An arch dam is a thin, curved concrete or masonry dam structure, with the concave side of the curve downstream. Therefore, the force of the water against the canyon wall squeezes the arch, compressing and strengthening its structure and pushing it into the ground. An arch dam is a good dam type for a narrow gorge in a mountainous area with steep walls of rock. It generally has steel rods or prestressed steel cable reinforcements and therefore requires less concrete than a gravity or arch-gravity dam. However, the bedrock in the foundation and abutments must be sound to withstand the pressure of the water.
Arch dams with more than one contiguous arch or plane are described as multiple arch dams. A double arch dam has two contiguous arches. A dam that is curved in both its horizontal and vertical planes may be called a dome dam.
Read more about this topic: Arch-gravity Dam
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