Directorate of Technical Education

Assignments for B.E. SEM - VII

DESIGN OF HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES (3170621)

Module – I: Types of Dams and Foundation Treatment

1. Discuss in brief merits and demerits of various types of dams.

2. Discuss in detail factors affecting selection of dam type.
3. Classify various types of Dam and write down merits and demerits of each.
4. Discuss factors affecting for the selection of dam site in detail.
5. Discuss factors governing the selection of type of dam.

Module – II: Gravity dams

1. Distinguish clearly between a low gravity dam and high gravity dam. Derive an expression
used for such a distinction.
2. Draw a neat sketch of elementary profile of dam.
3. The figure 1 gives the profile of a gravity dam with reservoir level as shown. If the
coefficient of friction is 0.75, is the dam safe against sliding? Take weight density of
concrete = 2.4 ton/cum

4. Enlist the various forces acting on gravity dam as per IS -6512 and discuss in detail uplift
and wave pressure.
5. Explain the step by step method of designing a high gravity dam.
6. Show forces acting on a gravity dam with sketch.
7. Classify concrete dams. Briefly discuss each type.
8. Discuss stepwise analytical procedure for analyzing the stability of gravity dam.
9. Justify the statement ‘Roller compacted concrete gravity dam is more economical than
other dams.’
10. Discuss the properties of concrete used in the construction of a gravity dam.
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L. D. College of Engineering Page 1
11. Write a short note on ‘cracking of concrete during the construction of gravity dam & its
remedial measures’.
12. Explain how you would account for earthquake effects in design of a gravity dam.
13. Describe graphical method of stability analysis of dam.
14. Describe various modes of failure of a concrete gravity dam.
15. What is meant by the elementary profile of a gravity dam and how is it deduced? What
should be the maximum depth of elementary profile of a dam if the safe limit of stress on
the masonry should not exceed 150 tones per m2. Assume unit weight of masonry = 2.4
16. A gravity dam is 10 m high. It has a top width of 1 m and base width 9 m. The front face is
vertical. Assume that the weight of concrete is 2400 kg/m3 and thewater is stored up to the
top of the dam. ( Density of water 1000 kg/m3) (a) Test the stability against overturning.
(b) Determine compressive stresses and principal stresses at the toe and heel of the dam.
(c) Calculate shear stress at the toe and heel of the dam. Consider only self weight of dam and
water pressure.
17. Explain Uplift forces, Drainage gallery and Construction joints.
18. Write down computation of seepage rate using flow net.
19. Define with neat sketch: Dam, Spillway, Energy dissipater, Axis of gravity dam, Hydraulic
height of dam, Structural height of dam, Length of dam.
20. Design only a practical section for a. gravity dam when the following data are available.
HFL of dam 831.0 m
Lowest B.L. at dam site 801.0 m
Specific gravity of dam material 2.4
Max. permissible stress in compression = 1.3 N/mm2
Density of water = 1 t/m3
Velocity of wind = 25 Kmph
Fetch of water for such wind = 40 Km
21. Write a note on foundation problems for dams and their remedies.
23. Explain how Water, Wave, Ice, & Silt pressure that act on gravity dam with neat sketch.
24. Distinguish clearly between a low gravity dam and high gravity dam. Derive an expression
used for such a distinction. Determine the critical height of a gravity dam, taking the
specific gravity of concrete as 2.40 and allowable compressive stress as 3340 KN/m2.
25. Draw the elementary profile of a gravity dam and explain various forces acting on it.
26. Explain stability requirements of a gravity dam.
27. Explain various modes of failure of gravity dam. .
28. Explain analytical method for stability analysis of a gravity dam.
29. Discuss various external forces acting on a gravity dam.
30. Write a short note on inspection galleries and contraction joints in gravity dam.

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 Module – III: Earth and Rock-fill Dams:

1. Discuss in brief the causes of failure of earthen dams.

2. Classify earthen dams with suitability of each.
3. What is meant by pore pressure and what is its significance in design of earthen dams?
4. A flow-net is plotted for homogeneous earthen dam of height 22 m and freeboard 2.0
Number of potential drops and flow channels are 10 and 4 respectively. The dam has a
horizontal filter of 30 m length at a downstream end and the coefficient of permeability of
the dam material is 5 x 10-4 cm/sec. Calculate the discharge per m run of the dam.
5. Write short notes on a) World Commission on Dams b) Uses of flow-net for earthen dams.
6. Discuss the Swedish slip circle method for checking the stability of downstream slop under
steady seepage condition.
7. Describe with neat sketches various methods adopted for controlling seepage through the
body of an embankment dam and through foundation.
8. Explain different types of settlements in a rockfill dam. How they can be eliminated?
9. Explain various conditions for which the stability of the side slopes of an earthen dam
needs to be analyzed.
10. Write design features for good construction of embankment dam.
11. Explain how construction operation is carried out in earthen dams?
12. Explain the method of plotting phreatic line for an earth dam with horizontal filter at
downstream.
13. What precaution and remedial measures would you undertake to control the seepage
through (i) Earthen dam body (ii) Through the dam foundations.
14. In order to find the factor of safety of d/s slop during steady seepage, the section of the
dam was drawn to scale of 1 cm = 4 m, and the following results obtained on a critical slip
circle: Area of N rectangle = 14.4 sq. cm , Area of T rectangle = 6.4 sq. cm , Area of U
rectangle = 4.9 sq. cm , Length of arc = 12.6cm . Laboratory tests have furnished values of
260 for effective angle and 0.195kg/cm2 for cohesion. Unit weight of soil = 1.9 g/cm3,
Determine the factor of safety of the slope.
15. What is rolled fill earth dam and hydraulic fill earth dam?
16. Explain hydraulic failures and seepage failures of earthen dams.
17. Give criteria for safe design of earth dam.
18. Explain methods of reduction of uplift pressure with neat sketch.
19. Describe with neat sketch how to seepage line is drawn in homogeneous earth dam without
any drainage arrangement?
20. Discuss briefly the structural failure of earthen dam.
21. Discuss measures to control seepage through earth dam and their foundation.
22. Describe hydraulic and seepage failure of earthen dam.
23. Describe the method used for analyzing stability of slope of an earthen dam.
24. Discuss seepage control in earthen dam.

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L. D. College of Engineering Page 3
 Module – IV: Spillways, Sluices and Crest Gates

1. Why spillways are considered ‘safety valve’ for dams. Classify and write suitability of
various spillways.
2. Write design principles of four major parts of an ogee spillway with governing equations.
3. Explain the following terms:
(i) Chute blocks (ii) Sills and Dentated Sills
4. Define spillway. What is the purpose to provide it? What are the essential requirements?
Where the spillway is located?
5. What is stilling basin? Why they are provided? Enlist the components of it.
6. Differentiate Jump Height Curve (J.H.C.) and Tail Water Curve (T.W.C.). What are the
different possibilities of occurrence of J.H.C. and T.W.C.?
7. Discuss Bucket types of energy dissipaters with neat sketches.
8. Define ‘Energy dissipaters’. What are the needs to provide it?
9. What are the different kinds of spillways and how are they selected for individual
conditions?
10. Write short note on Spillway Gates.
11. Write down comparison between USBR type stilling basin and IS type stilling basin.
12. Describe briefly an ogee spillway. .
13. Classify spillways and discuss any one in detail. Give essential requirements of spillway.
14. Describe design features of chute spillway.
15. An overflow spillway with its upstream face vertical is to be design for a flood of 7200
cumec. Height of spillway crest above river bed is 52 m. The end walls of spillway are 75
m apart and there are 5 piers, each 2 m wide. Determine total head over the crest of
spillway. Take C = 2.2, Ka = 0.10 and Kp = 0.01. Also draw spillway profile.
16. Describe various energy dissipation devices used below spillway in relation to the position
of jump height curve (JHC) and tail water rating curve (TWRC).
17. Determine the discharge through a chute spillway of ogee crest; length of spillway is
250m, height of spillway crest above u/s approach channel is 10m, width of approach
channel is 250m and depth of water over spillway crest is 5m.

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 Module –V: Energy Dissipators

1. Compute the discharge over an ogee weir with coefficient of discharge equal to 2.4 at a
head of 2 m. The length of spillway is 100 m. The weir crest is 8 m above the bottom of
the approach channel having the same width as that of the spillway. (consider velocity of
approach)
2. Write short notes on a) Sarda type fall b) Cross regulator.
3. Describe various design principles of cross regulator and distributary head regulator.
4. Write short note on cross regulator.
5. What is a fall in canal? Write necessity of a fall and governing factors in locating a fall.
6. Discuss the various considerations according to which the location of a fall is decided?
7. Write design principles of Sarda type fall.
8. What is HR & CR? Enlist functions of each with neat sketches.
9. Write design principles of glacis type fall.
10. Draw a neat layout of diversion head works and indicate the various components of the
system. Briefly indicate the function of each component.
11. A horizontal apron of 16 m length a sheet pile is provided at 12 m distance from the
upstream end. The sheet pile is of 4 m depth. The weir on the floor stores water upon 3 m
height. Calculate uplift pressures at both faces of the sheet pile just below the floor and
also at lower end of the sheet pile.
12. Design a sarda type fall on a channel of 15cumecs, bed width 18m, depth 1.5m, u/s FSL
101m, bed level 99.5m, NSL 90.0, fall 1.0m and side slope 1/2:1.
13. Describe the procedure for designing a head regulator for distributary.
14. Describe with neat sketches various types of bucket type energy dissipaters.
15. Enumerate various factors deciding location of canal fall.

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L. D. College of Engineering Page 5