Question

Economic height of a dam is the height corresponding to which

• A. Cost of the dam per unit storage is minimum
• B. Amount of silting is less
• C. Cost of dam per unit storage is maximum
• D. Free board provided is least

Hint:

The economic height of a dam is a critical concept in its planning and design, ensuring that the project is financially viable and provides the maximum benefit for the investment. It involves a trade-off analysis between the increasing cost of construction with height and the increasing benefits (like storage capacity) gained.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The economic height of a dam is determined by achieving the most cost-effective design, specifically focusing on the economic efficiency of the dam in terms of construction and utility. This involves calculating the costs and benefits as they relate to the height of the dam.

To determine the economic height, the goal is to find the point at which the cost of constructing the dam per unit of water storage capacity is minimized. This requires analyzing how increasing the height of the dam affects both the potential storage capacity and the costs associated with construction materials, labor, and land acquisition.

Here, the correct option is that the economic height of a dam corresponds to the height where:

Cost of the dam per unit storage is minimum

In summary, constructing a dam to its economic height ensures that the investment returns in terms of water storage are maximized for the least possible cost, thus optimizing resource allocation and engineering design efficiency.