TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1987

Rolled Concrete Dams Using Gap‐Graded Aggregate

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 113, Issue 1

Abstract

Roller‐compacted concrete dams, in which the concrete is placed and compacted in thin layers from abutment to abutment without interior formwork, have been found to be very economical. The writer suggests that potential problems of seepage along lift lines, temperature and drying shrinkage cracking, and segregation of aggregates may be minimized or eliminated by the use of gap‐graded aggregate concrete. This type of concrete consists of a skeleton of single‐size coarse aggregate, the voids of which are filled with a graded fine aggregate, cement, and water. The maximum size of the fine aggregate is one‐eighth of the minimum size of the coarse aggregate and the very fine sand is eliminated to reduce the specific surface of the aggregates, thereby minimizing the water and cement requirements. The resulting material is a minimum slump, very dense concrete with low cement content. The proportioning method for the concrete mix is straightforward, depending only on the compaction characteristics of the aggregates, the specific gravities of the materials, and the water‐cement ratio needed for design strength. The advantages of gap‐graded aggregate for roller compacted concrete dams warrant the extra crushing or screening required.

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References

1.
Bahrner, V., “Gap Graded Concrete,” Cement and Concrete Association, London, England, Cj. 42, Jan., 1952 (translated from Swedish and reprinted from “Cement och Betong,” Vol. 26, No. 2, June, 1951).
2.
Concrete Manual, 8th ed., Revised Reprint, U.S. Department of the Interior, Water and Power Resources Service (Bureau of Reclamation), 1981, p. 58.
3.
Corps of Engineers, Technical Report No. 6, Appendix A., “Investigation of Gap Gradings of Concrete Aggregates,” U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station, Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Miss., Feb., 1962.
4.
Hilf, J. W., and Copen, M. D., “Economic Factors in the Design and Construction of Concrete Dams,” Transactions, 11th Congress on Large Dams, Vol. 111, Q. 43, R. 6, Madrid, Spain, 1973, p. 1068.
5.
Hopman, D., Keifer, O., and Anderson, F. A., “Current Corps of Engineers' Concepts for Roller Compacted Concrete in Dams,” Roller Compacted Concrete, ASCE Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete, Denver, Colo., May, 1985.
6.
Logie, C. V., “Economic Considerations in Selection of a Roller Compacted Concrete Dam,” Roller Compacted Concrete, ASCE, Proceedings of symposium sponsored by Colorado Section and Construction Division, Denver, Colo., May, 1985, p. 115.
7.
Philleo, R. E., “General Report of Question 57, Concrete Dams—An Old Problem Always Present: Cracking—A New Technology: Rolled Concrete (Rollcrete),” Transactions, Vol. II, 15th International Congress on Large Dams, Lausanne, Switzerland, June, 1985, p. 802.
8.
Shu‐t'ien Li, “Gap‐Graded Aggregates for Mass Concrete,” Proceedings, ASCE, Engineering Foundation Conference on Economical Construction of Concrete Dams, Asilomar, Calif., May, 1972, pp. 101–141.
9.
Shu‐t'ien Li, and Stewart, D. A., “Compatible Gradation of Aggregates and Optimum Void‐Filling Concrete Proportioning for Full Consolidation,” High‐way Research Record, No. 441, Gradings of Concrete Aggregates, Highway Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1973.
10.
Stark, D. C., “Alkali‐Silica Reactivity: Some Reconsiderations,” Research and Development Bulletin RD076.01T, Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill., 1981.
11.
Stewart, D. A., “Economic Factors in the Choice of Aggregate Grading in Relation to Quality Control,” Proceedings, Symposium on Mix Design and Quality Control of Concrete, Cement and Concrete Association, London, England, May, 1954, pp. 317–341.

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Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 113Issue 1March 1987
Pages: 27 - 33

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Published online: Mar 1, 1987
Published in print: Mar 1987

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Jack W. Hilf, F. ASCE
Consulting Engr., Box 440080, Gateway Sta., Aurora, CO 80044

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