University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
Earth Dame
Introduction
Earth embankments have been used since the earliest times to impound and divert
water. They are simple compacted structures that rely on their mass to resist sliding and
overturning and are the most common type of dam found worldwide. Modern haulage
methods and developments in soil mechanics since the end of the nineteenth century have
greatly increased the safety and life of these structures.
Earthen dams are the most ancient type of embankments, as they can be built with the
natural materials with a minimum of processing and primitive equipment. But in ancient
days, the cost of-carriage and dumping of the dam materials was quite high. However, the
modern developments in earth moving equipment have considerably reduced the cost of
carriage and laying of the dam materials.
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
Types of Earthen Dams
The earth dam can be of the following three types :
1. Homogeneous Embankment type
2. Zoned Embankment type
3. Diaphragm type.
These three types of dams are described below:
(1) Homogeneous Embankment Type: The simplest type of an earthen embankment
consists of a single material and is homogeneous throughout. A purely homogeneous section
poses the problems of seepage, and huge sections are required to make it safe against piping,
stability, etc. Due to this, a homogeneous section is generally added with an internal drainage
system: such as a horizontal drainage filter , rock toe, etc. The internal drainage system keeps
the phreatic line (i.e. top seepage line) wel1 within the body of the dam, and steeper slopes
and thus, smaller sections can be used. The internal drainage is, therefore, always provided
in almost all types of embankments.
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
(2) Zoned Embankment Type: Zoned embankments are usually provided with a central
impervious core, covered by a comparatively pervious transition zone, which is finally
surrounded by a much more pervious outer zone. The central core checks the seepage. The
transition zone prevents piping through cracks, which may develop in the core. The outer
zone gives stability to the central impervious fill and also distribute the load over a large area
of foundations.
(3) Diaphragm Type Embankments: Diaphragm type embankments have a thin
impervious core, which is surrounded by earth or rock fill. The impervious core, called
diaphragm, is mad of impervious soils, concrete, steel, or any other material. It acts as a
water barrier to prevent seepage through the dam. The diaphragm may be placed either at
the center as a central vertical core or at the upstream face as a blanket. The diaphragm must
also be tied to the bedrock or to a very impervious foundation material, if excessive
underseepage through the existing previous foundations has to be avoided. The diaphragm
type of embankments are differentiated from zoned embankments, depending upon the
thickness of the core. If the thickness of the diaphragm at any elevation is less than 10 meters
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 equals or exceeds
these limits, it is considered to be of zoned embankment type.
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
Preliminary section of earth dam
The preliminary design of earthen dam is done on the basis of past experiences and on
the performance of dams built in past. For designing purpose several parameters, given below
should be considered.
1. Top Width
2. Free Board
3. Side slopes
4. Central core
5. Filter design
6. Slope protection
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
1. Top width: The crest width of depends on considerations such as:
a. Nature of embankment materials and minimum allowable percolation distance
through the embankment at normal reservoir water level,
b. Height and importance of structure,
c. Possible roadway requirements,
d. Practicability of construction.
T = H/5 + 3 For very low dams with height H<10m
T = 0.55 H + H/5 For dams with height 10m<H<30m
T = 1.65 (H + 1.5)1/3 For dams higher than 30 m
Top width should not be less than 3 m for any height of the dam.
where H = the height of the dam and T = top width
2. Free board: Freeboard(FB) is the difference in the elevation of the crest of the dam
and the maximum water level in the reservoir which will result when the maximum flood
will occur. Sufficient freeboard must be provided so that there is no possibility whatsoever
of the dam being overtopped. The necessary freeboard is calculated by assuming that the
maximum flood will occur when the reservoir is full and that the highest possible waves
will develop at the same time. The minimum freeboard shall be 1.5 times the wave height
(for run up on riprapped slopes), plus a safety factor.
FB = 1.5 hw
hw=0.0322√FV + 0.763 – 0.271F0.25 For F<32 km
hw=0.0322√FV For F>32 km
Where:
V = wind velocity in km/hr.
F = fetch in km (The fetch, also called the fetch length, is the length of water over which a given wind has blown.
Fetch is used in geography and meteorology and its effects are usually associated with sea state
and when it reaches shore it is the main factor that creates storm surge which leads to coastal
erosion and flooding. It also plays a large part in long shore drift as well)
hw = wave height in meters
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
Recommended Values of Free Board given by U.S.B.R.
Nature of Height of Free board
spillway dam
Free Any Minimum 2 m and maximum 3 m over the maximum
flood level
Controlled < 60 m 2.5 m above the top of the gate
Controlled > 60 m 3 m above the top of the gate
3. Side slopes: No specific rules can be given for determining the side slopes of an earth
dam. The general procedure is that on the basis of experience with similar dams side
slopes are considered and the same are modified if necessary after the stability is
carried out. The side slopes of earth dams usually vary in the range between 2
horizontal to 1 vertical and 4 horizontal to 1 vertical. However, where the foundation
is weak side. The side slope of the earth dams depending on:
a. Character of materials
b. Foundation conditions
c. Height of the dam
d. Type of the dam ( zoned, homogenous, etc)
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
4. Central core: A zone of low permeability material in an embankment dam. Sometimes
referred to as "central core," "inclined core,". Core in zoned earth dam are provided for
reduce the seepage water through the earth dam and act as an impervious layer which define
with their low permeability of the material that used for the construction of the central core
usually clay material is provided for central core in zoned earth fill dam however, there are
other materials that used as a central core at different types of the dam such as: asphalt,
concrete,…….etc.
Cutoff trench is used as a foundation that extent the core to impervious layer of the
[Link] side of that in the case of large deep impervious layer under the foundation the
cutoff trench will not be economical to be provided until the impervious layer.
The thickness of core is governed by the following factors:
a. Seepage losses
b. Type of materials available for the core and shell.
c. Minimum width, which will permit proper construction.
min. 3m
1 1
1 1
Pervious layer
min. 4m
Impervious layer
5. Filter design: Filters in embankment dams are composed of specifically-designed
entities (zones) of coarser-grained soils placed at specifically-targeted locations within
or adjacent to the dam structure. Filters are designed and constructed to achieve
specific goals such as preventing internal soil movement and controlling drainage, and
are typically installed during new dam construction. Filters have also been added to
existing dams to meet specific requirements. If filters are not designed and constructed
correctly, embankment dams will have an increased probability of failure, which
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
endangers the public. The particular design requirements and site conditions of each
embankment dam are unique, and as such, no single publication can cover all of the
requirements and conditions that can be encountered during design and construction.
Therefore, it is critically important that embankment dam filters be designed by
engineers experienced with all aspects of the design and construction of embankment
dams.
purpose of drain:
a. Reduce the poor water pressure
b. Control any seepage water as it exists at the D/S portion.
Horizontal Drain
Toe Drain
Chimney Drain
Chimney Drain with core
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
6. Slope protection: The upstream slopes of earth fill dams must be protected against
destructive wave action. In some instances, provision must be made against burrowing
animals. The usual types of surface protection for upstream slopes are rock riprap,
either dry-dumped or hand-placed, and concrete pavement. Other types of protection
that have been used are steel facing, bituminous pavement, precast concrete blocks,
soil-cement pavement, and (on small and relatively unimportant structures) wood and
sacked concrete. The upstream slope protection should extend from the crest of the
dam to a safe distance below minimum water level (usually several feet). In some
cases, it is advantageous to terminate the slope protection on a supporting berm, but
this is generally not required.
Types of slope protection:
A. Dumped rock riprap
B. Hand-placed rock riprap
C. Concrete pavement
D. Soil-cement
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University of Thi-Qar
College of Engineering- Civil Engineering Department
Dams Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Sahib Alhamdani
Ex.: Give the preliminary section for an earth dam if you have this conditions:
Depth of water in the reservoir is 45m, wind speed=12 km/hr, Fetch=50 km, sand materials
available with clay, the foundation is pervious to 8m depth.
Sol.
Clay material is available use zoned section with chimney drain
The foundation is pervious to 8m depth use cutoff to 8m depth
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