Dams are made of what?

Answer 1

Dams can be formed by human agency, natural causes, or by the intervention of wildlife such as beavers. Man-made dams are typically classified according to their structure, intended purpose or height.

Based on structure and material used, dams are classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams,
Timber dams were widely used in the early part of the industrial revolution and in frontier areas due to ease and speed of construction. Rarely built in modern times by humans due to relatively short lifespan and limited height to which they can be built, timber dams must be kept constantly wet in order to maintain their water retention properties and limit deterioration by rot, similar to a barrel. The locations where timber dams are most economical to build are those where timber is plentiful, cement is costly or difficult to transport, and either a low head diversion dam is required or longevity is not an issue. Timber dams were once numerous, especially in the North American west, but most have failed, been hidden under earth embankments or been replaced with entirely new structures. Two common variations of timber dams were the crib and the plank.

Timber crib dams were erected of heavy timbers or dressed logs in the manner of a log house and the interior filled with earth or rubble. The heavy crib structure supported the dam's face and the weight of the water.

Timber plank dams were more elegant structures that employed a variety of construction methods utilizing heavy timbers to support a water retaining arrangement of planks.

Very few timber dams are still in use. Timber, in the form of sticks, branches and withes, is the basic material used by beavers, often with the addition of mud or stones.

Embankment dams are made from compacted earth, and have two main types, rock-fill and earth-fill dams. Embankment dams rely on their weight to hold back the force of water, like the gravity dams made from concrete.

Answer 2

Dams are made of one dam thing or another. Almost any material has been used at one time or another. SOme early mill dams were built of wood. Some temporary dams are built of steel sheeting, THese days some dams are built of concrete, others are earth fill dams, which are simply made of dirt and gravel dumped across the waterway and compacted. The Earth fill dams tend to be smaller, the concrete is used in important or larger dams.

Answer 3

Modern large dams are made mostly of steel reinforced concrete. I have seen some pretty amazing beaver dams built with logs.

Answer 4

Small dams around 1 m high are made of Earth.The larger dams are made of concrete.

Answer 5

The big ones are made of reinforced concrete,and are usually used to create electricity.
The small ones are made of twigs and are homes for beavers.

Answer 6

To stop the flooding like they had in India and some other countries. It can also supply electrical power.

Answer 7

Cement, bricks ,stones ,water ,and iron,concrete.

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dam#Types_of_dams

See the types of dams you may get some idea.......

Answer 9

anything that will safely hold back water, typically earth, concrete or sticks if youre a beaver...

Answer 10

plans are made by brains.. in practical bricks,cement,sand,lots of iron rods etc etc...