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Balustrades are provided at the end of the roads to prevent car falling off the slopes.
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10/3/2018 Design of Earthfill Dam Components
Sometimes there is chance of seepage occurrence due to capillary action of water to prevent
this, the height of central core should be minimum 1 m more than the maximum reservoir level
and its thickness should not less than 50% of maximum head of water.
Different types of soils classified based on gradation and their suitability for core construction is
tabulated below.
Table: Different Types of soils and their suitability for core construction
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Berms are provided on downstream side with a width of 1 – 2 m and at an height interval of 10
to 15 m.
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10/3/2018 Design of Earthfill Dam Components
The distance between normal and minimum freeboards is called surcharge head. For any type
of dam, adequate freeboard must be provided to prevent over-topping.
Additional freeboard of 1.5 m is provided if dam is situated in very low temperature regions.
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10/3/2018 Design of Earthfill Dam Components
The center line of cutoff should be within the base of impervious central core.
Bottom width of cutoff trench should be at least 4 m.
Back fill material used for cutoff trench should same as the material used for impervious
core.
The positive cutoff should be provided at least to a depth of 0.4 m into continuous
impervious sub-stratum.
If there is a weathered rock stratum or rock formation with cracks and joints is found then
cutoff trench should be terminated.
Upstream slope of dam is always subjected to wave action by water and deterioration of dam
may occur. To prevent this, 300 mm rock rip-rap layer is provided using stone boulders or hand
packed stones. It is constructed over 150 mm filter layer.
Downstream slope of dam may damage due to severe rains or during floods. The cheap and
best method to protect the slope on downstream side is by planting grass on it. Then the water
will easily slipped away from the surface.
Internal drainage system is provided for the safe disposal of seepage water. The filter material
generally used in this system is sand, gravel etc. The seepage water is disposed through four
stages which are as follows:
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10/3/2018 Design of Earthfill Dam Components
1. Chimney filter
2. Horizontal filter
3. Rock toe
4. Toe drain
Chimney filter is provided either vertically or with inclination on the downstream side of core.
The minimum thickness of chimney filter should be 1 m. Seepage water collected by the
chimney filter is received by the horizontal filter and transfers to the rock toe. Horizontal filter
thickness should also be minimum 1 m. chimney and horizontal filters are not necessary if the
head of water is 3 m or less.
Rock toe collects the water from horizontal filter and Carries to the toe filter. The height of rock
toe should be minimum 1 m or 20% of height of dam whichever is more. It is not necessary if
the height of dam is less than 3 m.
Toe drain is the last of internal drainage system which is arranged at the downstream toe of
dam. It collects the seepage water coming from rock toe and carries it into the surface drains.
The collected rain water is carried to the toe drain provided at the downstream toe through 15
cm diameter pipes.
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Sadanandam Anupoju
Sadananda is a Civil Engineer and is an Author, Editor and Partner of The Constructor since 2016.
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