Cost Comparison of Rubberdam and Obermyer dam

Rubber-Dam Obermeyer Dam

S.No Cost Component (Rs Crores) (Rs Crores)

1 Total cost of super structure including 323.5 350.0

prevailing GST@12%
2 Cost of sub-structure 406 406

3 Annual Maintenance cost of Super 0.3 10.5

structure
4 Maintenance for 30 years 8.15 315
5 Total Cost 738 1071
 Annex-D Technical comparison of rubberdam and Air Inflated Steel Gates
S.No Parameter Rubberdam Air Inflated Steel Gates

By deflation of rubber-dam, natural river conditions can Overtopping may results in damaging the gates and
1 Handling of flood Efficient be created to pass the flood Inefficient resulting in dam failure.

For inflating the dam to full heightof 5.5m, maximum Obermeyer Damrequires very high pressure, exceeding
200 kPa
2 Pressure 60 kPa pressure required is 60 kPa and therefore due to low pressure 200 kPa. May result in Pressure failure; resulting in
pressure pressure in the rubberdam, chances of pressure failure blowout of rubber airbag; which is not made of strong
are remote and rare. compressure materials as compared to rubberdam.

Handelling of Tail Works well in upstream water levels in flood and Not suitable to take care of downstream water level due
3
water level downstream water conditions in case of high tides to tidal variation

Kavlar material and multilayer reinforcement designed

4 Vandelism rubberdam is certified and protected against vendelism Rubber air bags are prone to vendalism.
of bullets/knife.

Easy to inflate and deflate all within 30-40 minutes from

zero to max height of 5.5. This will allow all extream Operation is tedious; some times gate sucked in opening
5 Operation EASY flood events of SPF and PMF. Moreover, in event of logs TEDIOUS due to hing rusting/seal damage
and boulders coming from upstream, will not damage
the rubberdam structure.

Low maintenance; Fist visible sign of any abrasion to the

High maintenance due to large nos of moving parts
6 Maintenance cost LOW rubberdam and corrective action by simple and quick HIGH repair of seals
patch work.

Rubber is flexible in nature. Capable of performing

Gate operation in deflation even in the presence of dirt and sedimentation It may not be possible to open when there is excessive
7 Sediments sediment.
on the downstream side.

8 Cost of civil works SAME Thickness of pier is 2m, total no of piers is 15 Nos. SAME Thickness of pier is 3m, total no of piers is 10 Nos.

9 Construction time LOW Very fast in construction HIGH Long construction time

10 Landscaping Beautiful Landscape In river environment Ordinary landscaping

Power requirement for operation is high compared to

11 Power consumption LOW Requires very less power; can operate on Solar HIGH rubber-dams.

Uneven overflow over the steel gates due to uneven air

Since Rubber dam is a single body structure, water flow
12 overflow pattern over Rubber dam is evenly distributed. distribution to each air bags and pressure over the steel
gates.

Water directly flows over Rubber body. Hence sand and Sand and sediment build up between air bags and steel
13 Life span sediments can be wash out from its surface making it will abrasive and cause damage by shortening of life and
more durable. uneven steel gate forming.

Designed for no water leakage, water leaks to each side

14 Leakage No leakage problem as there is no mechanical part abutments, When time passes side seal ages, more
connection.
water leaks and needs to replace parts.

Single air bag only upto 2.5 meters is available.

Solution for required So, above 2.5 meter double or triple air bags need per
15 Rubbber Dam Bladder is available for upto 6m height.
height of 5.5m each steel gates.

Mobile crane and other machinery are required for

16 Repair Job EASY No major machinery required TEDIOUS repair
 Technical comparison of rubberdam and Steel Gates
S.No Parameter Rubberdam Steel Gates

By deflation of rubber-dam, natural river conditions can Overtopping may results in damaging the gates and
1 Handling of flood be created to pass the flood resulting in dam failure.

2 Afflux Negligible Afflux Considerable afflux

Not suitable to take care of downstream water level due
3 Handelling of Tail Works well in upstream water levels in flood and to tidal variation.
water level downstream water conditions in case of high tides Truinion rubmergence in case of radial gate may cause
dam failure

Easy to inflate and deflate all within 30-40 minutes from

zero to max height of 5.5. This will allow all extream
4 Operation flood events of SPF and PMF. Moreover, in event of logs Operation is tedious; some times gate sucked in opening
due to hing rusting/seal damage.
and boulders coming from upstream, will not damage
the rubberdam structure.

High maintenance due to large nos of moving parts

5 Maintenance cost Low maintenance repair of seals

Gate operation in Rubber is flexible in nature. Capable of performing It may not be possible to open when there is excessive
6 deflation even in the presence of dirt and sedimentation
Sediments on the downstream side. sediment.

Maximum span can be 150m. Hence less no of piers,

7 Cost of civil works Cost is high in comparison of rubberdam
Hence Low Civil cost
8 Construction time Very fast in construction Long construction time
9 Landscaping Beautiful Landscape In river environment Ordinary landscaping
Power requirement for operation is high compared to
10 Power consumption Requires very less power; can operate on Solar
rubber-dams.
Designed for no water leakage, water leaks to each side
11 Leakage No leakage problem as there is no mechanical part abutments, When time passes side seal ages, more
connection.
water leaks and needs to replace parts.

12 Repair Job No major machinery required Mobile crane and other machinery are required for
repair