Concepcion Dam Design & Construction Problems and Their Solutions

by M. Giovagnoli, Servizi Tecnici Intl, Rome, Italy,
F. Ercoli, Servizi Tecnici Intl, Rome, Italy,
E. Schrader, Servizi Tecnici Intl, Rome, Italy,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Roller Compacted Concrete III

Abstract:

Concepcion Dam is a curved axis gravity structure 68 m high and 695 m long. It supplies water to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. The dam contains 290,000 cubic meters of RCC. Challenges in construction and design were met with practical solutions. Some examples of these problems are limitations on imports; topography that varied from extraordinarily steep at the bottom to relatively flat further up the abutments; zones of poor foundation; very poor quality cement and pozzolan with high heat and erratic composition; aggregates having low strength, high absorption, and low density; low density concrete; and unfinished design while construction started. The dam uses an exposed PVC membrane at the upstream face to provide watertightness. Design modifications, such as sloping the upstream face and modifying the cross section, were made as the work progressed. Different RCC delivery methods were used for portions of the dam these included trucks, trucks with conveyors, and an all conveyor system. The project will store 33 million m³ of water, ensuring a continuous flow of 1200 l/sec during the dry season with 95% confidence.

Subject Headings: Dams | Concrete dams | Trucks | Membranes | Gravity dams | Dam foundations | Rivers and streams | Central America | Honduras | South America

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