Correct the following statements.

1) Concrete-buttress dams reduce material in the wall itself without using support buttresses around the outside base.

2) There is only one type of buttress dams.

3) Only flat-slab buttress dams may be constructed in locations where the foundation rock is acceptable.

4) In cross-section buttress dams don’t resemble a triangle.

5) The thicknesses and spacing between buttresses don’t depend on the height of dam.

6) If buttresses are closely spaced they can be more massive but the slabs can be thinner.

7) Sometimes solid buttresses are used to increase the effective buttress width.

8) The slab is always rigidly attached to the buttresses.

9) Filling the joints between the slab and buttress with asphaltic putty permits each slab to act dependently.

10) Even minor settlement of the foundation won’t seriously harm the structure.

11) Flat-slab and buttress dams are used in narrow canyons.

12) Placing the buttresses on spread footings one can increase the foun­dation pressures.

13) The flat-slab dams require a better foundation than the multiple-arch dams do.

14) In the designing of a multiple-arch dam cantilever action is always taken into account.

15) Ice pressures and uplift forces are very important for buttress dams.

16) Buttress dams are more expensive because a great deal of formwork and reinforcing steel is required.

17) A gravity dam is less massive than a buttress dam.

18) A cut-off wall extending to rock should be always provided.

19) Powerhouses and water-treatment plants are usually placed near the buttress dams.

20) Deck and buttresses are placed in lifts of not more then 3.7 m.

21) The time for construction of gravity dams is usually less and the problem of water diversion somewhat simplified.

Answer the following questions.

1) What does a buttress dam consist of?

2) What is the cross-section of buttress dam?

3) What are the types of buttress dams?

4) Where may a flat-slab buttress dam be constructed?

5) Why must the thicknesses and spacing between upright buttresses be sufficient?

6) Does buttress spacing vary with height of a dam?

7) When is more formwork required?

8) What may be utilized to resist buckling of the buttresses?

9) What buttresses are used to increase the effective buttress width?

10) What is articulation of a dam?

11) What is the joint between the slab and buttress filled with?

12) Even minor settlement of the foundation will harm the structure, won’t it?

13) How can one reduce the foun­dation pressures?

14) What materials may flat-slab dams be built on?

15) Do the multiple-arch dams require a better foundation than the flat-slab dams do?

16) Why is the design of a multiple-arch dam more econo­mical for high dams?

17) What forces act on the buttress dams?

18) What forces may be neglected?

19) What material do buttress dams require?

20) Are buttress dams less expensive then gravity dams? Why?

21) What can you say about the foundation for buttress dams?

22) What should be provided if the foundation material is permeable?

23) How can the height of the buttress dam be increased?

24) Where are buttress dams usually used?

25) Why are powerhouses and water-treatment plans placed between the buttresses of dams?

26) What are the first steps in the construction of buttress dams?

27) Why must care be taken in the construction of formwork, handling of concrete and placing of reinforcing steel?

28) What is required in all construction joints?

29) Why is the time for construction of a buttress dam usually less and the problem of water diversion somewhat simplified?

30) Can you name the most famous buttress dams in the world?

Make a plan and then a short summary of the text.

Match the meanings of the terms with their definitions.

settlement               formation               foundations            to divert                 beam

1) _______ is the way sth is naturally made or the way it has been arranged.

2) _______ is a long thick piece of wood, metal or concrete, esp. used to support weight in a building or other structure.

3) _______ means to cause (sth or sb) to change direction.

4) _______ are the structures below the surface of the ground which support a building.

5) _______ is the process of the slow sinking of a building or the ground.

Match the words with their synonyms.

Match the words with their opposites.

Make sure you know the nouns formed from the following verbs.

Fill in the correct prepositions then choose any five items and make sentences.

1) to transmit sth … sth; 2) to be … right angle … the axis; 3) to rest …sth; 4) to vary … height of dam; 5) to be filled … sth; 6) to be adapted … wide valleys; 7) to range … sth …sth; 8) to be designed … the same manner; 9) to take … account; 10) to slide … the dam; 11) increase … capacity; 12) to be placed … lifts …12 ft.

Translate the following words into English using the vocabulary of the text.

Под прямым углом к оси плотины; внешнее основание плотины; уменьшать количество используемого материала; внешнее основание; напоминать гравитационные плотины; ряд вертикальных контрфорсов; более наклонные откосы верхнего бьефа; поддерживать бетонную плиту; расстояние между контрфорсами; близко расположенные контрфорсы; более тонкие плиты; опалубка; соседние контрфорсы; сопротивление продольному изгибанию; шов между плитами; действовать независимо; незначительная усадка; жесткое шарнирное сочленение; лучшее основание плотины; максимальная практическая высота; экономия бетона и арматурной стали; проем между контрфорсами; удалять наносы; отведение воды; сплошное основание; противофильтрационная завеса; заполнять мастикой; уменьшать давление.

Find the translation of the following terms and memorize their meaning.

Read the text to get the gist of it. Answer the following questions.

a) Can earth dams be considered fully impervious?

b) How should the slopes of earth dams be protected from erosion?