Asphalt is a viscoelastic-plastic material with a self-healing ability when exposed to:
-
Differential settlements and arching effect
-
Earthquake cracks or damage
-
General settlements of the embankment
Inside the dam body, the asphalt exists under near ideal conditions. It will remain flexible and impervious over the dam's lifetime. Placement of asphaltic cores is to a great extent independent of weather conditions. Choosing an asphalt core design in areas with much rain, the overall construction is simplified and the construction time shortened compared with construction of clay cores or asphalt- or concrete face dams. In cold climates the construction season can be prolonged.
Asphalt is completely non-harmful to freshwater and irrigation water reservoirs. Bitumen, the binder element in asphaltic concrete, is a natural product and contains no additives that can pollute the environment or the water itself.
