OVERFLOW SPILLWAYAn overflow spillway is a section of dam designed to permit water to pass over its crest
Overflow spillways are widely used on gravity, arch, and buttress dams
Some earth dams have a concrete gravity section designed to serve as a spillway
The design of the spillway for tow dams is not usually critical, and a variety of simple crest patterns are used
In the case of large dams it is important that the overflowing water be guided smoothly over the crest with a minimum of turbulence
If the overflowing water breaks contact with the spillway surface, a vacuum will form at the point of separation and cavitations may occur
Cavitations plus the vibration from the alternates making and breaking of contact between the water and the face of the dam may result in serious structu