Global Stability of a Dam

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Learn more about the need to consider uplift pressure when designing a gravity structure at DamFailures.org

When a dam impounds a body of water, it will experience a load or force commonly referred to as hydrostatic pressure. A variety of other forces such as uplift pressure, earth pressure, silt pressure, wave pressure, wind pressure, ice pressure, seismic acceleration, hydrodynamic pressure, and thermal stress from ambient temperature changes can also act on the dam depending upon site conditions. Global stability refers to the ability of the dam to withstand all design loading conditions with adequate safety margin. This is a function of the geometry and material properties of the dam as well as the magnitude and combination of loads acting on the structure.

Required Data

• Material Properties
• Loads / Load Cases

Evaluation Criteria

• Sliding Stability
• Rotational Stability
• Internal Stability (Stresses)

Types of Analyses

• Linear vs. Non-linear
• Static Analysis
• Dynamic Analysis

Examples

Learn more about the need to consider uplift pressure (DamFailures.org)

Learn from the critical oversights that led to the failure of St. Francis Dam (DamFailures.org)

Best Practices Resources

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 6 Bulkhead Gates and Stoplogs), USBR, 2018

Design and Construction Considerations for Hydraulic Structures: Roller-Compacted Concrete, USBR, 2017

Strength Design for Reinforced Concrete Hydraulic Structures (EM 1110-2-2104), USACE, 2016

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 13: Seismic Analysis and Design), USBR, 2015

Design of Hydraulic Steel Structures (ETL 1110-2-584), USACE, 2014

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 9 Static Deformation Analysis), USBR, 2011

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 4 Static Stability Analysis), USBR, 2011

Calculating Forces on Components of Hydraulic Structures (ERDC/CHL CHETN-IX-21), USACE, 2009

Earthquake Design and Evaluation of Concrete Hydraulic Structures (EM 1110-2-6053), USACE, 2007

Stability Analysis of Concrete Structures (EM 1110-2-2100), USACE, 2005

Roller-Compacted Concrete (EM 1110-2-2006), USACE, 2000

Gravity Dam Design (EM 1110-2-2200), USACE, 1995

Arch Dam Design (EM 1110-2-2201), USACE, 1994

Lock Gates and Operating Equipment (EM 1110-2-2703), USACE, 1994

Nonlinear, Incremental Structural Analysis of Massive Concrete Structures (ETL 1110-2-365), USACE, 1994

Design of Small Dams, USBR, 1987

Trainings

On-Demand Webinar: Rehabilitation of Concrete Dams

On-Demand Webinar: Stability Evaluations of Concrete Dams

On-Demand Webinar: Analysis of Concrete Arch Dams

On-Demand Webinar: Introduction to Concrete Gravity Dams

Citations:

Revision ID: 5669
Revision Date: 12/14/2022