Development of design mix roller compacted concrete dam at Middle Vaitarana

The development in roller compacted concrete (RCC) is replacing the conventionally vibrated concrete (CVC) for faster construction of dam during last three-four decades. Notwithstanding, there have been relatively less works reported on the utilization of RCC in dam constructions, especially the dams having considerable height. Further, the Ghatgar dam was the only dam in the tropical country like India constructed using the technology of RCC until two years back. However, with the completion of 102.4 m high Middle Vaitarana Dam (MVD), owned by Muncipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), India, has become the first largest roller compacted concrete dam. The paper traces step by step aspects of the mix design of RCC in respect of the afore-mentioned project besides the construction aspects; and also, demonstrates as to how 12.15 lacs cubic meter of roller compacted concrete was placed within the record duration of 15.2 months, thus, rendering the MVD as the ninth fastest RCC dam in the world. The paper also discusses the various mix proportioning, quality control, constructional features and instrumentation with respect to the high RCC dam such as Middle Vaitarana.