Question

The base width of a solid gravity dam is 35 m and the specific gravity of dam material is 2.45. What is the approximate allowable height of the dam having an elementary profile without considering the uplift?

(a) 64.68 m

(b) 54.80 m

(c) 164 m

(d) 80 m

The question was posed to me in homework.

The above asked question is from Design of Gravity Dams topic in portion Gravity Dam Design and Construction of Irrigation Engineering

Answer 1

The correct option is (b) 54.80 m

For explanation I would say: The base width at bottom is given by B = H/Sc^1/2 (c = 0 since uplift is not considered).

B = 35 m and Sc = 2.45

Allowable height of the dam H = 35 x 2.45^1/2 = 54.8 m.