A case study on the post-construction deformation of concrete face rockfill dams

Abstract

Concrete face rockfill dams (CFRDs) are considered to be fundamentally safe, especially against leakage, and to be a low-cost alternative at many sites. Their design is based on empirical experiences rather than theory. The present paper describes post-construction deformation and leakage using 27 CFRD case studies. The analysis shows that deformation normal to the face slab is larger than the post-construction crest settlement when the dam height exceeds 100 m and that the long-term leakage rate increases rapidly when the dam height exceeds 125 m.