Earth Dams: An earth dam is made of earth (or soil) built up by compacting successive layers of earth, using the most impervious materials to form a core and placing more permeable substances on the upstream and downstream sides. A facing of crushed stone prevents erosion by wind or rain, and an ample spillway, usually of concrete, protects.. Timber dams are built for small heads (2-4 m or, rarely 4-8 m) and usually have sluices. Merits of timber dams: There is a great speed in construction. These dams are suitable for any types of foundation. It has a low initial cost. These dams are more suitable in places where only temporary dams are to be constructed. Demerits of Timber Dam:
Types of Dams in Construction Classification Based on Construction Material used for a Dam Rigid Dam A dam is said to be Rigid Dam if it is constructed using rigid construction materials such as masonry, concrete, steel, timber etc. The basic shape of rigid dam is triangular. Rigid dams constructed using different rigid materials are discussed.. Gravity Dams. Gravity dams are triangular-shaped made up of masonry. Generally, four different kinds of gravity dams are found, such as straight, curved, hollow, and solid gravity dams. Moreover, these are of massive size for retaining a large quantity of water. The Grand Coulee Dam (USA) is an example of a gravity dam. Buttress Dams