ABSTRACT
RCC has been used in dam construction as a natural evolution to the conventional concrete technology. The RCC construction method needs a very dry concrete and several horizontal contraction joints. These peculiarities, allied to the particular compaction process, raise doubts about the efficiency of conventional concrete tests to characterize the RCC strength and workability parameters. Several test methods have been developed or adapted to obtain parameters that permit the quality control and guide lines to the design mixes. All these methods don’t have the capacity to simulate the real placement and compaction processes. These facts allied to the inherent concrete components variability for each site creates the necessity of conservative mixes in the beginning of construction and the validation throughout site test fills or tests during construction. This paper discusses a methodology using laboratory test fills to characterize the concrete prior to the site works to help planning and to obtain a very accurate approach to the initial mixes. The laboratory test fills use a device prepared to simulate site and equipment conditions inside laboratory, including several cure possibilities and various weather conditions. The methodology calibration and validation have been executed using statistical comparisons with site test fills and actual dam site results. The results obtained in the FURNAS RCC Laboratory in Goiania have indicated that reliable RCC parameters could be achieved by applying previous laboratory tests. These conclusions could be illustrated by the analysis of the results obtained in laboratory with those obtained during the Dona Francisca Hydro Power Plant construction. This facility entered recently into operation in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
