Dams - Dam Construction

There are four main types of dams: arch, buttress, gravity, and embankment dams. The type of construction Hoover dam from downstream looking toward the east at the face of the dam. The Colorado River is in the foreground. The dam is 725 ft (221 m) high and impounds enough water in Lake Mead to cover the state of New York up to 1 ft (0.3 m) deep. Photograph by Roy Morsch. Stock Market. Reproduced by permission. for each dam is determined by the proposed use of the structure, qualities of the intended location, quantity of water to be retained by the structure, materials available for construction, and funding limitations.

Arch dams use an upstream-facing arch to help resist the force of the water. They are typically built in narrow canyons and are usually made of concrete. Good contact between the concrete and the bedrock are required to prevent leakage and ensure stability. A dome dam is a special variant with curves on the vertical and horizontal planes, while the arch dam is only curved on the horizontal plane. In addition, dome dams are much thinner than arch dams.

A buttress dam is characterized by a set of angled supports on the downstream side that help to oppose the force of the water. This design can be employed in wide valleys where a solid bedrock foundation is not available. Because of the steel framework and associated labor needed for construction, these dams are no longer economically viable.

The gravity dam withstands the force of the water behind it with its weight. Made of cement or masonry, this type of dam normally utilizes a solid rock foundation but can be situated over unconsolidated material if provisions are made to prevent the flow of water beneath the structure. The solid, stable nature of this dam is favored by many and often incorporated into the spillway designs of embankment dams.

An embankment dam uses the locally available material (rocks, gravel, sand, clay, etc.) in construction. Just as with gravity dams, the weight of embankment dams is used to resist the force of the water. The permeability of the materials that make up these dams allows water to flow into and through the dam. An impervious membrane or clay core must be built into them to counteract the flow and protect the integrity of the structure. Because the materials are locally available and the construction of these dams is relatively simple, the cost of construction for this type of dam is much lower than the other types. Embankment dams are the most common.