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Technical Letter
No. 1110-2-343 31 May 1993
1. Purpose 4. Purpose
This engineer technical letter (ETL) provides RCC has developed over the past 20 years in
guidance for design engineers considering roller- response to the need to provide more economical
compacted concrete (RCC) as a cost-saving alterna- mass concrete structures that can be constructed
tive for civil works structures. rapidly. RCC is replacing conventional mass con-
crete as the primary construction material for
2. Applicability gravity dams and has become a viable alternative
material for structures other than dams. The
This ETL applies to all HQUSACE elements, major enclosed guidance (Enclosure 1) also provides
subordinate commands, districts, laboratories, and design engineers with material considerations for
separate field operating activities having civil works RCC to assure that the completed structure meets
responsibilities for the design of civil works strength and serviceability requirements. The
projects. enclosure includes:
b. Hydraulic structures require concrete that is d. Test placements during the mixture design
durable and watertight, with moderate to high bond phase and during the initial phase of construction
strength. To assure that the RCC will have these are needed to verify adequacy of the mixture ingre-
properties, the mix design should have: dients, mixture proportions, and construction
techniques.
(1) Adequate paste and mortar to fill all aggre-
gate voids. e. Consultation with and approval by
CECW-E is required when selecting consultants
(2) High slump mortar bedding on all lift joint outside the Corps of Engineers for recommenda-
surfaces. tions on RCC design and construction practices.
(3) Aggregates meeting the standards for f. The special uplift and sliding stability
quality and grading as required for conventionally requirements of Section 9 of the enclosure shall be
placed concrete. followed when designing RCC gravity dams.
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Enclosure 1 1-1
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values for joint cohesion and tensile strength must RCC mixture proportioning procedures are similar
be based on a laboratory test program that includes to conventional concrete; however, RCC mixtures
evaluation of joint strength using core samples from will normally contain less water and paste and more
test placements constructed under anticipated field sand to limit segregation.
conditions. A comprehensive laboratory test pro-
gram will assure a greater degree of certainty and, 4. Structures Suited to RCC Construction
in some cases, may eliminate overly conservative or
redundant design assumptions. RCC has gained worldwide acceptance as an alter-
native to conventional concrete in dams as well as
c. RCC permeability. The permeability or other types of structures. It may be used for any
watertightness of concrete may be of more concern application that allows access of placing, spreading,
than the strength, especially with respect to hydrau- and compacting equipment and can be considered
lic structures. The ease with which water migrates for use in new construction as well as rehabilitation
through the concrete mass may ultimately affect the work. Application of RCC should be considered
performance of the concrete over time. The factors when it is economically competitive with other
affecting the permeability of RCC are essentially construction methods. It may be considered in lieu
the same as those that affect the permeability of of gabions or riprap for bank protection, especially
conventional concrete. Historically, high perme- in those areas where riprap is scarce. It may be
ability in RCC structures has been the result of considered for large work pads, massive open foun-
segregation and lack of consolidation at lift joint dations, base slabs, cofferdams, massive backfill,
surfaces. emergency repairs, and overtopping protection for
embankment dams. It may be used in lieu of con-
d. RCC durability. Air-entraining admixtures ventionally placed concrete in concrete gravity
are available and have been used to successfully dams. RCC may be considered for use in levees
entrain air in RCC mixes in the laboratory. Howev- where foundations are adequate and may also be
er, most RCC placed to date has not been air-en- used in caps for jetties to reduce the amount of
trained and as a result, has performed poorly when required rock. For many dam projects, it may
subjected to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing prove that the use of RCC will allow a more
in a critically saturated state. When not critically economical layout of project features such as an
saturated, RCC has been found to have adequate over-the-crest spillway as opposed to a side channel
resistance to freeze-thaw damage. Currently, re- spillway (Reference 12c). Figures 1-2 and 1-3
search is in progress to determine the most effective show a portable pugmill continuous mixing plant,
type of air-entraining admixtures and type of air which is often used in RCC construction.
void systems that may be achieved with RCC.
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lower strength, and less bond between lifts than and reduce potential damage caused by water seep-
RCC containing properly processed aggregates. ing along lift joint surfaces. The permeability of
both conventional and RCC concrete is dependent
d. Fly ash (Pozzolan). Fly ash is used in RCC on the pore structure and air void system within the
construction to serve three purposes; (1) as a partial parent concrete and along lift joint surfaces. Con-
replacement for cement to reduce heat generation, crete with low permeability generally has a low
(2) to reduce cost, and (3) as a mineral addition to water-cement ratio, is well mixed and consolidated,
the mixture to provide fines to improve workability is proportioned with adequate paste and mortar to
(Reference 12a). The use of higher fly ash contents sufficiently fill all voids, and has been properly
may be helpful in obtaining adequate paste content cured to allow for the continued hydration of
in situations where natural fines are not available, cement. RCC structures are generally constructed
while at the same time keeping the total Portland with concrete having much higher water-cement
cement content at relatively low levels. However, ratios than used for conventional concrete struc-
fly ash slows strength gain, and the use of high fly tures. The effect that these high water-cement
ash contents in combination with high water-cement ratios have on pore pressures within the body of
ratios can produce very low strengths at early ages. hydraulic structures and on long-term durability is
Because of this, RCC strength requirements are unknown.
generally specified based on compressive strength at
1 year rather than at 28 days, as is the practice for g. Thermal cracking.
conventional concrete.
(1) The extent of thermal cracking in an RCC
e. Strength and density. Work performed by structure will be affected by the type and degree of
M. F. Kaplan (Reference 12f) demonstrated that temperature control used. Temperature is controlled
5-percent air voids due to incomplete compaction in RCC by selecting cementitious materials that
can result in a 30-percent loss of strength, while generate the least heat of hydration, by cooling
20-percent air voids can produce a strength loss of various components of the RCC mixture prior to
80 percent. The more difficult an RCC mixture is mixing and placing, and by restricting RCC place-
to compact, the more likely it is that incomplete ments to cool weather seasons.
compaction will occur and that strength will be less
than desired. In some instances, adding water to a (2) The selection of cement and fly ash propor-
very dry mix may produce a strength gain, because tions will significantly affect the heat of hydration
the added water increases workability of the mix, and subsequent thermal cracking. To reduce tem-
thereby reducing air voids. This effect has also perature rise, low-heat-of-hydration cement and the
been observed with difficult-to-consolidate con- maximum pozzolan replacement of cement, consis-
ventional concrete mixtures. The chance of obtain- tent with strength requirements, are generally speci-
ing the desired bond and tensile strength at lift fied. The potential for thermal cracking in massive
joints is less likely with RCC mixtures that are too RCC structures should be determined by a thermal
dry to be easily consolidated, or with RCC mixtures analysis that includes a temperature study to iden-
that are designed with inadequate paste and mortar tify temperature gradients, and a stress analysis to
volumes. Bonding and permeability at the lift joints identify the critical tensile stresses that can develop
will be improved with a mortar bedding; however, within the structure due to temperature gradients.
the permeability of the drier consistency mixtures Critical temperature differentials are best deter-
may still be unacceptably high. The bond and mined using computer models that have lift-by-lift
tensile strength at the lift joints for properly pro- construction sequencing capabilities. Variables
portioned, well-consolidated RCC will approach that important to the temperature studies include place-
achieved at the lift joints of conventionally placed ment temperature, placement rate, diffusivity, heat
mass concrete. of hydration, and external temperature cycles.
Variables important to stress analyses include joint
f. Permeability. Permeability along lift joint spacing, restraint conditions, modulus of elasticity,
surfaces is generally higher than the permeability of creep effects, and tensile strength. Many of the
the parent concrete. Joints between layers of RCC variables described should be verified through labo-
must be well bonded to provide low permeability, ratory testing and RCC test placements.
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h. Anisotropic effects. Tests on RCC cores (1) In-place properties are highly dependent on
indicate the direction of drilling may affect test field quality control.
results. Strength tests on several RCC projects
indicate that in some cases, cores drilled vertically (2) The layered construction method can result
yield higher strengths than companion horizontally in poor bond, low tensile strengths, and high perme-
drilled cores (similar to conventional concrete), ability as a result of incomplete consolidation, con-
whereas in other cases the opposite result has been tamination and/or drying of the lift joint surfaces.
observed. For conventional concrete, the anisotrop-
ic behavior is usually attributed to accumulation of b. RCC placement procedures. Segregation
bleed water. For RCC, the observed anisotropic and improper construction techniques may result in
behavior may be due to the distribution and orienta- poor bonding at the lift joints, increased water seep-
tion of aggregate particles resulting from spreading age, decreased strength, and lower overall density of
and compacting the individual RCC layers. The the in-place RCC. The procedures used during
degrees of consolidation and segregation will also spreading of the RCC layers are critical for achiev-
have an effect. The orientation of cores can influ- ing a uniform and non-segregated RCC placement.
ence tensile strength results by as much as 20 per- One method that has been used to successfully
cent. If tensile strength is of structural importance, place the RCC begins by constructing a working
drilled cores of both vertical and horizontal orienta- pad of RCC large enough for subsequent RCC to be
tion should be tested. dumped and worked by the dozer. Figure 1-4
shows RCC being transported to a placement site.
6. Construction Methods and Features
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allowed to freeze. Provisions for windbreaks, shad- (3) RCC cold joints require special treatment
ing, fog spraying, pounding, or other methods may in order to assure adequate bonding with the succes-
be needed to prevent excessive moisture loss or sive lift. Typical cold joint treatments include high
excessive heat generation in hot weather. pressure washing or wet sandblasting to remove
mortar coatings, or other contaminants, followed by
(2) Specifications should require sufficient plant a high volume, low pressure washing and vacu-
capacity to meet the high production rates common uming to remove all excess water and debris. The
for RCC placements and to assure that horizontal surface is then maintained in a damp condition and
lift joint surfaces are left exposed for a minimum covered with a thin layer of mortar or concrete
amount of time. Laboratory studies indicate that bedding mix immediately before placing the next
the loss of bonding capacity at the joints begins lift of RCC.
almost immediately after placing and that the bond
strength of lift joints is therefore improved when f. Contraction joints.
joints remain exposed for a minimum amount of
time. (1) Vertical joints may be formed in mass
RCC sections to control cracking by inserting steel
e. Cold joints and treatment. or plastic sheets, or any other bond breaker mater-
ial, into the full thickness of the uncompacted RCC
(1) An RCC cold joint may occur at any hori- lift. The plates or sheets are placed adjacent to
zontal lift surface that is allowed to dry, set, or each other end to end from the upstream to down-
become contaminated prior to receiving the next stream face to form a bond breaker that serves as a
lift. These surfaces can result in reduced bond contraction joint. The sheets are usually 1/8-in.
strength with the successive lift, even under moist thick by 3-ft long and are installed using a vibrating
cure conditions, unless special measures are taken plate installed on a backhoe. The width of the
to assure bonding of the two lifts. Cold joints can plates should be somewhat less than the lift thick-
develop at a lift surface if the RCC surface remains ness (1 to 2 in. less) to make sure the edge of the
uncovered by the next lift long enough for the plate will not protrude above the lift surface where
surface to attain its initial set, or approximately 1 to it could be damaged by placing and compacting
3 hr after placing. Environmental conditions such equipment. The contraction joint plates should be
as heat, humidity, and wind, which contribute to installed in every lift of RCC so that 100 percent of
drying of the RCC surface, are also significant the vertical section at the contraction joint has the
factors in reducing the strength of the RCC joints. bond breaker plates. The practice of only installing
If the RCC surface is allowed to dry, the strength plates in every other lift can result in the formation
development of the mortar and paste at the surface of cracks in undesired locations, which could com-
stops, due to lack of moisture for cement hydration. promise strength and stability.
Although the hydration process continues if addi-
tional moisture is added, the bond strength capacity (2) The number and placement of the contrac-
at the joint is significantly reduced. Specifications tion joints should be determined by the structural
should establish the criteria used to determine if a engineer based on thermal studies and by examina-
lift surface is a cold joint. This is usually done by tion of the foundation profile parallel to the axis of
stating the combinations of time and weather condi- the structure. Abrupt changes in the foundation
tions that require that RCC surfaces be treated as a profile may cause stress concentrations and require
cold joint. Generally, joints that are 2000 Fahren- additional contraction joints. Normally, contraction
heit degree-hours or more old, or that have been joint spacing will range from 60 to 80 ft. Fig-
allowed to dry, should be treated as cold joints. ure 1-7 shows a contraction joint being installed.
Steel or plastic sheeting is placed in the RCC to
(2) Vertical cold joints occur when placement of form contraction joints. A vibrating blade mounted
the RCC is stopped or interrupted before an entire on a backhoe may be used to install the sheeting.
lift is complete. The leading edge of the RCC at a Contraction joints placed in this manner help to
vertical cold joint should be tapered to form an control random cracking due to volume change
interlocking feathered edge with the underlying lift. effects.
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Figure 1-7. Contraction joint installation Figure 1-8. Application of mortar bedding
g. Bedding. Mortar or concrete bedding is may be used to protect the RCC from environment
required on all RCC cold joints and is required for exposure or to enhance the appearance of the
use on all lift joint surface areas of hydraulic struc- structure.
tures in order to maximize bond and water tight-
ness. Bedding mixes are designed for maximum (2) At Elk Creek Dam, the upstream facing
workability with 7- to 9 in. slump and a design system consisted of a 3- to 4-ft-wide zone of air-
strength that at minimum exceeds the strength of entrained conventional concrete placed concurrently
the parent RCC. Bedding concrete is designed with with the RCC lifts. The conventional concrete was
3/4-in. or less nominal maximum-size aggregate consolidated with internal vibrators and tied to the
(NMSA) and bedding mortar with 3/8-in. NMSA or RCC with reinforcing steel at the lift joints. This
less. Normally, bedding mortar is spread in a 1/4- system required formwork at the upstream face of
to 1/2-in. thick layer and bedding concrete in a the dam to contain the conventional concrete, but
1/2- to 1-in. thick layer on the RCC surface. Bed- resulted in superior protection of the RCC as well
ding is placed immediately prior to the next RCC as a conventional concrete appearance to the struc-
lift on the underlying RCC surface. Figure 1-8 ture. Figures 1-11, 1-12, and 1-13 show the stages
shows mortar bedding being applied and Figure 1-9 in the placement of a conventional concrete facing.
shows foundation treatment details. Bond and Conventional concrete is placed against the form,
watertightness are improved by spreading a thin followed by RCC. The conventional concrete and
layer of high-slump mortar or concrete as a bedding conventional concrete RCC interface is consolidated
on previously compacted RCC surfaces and on with immersion-type vibrators. Final consolidation
foundation rock surfaces to receive RCC of the RCC at the conventional concrete RCC inter-
placements. The extent and type of foundation face is accomplished with the vibratory roller.
treatment used will vary considerably depending on
job conditions. Typical foundation treatment details (3) Precast concrete panels were used at the
are shown for (a) foundation slopes of 3 horizontal upstream face of the Willow Creek Dam. The
to 1 vertical or less, and (b) slopes steeper than 3 panels were fitted with tie-back straps, that, when
horizontal to 1 vertical. embedded in the RCC at the lift joint, would hold
the panels in position during consolidation of the
h. Facing systems. RCC and provide the vertical formwork required at
the upstream face. The panels provided a pleasing
(1) A facing system may be used to cover the architectural appearance to the dam at the upstream
exposed vertical or sloping edges of an RCC face, but did not limit water seepage through the
structure in order to protect the RCC from the RCC. It is important to note that uncontrolled
effects of freezing and thawing, to help minimize water seepage through the precast concrete panel
seepage through the RCC, or simply to enhance the facing system may allow very high hydrostatic
appearance of the exposed RCC. Facing system pressures to develop during rapid drawdown of a
details are shown in Figure 1-10. A facing system reservoir, resulting in possible failure of the facing
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Figure 1-15. Unformed (D/S) surface finish j. Galleries, joints, waterstops, and other spe-
cial features. Galleries, joints, waterstops, and
damage at flow velocities as low as 40 fps (Refer- other special features that are easily incorporated
ence 12c). RCC surfaces cannot be held to the into conventional concrete placements are much
same close tolerances as conventionally placed more difficult when RCC construction methods are
concrete with formed, slipformed, or screeded sur- used. Designers must carefully consider the
faces. Therefore, a conventional concrete topping construction details for such features when RCC is
or facing may be required over RCC placements specified, to minimize the impact of these features
where the surface will be exposed to flowing water. on the RCC placement process and to assure that
Duration of flow, however, is also a factor. For these features will perform as intended. Galleries in
structures with infrequent, short-duration, dams must be located to provide adequate space for
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RCC placing and compaction equipment in all areas specifications. Project test sections should be con-
adjacent to the gallery. Since any interruption or structed outside the footprint of all project features.
opening in the RCC lifts will reduce placement Any test section placed during the design phase
rates, the location and method of gallery construc- should be constructed by an experienced contractor
tion should be selected to minimize the extent to hired especially to construct the test section. Con-
which RCC production is affected. The opening or struction should be closely controlled by the design-
void created by the gallery may also contribute to ers and the materials engineer, and extensive testing
stress concentrations and cracking and should be should be performed. Tests on the unhardened,
considered in the design. Gallery construction freshly mixed RCC should include: (1) vebe con-
details are shown in Figure 1-17 and gallery con- sistency using the modified vebe apparatus shown
struction is shown in Figures 1-18 to 1-20. Typical in EM 1110-2-2006 (Reference 12c), (2) determina-
gallery construction details are shown using (a) tion of inplace density using a nuclear density
gravel/sand fill replacement, and (b) cast-in-place meter, (3) moisture content, (4) air content, and
concrete methods. Gravel/sand is placed concur- (5) fabrication of strength test specimens. Tests on
rently with RCC at the desired location of the gal- the in situ samples retrieved from the hardened
lery. After placement of the RCC the gravel/sand RCC may include permeability and compressive,
fill is excavated to form the completed gallery. The tensile, shear, and flexural strength tests on samples
advantage of this method is that access for placing, with and without lift joints. Each test section
spreading, and compacting equipment is not should be sufficiently large to permit use of full-
restricted. Waterstops must be encased in a region size production equipment (similar to the type antic-
of conventionally placed slump concrete in order to ipated for use on the project) and to permit "shake-
achieve the desired seepage control. Similarly, down" and subsequent steady operations to be
joints that require load transfer through dowel attained. Funds expended on the test section are
action shear friction must be detailed so the dowels nearly always returned many times over in in-
are encapsulated in conventional concrete. Water- creased quality of production construction. All
stop details are shown in Figure 1-21 and operations to be used in the RCC placement process
Figure 1-22 shows installation of a waterstop at a should be included in the test fill construction in
contraction joint. The waterstop is placed in a zone order to identify any potential problem areas. This
of conventional concrete facing at the upstream face includes operations such as: forming for conven-
of a gravity dam at the location of the designed tional concrete to be placed upstream and/or down-
contraction joint. stream; bedding mortar placement; compaction of
downstream unformed faces; and the use of any
k. Test placements. A preliminary test place- unusual equipment to deliver, spread or compact the
ment section should be completed during project RCC.
design to confirm RCC mixture design characteris-
tics and to allow observation of placement and l. Reinforcement in RCC placements.
compaction procedures. This will provide a means
of evaluating mixture proportions, aggregate charac- (1) Anchorage reinforcement. It becomes nec-
teristics, time intervals between lift placements, lift essary at times to embed reinforcing steel in the
thickness, placement and compaction techniques, RCC for the purpose of anchoring various structural
RCC temperature gain characteristics, and lift joint features and appendages. These structural features
treatment. For smaller projects it may be more could be intakes for outlet work, training walls for
practical to construct such a test section early in the spillways, parapets, etc. The anchorage of these
life of the contract. For any major project, con- features to the RCC structure can either be accom-
struction of a test section by the project contractor plished by installing the rebar during RCC place-
is essential even if a "preliminary" test section was ment, or by drilling and grouting the rebar in place
completed during the design phase. The "project" following RCC placement.
test section will provide an opportunity for a con-
tractor to develop and confirm techniques and Although it is common practice to install anchorage
equipment for efficient placement of the RCC. A reinforcement during RCC placement, this practice
project test section should also be used to demon- has some disadvantages. First, it is difficult to
strate the contractors capability to produce the position the rebar so that it meets location
quality and quantity of RCC required by contract
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Figure 1-17. Galleries and other special features in RCC structures must be compatible with RCC
construction
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coefficient of thermal expansion. The range of strength, the strength at lift surfaces will govern the
values for each of these RCC properties is pre- design. Cohesion varies a great deal from lift sur-
sented in the following paragraphs. It should be face to lift surface, while the angle of internal fric-
noted that the rapid construction time of RCC struc- tion is usually quite consistent. The factors that
tures, and the general practice of specifying the affect tensile strength at lift joint surfaces also
required RCC strength at 1 year, can lead to the affect shear strength. Cohesion can vary from 0 to
structure being loaded prior to the RCC attaining 10 percent of the compressive strength. A prelimi-
the required design strength. It is therefore impor- nary design value of 5 percent of the compressive
tant that the structural engineer be involved in the strength is recommended for lift joint surfaces that
mix design process in order to assure that the are to receive a mortar bedding; otherwise, a value
required strength gain characteristics of the mix are of 0 should be assumed. The angle of internal
attained. All values assumed in the preliminary friction can vary from 40 to 60 deg. A value of
design must be verified through testing as outlined 45 deg may be assumed for preliminary design
in Section 7. studies.
b. Compressive strength. RCC with high qual- e. Modulus of elasticity. Properly propor-
ity aggregates will produce compressive strength tioned and consolidated RCC should provide a
equal to conventional concrete. The strength will modulus of elasticity equal to or greater than that of
depend primarily on the water-cement ratio. The a conventional concrete of equal compressive
relationship between water-cement ratio and strength. The same modulus-strength relationships
strength for RCC is similar to that for conventional used for conventional concrete may be used for
concrete. Normally, for durability reasons, the RCC RCC. For rapid strain rate loading, such as occurs
mixture will have a minimum compressive strength during earthquakes, the modulus of elasticity may
of 2,000 psi at 1 year. However, higher compres- be 15 percent higher than that predicted by the
sive strengths may be required to produce RCC usual strength modulus formula. For thermal analy-
with the desired tensile and shear strengths. ses, where creep effects are considered, the effec-
tive modulus may be 33 percent less. Preliminary
c. Tensile strength. The tensile strength of design studies should assume the modulus of elas-
RCC is dependent on the method of test used (split ticity to be equal to 57,000 (fc)1/2 psi (increased by
cylinder, flexural, direct tension). The tensile 15 percent for seismic load conditions and reduced
strength of RCC can be expressed as a function of by one third for long-time load conditions where
the compressive strength and, in general, is lower creep effects are important).
than for conventional concrete. The in-place tensile
strength of RCC is sensitive to the maximum size f. Poissons ratio. The normal range for
of aggregates, the workability of the mixture, and Poissons ratio is between 0.17 and 0.22. A value
the condition of the lift joint surface. With the use of 0.20 should be used for preliminary design
of a mortar bedding on lift surfaces, direct tensile studies.
strengths in the range of 3 to 9 percent of the com-
pressive strength can be expected. A direct tensile g. Coefficient of thermal expansion. The ther-
strength equal to 5 percent of the compressive mal movements in concrete are primarily dependent
strength is recommended for preliminary design on the aggregate type and content. The coefficient
investigations. This value can be increased by of thermal expansion, or the thermal movement per
50 percent for seismic load conditions that involve unit temperature rise, is usually smaller for RCC
high strain rates. (because of higher aggregate content) than for con-
ventional concrete. The coefficient of thermal
d. Shear strength. The total shear strength expansion for conventional concrete varies between
along horizontal lift surfaces of RCC is a combina- 4 and 8 x 10-6 inches per inch per degree F. A
tion of cohesion (bond) and frictional resistance. value of 5 x 10-6 inches per inch per degree F
The shear strength along lift surfaces is always less should be used for preliminary RCC design studies.
than the parent concrete. Therefore, as for tensile
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9. Special Structural Design Requirements Concrete Report should be included. The purpose
for RCC Gravity Dams of the Structural Report is to evaluate the ability of
the completed RCC structure to perform as assumed
a. General. The principles of design specified during the design process. Items of particular
in EM 1110-2-2200, "Gravity Dam Design," apply interest are:
to roller-compacted concrete gravity dams.
However, there are differences in the requirements (1) A final stability analysis using the shear
for uplift within the body of the dam, and additional strength values determined from the drilling and
testing requirements to assure adequate factors of testing program.
safety against sliding.
(2) A final stress analysis using actual tem-
b. Uplift within the body of an RCC dam. perature gradients and RCC strengths obtained from
Uplift within the body of an RCC dam constructed instrumentation built into the structure and the drill-
without mortar bedding on all lift joint surfaces ing and testing program.
shall be assumed to vary from 100 percent of head-
water at the upstream face to 100 percent of (3) The percentage of the lift surfaces esti-
tailwater (or zero, as the case may be) at the down- mated to be bonded, as indicated by the drilling
stream face. When mortar bedding is used, uplift program.
within the body of the dam can be assumed in
accordance with the requirements for conventional (4) A comparison of the strength indicated
concrete gravity dams. from the post-construction drilling and testing pro-
gram with that indicated by testing performed on
c. Minimum sliding factors of safety for RCC RCC cylinders taken during construction.
gravity dams. The minimum factors of safety
required for sliding stability of RCC gravity dams This comparison, as well as an evaluation of the
will be as required in EM 1110-2-2200 for conven- other testing performed during construction, should
tional concrete gravity dams. However, because of be used to confirm that the required RCC strengths
the uncertainties and variability of cohesive strength were obtained in the field.
at RCC lift joint surfaces, the selection of cohesive
strengths used in sliding analyses must be made 10. The Design Team
carefully. Preliminary cohesion strengths can be
assumed in accordance with Section 8.d herein, a. Once the structural designer determines the
however, assumed values must be verified by tests strength and serviceability requirements for a pro-
performed on samples prepared during mix design posed RCC structure, he should work with the
in the lab and on cores taken from test fills. In materials engineer to develop mixture designs that
addition, the Post Construction Structural Report will achieve the desired strength and serviceability
required in Section 9.d must demonstrate that the properties. The materials engineer should indicate
shear resistance of a typical lift joint meets or if the desired properties are achievable with the type
exceeds the design requirements. The shear resis- of construction to be used, and the quality of aggre-
tance of a typical joint will be the sum of the fric- gates available. Compressive, shear, bond, and
tional resistance plus the average cohesion strength tensile strengths in RCC construction may be as
of the bonded portion of the joint. Only the much dependent on field control of mixing and
percentage of the joint which is bonded, as indi- placing operations as mixture ingredients or mixture
cated by the coring and testing of the completed proportions. Therefore, the structural and materials
structure, should be used in the calculation of engineers must jointly develop requirements for test
cohesion strength. fill placements, in situ testing, and actual construc-
tion placements. The in situ testing program should
d. Post construction structural report. The address: (1) The type and numbers of tests required
drilling and testing required by Section 7.h and the to assure that the required properties are uniformly
final structural stability and stress analysis, using attained throughout the placement, (2) the sampling
the values obtained during the drilling, should be procedures required to provide representative sam-
included in a Post-Construction Structural Report. ples, and (3) the type of tests and sampling
In addition, a summary of the findings of the final
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