Example 1

For concrete gravity dam section shown below:

a) Check the stability for reservoir empty and reservoir full condition neglecting seismic
forces.
b) Check the stability by considering seismic forces with a seismic coefficient v h 0.10
Additional data: c 24KN / m 3 , w 9.81KN / m3 , f 0.70, S 3MPa, 1.0
75.00
62.50
72.00

u 5.710
d 35 0
m

45.00

0.00

7m
a) Without Considering the Earthquake Condition
Case I
Table1: Reservoir Empty condition
Item
Description
Vertical
Horizonta Lever
Force
l Forces
arm
(KN/m)
(KN/m)
W1 0.5*24*45*4.5*1 2430
52.75
W2 24*7.5*75*1
13500
47.5
W3 0.5*24*43.75*6 32812.50
29.17
2.5
Total
V1 48742.5

Moment
Mr
128182.50
64125.00
957140.60

176573.13

Mo

Case II
Table2: Reservoir Full Condition
Item
Description
Vertical Force
(KN/m)
W1
W2
W3
P
PV1
PV2
PU1
PU2
PU3

0.5*24*45*4.5*1
24*7.5*75*1
0.5*24*43.75*62.5
Total
0.50*9.81*722*1
4.5*27*9.81*1
0.5*4.5*45*9.81*1
1
* 72 * 9.81 * 7 *1
3
2
1
* 72 * 9.81 * 7 *
3
2
1 1
* * 72 * 9.81 * 48.85
2 3

2430
13500
32812.50
48742.50

Lever
arm
52.75
47.5
29.17

25427.52

Moment
Mr

Mo

128182.5
64125.00
957140.6
1726573.13

1191.92
993.26

24
53.5
54.25

-1648.08

52.25

86112.18

-1648.08

53.42

88040.43

-5738.85

32.5

Total

Horizontal
Forces
(KN/m)

41892.67

25427.52

610260.48
63767.72
53884.36

186512.63
1844225.41 970925.72
M 2 25427.52

Case I Reservoir Empty Condition

If X is he distance of the point P of the intersection of the resultant force with the base
from toe of the dam, then

M 1 35.42m
X
V1
The distance of p from midpoint of the base i.e.:

B 55.75
B 55.75
X
35.42 7.545 And

9.29
2
2
6
6

B
, which implies with in the middle third no tension at the base
6
The stresses at different locations of the dam are:
V (1 6 * ) 1584.26KPa
max (heel )
B
B

1 max * secu

Principal Stress = 1584.26* (

1
) 2 160010 KPa
cos 5.71

Case II Reservoir full Condition

Location of the resultant from toe:

M
V

873299.49
20.846m
41892.67
2
B 55.75
X
20.846 7.029 (D/s of the middle third point of the dam)
2
2
B 55.75

9.29
6
6
B
, R is within the middle third point
6
The stresses at different locations of the dam are:
V (1 6 * ) 1319.89KN / m
max (toe)
B
B
X

1 max * sec2 u max * (1 m) 1966.64KPa

At heel, min 182.99KPa
1 at u / s 18299 * (1.01) 7.0632(0.1) 2 114.19KPa
The factor of safety against overtopping:
M R 1.895 1.50 Safe
F .S
Mo
Facto of safety against sliding
V1 1.15 1.0 Safe
F .S
H1
Shear friction factor,
f V1 r * S * A 0.7 * 4189.67 0.5 *10 3 * 55.57
S .S .F

4.44 4 Safe
25427.52
H1
Therefore, the dam is stable for with earthquake!

b) Considering Seismic Forces

Table3: Reservoir with seismic Condition
Item

W1
W2
W3
P
PV1
PV2
PU1
PU2
PU3

Description

0.5*24*45*4.5*1
24*7.5*75*1
0.5*24*43.75*62.5
Total
0.50*9.81*722*1
4.5*27*9.81*1
0.5*4.5*45*9.81*1

1
* 72 * 9.81 * 7 *1
3
2
1
* 72 * 9.81 * 7 *
3
2
1 1
* * 72 * 9.81 * 48.85
2 3
Total
Total net

v * V1

h *W1
1

h * W2
1

h * W3
1

Pe

Vertical forces
0.1*48742.5
Horizontal Forces

Vertical Force
(KN/m)

Horizontal
Forces
(KN/m)

2430
13500
32812.50
48742.50

Lever
arm
52.75
47.5
29.17

25427.52

Moment
Mr

Mo

128182.5
64125.00
957140.6
1726573.13

1191.92
993.26

24
53.5
54.25

-1648.08

52.25

86112.18

-1648.08

53.42

88040.43

-5738.85

32.5

186512.63

41892.67

610260.48
63767.72
53884.36

1844225.41
1

25427.52

-4874.25

970925.72

873299.48

35.42

172645.9

0.1*2430

243

15.00

2645.00

0.1*13500

1350

37.50

50625.00

0.1*32812.5

3281.25

20.83

68348.44

Hydrodynamic Pressure

2606.596

Total
Total Net

41892.67

37018.42

77293.10

25427.52

32908.366

1844225.21

970925.72

1844225.21

1342483.2

501742.01

Location of Resultant from toe

M 3 13.55m and T X_ 14.325 this shows 14.325>9.25

X
2
V3
Vertical Stress
The maximum stress is estimated as:
V 3 (1 6 * ) 1687.71KPa
max (toe)
T
T

1 max * sec2 u max * (1 m2 ) 2514.69KPa allowable

6*
) 1687.71KPa 359.695KPa Tension stress
T
T
Since the resultant does not fall within the middle third and the value of the tensile
stress is substantial so the dam is unsafe under seismic loading

max (toe)

(1