Introduction
Dams are among
the structures that are subject to extreme forces.
Many small and large dams have broken in the past and
almost every time such accidents are contributed to
structural defects in original design or structural
defects caused later as a result of poor maintenance. |
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When a dam breaks, millions of
dollars of investment are lost and it creates a sudden flood.
The flood destroys farms and houses and properties and takes
many lives. Without a dam, many cities will loose electricity
and water for an extensive period of time.
The structure of a dam or the
way that its parts are designed and interconnected is the main
factor affecting the strength of a dam.
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