[Ferro List] subterranean - catenary strongest shape & tensile vs compressive forces

[Lance Collins]

I have the impression that the catenary idea somehow had the force on 
the arch being resolved vertically and avoided the problem of 
horizontal support.  Not so, of course.

Recently I overlooked the Gordon dam in Tasmania.  I was most 
impressed by the thinness of the concrete wall and how it engaged the 
rock walls on each side of the gorge.  It seemed to me that the shape 
of the arch had the water pressure on the wall become a force along 
the line of the wall pushing into the rock sides.

Lance

At 09:14 AM 4/04/2008, you wrote:

>Think about it.   Pressure on a dam acts at right angles to the dam
>surface, i.e. at right angles to the curve.  Gravity acts on a catenary
>in the direction of the center of the planet, i.e. nearly parallel
>vectors (large suspension bridge towers aren't parallel).  (Clue:  A dam
>is the inverse of a water tank.)
>
>kb
>
>Uwe Brunjes wrote:
> > --- Keith B <ferroist at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Chuck,
> >>
> >> The Catenary Arch/Curve is interesting, but of
> >> limited use and subject
> >> to some misconceptions....
> >>
> >
> > Well, what shape do dams have? I'm asking because in
> > my understanding the pressure of the water against the
> > dam is uniform, just like (I believe) the pressure of
> > the soil against the buried construction Chuck has in
> > mind.
> >
> > Uwe
> >
>
>
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