Why Are Some Dam Walls Curved? How the Shape Redirects Millions of Tons of Force

By History of Simple Things

Community Score: 50% | 450 views | 1mo

0 community ratings: null thumbs up, null thumbs down

Why aren't all dams built as straight walls? Some dams have enormous curved shapes that may look unusual, but that curve serves a crucial engineering purpose. In this episode of History of Simple Things, we explore how curved and arch dams use geometry to redirect the tremendous pressure of stored water into the surrounding rock, why engineers choose different dam designs depending on the landscape, and how the shape of a dam can determine how efficiently it handles massive forces. What looks like a simple curve is actually a carefully calculated solution involving water pressure, concrete, geology, and structural engineering. Timestamps: 00:03 Intro 00:54 The Incredible Force Of Water 02:01 Why Water Pressure Increases 03:24 The Problem With A Straight Wall 04:42 How An Arch Changes Everything 05:44 Turning Water Pressure Sideways 06:47 When The Mountain Becomes Part Of The Dam 07:47 The Hidden Forces Inside A Dam #HistoryOfSimpleThings #Dams #Engineering #CivilEngineering #HowThin

Tags: #HistoryOfEverydayItems, #HowItsMade, #BehindTheProduct, #SimpleThingsExplained, #EverydayInnovations, #ManufacturingProcesses, #FromRawToFinished, #TheMakingOf, #EverydayWonders, #ExploringOrigins, #UncoveringCreation, #TheStoryBehind, #CraftingEssentials, #OriginsOfInnovation, #DiscoveryOfCreation