A Rational Method for RCC Design

Any effort that each engineer may offer toward rational designs for construction dams is linked to a rational use of natural resources. After years of experience using roller compacted concrete (RCC) in dam construction, a rational method for mixtures design based on a mechanistic reasoning has not been developed yet. Experts, depending on their particular experiences, aim according to his/her personal approach. However, despite these methods are quite different among them, and some very successful, none are based on a mechanistic reasoning but empirical. This shortcoming turns the design in a long trial-error process, which leaves the production-placement stage subject to decisions out of the track of the desired goals. Therefore, it can be said that a design method which relies on a mechanistic reasoning, trends to short the trial-error cycle that entails any geomaterial’s design. On the other hand, once the final mixture design is achieved, dispose such designing tool, might lead to improve the quality control stage due to the rationality that supports all the process. This paper proposes an approach similar to that used for design of asphalt mixtures, based on a standardized process and standardized input elements.