SPILLWAYS

Paul Welle, PE

schnabel-eng.com
Spillway Purpose

Safely pass water through dam

To achieve purpose of dam
Without overtopping the dam
(Capacity)

Without significant erosion for most storms

(Stability)

Without breaching the dam for SDF

(Integrity)
 Spillway Deficiency
Its just a matter of time

Older dams were generally designed to

less stringent criteria
Criteria for a dam classification have
changed over time
Downstream development has changed
hazard classifications over time
 Options for Dams with Earth or Rock
Cut Auxiliary Spillways

Raise the top of dam elevation

Widen the spillway
Armor the auxiliary spillway
RCC
ACB
Cutoff
Armor the dam and allow it to overtop
Justify reduction in the design flood
Remove the dam
Spillway Fundamentals

Discharge (Q) = Cd L H3/2

Cd = discharge coefficient
L = length of spillway crest
H = head
(Almost all overflow spillways
are modeled using some
variation of this theme)
 Q = CL H 3/2

Discharge Coefficient
Dependent on Weir Type:

Broad Crested: C=2.3 to 2.8

Sharp Crested: C=3.0 to 3.4

Ogee: C=3.5 to 4.0+

General Types of Spillways

Linear (2-D) Weirs (straight crest alignment)

Broad-crested
Sharp-Crested
Ogee (curved crest)

Segmented (3-D) Weirs

Drop inlet
Labyrinth
Broad Crested Weir Examples
Sharp Crested Weir Examples
Ogee Weir Examples
What makes an ogee spillway so
much more efficient?
Ogee Magic

Sharp Crest
Rising Lower
Nappe
 Ogee Magic

Cogee = Csharp
[Hactual/Hnominal]3/2

H nominal
H actual

Sharp Crest
Equivalent Ogee Crest

An ogee takes advantage of the rising lower

nappe to emulate a sharp-crested weir at a lower
elevation
 Q = C L H 3/2

Weir Length
If space available, can expand spillway in
straight line; alternatively, 3D weirs used.

Labyrinth
Radial Weir Box-Inlet Drop
(L2 to L6)
(+11% for 90; (L2 to L4)
+57% for 180)
3-D Spillways (non-linear)

Drop Inlets and Box Drop Spillways

Behave similar to linear weirs
Typically sharp-crested

Labyrinth Spillways
Articulated (zigzagged) to increase weir
length
Hydraulic performance differs from linear
weirs
Other plan-forms
Box-Inlet Drop Structure
A Look at Labyrinth Weirs

Zigzag layout can dramatically increase

weir length within a given width
Efficiency decreases with head
Requires a large upstream-downstream
footprint
Cd for Labyrinth Weirs

14
Effective Coefficient (Cd)
12
L/W=4

10
L/W=3
8
L/W=2
6
Ogee crest
4

2
Broad crest Sharp crest
0
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
H/P
 Q = C L H
3/ 2

Spillway Head

Depth of flow over the spillway - at capacity

it is the difference between the top of dam
(less freeboard) and the spillway elevation.
Top of Dam
Hmax Solutions:
H Raise top of Dam
Spillway Crest Lower Spillway Crest
Embankment Raising
Embankment Raising
Concrete Parapet
Embankment Raising
Vinyl Sheet Pile Parapet
Embankment Raising

Increase H during flood

Cost effective (< 4 to 6 ft)
Common Raising Options

Earthfill (Small
Raise, Ample
Crest Width)
Common Raising Options

Parapet
(concrete,
sheeting)
Common Raising Options

Combination
(larger raises)
Resort Dam Raising
Raising Issues

Effective for small raises

May increase flood pool levels
Large raises will generally necessitate
other costly dam safety improvements
(raised training walls, enlarged energy
dissipators, etc.)
Could instigate a change in classification
Spillway Expansion
Spillway Expansioin
Embankment Armoring

Application of an erosion-resistant cover for

an earth dam to allow passage of extreme
flows
Typical armoring materials are rip rap, pre-
cast concrete block or roller compacted
concrete (RCC)*
*in order of increasing durability/erosion resistance
Generally does not alter project hydraulics
(no upstream or downstream impacts to consider)
RCC Overtopping Protection
RCC Overtopping Protection
Can be covered with sacrificial topsoil and seeded
ACB Overtopping Protection
Non-structural Alternatives

Justify a reduction in the design flood

Incremental Damage Analysis
Purchase downstream hazard area
Dam removal
Incremental Damage Analysis

Show that flooding from a dam failure is

not significantly greater than without
failure for extreme floods
Allowed in 2012 regulations
Most applicable where reservoir storage
is relatively small compared to the
drainage area
Incremental Damage Analysis

Increasing spillway capacity can change

the results
May provide only an interim solution if
downstream development occurs
Purchase of the Hazard Zone

Not commonly feasible, but is worth

consideration in some circumstances
Use to reduce hazard classification
and/or the SDF (cost trade-off)
Generally requires a limited hazard
area footprint or limited downstream
development potential
Dam Removal

Tough pill to swallow, but may be a reality

($)

Owner should carefully consider the long

term impacts of removal (Once its gone,
its not coming back)
Things to Consider

Site Hydrology and Hydraulics

Downstream sensitivity to flooding
Existing Spillway Capacity
Other Deficiencies
Site Hydrology and Hydraulics

Lake Size vs.

Watershed Area
Affects:
Selection of Inflow

Upgrading Alternative

Breach
Flow
Site Hydrology and Hydraulics

Lets assume:
Design flood inflow peak = 8,000 cfs
Design flood outflow peak = 6,000 cfs
Existing spillway capacity = 2,000 cfs
Therefore:

Tripling the spillway length increases the

spillway capacity to 6,000 cfs, meeting the
requirement.
Site Hydrology and Hydraulics

Not necessarily so!

By greatly increasing the spillway capacity,
reservoir attenuation can be reduced. If the
reservoir attenuates the flood, the spillway
will need to pass even more flow to safely
pass the design flood.
The good news is that the outflow peak
wont exceed the inflow peak.*

*unless its a gated spillway

Downstream Sensitivity to
Flooding

Liability considerations for the previous

example:
Increasing spillway capacity, might improve dam
safety;
However, may increase flooding downstream
Existing Spillway Capacity

Almost there (>70% of SDF)

Raising may work
Auxiliary Spillway may help
Spillway expansion may not be $$$$

Severely undersized (<50% of SDF)

OT Protection likely
Significant structural rehab may be needed
Look closely at reducing the SDF
 Other Dam Deficiencies
(Seepage, Stability, etc.)

Cost of Spillway upgrade may be small

compared to cost to remedy seepage
and embankment stability concerns

Spillway expansion method may

incorporate stabilization or seepage
control measures (ex. RCC armoring)
Embankment Armoring

Stabilizing
Force

Embankment
Drainage
Vegetated Auxiliary Spillway
Auxiliary Spillway Stability and Integrity

Maintenance costs can be very high

If reservoir is lost, dam is useless

A breach can kill people or destroy property

Headcutting Erosion of Auxiliary
Spillway, Snake Creek Dam, GA
White Oak Dam
Lake Barton Dam
Lake Barton Auxiliary Spillway Outlet
Lake Barton Dam Secant & Concrete
Cutoff Walls
Secant Wall
Summary Conclusions

There are no summary conclusions

Every site is different and every

application is different: there are no
easy solutions
Questions?