National Museum of China displays sample of RCC mixed with BHS technology

February 2024

The reference at a glance

Project

RCC sample of Dagu Hydro Dam

Technology

BHS twin-shaft batch mixers of type DKX 6.00

Operating site

National Museum of China, Beijing, China

Industry

Buildingmaterials

Application

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC)

Solution

Six specially modified BHS twin-shaft batch mixers for RCC

It is the largest sample of Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) in the world! And it is the result of a big project. The Dagu Hydro Dam is located 3,700 meters above sea level, making it the most elevated site ever for employing BHS twin-shaft batch mixers. A core sample of the dam was extracted in 2021. Due of its size and excellent quality, the National Museum of China chose to include it in its collection for public display in 2023.

The Dagu Hydro Dam near the Tibetan city of Zangmu underwent construction from 2017 to 2022 and represents the largest dam at the Yarlung Tsangpo, the world’s highest river. Sinohydro No. 9 Engineering Company commissioned six BHS twin-shaft batch mixers of type DKX 6.00 to produce the concrete needed for the main embankment of the dam. All mixers were supplied by BHS-Sonthofen in Tianjin. The mixers were equipped with a coarse-grain mixing unit for processing grain sizes up to 160 mm, as is typical in hydro dam construction.

In March 2021, Sinohydro No. 9 Engineering Company extracted a sample of RCC, setting a world record for the largest RCC sample ever obtained. The remarkable specimen measures 26.2 meters in length, and has a diameter of 20 centimeters. “The collected concrete sample exhibited an exceptionally smooth surface and an unprecedented level of homogeneity,” explains James Wang of BHS-Sonthofen Tianjin. BHS mixers are highly regarded in China for their ability to consistently deliver homogeneous concrete, especially for use in dam projects. This is reflected in the numerous dam projects throughout China, in which BHS Tianjin has been and continues to be actively involved.

In May 2023, Sinohydro No 9. Engineering Company, in collaboration with the local government and the owner company, donated the core sample to the National Museum of China in Beijing. This core sample serves as a symbolic representation of China’s increasing strength and relevance in global infrastructure development. Recognizing its significance, the National Museum has chosen to retain and publicly display the sample. As part of this promotion, engineering company Sinohydro No. 9, which has been working closely with BHS for nearly a year, was honored with the First State Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress.