Although application of concrete faced rock fill dams (CFRD) have a rather long history, these have begun to be widespread lately in Turkey. These dam types are preferred generally due to being secure, comply with land conditions, their construction being practical and economic. The geological situation of the dam location is a significant factor for rock fill dams. Concrete faced rock fill dams are constructed up to now successfully at great heights. Since the whole of the concrete faced rock fill dams are dry, the earthquake do not form cavity water pressure in the rock fill cavities. Because of this property, concrete faced rock fill dams is resistant to earthquake. In this study the properties of concrete faced rock fill dams are briefly explained and Dim Dam (Antalya) is given as an example. Dim Dam is one of the most important concrete faced rock fill dams which construction continues. The dam is located on the Dim creek 13 km northeast of Antalya province Alanya town. The dam is being constructed for the purpose of energy, irrigation and fresh water and its height from the foundation is 134.50 m and crest length is 365 m. Bahçeli formation formed by Upper Permian aged schist with limestone blocks and Quaternary aged alluvium are outcropped in the dam location. Upstream face slope of the dam is 1.40 horizontal / 1 vertical, downstream face slope is 1.50 horizontal / 1 vertical. The impermeability of the dam is provided by the concrete coating on the upstream face.
Dams with concrete faced have been started to be constructed intensively in the entire world in recent years. The main reasons for preferring them are summarized in articles hereunder.
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Since the filling slopes are hillsideer than clay – core fillings, the body filling volume is less and it is possible to shorten the length of their discharge installations (spillway and derivation structures).
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Since zones numbered 1 (clay) and 2 (semi-permanent) do not exist, it is possible to continue work during rainy days and no damage is caused on agricultural lands – In case any problems that may increase leakage occurs on the front face, its repair is easy.
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The reservoir water load on the front face is safer since it is transferred to the base rock in the downstream of the dam axis.
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Under the reservoir water load + earthquake loads, high safety numbers are obtained since the material parameters do not change.
Furthermore, since there is no water movement within the dam, no space water pressure increases occur under earthquake vibrations and no decrease tendency is observed at sliding strength.
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Injection works can be performed in parallel with the filling construction. Base improvement requirement and cost cover the region only under the heel plate, therefore it is less than the other dam types.
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It is possible to construct ramps in any direction within the dam body. This minimizes the access ways in the dam.
