【正文】
Dam A dam is a structure built across, river, or estuary to retain water. Its purposes are to meet demands for water for human consumption, irrigation, or industry。 to reduce peak discharge of flood water。 to increase available water stored for generating hydroelectric power。 or to increase the depth of water in a river so as to improve navigation. An incidental purpose can be to propose can be to provide a lake for recreation. Auxiliary works at a dam may include spillways, gates, or valves to control the discharge of surplus water downstream form the dam。 an intake structure conducting water to power station or to canals, tunnels, or pipelines for more distant use。 provision for evacuating silt carried into the reservoir。 and means for permitting ships or fish to pass the dam. A dam therefore is the central structure in a multipurpose scheme aiming at the conservation of water resources. The multipurpose dam holds special importance in the underdeveloped counties, where a small nation may reap enormous benefits in agriculture and industry from a single dam. Dams fall into several distinct classes, by profile and by building material. The decision as to which type of dam be build depends largely on the foundation conditions in the valley and the construction materials available. Basically, the choice of materials now lies between concrete, soils, and rockfill. Though a number of dams were built in the past of jointed masonry, this practice is now largely obsolete, The monolithic form of concrete dams permits greater variations in profile, according to the extent water pressure is resisted by the deadweight of the structure, is transferred laterally to buttresses, or is carried by horizontal arching across the valley to abutments formed by the sides of the valley. Basic Problems in Dam Design Most modern dams continue to be of two basic types: masonry (concrete) and embankment (earthfill). Masonry dams are typically used to block streams running through narrow gorges, as in mountainous terrain。 though such dams may be very high, the total amount of material required is limited. Embankment dams sre preferred to control broad streams, where only