Lessons learned from five major concrete faced rockfill dams

Concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRDs) are among the most versatile dam types for hydropower and pumped-storage schemes. Their main advantages lie in construction efficiency and adaptability. Long-term performance depends on effective management of settlement, seepage, and face-slab behaviour. This paper draws on lessons which were learned during the construction of CFRDs in Brazil, China, Malaysia and Iran.