Cold Weather Placement of RCC

Abstract

This paper contains a discussion on the practice and recommendations of placing RCC (roller-compacted concrete) during cold weather in a mass-concrete applications, such as in an RCC dam or RCC buttress for a dam. When cold weather placement conditions are anticipated for a particular project site, it is possible to incorporate into the design and construction quality control provisions that would minimize the adverse effects of cold weather on the RCC. This paper provides a practical approach whereby the contractor is allowed to produce and place RCC during cold weather without sacrificing the quality and design intent of the material. Three case histories are presented to illustrate the construction problems and performance of RCC placed under cold weather conditions. Guide specifications are also provided for cold-weather RCC placement.