How are gravity dams constructed?

Gravity dams are built by first cutting away a large part of the land in one section of a river, allowing water to fill the space and be stored. Usually gravity dams are built out of a strong material such as concrete or stone blocks, and are built into a triangular shape to provide the most support.

How does an arch gravity dam work?

The arch dam is an impressive structure which is curved upstream and uses hydrostatic pressure to transfer the force of water to the foundation and abutments of the dam. The force of the water on the fill side pushes against the arch, and the resulting resistance to bending transfers the loads to the abutments.

What is the process of building a dam?

Engineers must de-water the river where the dam is meant to be built. This is done by diverting the river through a tunnel that runs around the intended construction zone. Tunnels like this may be lined with concrete and are usually dug out using a combination of drilling and explosives.

What is construction joint in gravity dam?

The joints that are necessarily provided in the dam may be classified under two heads. The concreting of the dam is not done at a stretch but in stages. Each stage of the concreting is known as lift. Lift is nothing but thickness of a horizontal layer of concreting laid once.

What is highest gravity dam?

Grande dixence dam in switzerland is the highest gravity dam. It is 285 m high.

Can gravity dam collapse?

Failure of gravity dam occurs due to overturning, sliding, tension and compression. A gravity dam is designed in such a way that it resists all external forces acting on the dam like water pressure, wind pressure, wave pressure, ice pressure, uplift pressure by its own self-weight.

Which is the first largest dam in India?

Tehri Dam
Large Dam

What are the types of dam?

• Arch Dam. A concrete or masonry dam, which is curved upstream so as to transmit the major part of the water load to the abutments.
• Buttress Dam.
• Coffer Dam.
• Diversion Dam.
• Embankment Dam.
• Gravity Dam.
• Hydropower Dam.
• Industrial Waste Dam.

How can a gravity dam fail?

A gravity dam may fail in following modes: Overturning of dam about the toe. Sliding – shear failure of gravity dam. Compression – by crushing of the gravity dam. Tension – by development of tensile forces which results in the crack in gravity dam.

Which joint is used in gravity dam?

LONGITUDINAL JOINTS The horizontal joints are developed at each lift height and will extend through entire width of dam section. Such joints are called as longitudinal joints. They shall run through the entire length of the dam but shall be staggered between transverse joints.

Which is an example of an arch gravity dam?

They are made of conventional concrete, Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), or masonry. Arch-gravity dams are not reinforced except at the spillway. A typical example of the conventional concrete dam is the Hoover Dam. Changuinola Dam is an example of the RCC arch-gravity dam. A gravity dam requires a large volume of internal fill.

What are the steps in building a dam?

1 Diverting the river. A dam is usually constructed across a river to create a reservoir in the valley behind by storing the water that flows into it naturally. 2 Preparing the foundation. A dam is built on a soil or rock foundation, depending on the type of dam. 3 Building a concrete dam. 4 Pouring Concrete.

Can a gravity dam be constructed of masonry?

A gravity dam may be constructed either of masonry or of concrete. Masonry gravity dams are nowadays constructed of only small heights. All major and important gravity dams are now constructed of concrete only.

What kind of dam resists the force of gravity?

Arch-gravity dams are massive dams of concrete that resist the thrust of water by their weight using the force of gravity and the arch action.