New RCC Dam Replaces 70-Year Old Concrete Dam

This 4-page case study describes the replacement of Big Cherry Dam, an old cyclopean concrete dam in Wise County, VA. The old dam did not satisfy current structural and spillway capacity requirements. Three options were considered to address structural and spillway capacity concerns; (1) installation of post-tension anchors to restore structural stability, (2) buttressing the dam with RCC, and (3) building a new RCC gravity dam downstream from the old dam and submerging the old dam. It was determined that constructing a new 70-ft high RCC dam and submerging the old dam was the preferred alternative. The new dam raised the lake elevation 7-ft to increase water supply. A total of 13,800 cubic yards of RCC was placed to complete the dam. The publication describes the planning, design and construction procedures for the project. The specified strength of the RCC mix was 1500 psi at 90 days. All RCC was faced with air-entrained conventional concrete. Free download.