ=0.5.
B. Considering uplift pressure to vary uniformly from hydrostatic pressure at the heel to zero
at the toe.
1. Find the base width B of the dam so that the resultant force will act at the extremity of
the middle third near the toe.
2. Compute the maximum and minimum compressive stresses acting against the base
of the dam.
Figure:

Solution
A. Neglecting hydrostatic uplift:
I. Consider 1 m length of dam
II. Forces

III. Reaction
IV. Moment about the toe

V. Location of R
𝑅𝑥̅ = 𝑅𝑀 − 𝑂𝑀

Since the resultant force will pass through the extreme edge of the middle thirds
near the toe, 𝑥̅ = 𝐵/3. Then,

Since the resultant force will pass through the extreme edge of the middle thirds
near the toe, 𝑥̅ = 𝐵/3. Then,
 VI. Factors of Safety

Factor of Safety against sliding

Factor of safety against overturning

B. Considering Hydrostatic uplift

Foundation stress: