5-690: The Canyon Dam is a large arch-gravity dam built across the Maskeliya Oya , 4.5 km (2.8 mi) upstream of the iconic Laxapana Falls , in the Central Province of Sri Lanka . The associated power station plays a major role in the national power grid , due to its significant output. The dam is surrounded by steel structures of the substation. The dam creates the relatively small Canyon Reservoir, measuring at 450 m (1,480 ft) and 350 m (1,150 ft) in its longest length and width, respectively. The reservoir's primary source of water
10-484: 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 pressure 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
15-930: Is the Maskeliya Oya , with additional water discharged from the Canyon HPower Station , located at the same site. Water from the Canyon Reservoir is further transferred through a penstock to the New Laxapana Power Station, located 7 km (4.3 mi) downstream, at 06°55′05″N 80°29′31″E / 6.91806°N 80.49194°E / 6.91806; 80.49194 ( New Laxapana Power Station ) , 1.5 km (0.9 mi) northwest of Kiriwan Eliya . The power station consists of two hydroelectric generators of 50 MW each. Both generators were commissioned in February 1974 . Arch-gravity dam An arch-gravity dam or arched dam
20-419: The arch action . An arch-gravity dam incorporates the arch 's curved design which is effective in supporting the water in narrow, rocky locations where the gorge 's sides are of hard rock and the water is forced into a narrow channel. Therefore, the span needed for the dam is also relatively narrow, and the dam's curved design effectively holds the water back while using less construction material compared to
25-512: 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 dams that resist the thrust of water by their weight using the force of gravity and
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