Dams & Hydro
Dams & Hydro
Our Dams & Hydro division is internationally recognised as a leading proponent of RCC dam technology and most specifically RCC arches. Our team has been involved in projects across five continents, with dam heights ranging from 5 to 280m. ARQ has been responsible for more than 7 million m³ of RCC placed to date.
We have also been involved in a number of hydropower projects in Central Africa and Central America on schemes ranging in capacity from 0.5 to 1 200 MW. We offer a comprehensive range of services from pre-feasibility, through specialist design and analysis, to construction supervision and safety inspections.
Our innovative solutions to increase dam capacity and to realise cost savings have established the firm as a technological leader within the industry. Over the past decade we have acted as expert reviewers in the field of dams for the World Bank, the SA Department of Water Affairs and several other major clients.
ARQ has also provided consulting services to South Africa’s electricity utility ESKOM.
Resolving Drainage Design Conflicts In A Dam Raising Project
SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By N Geldenhuys, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author, HJ Wright The Tzaneen Dam, built in the 1970s, requires upgrades to meet modern standards. A key design component, the downstream toe drain, was re-evaluated as part of the raising project. However, discrepancies between the original design drawings and the […]
Read moreNumerical Modelling For Design Of A Side Spillway Concrete Infill Structure At Yusufeli Dam
SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By RO Cassells, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author, QHW Shaw, GD Roberts, D Aydoğan, FV Ҫevik Yusufeli Dam is a 275 m high double-curvature concrete arch dam on the Coruh River in the Artvin Province of the Black Sea region of Turkey. The dam has a developed crest […]
Read moreStability Analysis Of Katse Dam Foundation Wedges Under Static And Seismic Conditions
SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By F. Smit, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author R Cassells, L Phooko, R Hlajoane and L Hattingh, South Africa. The last Panel of Expert (POE) review of Katse Dam in 2018 concluded that the original design calculations although appropriate at the time, does not satisfy all the current […]
Read moreCalibration Of The Finite Element Model Of Katse Dam
SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By Ryan Cassells, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author QHW Shaw, L Phooko, R Hlajoane and L Hattingh The last Panel of Expert review of Katse Dam in 2018 (Dungar et al: 2019) concluded that the original design calculations although appropriate at the time, do not satisfy all the […]
Read moreDynamic Calibration Of The Finite Element Model Of Katse Dam
SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By Ryan Cassells, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author P Moyo, L Phooko, R Hlajoane and L Hattingh The last Panel of Expert review of Katse Dam in 2018 (Dungar et al: 2019) concluded that the original design calculations although appropriate at the time, do not satisfy all the […]
Read more

Dams & Hydro
Geotech
Advanced Numerical Analysis