Asphaltic cores: Making embankment dams truly watertight

All engineering works that retain and store water or other liquids usually require some kind of artificial sealing system. Asphaltic concrete has proven to be a most effective solution for lining dam faces, reservoirs, channels and, waste disposal sites. For more than 50 years it has also been successfully used as a specialist method of constructing an impermeable central core liner to seal large embankment dams. Today there are more than 100 such dams around the world [World Atlas, 20161]. This paper examines the benefits of asphalt concrete embankment dams, and gives examples of recent projects.