RCC Dams - Design Criteria vs. Construction Quality Control

The successful performance of a roller compacted concrete (RCC) structure depends a lot on how the design criteria is transferred to the field during the construction phase. Typical RCC specifications will address such items as density, segregation, mix temperatures, lift maturity and quality, mix proportions, and mix uniformity. Depending on the intended function of the RCC structure, some of the more important design criteria are compressive strength, tensile strength of the RCC mass and lift joints, cohesion of the lift joints, permeability, durability, and thermal properties for crack control.

Quality control decisions made in the field during construction can have a significant impact on the ultimate performance of the project and/or negatively impact the contractor's production rate and therefore costs. The thoroughness of the specifications and the reasonable interpolation and enforcement of these specifications are important elements and can determine the overall success of the project.

This paper will discuss the various design assumptions and criteria for RCC structures and the implementation of the field quality control measures necessary to insure acceptable compliance with the design parameters. Also covered will be practical and common since approaches on the applicability of the various sections of typical RCC specifications. 11 pp., 7 figures, 2 references.