Optimizing structural function design and new practices of cemented material dams in China

Cemented material dams (CMDs) are a new type of dam, which are built with cemented local materials and based on a new concept of optimizing the structural function of dams during the design phase. The difference between CMD and roller compacted concrete (RCC) construction in structural design, material preparation and construction control has been thoroughly discussed based on the construction of Jinjigou dam in Sichuan Province, China. Now, at more than 40 projects in China, CMDs have shown significant advantages in terms of high resistance against overtopping, high adaptability to geological terrain and low requirements for raw materials. Also they can make use of soft rock aggregate when the dam height is low.