Arch-gravity dam

An arch-gravity dam or arched dam is a dam with the characteristics of both an arch dam and a gravity dam. It is a dam that curves upstream in a narrowing curve that directs most of the water against the canyon rock walls, providing the force to compress the dam. It combines the strengths of two common dam forms and is considered a compromise between the two. They are made of conventional concrete, Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), or masonry. Arch-gravity dams are not reinforced except at the spillway. A typical example of the conventional concrete dam is the Hoover Dam. Changuinola Dam is an example of the RCC arch-gravity dam. A gravity dam requires a large volume of internal fill. An arch-gravity dam can be thinner than the pure gravity dam and requires less internal fill.

Arch-gravity dams are massive dams of concrete that resist the thrust of water by their weight using the force of gravity and the arch action.

An arch-gravity dam incorporates the arch's curved design that is so effective in deflecting the water in narrow, rocky locations where the gorge's side are of hard rock and the water is forced into a narrow channel. Therefore, the span needed for the dam is narrow; the dam's curved design effectively holds back the water in the reservoir using a lesser amount of construction material.

When properly situated on an appropriate site, the arch-gravity dam, combining the load resisting qualities of both a gravity dam and an arch dam, inspires the most public confidence because of its appearance of massive permanence. However, curving a gravity dam may make it look stronger, but some of this effect may be psychological factors in operation in making a choice of dam style.

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