Support body (hydraulic engineering)

In hydraulic engineering, a support body is a component of a dam , dam or dike for introducing the forces acting on it (especially water pressure) into the subsoil. The support body is the most important and largest component; it works through its own weight , its shear strength and internal friction . It should have little deformability, otherwise there will be settlements and cracks in other components. Possible building materials for the supporting body are rock, crushed stone, gravel, sand, etc. A distinction is made between stone embankments and earth embankments depending on the type, grain size and nature of the material of the supporting body.

The support body can be constructed from a homogeneous (similar) or inhomogeneous material. Inhomogeneous here means that the support body consists of zones of different permeability . Such a dam is also called a zone dam.

Other important components of a dam in addition to the support body are: seal (inside / outside), drainage, filter layer, cover layer, etc.