There’s Something in The Air – Advancing Grout Enriched Concrete Facing for RCC Dams

Schnabel Engineering recently cooperated on research with Villanova University to evaluate grout formulations and supportive construction techniques to improve freeze-thaw resistance of grout enriched roller compacted concrete (GERCC). Schnabel arranged grant funding to cover laboratory costs, provided laboratory and field equipment and training for sampling and testing of RCC, and provided RCC design experts to collaborate with the research team. The primary research goal of the research program was to advance production of consistent, well-consolidated, air-entrained GERCC in a more cost effective and technically viable approach for construction of RCC dams and spillways in climates subject to freeze-thaw cycling.
The first three phases of research focused on laboratory testing and evaluations. The final phase of research was a field trial performed at the site of the new Duck River Dam in Alabama. ASI Constructors, Inc., the Duck River Dam Contractor, partnered with the research team to build a full scale test section using air-entrained GERCC mixes and prototype placement techniques developed during the laboratory testing program. Results are promising and suggest that producing and placing a homogeneous mixture of air-entrained GERCC is feasible with commercially available admixtures and conventional construction techniques; however additional research is needed to define the best approach to achieve thorough mixing of the RCC and the air-entrained grout enrichment.