The gravity dam is a massive structure made of masonry or concrete with earth and rock fill. Gravity dams use their own weight to resist opposing forces and as such require a hard bedrock foundation. They rely on their great weight and size for stability. The gravity dam is the most commonly built dam in the world. One of the reasons for this is the simplicity of design. Unfortunately it requires great quantities of material to construct.
Read more about this topic: Arch-gravity Dam
Famous quotes containing the words gravity and/or dam:
“Grown beyond nature now, soft food for worms,
They lift frail heads in gravity and good faith.”
—Derek Mahon (b. 1941)
“The devil take one party and his dam the other!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)