Roller-Compacted Concrete
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Roller-Compacted Concrete
A Different
Kind of Concrete
 Roller-compacted
concrete, or RCC, takes its name from the construction method used
to build it. It's placed with conventional or high-density asphalt
paving equipment,then compacted with rollers.
RCC has the same basic ingredient as conventional concrete: cement,
water, and aggregates, such as gravel or crushed stone.
But unlike conventional concrete, it's a drier mix—stiff enough
to be compacted by vibratory rollers. Typically, RCC is constructed
without joints. It needs neither forms nor finishing, nor does it
contain dowels or steel reinforcing.
These characteristics make RCC simple, fast, and economical.
Tough, Fast, Economical
 These
qualities have taken roller-compacted concrete from specialized
applications to mainstream pavement. Today, RCC is used for any
type of industrial or heavy-duty pavement. The reason is simple.
RCC has the strength and performance of conventional concrete with
the economy and simplicity of asphalt. Coupled with long service
life and minimal maintenance, RCC's low initial cost adds up to
economy and value.
Roots in Logging
 RCC
got its start in the Seventies, when the Canadian logging industry
switched to environmentally cleaner, land-based log-sorting methods.
The industry needed a strong pavement to stand up to massive loads
and specialized equipment. Yet economy was equally important: log-sorting
yards can span 40 acres (16 hectares) or more. RCC met this challenge
and has since expanded to other heavy-duty applications.
Durability—even under severe
loads—
gave RCC pavements their start for
log-sorting yards.
Today, RCC is used when strength, durability, and economy are primary
needs:
Port, intermodal, and military facilities; parking, storage, and
staging areas;
streets, intersections, and low-speed roads.
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| RCC's economy of scale made
it ideal for roads, parking, and staging areas at the Honda
Plant in Lincoln, Alabama. At 140 acres, it's the largest RCC
pavement project to date. |
No Rutting, No Pot Holes
The high strength of RCC pavements eliminates common and costly
problems traditionally associated with asphalt pavements.
RCC pavements:
- Resist rutting
- Span soft localized subgrades
- Will not deform under heavy, concentrated loads
- Do not deteriorate from spills of fuels and hydraulic fluids
- Will not soften under high temperatures
Unique Mix, Unique Construction
 RCC
owes much of its economy to high-volume, high-speed construction
methods.Large-capacity mixers set the pace. Normally, RCC is blended
in continuous-mixing pugmills at or near the construction site.
These high-output pugmills have the mixing efficiency needed to
evenly disperse the relatively small amount of water used.
Dump trucks transport the RCC and discharge it into an asphalt paver,
which places the material in layers up to 10 inches (250 mm) thick
and 42 feet (13 m) wide.
 Compaction
is the most important stage of construction: it provides density,
strength, smoothness, and surface texture. Compaction begins immediately
after placement and continues until the pavement meets density requirements.
Curing ensures a strong and durable pavement. As with any type of
concrete, curing makes moisture available for hydration—the
chemical reaction that causes concrete to harden and gain strength.
A water cure sprays or irrigates the pavement to keep it moist.
A spray-on membrane can also be used to seal moisture inside.
When appearance is important, joints can be saw cut into the RCC
to control crack location. If economy outweighs appearance, the
RCC is allowed to crack naturally.
Once cured, the pavement is ready for use. An asphalt surface is
sometimes applied for greater smoothness or as a riding surface
for high-speed traffic.
Economy. Performance. Versatility.
For RCC, economy was the mother of invention. The need for a low-cost,
high-volume material for industrial pavements led to its development.
 Low
cost continues to draw engineers, owners, and construction managers
to RCC. But today's RCC owes much of its appeal to performance:
The strength to withstand heavy and specialized loads; the durability
to resist freeze-thaw damage; and the versatility to take on a wide
variety of paving applications. From container ports to parking
lots, RCC is the right choice for tough duty.
Concrete Performance: Click here for
the Features and Benefits of RCC Pavements
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More about RCC:
Features & Benefits of RCC Pavements
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