Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
(OP)
Dear Sirs,
I am designing a small dam for an irrigation project in Ethiopia.At the selected dam site,the valley is V-shaped with 240m wide at the top and maximum depth of 67.5m.The foundation consists of sound rock overlain by shallow/colluvium deposits.Both the right and left abutments at the dam site are very steep with average slope of 1V:1.7H and there is no saddle in the area.
Question;
Is there any possiblity to use embakment dam for this project?
Thank You,
I am designing a small dam for an irrigation project in Ethiopia.At the selected dam site,the valley is V-shaped with 240m wide at the top and maximum depth of 67.5m.The foundation consists of sound rock overlain by shallow/colluvium deposits.Both the right and left abutments at the dam site are very steep with average slope of 1V:1.7H and there is no saddle in the area.
Question;
Is there any possiblity to use embakment dam for this project?
Thank You,





RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
I would have to ask - should the dam breach, which is more probable with an earthen dam as opposed to a concrete gravity system, what would be the downstream social and economic impact?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Thank you for your comment.The feasibility study is already conducted and a rock fill dam is found much cheaper.However,the steep topography at the right and left abutment creates difficulty for provission of separate spillway.What do you suggest if the spillway is made to partly run over the dam body at the right or left abutment?
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
First is what geopave up there wrote, in that this is a considerable project, not just a small water reservior for a tiny community. This should be designed by an engineer(s) with considerable experience in dam building. Forgive me for saying, but not by an engineer who would need to post a question about dam design on this site.
That being said, in a gorge situation like this, with solid sides, I would be concerned how the embankment interacts with the sides. Seems like there would be potential for water migrating (and eroding) at the interface between solid rock sides and embankment.
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Your concern is correct.However,i dont see the danger of posting a problem for free discussion.Here ,its professionals who are discussing,and I think we are in the process of learning.Appologize if I miss your point.
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Good Topic you raised here,I am surely interested on all
the comments and advice they will give you.
I for one had experiences on Hydro Dams built in the Southeast.
I can say that you are on the early stage of the feaseble study.
Good luck on this project of yours i'll be checking on this topic and the possibility of embankment type for this situation and i'm excited to know that it could be possible, someone out here for sure is a master in this.
RE: Design of Gravity/Hollow Gravity Dam
Contact the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Golden, Colorado for design criteria listing Your known info. They have similar completed projects on file.
Re: earth fill versus concrete structure. Erosion can be re-filled but usually concrete cracks are a &#x%
Re: earth fill abutting existing. Grout Cap, Grout Cap, Grout Cap.
Last but not least. With reference tools,it takes one imaginative person a little time to prepare a design that takes a team of engineers much longer to approve and then paying a contractor $$$ to see if it works properly!!!
335 ft high X ~1.5 miles, Canadian River, Sanford, Texas
165 ft high X ~ 0.5 miles, Book Cliffs, Rifle, Colorado
185 ft high X ~ 1.5 miles, Colosseum Mine, Clark Mountain, Ca
At 74th year working on IR-One2 - - UHK PhD - - -