RCC dams: Design considerations for Ghatghar project - A case study

"Use of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) construction technology in gravity dams has increased worldwide. India's first RCC dam project at Ghatghar by the, Water Resource Department, Government of Maharashtra, has proved to be a success of this technology in the country. Two small dams, out of the three, in the Ghatghar project have been completed in 2004 and the main 86 m lower dam has been completed this year. The cost benefit in RCC is achieved due to the speed of construction through the efficient use of machinery and fly ash. The layout and dam design speed up the construction. Simplicity in overall dam layout, galleries, adits, shafts, outlets and spillway have to be planned to avoid stoppage of RCC placement. The galleries in the RCC dams are provided with precast concrete roof without any side or corner reinforcement. The Finite Element Analysis of the dam is necessary to ensure that the stresses around the opening are allowable under the static and earthquake forces. This paper compares the provisions of IS 6512 : 1984 with other international guidelines in light of the learning on Ghatghar project."