ABSTRACT
In the last years some research was done on the field of stepped spillways. Investigations were conducted to understand the hydraulics on the stepped face of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dams. Significant energy losses occur along the stepped chute so that the energy dissipation structure, e.g. stilling basin, can become smaller and cost efficient. Therefore energy losses and energy dissipation rate along the chute must be known. At the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW) of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) two different physical models of stepped spillways were built and investigations were conducted. The differences on energy losses at different chute sections and hydraulic parameters are presented in this paper. Equations which allow to calculate form drag loss are pointed out.
