DAM

Prepared by
Muneer Ahmed
Department of Water Resources Engineering

Dam is a structure built across a STREAM,

RIVER, or estuary to store water. A
RESERVOIR is created upstream of the dam
to supply water for human consumption,
IRRIGATION, or industrial use.

Dam is the central structure in a multipurpose scheme

aiming at the conservation of water resources.
Auxiliary works for a dam include spillways, gates, or
valves to control the discharge of surplus water, an
intake structure and means for permitting boats or
fishes to cross the dam.

A spillway is a section of a dam designed

to pass water from the upstream side of
a dam to the downstream side.
Types of spillway include:
primary spillway,
auxiliary spillway,
emergency spillway,
fuse plug spillway etc.

Spillways

Flood Control
Irrigation
Water Storage
Mine Tailings
Debris Control
Water diversion
Land reclamation
Electrical Generation
Navigation

Irrigation

Electrical Generation

Land reclamation

Water diversion

Significant considerations when building a dam

include:
permeability of the surrounding rock or soil
earthquake faults
landslides and slope stability
water table
peak flood flow
reservoir silting
environmental impacts on river fisheries, forests
impacts on human habitations
compensation for land being flooded as well as
population resettlement
removal of toxic materials and buildings from the
proposed reservoir area

Dam erosion

Dam failure

I.

By size

II. By use
III. By structure

Large dams

Major dams

Major dams of the columbia river ecoregion

Major dams on sindhu river , Pakistan

By use dams can be classified as:

1.check dam
2.detention dam
3.diversionary dam
4.dry dam
5.saddle dam
6.storage dam
7.overflow dam
8.wing dam
9.cofferdam

A check dam
reduces flow
velocity and control
soil erosion.

Detention dams are constructed to minimize the

impact of flooding and to restrict the flow rate of a
particular channel.

A diversionary dam diverts all or a portion of

the flow of a river from its natural course.

A dry dam is designed to control flooding. It normally holds

back no water and allows the channel to flow freely, except
during periods of intense flow .

Saddle dam under construction

A saddle dam is an auxiliary dam constructed to

confine the reservoir created by a primary dam.

Storage dams are built to provide a reliable source of water

for short or long periods of time.

Storage dams

An overflow dam is designed to be over topped.

A weir is a type of small overflow dam that are often

used within a river channel .

A wing dam extends partway into a river and forces water into
a fast-moving center channel which reduces the rate of
sediment accumulation.

A cofferdam is a (usually temporary) barrier constructed

to exclude water from an area that is normally submerged.

By structure dams can be

classified as:

1. embankment dam
2. timber dam
3. arch dam
4. gravity dam
5. steel dam
6. beaver dam

Embankment dams are made from compacted earth,

they rely on their weight to hold back the force of water.

The San Luis Dam,California is an embankment dam

A Timber crib dam, Michigan

Timber dams were widely used early due to ease and speed of
construction. Rarely built in modern times by humans because
of relatively short lifespan and limited height.

Timber dams

In the arch dam, stability is obtained by a

combination of arch and gravity action.

Single arch dam

Multiple arch dam

In a gravity dam, stability is secured by making it of such a

size and shape that it will resist overturning, sliding and
crushing at the toe.

The Gilboa dam,NY is a solid gravity dam

A steel dam is a type of dam which uses steel plating (at an

angle) and load bearing beams as the structure.

Beaver dams are created as a protection against predators,

such as coyotes, wolves and bears, and to provide easy access
to food during winter.

Garbage accumulated because of a dam

-> Kaptai Dam

-> Rubber dams

Location- on the Karnafuli river at Kaptai in Rangamati

district, 65 km upstream of Chittagong.
Length- 670.56m
Height- 45.7m high
Width- 45.7m (at foundation level)
7.6m(at crest level)
The catchment area of the reservoir- 11,000 sq km
Since it is an earthen dam a 16-gated spillway (each 12.2m
by 11.3m) with discharge capacity of 625,000 cusec has been
constructed on the left side of the main dam.

Kaptai dam

Kaptai dam

Compared to concrete barrage and regulators rubber dams are cheaper and more flexible
and can be fully deflated during the flood season . Rubber dams can be as long as 100m
and used for irrigation , small-scale hydropower generation and rural water supply.

Rubber dams in BANGLADESH

Feature

Bakkhali Dam

Eidgaon Dam

Length (m)

84

52

Height (m)

3.5

256

80

1073

600

40

33.5

13

1200

800

14

Filling pump capacity (cu m/hr)

150

100

Filling/emptying time (hr)

8.1

8.1

Total cost (million Tk)

36

18

Maximum water retention depth (m)

Maximum overflow discharge (cumec)
Maximum flood flow (cumec)
Length of concrete floor (m)

Protective works (m):

Upstream
Downstream
Volume of inflated dam (cu m)
Weight of dam bag (ton)

About hoover dam

Official name- Hoover Dam
Impounds- Colorado River
LocaleNevada-Arizona United States
Length1244 ft (379 m)
Height726.4 ft (221 m)
Construction began- 1931
Opening date- 1936
Construction cost$49 million

Hoover dam

Hoover dam

Hoover dam

Aswan dam

Aswan dam

About Nurek dam

Nurek dam

Glen canyon dam

Three Gorges Dam

Thank You