Structural Features of Hydraulic Structures

Some of the more important or unusual features of structural design of the dams and other hydraulic structures constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are treated in this paper. The design of power plants is discussed in the remaining two papers. The hydraulic performance of such structures is beyond the scope of the Symposium. This paper is confined to a few principles and methods governing the design of the structures themselves—and to only those which are considered to have some degree of novelty. Some evidence or argument supporting such procedures is presented. The principal hydraulic structures of the TVA, of course, are the dams. As a background for the treatment of this subject Table 1, showing the location and the more important features of these dams, is presented.