Design and Construction of Earth Dams

In Design and Construction of Earth Dams , you'll learn ...

• Earth dam foundation and abutment preparation requirements
• Design considerations, including freeboard, top width, abutments, earthquake effects and performance parameters
• Methods of seepage control
• Embankment materials, zoning, cracking and reinforcement, as well as compaction requirements

Overview

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Credit: 6 PDH

Length: 103 pages

This course presents fundamental principles underlying the design and construction of earth and rock-fill dams. The general principles presented herein are also applicable to the design and construction of earth levees. The objective of this course is to present guidance on the design, construction, and performance monitoring of and modifications to embankment dams. The design and construction of earth and rock-fill dams are complex because of the nature of the varying foundation conditions and range of properties of the materials available for use in the embankment.

The increased development and expansion of the population in the nation’s watersheds have created a definite need to develop additional water supply. In many areas the existing infrastructure cannot meet these needs. The increase in urban development has also had a negative impact on water quality. The public is asking that preservation of the environment be an equal goal with the economic benefits of water resources projects. Since the current infrastructure is not meeting public needs, this situation is placing lives, livelihood, and property at risk. Several options are available to provide the additional quantity of water. The simplest and most cost-effective method to obtain the quantities needed is to add additional storage at existing dams.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• Spillway and outlet capacity
• Freeboard
• Homogeneous dam with internal drainage on impervious foundation
• Central core dam on impervious foundation
• Inclined core dam on impervious foundation
• Homogeneous dam with internal drainage on a pervious foundation
• Central core dam on a pervious foundation
• Dam with upstream impervious zone on a pervious foundation
• Foundation design
• Through rock abutment design
• Saddle dams
• Auxiliary spillway
• Dewatering of the work area
• Seepage control
• Embankment -zonation
• Cutoffs
• Horizontal drains
• Slurry trenches
• Upstream impervious blanket
• Relief wells
• Downstream seepage berm
• Drainage galleries
• Through earth abutment design

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 30 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.