Design Guidelines for Spillway Gates

This article discusses the most common types of spillway gates including radial gates, vertical lift gates, and flap gates including inflatable gates, and their application. Design considerations for each type are explained. Design and application considerations for different types of spillway gate operators are also included. Items covered for gates include gate geometry, gate proportions, location of gate hoists, location of gate trunnions, trunnion anchorage arrangements, gate seals and sealing arrangements, use of dogging devices, wave deflectors, flow splitters, corrosion protection including use of cathodic protection, and ice problems associated with spillway gates. Items covered for hoists include selection criteria for hydraulic and mechanical hoists, functional requirements of the hoists, use and type of position indicators, normal speed of opening and closing, use of automatic controls, the need for maximizing the minimum opening, and automatic stopping of the gates at set intervals to prevent unintentional spilling. Permissible leakage rate through the gates is also included.