The types of dams can be determined considering several factors such as structural usage, quality of the location, quantity of retained water, available construction materials, etc. There are four types of dams are there. They are –
• Arch – This dam use upstream-facing arc in order to assist in resisting the water force. They are made using concrete and are located in the canyons. The concrete structure must be in good contact consisting of bedrocks so that the prevention of leakage and stability can be assured. There is a variant of arch dam known as dome dam characterizing curves on both vertical and horizontal plane.
• Buttress – This dam use a set of angular supports on the downstream side in order to assist in opposing the water force. This type of dam is best suitable for using in valley where availability of bedrocks is not that optimum. However, the steel frame and manpower make the construction of this type of dam economically less desirable.
• Gravity – This is designed to withstand against the force of the water. This is made of cement or masonry and is situated over solid rock foundation by preventing the flow of water beneath the construction.
• Embankment – This type of dam is constructed using local materials such as rocks, gravel, sand, clay, etc. The functionality of embankment dam resembles the functionality of gravity dam, as its weight is also used to resist the water force. The difference lies in the permeability of the materials used in the embankment dam allowing water to be flowed into and through the dam, whereas clay core must be built in order to ensure the stability of the foundation.
• Arch – This dam use upstream-facing arc in order to assist in resisting the water force. They are made using concrete and are located in the canyons. The concrete structure must be in good contact consisting of bedrocks so that the prevention of leakage and stability can be assured. There is a variant of arch dam known as dome dam characterizing curves on both vertical and horizontal plane.
• Buttress – This dam use a set of angular supports on the downstream side in order to assist in opposing the water force. This type of dam is best suitable for using in valley where availability of bedrocks is not that optimum. However, the steel frame and manpower make the construction of this type of dam economically less desirable.
• Gravity – This is designed to withstand against the force of the water. This is made of cement or masonry and is situated over solid rock foundation by preventing the flow of water beneath the construction.
• Embankment – This type of dam is constructed using local materials such as rocks, gravel, sand, clay, etc. The functionality of embankment dam resembles the functionality of gravity dam, as its weight is also used to resist the water force. The difference lies in the permeability of the materials used in the embankment dam allowing water to be flowed into and through the dam, whereas clay core must be built in order to ensure the stability of the foundation.
