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Arch Dam Design

Vincent D. Reynolds, MBA, P.E.


Course Outline

Arch Dams play and important part in controlling water flow to create lakes, hydroelectric power, and water for irrigation among other things. This course will provide information regarding the design of Arch Dams and a discussion of its engineering properties. These course materials are based solely on the report “Arch Dam Design” as found on the website of the Army Corps of Engineering.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.


Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student would have learned the following:

Intended Audience and Benefit

This course is intended for anyone with an interest in Arch Dams, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics, power generation, hydrology, hydrogeology or anyone wanting to know more information regarding Arch Dam Design.

Course Introduction

Arch Dams are essential in controlling water flow for the purposes of flood control, irrigation, creating bodies of water and for hydroelectric power. Arch Dams maintain their stability against forces and loads from their geometric shape and the strength and mass of the concrete. There are several design restraints and processed related to Arch Dams and disciplines from various areas of civil engineering play an integral part in the design, and placement of Arch Dams.

Course Content

This course will examine the use of Arch Dams under several different circumstances. It will provide useful information to determine the size and area of  dam needed to withstand hydrostatic forces among others. The course materials are based solely on the engineer manual “Arch Dam Design” as found on the website of the Army Corps of engineers. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Arch Dam Design

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Course Summary

The information presented in this course could be used to enhance the student’s knowledge of Arch Dam Design. Using this knowledge could enable to reader to design safer levees, and hydroelectric power plants, among other developments that utilize Arch Dams.

As always good judgment and good engineering judgment is always paramount in any situation. Utilizing good judgment and the knowledge gained in this course can provide much more safer and efficient Arch Dams.


Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://www.trb.com/
http://www.usace.army.mil/
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/


Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz


DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.