Dams Flashcards
Key considerations for dams
Safety: Designing a dam to withstand extreme weather events like floods and earthquakes.
● Water Quality: Maintaining good water quality, minimising sedimentation and preventing contamination.
● Environmental Impact: Minimising dam’s impact on the environment, including habitat protection and erosion prevention.
● Cost and Economics: Designing a dam that is cost-effective and economically viable.
feasibility study
- Site Selection:
● Consideration of site’s width, shape, storage capacity, foundations, materials availability, spillway potential, and wind direction. - Site Investigation:
● Evaluation of topography, geological evaluation, permeability test, hydraulic model tests, and evaluation of similar dams. - Detailed Investigation Considerations:
● Water supply,
● floodlines, stream flows
● location, geological factors, sedimentation rates
● forces, water pressure, wind loads, waves, and soil pressure.
types of dams
- Gravity Dams: Constructed from concrete or stone, rely on weight to hold back water.
- Arch Dams: Curved in shape, transfer water pressure to valley walls. Examples include the Glen Canyon Dam.
- Embankment Dams: Made from earth or rock, cost-effective and suitable for various locations.
- Buttress Dams: Features a sloping deck supported by triangular buttresses, reducing material requirement.
- Diversion Dams: Direct water to canals or pipelines, mainly for irrigation.
- Hydraulic Fill Dams: Constructed using a mixture of soil and water.
importance of dams
● Store water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.
● Regulate river flow for flood control.
● Generate hydroelectric power by harnessing water’s power.
● Irrigate crops for agriculture and food production.
● Create reservoirs for recreational activities like boating, fishing, and tourism.
design consideration of dams
● Permeability: Rate at which soil allows water to pass.
● Stability: Ability to resist shear force.
● Compression and shrinking: Sag under its own weight.
● Washing of fines: Internal erosion of fines.
● Availability of construction materials: Advantageous if within the vicinity area.
challenges in construction for dams
Environmental Concerns: Disruption of natural habitats, alteration of ecosystems, and effects on local wildlife.
2) Water Management: Crucial to prevent flooding, erosion, and water pollution.
3) Logistical Challenges: Difficulty in transporting materials, equipment, and personnel to the site.
4) Safety Risks: Hazardous with risks of accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
5) Cost Overruns: Often due to unforeseen site conditions, design changes, and delays.
6) Community Displacement: Requires careful planning and management to minimize social impacts.
7) Seismic Activity: Dams must withstand seismic activity.
8) Material Selection: Critical to withstand stresses and strains.
Technical challenges of dams
- Instrumentation and Monitoring: Installing systems to track dam’s performance and detect potential issues.
- Careful Planning: Thorough feasibility studies to identify risks and challenges.
- Experienced Team: Overseeing the project with an experienced team.
- Innovative Solutions: Utilizing advanced materials and construction techniques.
- Community Engagement: Minimizing social impacts and addressing community concerns.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the dam’s safety, reliability, and sustainability.
Technical challenges of dams
- Instrumentation and Monitoring: Installing systems to track dam’s performance and detect potential issues.
- Careful Planning: Thorough feasibility studies to identify risks and challenges.
- Experienced Team: Overseeing the project with an experienced team.
- Innovative Solutions: Utilizing advanced materials and construction techniques.
- Community Engagement: Minimizing social impacts and addressing community concerns.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the dam’s safety, reliability, and sustainability.
