ABSTRACT
It is more than 15 years since the first RCC arch dams were initiated in South Africa. In this paper, the author presents previously unpublished experience gained during the design and construction of Wolwedans Dam, the world’s first true RCC arch/gravity dam. Discussing several of the early problems experienced and the solutions developed, more appropriate arch designs and more reliable construction measures for joint forming and grouting are illustrated. In addition to providing an outline of the design of a proposed 100 m high RCC arch dam, the author presents an indication of the typical structural dam wall configuration that might be applied for Wolwedans Dam, if designed and constructed on the basis of today’s knowledge of RCC arch behaviour.
