Forces Acting on Dams

To design a dam, various forces must be

considered to insure the safety of the
:dam. The most important forces are
1. Weight of dam
2. Water Pressure
3. Uplift
4. Wave pressure
5. Earthquake forces

 Weight of Dam
The weight of the dam is calculated as
follows:

W m xVolume
Where m is the specific weight of the
dams material.

 Water Pressure
Water pressure acts perpendicular to the
surface of the dam and is calculated per
unit width as follows:

1
P wh2
2

Pw
h/3

Where w is the specific weight of water and

h is the height of water.

 Uplift
Dams are subjected to uplift force
under its base. Uplift acts upward.

1
U w hB
2

B/3
B

Where B is the width of the base of the

dam.

 Wave Pressure
The upper part of the dam (above the
water level) is subjected to the
impact of waves. The maximum
wave pressure per unit width is:
Pw

Pv 2.4 w hv

hw 0.375

Where hw is the wave height.

hw

Earthquake Forces
Dams are subjected to vibration during
earthquakes. Vibration affects both the
body of the dam and the water in the
reservoir behind the dam. Vibration
forces are function of both the intensity
(Rechter Scale) and its duration. The
most danger effect occurs when the
vibration is perpendicular to the face of
the dam.

 Body Forces:
Body force acts horizontally at the
center of gravity and is calculated as:

Pem W

0.1 W1
0.1 W2

W1
W2

Where is the earthquake coefficient

dam.
and W is the weight of the
Is
taken 0.2 for practical reasons.

 Water Force:
Water vibration produces a force on
the dam acting horizontally;
2
Pew C eh 2
3

Pew
2/5 h

Where Ce is another coefficient (0.82)

and h is the height of the water

 Example:
Calculate the forces on given dam if;
m = 2.5 t/m3, w =1 t/m3, hw = 1.5 m
m6
m 10

m 33

m 30

m 24

 1. Weight of water
W1=2.5 * 6 * 40 = 600 t
W2=2.5 *0.5*18*30
= 675 t
w1

2. Water Pressure
P = 0.5 * 1.0 * (33)2
= 544.5 t
P

w2

 3. Uplift
U = 0.5 * 1.0 * 33 * 24
= 396 t

4. Wave Pressure
Pw = 2.4 * 1.0 * 1.5
= 3.6 t
Pw

 5. Earthquake Forces
a. Body Forces
Pem1= 0.1 * 600
= 60 t
Pem2= 0.1 * 675

Pem1
Pew

= 67.5 t
b. water Force
Pew=(2/3)*0.82*0.1*(33)2
= 59.55 t

Pem2