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

0.375 hw

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 and W

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

 Water Force:
Water vibration produces a force on the
dam acting horizontally;
2
Pew Ceh 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
6m
10 m

33 m

30 m

24 m

 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
P
= 60 t
Pem2= 0.1 * 675
= 67.5 t
b. water Force
Pew=(2/3)*0.82*0.1*(33)2
= 59.55 t

Pem1

ew

Pem2