Performance of high concrete face rockfill dams in China and its inspiration

The safety monitoring layout, instrumentation and results of high concrete face rockfill dams (more than 129 m in height) in China are presented. Based on the studies on the monitoring results, it is found that the deformation property of the dam material, the dam height and the valley shape have important effects on the performance of the dams. The concept and representation of characteristic values (Cs for settlement of dam body, CDu and CDd for displacement of dam body, CDS for displacement of perimeter joint, CDV for displacement of vertical joint of face slab and Cd for deflection of face slab respectively) are put forward, which is of great help to the description of the dam performance and its influencing factors. The deformation behaviors of dam body, face slab and joints of 300 m super-high concrete face rockfill dams are predicted by using the characteristic value method. The feasibility, design concept, key technology and further research direction for 300 m super-high concrete face rockfill dams are also proposed.