Concrete Dam

Concrete Dam

Concrete Dam: Concrete Dams are Built in four basic shapes. The Concrete Gravity Dam has weight as its Strength. A cross section of this Dam looks like a Triangle, and the Wide base is about three-fourths of the height of the Dam. Water in the Reservoir upstream of the Dam pushes horizontally against the Dam, and the weight of the Gravity Dam pushes downward to counteract the Water pressure.

The Concrete Buttress: Dam also uses its weight to resist the Water force. These Buttresses may be narrow walls extending out from the face of the Dam, much like the "flying Buttresses" supporting Cathedral Walls or a single Buttress rather like a short Dam may be Built along the Width of the Toe of the Dam.
Arch Dam: The Arch Dam is one of the most Elegant of civil engineering Structures. In cross section, the Dam is narrow in width, but, when viewed from above, it is curved so the Arch faces the Water and the Bowl of the Curve looks Downstream. This Design uses the properties of Concrete as its Strength. Concrete is not strong in tension, but it is very strong in compression.

The Arch Dam: Uses the weight of the Water behind it to push against the Concrete and close any joints; the force of the Water is part of the Design of the Dam. The Arch Gravity Dam is a combination of the Arch type and Gravity type, as the name suggests; it is a Wider Arch shape. Multiple Arch Dams Combine the Technology of Arch and Buttress Designs with a number of Single Arches Supported by Buttresses.
Fill Dams: Concrete Dams are used more often than Fill Dams to produce Hydroelectric Power because Gates or other kinds of outlet Structures can be Built into the Concrete to allow for Water to be released from the Reservoir in a Controlled manner. When Water for Power, Drinking Water, or irrigation is needed Downstream, the Gates can be opened to release the amount needed over a specified time.

Water can be kept: Flowing in the River Downstream so Fish and other Wildlife can Survive. Both Concrete and Fill Dams are required to have emergency Spillways so that Flood Waters can be safely released Downstream before the Water flows over the top or crest of the Dam and Potentially erodes it. Spillways Channel the Water Downstream and well below the base or toe of the Dam so the Dam and its Foundation are not eroded.
Concrete or Masonry Dams: Most Dams Built in the twentieth Century and those being Designed today have several purposes. Over 40,000 Dams higher than 45 ft (15 m) and classified as large Dams exist. Of these Dams, 83% are Fill Dams used primarily for Water storage, and the remaining 17% are Concrete or Masonry Dams with multiple Purposes. Dams that generate Hydroelectric Power produce 20% of the Electricity in the World.

Raw Materials: Raw Materials for Concrete Dams are Concrete itself and steel ReinforCement number of other Materials and Components made by Contractors may be used in Dam Building and include Steel Gates and Tunnel Liners, Rubber Waterstops, Plastic Joint Filling Compounds to Prohibit the movement of Water, Electrical Controls and Wiring, Siphons, Valves, Power generators, a Wide assortment of instruments, and even Teflon Sheeting to Line Water outlet Structures to Prevent Turbulence and Cavitation.
Concrete made of Cement, Water and Materials: Mixing of Cement and Water causes a Chemical reaction that makes Concrete hard but that also releases heat. This causes a distinct rise in the Temperature inside a mass of Concrete, and, when the Concrete begins to Cool, it shrinks and cracks, Potentially causing leaks.

Concrete can be Placed: When the air Temperature is Low, Low heat Cement can be used, and Water can be circulated through pipes in the Concrete. The Concrete has to be Placed in Shallow Lifts and in Narrow Blocks; then it has to be allowed to Cure over a Specified Minimum time so the heat Dissipates. Depending on the Design of the Dam, Engineers will Choose the Concrete Mix very carefully; a thin Arch Dam is Designed with a different Concrete Mix than a Massive Gravity Dam.
Design: Overflow Dams block flow in a Stream and Harness the Water for generating Power or to improve Navigation. The components of an overflow Dam are Designed so the Water can be released and the level of the Water in the Reservoir regulated by a series of sluice Gates, Spillways, or Outlet Tunnels.

Non-Overflow Dams: Store Water for Drinking Water Supply, Irrigation, or Power; they also have a Spillway, but its use is restricted for emergencies to Lower the Water Level quickly during Floods. Methods for releasing the stored Water are much more limited than in Overflow Dams, and the Dam itself may not contain any Outlet Structures. Instead, Water may be Pumped out for irrigation, for example, from Part of the Reservoir.
Concrete Slabs or Steel plates supported on Piers: An Arch Dam is most appropriate for Construction in a high, narrow Gorge where the Arch of the Structural shape provides Strength. But an Arch can also be Built across a Wider Canyon where other effects like Friction on the base of the Dam add Strength and Resistance to Movement. A Gravity Dam is the typical choice for a Shallow, Wide Canyon, but if it is Built with some curvature, Arching action will also Strengthen a Gravity Dam in a Narrower and higher Gorge.

Riverbed: is exceptionally Wide, the Dam may be Designed to have Several Spans, each with different Engineering Properties Depending on the Variation of Foundation Materials. The Separate Spans are usually supported on the Downstream (air) side by Buttresses or the extended Curves of Multiple Arches. The Spans of Multiple Span Dams are Constructed of Concrete Slabs or Steel Plates supported on Piers.
Extensive Rounds of Preliminary Design: Concrete Dams go through extensive rounds of preliminary Design and feasibility studies to choose and explore the site, to evaluate the quantity of Water retained and its value versus the cost of the project over the anticipated years of operation, to consider a Wide range of other effects such as changes to the environment. A Design is chosen and tested against all these Factors, the next variation in Design is chosen and studied until it Fails or Passes.

Extensive Rounds of Preliminary Design: The Technical Professionals who Contribute their Design of a Concrete Dam may include Geologists, Seismologists, Environmental Scientists, Geotechnical (soil) Engineers, Civil engineers, Structural engineers, Computer analysts, Hydrologists and Hydraulic engineers, Mechanical engineers, and Electrical engineers if the Dam is to be used for Power generation. Specialists may study aspects like Corrosion of Concrete and Steel Structures.
The Construction Process: Before Construction can begin on any Dam, the Water in the streambed must be diverted or stopped from flowing through the site. As in the case of Fill Dams, a Coffer-Dam must be Built or the Water must be diverted into another Channel or area Down Stream from the Dam site. For large projects, this Construction may be done Several seasons before Building of the Dam begins. The flow of Water is closed off at the very last moment.

Concrete Dam must be Immaculate: Before the first Concrete for the Dam is placed. As for Fill Dams, this is a detailed process of Excavating, Cleaning, and Repairing the Rock throughout the foundation "footprint" and on both abutments. Sites immediately Downstream of the Dam for any Powerplant, Stilling basin, or other Structure must also be prepared.
Extensive Work Required: If the rock in the foundation or abutments is prone to fracturing because of the load imposed by the Dam and its Reservoir, to install extensive systems of rock bolts or Anchor bolts that are grouted into the rock through potential fracture zones. Instruments to Monitor ground Water levels, joint movement, potential Seepage, Slope Movements, and Seismic activity are installed beginning during the early stages of Foundation Preparation through Completion of the Dam.

Excavated Deep into Rock: A Cutoff wall may be excavated deep into rock or Holes may be Drilled in the Foundation for the installation of Reinforcing Steel, called Rebars, that extend up into the Dam and will be tied to the steel inside the first Lifts of the Dam. The idea is to Build a Reservoir that, like a Bowl, is equally sound around its Perimeter. The Water is Deepest and Heaviest at the Dam so the Dam and its foundation cannot be a weak point in that Perimeter.
Forms made of Wood or Steel along the Edges of the Dam: Forms made of Wood or Steel are Constructed along the Edges of each section of the Dam. Rebar is placed inside the Forms and Tied to any adjacent Rebar that was previously installed. The Concrete is then Poured or Pumped in. Construction continues in this way as the Dam is raised section by section and lift by lift. Some major Dams are Built in sections called Blocks with Keys or Inter Locks that link adjacent Blocks as well as Structural Steel connections.

Concrete Dams have Observation Galleries: The Process is much like Constructing a Building except that the Dam has Far less Internal space; Surprisingly, however, Major Concrete Dams have Observation Galleries at Various Levels so the condition of the inside of the Dam can be observed for Seepage and Movement. Inlet and Outlet Tunnels or other Structures also pass through Concrete Dams, Making them Very different from Fill Dams that have as few Structures Penetrating the mass of the Dam as Possible.
Ttemporary Emergency Spillway is Constructed: Process of Filling the Reservoir may begin. This is done in a highly controlled manner to evaluate the stresses on the Dam and observe its early performance. A Temporary Emergency Spillway is Constructed if Dam Building Takes more than one Construction Season; The upstream Coffer Dam may be left in Place as a Temporary Precaution, but it is not usually Designed to Hold more than Minimal Stream flows and Rainfall and will be Dismantled as soon as Practical. Depending on Design, some Dams are not Filled until Construction is essentially complete.

Final Components are Erosion protection: The final Components are Erosion Protection on the upstream side of the Dam, instruments along the crest of the Dam, and Roads, Side walks, Streetlights, and Retaining Walls. A major Dam like Hoover Dam has a Full Fledged Roadway along its Crest; Small Dams will have Maintenance Roads that allow Single File Access of Vehicles only.
Typical Concrete Arch Gravity Dam: Cross section of a typical Concrete Arch Gravity Dam. The height is 280 ft (85 m). The thickness grows from 16 ft (4.9 m) at the top to 184 ft (56 m) at the base. The Powerhouse, Instrument Buildings, and even homes for Resident Operators of the Dam are also Finished. Initial Tests of all the Facilities of the Dam are Performed.

Pump and Pipe it Downstream: The beginning of the Dam working life was also Carefully Scheduled as a Design item, so that Water is available in the Reservoir as soon as the Supply System is ready to Pump and Pipe it Downstream, for example a program of Operations, Routine Maintenance, Rehabilitation, Safety Checks, Instrument Monitoring, and detailed observation will continue and is mandated by law as long as the Dam exists.
Quality Control: The Process of Building alone involves heavy equipment and dangerous conditions for Construction workers as well as the Public. The Population living Downstream of the Dam has to be Protected over the Structure itself; the Professionals who Design and Construct these projects are absolutely committed to safety, and they are Monitored by Local, State, and Federal agencies like Divisions of Dam Safety.

Byproducts/Waste: Waste is also Minimal because Materials are too Expensive for Waste to be allowed. Locations are often Remote, and the Process of Hauling Waste away from the Site and Disposing it is Prohibitive. Soil and Rock that may be excavated from the foundation area, Down Stream sites, the Abutments, or Portions of the Reservoir are usually used elsewhere on the Project site. Quantities of Materials cut away or Placed as Fill are carefully calculated to balance.


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