Roller-compacted concrete (RCC), a durable paving material that carries heavy loads, is now developing as a fast, economical construction method for dams, off-highway pavement projects, heavy-duty parking and storage areas, and as a base for conventional pavement. RCC is a stiff, zero-slump concrete mixture with the consistency of damp gravel comprised of local aggregates or crushed recycled concrete, Portland cement, and water. The mixture is placed and roller compacted with the same commonly available equipment used for asphalt pavement construction.
Typically, RCC is constructed without joints. It needs neither forms nor finishing, nor does it contain dowels or steel reinforcing.
Because of its low water-cement ratio, RCC typically has high strengths similar to, or even greater than, conventional concrete. RCC’s high-strength properties combined with ease of construction and high rate of production often make RCC more economical than a flexible pavement. Additionally, more than 20 years of exposure as logging roads in cold climates have demonstrated that RCC has adequate resistance to freezing and thawing.
These characteristics make roller-compacted concrete simple, fast, and economical.
Benefits of RCC
- Economical (both initial and life-cycle costs)
- High load carrying ability
- Eliminates rutting
- Excellent overall durability
- Simple, fast construction
- No forms or finishing
