Practice - Forces Acting on Gravity Dams
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Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
What is hydrostatic force?
💡 Hint: Think about how fluids respond to being contained.
Name one cause of dam failure.
💡 Hint: Consider the physical forces acting on the dam.
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Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
What is the primary force acting against a gravity dam?
💡 Hint: Consider the most significant force applied directly to the dam.
True or False: Uplift pressure can contribute to a dam failing.
💡 Hint: Think about the effects of water under the dam.
1 more question available
Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
A gravity dam with a height of 50 meters is experiencing silt buildup that exerts an additional pressure of 20kPa. Calculate the total pressure acting on the base if the hydrostatic pressure at that height is 490kPa.
💡 Hint: Remember to sum all the pressures acting at the base.
If the factor of safety against sliding is 1.5 and the horizontal force exerted on the dam is 300kN, what should be the minimum frictional resistance that the dam's base must counter to avoid sliding?
💡 Hint: Consider what safety factor means in terms of forces acting on the dam.
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