Dams are among the structures
that are subject to extreme forces. Many small and large
dams have broken in the past and almost every time such accidents
are contributed to structural defects in original design or
structural defects caused later as a result of poor maintenance.
When a dam breaks, millions of dollars
of investment are lost and it creates a sudden flood. The flood destroys
farms and houses and properties and takes many lives. Without a dam,
many cities will lose electricity and water for an extensive period of
The structure of a dam or the way that
its parts are designed and interconnected is the main factor affecting
the strength of a dam.