AUTHORS

T. P. Dolen,
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

R. Ibáñez de Aldecoa
Dragados OP

J. l. Eharz
Washington Group International

M. R. H. Dunstan
Malcolm Dunstan & Associates

ABSTRACT

A successful RCC dam should be one that is completed on time, that has a satisfactory quality, that is within budget and that gives a reasonable return to the Contractor. Generally the faster an RCC dam is constructed, the more likely the Project is to achieve these utopian objectives.

Three dams have been completed far faster than any other large RCC dam, Upper Stillwater, Olivenhain, both in the USA, and Beni Haroun in Algeria. The RCC at Beni Haroun, the third fastest dam, was placed some 50% faster than at the fourth fastest large RCC dam, Miel I.

All the three dams also have amongst the best reported insitu properties of any RCC dams. The design and construction methodology of the three dams are compared in the article and conclusions drawn on the factors that lead to the rapid and successful placements of the RCCs.