Guide to Roller Compacted Concrete

The purpose of this course is to provide information and guidance on the use of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) in dams and other civil works structures. This course does not cover RCC for pavements. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) defines RCC as “concrete compacted by roller compaction; concrete that, in its unhardened state, will support a roller while being compacted.” Properties of hardened RCC can be similar to those of conventionally placed concrete.

However, RCC can also be made with hardened properties that are outside the range of typical properties of conventionally placed concrete. The term “roller compaction” is also defined by ACI as “a process for compacting concrete using a roller, often a vibrating roller.” The terms “rollcrete” and “rolled concrete” are no longer to be used. RCC may be considered for applications where no-slump concrete can be transported, placed, and compacted using earth and rock-fill construction equipment. Ideal RCC projects will involve large placement areas, little or no reinforcement, and little or no embedded metal work or other discontinuities such as piles. The application of RCC should be considered when it is economically competitive with other construction methods.

Topics:

• Investigation and selection of materials
• Mixture proportioning
• Design and construction considerations
• Construction equipment and techniques
• Inspection of construction equipment
• Performance of construction equipment

Publication Source: USACE