Concrete-Face Rockfill Dam: I. Assessment

The concrete-face rockfill dam (CFRD) is currently being used with increasing frequency throughout the world. It has substantial advantages over the earth-core rockfill dam, the common alternate dam type considered. The CFRD is considered to have high fundamental safety, especially against strong earthquake shaking, and to be appropriate for use for very high dams. Placing the rockfill embankment in stratified layers, with the larger rocks in the bottom of each layer, is desirable practice. Crest settlements are relatively low, and decrease in rate rapidly after the first few years. Static stability analyses are not used for CFRD design. It is believed safe and reasonable to build spillways over CFRDs.