| A | B |
|---|
| Arch Dam | a dam with an arched shape that resists the force of water pressure; requires less material than a gravity dam for the same distance |
| Buttress Dam | a gravity dam reinforced by structural supports |
| Brace | a structural support; to strengthen and stiffen a structure to resist loads |
| Reinforced Concrete | concrete with steel bars or mesh embedded in it for increased strength in tension; in pre-tensioned concrete, the embedded steel bars or cables are stretched into tension before the concrete hardens; in post-tensioned concrete, the embedded steel bars or cables are stretched into tension after the concrete hardens |
| Embankment Dam | a dam composed of a mound of earth and rock; the simplest type of gravity dam |
| Force | any action that tends to maintain or alter the position of a structure |
| Gravity Dam | a dam constructed so that its great weight resists the force of water pressure |
| Coffer dam | a temporary dam built to divert a river around a construction site so the dam can be built on dry ground |
| Pressure | a force applied or distributed over an area |
| Spillway | an overflow channel that allows dam operators to release lake water when it gets high enough to threaten the safety of a dam |
