Construction materials for concrete / RCC dams

"It is essential to identify construction materials including aggregates, the cementing material, and chemical admixtures for use in concrete. The need to find out new aggregate sources within reasonable distance from the place of use is paramount and the construction engineers need to use all their skills to find these sources and ensure that they are exploited to their maximum efficiency. The need and means of their re-use or recycling must be examined in an appropriate manner, particularly in regions where the aggregates are scarce or has to be brought from long distances. Petrographic examination of aggregates should be carried out and it should not be used to replace standard tests but as a complement to them. Pozzolonic materials should also be developed to enable replacement of Portland cement to a large extent. Admixtures should also be developed and prepared at the project laboratory from quality and economic point of view."