Question

An elementary profile of a gravity dam yields the following data:
Specific gravity of concrete = 2.5,
Coefficient of friction, $\mu =0.5,$
Height of dam= 100 m,
The base width of the dam, considering no uplift, will be ___________ m.

• A. 80

Answer 1

The correct option is A 80
To avoid tension failure.
$B\ge \frac{H}{\sqrt{S_c-c}}$

$\ge \frac{100}{\sqrt{2.5}}$

$\ge 63.25m$

To avoid sliding failure,

$B\ge \frac{H}{\mu S_c}=\frac{100}{0.5\times 2.5}=80m$

Base width of dam should be the maximum value of (i) and (ii)
= 80 m