multiple-arch dam

engineering

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July 1, 2026

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A multiple-arch dam is a type of buttress dam where individual buttress heads are rigidly linked by arches, forming a continuous upstream face. Unlike gravity dams, buttress dams do not rely solely on their weight for stability. Instead, their inclined upstream face transfers the water's thrust towards the foundation, with the buttresses providing the primary support. This design allows for greater spacing between buttresses compared to other buttress dam types, potentially leading to more slender buttresses and a more even load distribution over the foundation. A notable example is the Daniel-Johnson Dam in Quebec, Canada.12

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Concrete buttress and multiple-arch dams
…of arches, to form a multiple-arch dam. A Canadian example of this type is the 214-metre- (703-foot-) high multiple-arch Daniel-Johnson Dam on the Manicouagan River in Quebec. The dam, which was completed in 1968, uses a total of 14 buttresses in its crest length of 1,314 metres (4,311 feet); two…
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…of arches, to form a multiple-arch dam. A Canadian example of this type is the 214-metre- (703-foot-) high multiple-arch Daniel-Johnson Dam on the Manicouagan River in Quebec. The dam, which was completed in 1968, uses a total of 14 buttresses in its crest length of 1,314 metres (4,311 feet); two…
Read More