Which structural feature do buttress dams rely on to transfer the water load?

Which structural feature do buttress dams rely on to transfer the water load?

• A. Buttresses supporting reinforced concrete slabs
• B. Thick vertical walls alone
• C. Arch curvature
• D. Earthen embankment

Answer: (A)

Buttress dams transfer the water load through a series of supports that carry a relatively thin reinforced concrete slab on the upstream face. The hydrostatic pressure pushes on that slab and is transmitted into the buttresses, which then pass the forces down to the foundation. The space between the buttresses often forms arches that help resist the thrust, allowing a lighter structure than a solid wall. This is why the key feature is how the buttresses support the concrete slab to transfer the load. It isn’t just a thick vertical wall, nor is it primarily about arch curvature or an earthen embankment, which describe different dam types or load paths.

Buttress dams transfer the water load through a series of supports that carry a relatively thin reinforced concrete slab on the upstream face. The hydrostatic pressure pushes on that slab and is transmitted into the buttresses, which then pass the forces down to the foundation. The space between the buttresses often forms arches that help resist the thrust, allowing a lighter structure than a solid wall. This is why the key feature is how the buttresses support the concrete slab to transfer the load. It isn’t just a thick vertical wall, nor is it primarily about arch curvature or an earthen embankment, which describe different dam types or load paths.