The use of RCC for cofferdams

Cofferdams, as part of a run-of-river diversion scheme, are an important part of most new dam construction projects. As the cofferdam is a temporary structure, the design engineer and project owner may not give these dams the attention shown to other parts of the project design. As with all projects built in a stream or river channel, there are risks associated with cofferdam design, particularly with respect to failure during a flood event. The risk involved is the potential that a flood may exceed the design flow for the cofferdam, and result in overtopping or failure. The historical record shows that many cofferdams have failed, creating significant impacts to construction schedules and costs.