ASDSO Dam Safety Toolbox

On-Demand Webinar: Designing Slope Protection for Dams and Levees

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Association of State Dam Safety Officials, 2015



Slopes on the upstream side of dams are subject to wind-generated waves. Likewise, levees along river banks experience wind waves, boat wakes and current forces. This webinar will describe how winds produce waves in reservoirs and other enclosed bodies of water. Wave heights and periods resulting from winds blowing across the water surface will be calculated as a function of wind speed, duration, water depth and fetch distance. Wakes produced by various vessels traveling at different speeds and distances from a levee and/or dam will be quantified. Wind set up in reservoirs will be calculated. Runup and the potential for wave overtopping of slopes will be calculated for various slopes and types of slope protection. Rubble revetments, rip-rap revetments, and other types of slope protection will be described and design methods presented.

Key Take-aways:

  • Analyzing and adjusting wind data to predict waves for the design of slope protection.
  • Calculating wave heights and periods from wind speed and direction data, and reservoir characteristics.
  • Estimating wave heights and periods for various boats and ships based on their speed, hull geometry and distance from a levee or dam.
  • Estimating wind-induced setup in a reservoir.
  • Estimating runup on various slopes and the potential for wave overtopping in order to determine freeboard.
  • Selecting stone sizes for rip rap and rubble mound revetments in a given wave environment.
  • Designing other types of slope protection.


Access Training Here

Speaker(s): J. Richard Weggel


Revision ID: 2253
Revision Date: 08/19/2022