Advances of dam construction techniques in Xinjiang

There are over 570 rivers are in Xinjiang and 97% of them originate from mountains. Dam construction in mountainous area is an effective measure to control and regulate rational allocation of water resources. Since the 1990s, the dam construction in Xinjiang has shifted from the plain area to the mountainous one, and dam materials are also improved on the basis of local materials. There appear roller compaction concrete dams, concrete faced sandy gravel and rock dams, asphalt concrete core rock-fill dams, rock-fill dams by anti-seepage geomembrane and so on. The characteristics of dam construction techniques in Xinjiang are summarized. The main inventions and innovations are reviewed. According to the history of dam construction in Xinjiang, it is concluded that the characteristics of dam construction techniques in Xinjiang is the clay core rock-fill dam as the basic dam type, and the concrete faced sandy gravel and rock dam and asphalt concrete core rock-fill dam as the main direction of development in the area of special environment and unfavorable geological conditions such as severe cold area, high seismic area, deep overburden layer. Efforts of improvement and innovation on key techniques, including dam design, basement treatment, construction technology and construction materials, will improve the construction techniques, operation management and dam safety.