A SEMINAR REPORT ON

“EARTHEN DAM”
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of the degree of
Bachelor of Technology
In
Civil Engineering

Submitted by
SWOSTIKA PALO
Regd no. 2101109122
(7th Semester, Section-B)

Guided by
Asst. Prof. Mrs. Swayam Siddha Dash
Asst. Prof. Mr. Saroj Kumar Sahu

Department of Civil Engineering

PARALA MAHARAJA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

SITALAPALLI, BERHAMPUR, GANJAM, ODISHA

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the report titled “EARTHEN DAMS” being submitted
by Swostika Palo to the Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Brahmapur,
Ganjam for the evaluation of internship for the degree of Bachelor of
Technology in Civil Engineering is a record of bonafide work carried out by
her and submitted to me.

The project work, in my opinion, has reached the requisite standard fulfilling
the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Technology.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is my proud privilege to release the feelings of my gratitude to several persons
who helped me directly or indirectly to conduct this seminar. I express my heart
full indebtedness and owe a deep sense of gratitude to my faculty member of
Parala Maharaja Engineering College for their sincere guidance and inspiration in
completing this seminar especially our Ma’am Asst. Prof. Mrs. Swayam Siddha
Dash.

I would like to express my deepest thanks of gratitude to our honorable

department H.O.D. sir Prof. JAGADISH MALLICK and principal sir for giving
me this opportunity to do this seminar under the guidance of great professors
which helped me not only increasing my knowledge but also professionalism for
which I’m very grateful to them.

Lastly, I would like to express my very great appreciation to my parents and

friends for encouraging me as well as supporting which made me work hard and
successfully complete this seminar report.
This seminar report would not have completed without their enormous help and
worthy experience. Whenever I was in need, they were a helping hand for me.

This study has indeed helped me to explore more knowledgeable avenues related
to my topic i.e. “EARTHEN DAM”.

Sincerely,

Swostika Palo

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 CONTENTS
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................................................... 3
2. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................5
3. EARTHEN DAM ..........................................................................................................................5
4. PARTS OF EARTHEN DAM...........................................................................................................6
5. TYPES OF EARTHEN DAM ......................................................................................................... 7
6. METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION………..........................................................................................9
7. DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHEN DAM …………......................................................................... 10
8. DESIGN FOR SLOPE STABILITY OF EARTHEN DAM ................................................................... 10
9. CAUSES OF FAILURE OF EARTHEN DAM .................................................................................. 11
10. APPLICATIONS OF EARTHEN DAM .........................................................................................14
11. LARGEST AND LONGEST DAM IN INDIA ……….........................................................................15
12. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES……….............................................................................16
13. CONCLUSION……….……………………………………………..................................................................18
14. REFERENCE............................................................................................................................ 19

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 INTRODUCTION
Dams can vary in size and design, but they generally involve impounding water
on one side and releasing it in a controlled manner on the other. They play a crucial
role in managing water resources and supporting various human activities. There are
different types of dams. Those are-
1. Gravity dams
2. Arch dams
3. Earthen dams
4. Buttress dams
5. Arch-gravity dam
6. Concrete faced rockfill dams
7. Solid and hollow masonry dam

EARTHEN DAM
• Earthen dams are the most ancient type of dams made up of soil, rocks, and
other natural materials. It is also known as “embankment dam”.
• These dams are constructed where the foundation material are weak to support
the masonry dam.
• These dams are relatively smaller in height and broad at the base.

Figure 1: Earthen Dam [1]

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 PARTS OF EARTHEN DAM

I. Embankment: The primary structure of the dam, built up using layers of

compacted earth or rock fill.
II. Core: A central core made of impermeable material, such as clay or
concrete, to prevent water from seeping through the dam.
III. Sloped sides: Unlike gravity dams, earthen dams have sloped sides for
stability, with gentler slopes facing the reservoir and steeper slopes facing
downstream.
IV. Filters and drains: Included to manage seepage and prevent erosion,
typically consisting of layers of gravel, sand, and drainage pipes.
V. Spillways: Designed to safely release excess water during high flow periods,
preventing overtopping of the dam and potential failure.
VI. Toe: The base or bottom edge of the dam where it meets the ground,
providing stability and anchorage.
VII. Crest: The top of the dam, where it reaches its highest elevation. The crest
may include features such as a roadway, footpath, or barrier to prevent
overtopping.

Figure 2: Parts of Earthen Dam [2]

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 TYPES OF EARTHEN DAM
The earthen dam can be of following three types:
1. Homogeneous Embankment type
2. Zoned Embankment type
3. Diaphragm type

Homogeneous embankment type:

I. It Is the simplest type of an earthen embankment consists of a single
material so homogeneous throughout.
II. Only one type of economically or locally available material used.
III. Because of purely homogeneous it possesses the problem of seepage so
huge sections are required to make it safe against piping and stability etc.
IV. Used for low to moderately high dams.

Figure 3: Homogenous Embankment Type Without Drainage Filter [2]

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 Figure 4: Homogenous Embankment Type with Drainage Filter [2]

Zoned Embankment Type:

I. These types of embankments are widely constructed
II. Materials of zones are selected as per their availabilities.
-For central impervious layer used material is clay+fine sand.
-For outer shell coarse sand and gravels are used for draining water freely.
-In between the inner zone and outer zone transition filter is provided.
III. The central core checks the seepage.
IV. The transition zone prevents piping through cracks that develop in the
core.
V. The outer zone gives stability to the central impervious fill and also
distribute the load over a large area of foundation.

Figure 5: Zoned Embankment Type [2]

Diaphragm type Embankments:

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 I. This type of embankment has a thin impervious core, which is surrounded
by earth or rock fill. The impervious core called rock fill.
II. It acts as a water barrier to prevent seepage through the dam.
III. The diaphragm may be placed either at the center as a central vertical core
or at the upstream face as a blanket.
IV. If the thickness of the diaphragm at any elevation is less than 10 m or less
than the height of the embankment above the corresponding elevation, the
dam embankment is considered to be of ‘diaphragm type’.
But if the thickness exceeds these limits it is considered to be of ‘zoned
embankment type’.

Figure 6: Diaphragm Type Embankment [2]

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION
There are two methods for constructing earthen dams:
(1) Hydraulic-fill Method
(2) Rolled-fill Method

Hydraulic-fill Method:
I. In this method of construction, the dam body is constructed by excavating
and transporting soils by using water.
II. Pipes called flumes, are laid along the outer edge of the embankment and the
soil materials are mixed with water and pumped into these flumes.
III. The slush is discharged through the outlets in the flumes at suitable intervals
and flowing towards the center of the bank, to settle down.

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IV. Since the fill is saturated when placed, high pore pressures develop in the
core material, and checked for these pressures. This type of embankment is
susceptible to settlement over long periods.

Rolled-fill Method:
I. The embankment is constructed by placing suitable soil materials in thin
layers (15 to 30 cm) and compacting them with rollers.
II. The soil is brought to the site from burrow pits and spread by bulldozers, etc.
in layers and these are compacted by rollers of designed weights.
III. Ordinary road rollers can be used for low embankments; while power-
operated rollers are to be used for dams.
IV. The best compaction can be obtained at a moisture content somewhere near
the optimum moisture content. Compaction of coarse gravels can be done by
vibrating equipment.

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EARTHEN DAM

I. Sufficient low permeability to be achieved.
II. Sufficient spillway and outlet capacities to be provided.
III. Sufficient free board to be provided.
IV. The phreatic line(seepage) should be well within downstream face of the
dam.
V. There should be no possibility of free flow of water from upstream to
downstream face of dam.
VI. Upstream should be protected against wave action by ripraps.
VII. Upstream should be protected against erosion due to rain.
VIII. Proper drainage filter should be provided.
IX. Upstream and downstream slopes to be designed for safety against worst
condition.
X. Upstream and downstream slopes provide sufficient bottom width for
safety against shear stress.

DESIGN FOR SLOPE STABILITY OF EARTHEN DAM

I. An earth embankment usually fails, because of the sliding of a large soil

mass along a curved surface.
II. The surface of slip is usually close to cylindrical.
III. The method used for examining the stability of slopes of an earthen
embankment is called the “Swedish slip circle method” or “The slices
method”.

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 IV. For stability of slopes of earthen dam, we have to design the structure for
worst condition.
V. So, we have to identify the location of the center of the critical slip circle,
pore pressure from flow net, stability of downstream slope during steady
seepage, stability of upstream slope during sudden drawdown and stability of
the foundation against shear.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF EARTHEN DAM

• Earth dams are more rigid less rigid and hence more susceptible to failure.
• Earthen dams may fail due to improper design, faulty construction, lack of
maintenance etc.
• The various causes leading to the failure of earth dams can be grouped into
the following three class:

1. Hydraulic failure
2. Seepage failure
3. Structural failure

Hydraulic Failure
About 40% of earth dam failures have been attributed to these causes. The failure
occurs due to the following reasons-

I. By over topping:
a. If the spillway is of insufficient capacity
b. If the spillway gates are not properly operated
c. If the design flood is underestimated, the water may overtop the
dam.

Precaution: By provide sufficient capacity of spillway and proper considering

the design flood

II. Erosion of upstream:

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 a. The waves developed near the top water surface due to the winds,
try to notch out the soil from the upstream face and cause the slip of the
upstream slope.

Precaution: by providing upstream stone pitching or riprap this type of

failure can avoided.
III. Erosion of downstream face by gully formation:
a. Heavy rains falling directly over the downstream face and the
erosive action of the moving water, may lead to the formation of gullies
on the downstream face ultimately leading to the dam failure.
Precaution: this can be avoided by proper maintenance, filling the cuts
from time to time especially during the rainy season, by grassing the
slopes.

Seepage failure
Controlled seepage is inevitable in all earth dam and it does not produce any
harm, but uncontrolled seepage through the dam body or through its foundation
may lead to piping or sloughing action.
More than 1/3rd of the earth dams has failed because of these reasons-

I Piping through foundation:

a. When highly permeable cavities or strata of coarse sand or gravel
are present in foundation of dam water may start seeping at a huge rate
through them this is known as piping.
b. The concentrated flow at a high gradient may erode the soil.
c. It leads to increased flow of water and soil, resulting in a rush of
water and soil by creating hollows below the foundation.
d. Due to this the dam may sink down into the hollow so formed
causing its failure
Precaution: by providing cutoff walls.

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 Figure 13: Piping through Foundation [2]

II Piping through the dam body:

a. When the concentrated flow channels get developed in the body of
the dam, soil may be removed in the same manner as was in the piping
failure.
b. These flow channel develop due faulty construction, insufficient
compaction.
c. Cracks developed in embankment due to foundation settlement
shrinkage cracks, animal burrows etc.
Precaution: Avoided by thoroughly and properly compacting the soils
near the outlet conduit and by preventing the possibilities of leakage
through conduit.

Figure14:PipingThroughtheDamBed [2]

III. Sloughing of D/s toe

a. The process behind the sloughing of the toe is somewhat similar to
that of piping.

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 b. It starts when the downstream toe becomes saturated and get eroded,
producing a small slump or miniature slide.

Structural failure
About 25% of the dam failures have been attributed to structural failure.
These failures are caused by shear failures that cause slides of soil.

I Foundation slide:
a. When the foundation of the earth dams are made of soft soils, such
as fine slits, soft clay, etc., the entire dam may slide over the foundation.
b. In this failure the top embankment gets cracked and subsides, the
lower slope moves outward forming large mud waves near the heel.
c. Excessive pore water pressure may reduce the shear strength leading
to the failure of the dam without warning.
d. Loose sand foundations may fail by the liquification or flow slides.

II Slide in embankments
a. When the embankment slopes are too steep for the strength of the
soil, they may slide causing dam failure.
b. The most critical condition of the slides is most likely to slide when
the reservoir is full.
c. The u/s slope failure seldom leads to catastrophic failure but d/s
slope failures are very serious.
d. Unaccounted pore pressure which may leads to the failure due to
reduction of shearing strength.

APPLICATIONS OF EARTHEN DAM

Earthen dams are widely used in civil engineering for various applications,
including:
1. Water Storage: Earthen dams are commonly used to impound water for
various purposes such as irrigation, municipal water supply, industrial water
storage, and flood control.
2. Hydropower Generation: Many earthen dams are built as part of
hydropower projects to create reservoirs that can be used to generate electricity
through the controlled release of water.

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 3. Flood Control: Earthen dams can be designed to mitigate the impact of
flooding by temporarily storing excess water during periods of high flow of water
and releasing it gradually.
4. Recreation: reservoirs created by earthen dams often provide
opportunities for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming and
wildlife observation.
5. Erosion Control: Earthen dams can be used to control soil erosion by
stabilizing slopes, preventing sediment runoff, and protecting downstream areas
from erosion.
6. Environmental Conservation: Dams can help in the conservation of
ecosystems by providing habitat for wildlife, regulating water flow, and
supporting wetland areas.
7. Water Supply: Dams can ensure a reliable supply of water for domestic,
agricultural, and industrial purposes by regulating water flow and storage.

EARTHEN DAMS IN INDIA

1. Bhakra Dam: Located in Himachal Pradesh. It forms the Bhakra Nangal
reservoir on the Sutlej River.
2. Tungabhadra Dam: Situated across the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka
and Andhra Pradesh.
3. Hirakud Dam: Located in Odisha, Hirakud Dam is built across the
Mahanadi River. It is one of the longest earthen dams in the world.
4. Sardar Sarovar Dam: Constructed on the Narmada River in Gujarat.
5. Indira Sagar Dam: Situated on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
6. Bargi Dam: Also located on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
7. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Constructed across the Krishna River in
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

LARGEST AND LONGEST DAM IN INDIA

Tehri Dam is the largest dam in India located in Uttarakhand. It is also one of
the tallest dams in world. Its is about 260.5 meters tall and has storage capacity
of around 2.6 cubic kilometers.

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Hirakud Dam is the longest earthen dam in India, situated in Odisha stretching
across Mahanadi River. The dam stretches for about 4.8 kilometers in length and
stands around 60 meters tall.
Banasura Sagar Dam in Kerala is India’s largest earthen dam and the second
largest in Asia.

(Banasura Sagar Dam) (Hirakud Dam)

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages of Earthen Dams:

1. Cost-Effectiveness: Earthen dams are often more cost-effective to
construct compared to concrete or masonry dams, primarily because they use
locally available materials such as soil and rock fill.
2. Flexibility: They can be constructed in a variety of terrains and are
adaptable to different site conditions, making them suitable for a wide range
of locations.
3. Construction Time: Earthen dams typically have shorter construction
times compared to other types of dams, which can lead to quicker project
completion and reduced overall costs.
4. Environmental Impact: They generally have lower environmental
impact during construction and operation compared to concrete dams, as they
require less excavation and use natural materials.
5. Seismic Stability: Earthen dams can exhibit good seismic stability due
to their flexible nature, which allows them to absorb and dissipate energy
during earthquakes.

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6. Versatility: They can serve multiple purposes such as flood control,
water storage, hydropower generation, irrigation, and recreation, providing a
versatile solution for water resource management.
7. Ability to Blend In: Earthen dams can be designed to blend in with the
surrounding landscape, minimizing visual impact and preserving the aesthetic
appeal of the area.

Disadvantages of Earthen Dams:

1. Seepage and Erosion: Earthen dams are prone to seepage and erosion,
potentially leading to structural weakness and failure.
2. Height Limitations: Building very tall earthen dams can be challenging
due to stability concerns, requiring extensive engineering.
3. Maintenance Needs: Regular upkeep is essential to address issues like
vegetation, growth, erosion, seepage, and stability monitoring, which can be
labor-intensive and costly.
4. Weather Vulnerability: Extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall or
droughts, can impact the stability and performance of earthen dams, necessitating
careful management.
5. Long-Term Settlement: Settlement or consolidation over time, especially
in compressible soils, can affect structural integrity and require ongoing
remediation.
6. Limited Lifespan: Compared to concrete dams, earthen dams may have a
shorter lifespan due to factors like erosion, settlement, and material aging,
necessitating replacement or significant rehabilitation.
7. Environmental Impact: While they have lower environmental impact
during construction, earthen dams can still disrupt ecosystems, alter water flow,
and affect habitats if not properly managed.

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 CONCLUSION

Earthen dams represent a viable and often preferable option for water
resource management, flood control, and hydropower generation projects. Their
cost-effectiveness, adaptability to site conditions, and relatively low
environmental impact make them attractive choices in many contexts. However,
it's essential to acknowledge the challenges and risks associated with earthen
dams, including seepage control, overtopping vulnerability, and long- term
stability concerns.
To maximize the benefits of earthen dams while minimizing risks, proper
design, construction, and maintenance practices are paramount. Engineers and
project stakeholders must carefully evaluate site conditions, assess potential
hazards, and implement appropriate risk management measures throughout the
project lifecycle. Continuous monitoring, maintenance, and periodic inspections
are essential to ensure the safety and reliability of earthen dams over time.
Overall, earthen dams play a significant role in meeting water management
needs worldwide, providing sustainable solutions for water storage, flood
mitigation, and renewable energy generation. With diligent planning, execution,
and stewardship, earthen dams can continue to serve as vital infrastructure assets,

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contributing to socio-economic development and environmental sustainability for
generations to come.

REFERENCES

1. g. images. [Online]. Available: https://images.app.goo.gl/D1JVbqRUPgNZZ1sPA.

2. s.k.Garg, hydrology and irrigation engineering(vol 2).
3. https://unacademy.com/content/gate/study-material/civil-engineering/earthen-dams/
4. https://images.app.goo.gl/euSToKM5nbjHK5dA8

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