Asphalt-Concrete Water Barriers for Embankment Dams

Because of its simplicity in design and construction, the asphalt concrete core is rapidly becoming the water barrier of choice for embankment dams in many parts of the world. This is especially true in regions with a short construction season and/or a shortage of impervious soils at workable water contents, such as cold, mountainous regions. Although asphalt concrete has been used extensively in Europe and Japan for the past 45 years, there is a need for increased awareness of this important tool in the United States. This book discusses the uses and potential uses of asphalt in embankment dams, in particular the design and construction of asphalt concrete cores or asphalt concrete facings as the water barrier of an embankment dam.