Test Studies on Performances of TGP Total Gradation Concrete

The Three Gorges Project (TGP) is the largest water conservancy and hydropower complex in the world, with a concrete consumption of 28 million m^3 in total. For such a significant world-attracting project, first rate quality concrete is needed. Various mechanical and deformation performances of hydraulic mass concrete are determined conventionally by the wet screening method to make small specimens and the test results of the small standard specimens are taken to represent the properties of the mass concrete. However, the quantity of the coarse aggregate after wet screening would be reduced by 30% or so and the gel materials would increase by 20% or so, thus causing significant differences between the properties of the small concrete specimen and that of the total gradation concrete. To well understand the performances of the total gradation concrete of TGP dam, test studies have been performed on the total gradation concrete, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, elastic modulus, ultimate tension, dry shrinkage, self volume deformation, creep, seepage prevention, and so on, and comparison made with the small standard specimens to find out the relationship between them, which have provided scientific ground for the design, operation and safety verification of the TGP dam.

The Three Gorges Project （TGP） is the largest water conservancy and hydropower complex in the world, with a concrete consumption of 28 million m^3 in total. For such a significant world-attracting project, first rate quality concrete is needed. Various mechanical and deformation performances of hydraulic mass concrete are determined conventionally by the wet screening method to make small specimens and the test results of the small standard specimens are taken to represent the properties of the mass concrete. However, the quantity of the coarse aggregate after wet screening would be reduced by 30% or so and the gel materials would increase by 20% or so, thus causing significant differences between the properties of the small concrete specimen and that of the total gradation concrete. To well understand the performances of the total gradation concrete of TGP dam, test studies have been performed on the total gradation concrete, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, elastic modulus, ultimate tension, dry shrinkage, self volume defomation, creep, seepage prevention, and so on, and comparison made with the small standard specimens to find out the relationship between them, which have provided scientific gound for the design, operation and safety verification of the TGP dam.