ABSTRACT
Rockfill dams with reinforced concrete facing are constructed of rockfill or gravel, while water-impermeability is provided by reinforced concrete facing, by means of which the upstream dam’s slope is lined. The reinforced concrete facing is the most frequently used water-impermeable element in rockfill dams, Figure 12.1. Throughout the world, it has particularly been used up until World War Two, and following some hold-up, it has been experiencing a real renaissance during the last four decades, more precisely since 1970 (ASCE, 1987; Cooke, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000a; Cruz et al., 2009). From Figure 12.1 the domination of concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRDs)1 is clearly visible, compared with the alternatives: rockfill dams with asphaltic core and asphaltic lining, especially in the period 1991-2012.
