THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE RCC DAMS

The paper traces the development of RCC (roller-compacted concrete) dams 1970s, including the extensive work done in the UK in 1978/79, to the present time RCC dams well over 200 m in height are being designed and constructed. Brief made of the two very small RCC dams in the U. rrK. However all the other dams are large, including three completed dams that are discussed in detail; Upper in the USA (91 m high with an RCC volume of 1.125M m³ that was placed in nine months), Beni Haroun in Algeria (118 m high with an RCC volume of 1.690M m³ placed in 16.4 months) and Olivenhain in the USA (97 m high with an RCC volume m3 that was placed in less than nine months). RCC has developed rapidly in the years such that dams of any reasonable height and volume can now be constructed – RCC dam presently being considered will be 285 m high and have a volume of m3. RCC has been placed in dams at an average rate of 10 000 m³/day on an ongoing basis and in some of the large dams being planned RCC will be placed at an average 000 m³/month with a peak approaching 500 000 m³/month.

• INTRODUCTION

• SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION

• QUALITY

• COST

• SUCCESSFUL RCC DAMS TO DATE

• DESIGN FEATURES

• CORES

• REFERENCES