The different types of Dams
Table of Contents
Timber Dams
They were readily used in the earlier of the industrial revolution due to the ease and speed of construction
It is not used at often in the modern days because it has a short life span, and it is limited to a certain height.
This type of dam also needs to be constantly wet in order for it to retain its water retention properties and limit deterioration due to rotting
This dam was mostly built in areas where there was a lot of timber, where cement is too costly or difficult to build, when a low head diversion dam is required or when the dam is needed for a short time
There were a lot of them, especially in the west side of North America, but a lot of them have failed and they are either hidden by earth embankment dams or they are replaced by new structures
The two most common types of timber dams are
Crib: They were constructed with heavy timbers or dressed logs in a log house manner and the inside was filled with earth or rubble
Plank: they were more elegant dams that used various types of construction methods where heavy timbers were utilized to support a water retaining arraignment of planks
Redridge Dam that was constructed with Timber |
Embankment Dams
- This dam is made from compacted earth. There are two types of them, the rock-filled and earth-filled dam
Rock-filled
- they are compacted free-draining granular earth material with a zone that does not allow for fluid to pass through it. This zone is called impervious zone
- This zone can be on the upstream face and made of masonry, concrete, plastic membrane, steel sheets piles, timber, or other material
- If this zone is within the embankment, then it is called a core
- When suitable material is available then transportation is minimized, minimizing the money that is spend during the construction process
- They are highly resistance to damage even when an earthquake occurs
- But insufficient quality control can lead to excessive fines in the embankment leading to liquefaction of rock-fill during an earthquake. This can be eliminated by keeping the material dry.
Earth dams
- Made from well compacted earth
- A homogenous earth dam is constructed entirely form one type of material but may contain a dryer layer to collect the seep water
- Zoned-earth dam contains distinct part or dissimilar material, usually a shell with clay core.
- Modern earth dams employ filter and drainage zones that collect the seep water and keep the integrity of the shell zone
- This dam is made from compacted earth. There are two types of them, the rock-filled and earth-filled dam
This the Oroville Dam and it is the tallest dam in the United states and it is also a Earth Embankment Dam |
Gravity Dams
Arch Dams
Steal Dams
References (← Hover over this hyperlink)
List of Contributors: