Question

The spillway can be best built independently of the dam when there is _________________________

(a) deep narrow gorge with steep slopes

(b) deep narrow gorge with gradual slopes

(c) wide gorge with a gradual slope

(d) wide valley with moderate slopes

This question was posed to me in an interview.

My question is from Location of Spillway topic in portion Spillways, Energy Dissipators and Spillway Gates of Irrigation Engineering

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) deep narrow gorge with steep slopes

To explain I would say: The spillway can be best built independently of the dam where there is a deep narrow gorge with steep banks separated from a flank by a hillock with its level above the top of the dam. A concrete or an earthen dam can be constructed across the main valley and a spillway can be constructed independently into the saddle under such circumstances.