Rock-filled concrete, the new norm of SCC in hydraulic engineering in China

Rock-filled concrete (RFC) was developed in China in 2003 as an application of self-compacting concrete (SCC) that can then be used as “normal” concrete for massive concrete constructions. RFC is produced by filling the voids of rock blocks with SCC, which has good fluidity and segregation resistance. To guarantee the required workability of SCC, a mix design method for SCC based on its paste rheological characteristics was developed. The proposed method yielded practical benefits by saving on the amount of laboratory work, testing time, and raw materials. The integrated performance of RFC was studied by conducting tests on its compaction, compression strength, tensile strength, and permeability. Results indicated that RFC meets the requirements of hydraulic concrete. With two types of construction technology in practical application, RFC exhibits remarkable advantages, such as high construction efficiency, low cost, low heat of hydration, and low environmental load. These advantages contribute to a simpler construction management and an easier quality control, signifying that RFC is a promising technology in hydraulic engineering.