Bank Erosion Protection | Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia
CC5® Installed for Bauxite Liquor Erosion Control
Project Overview
In February 2020, Concrete Canvas® GCCM (CC) was specified for a project in Saudi Arabia, where 23,700m² of CC5® was installed as an erosion prevention measure for the side slopes of a bauxite liquor pond.
Two ponds had already been constructed and were operational; however, it was observed that wind-generated waves in the stored liquor were causing erosion of the slopes over time. This erosion exposed the liner beneath the soil cover and risked damaging nearby infrastructure, including pipe sleepers located at the crest of the slope.
Solution
Several solutions were considered for this project, including conventional concrete, geogrid, a composite geotextile system and a bituminous geomembrane. The concrete, geogrid and CGS were eliminated as the products did not fully meet the client’s requirements. The bituminous Geomembrane and CC were both tested with bauxite liquor to establish their chemical resistance to the liquid. CC was unaffected by immersion in the bauxite liquor and was specified for the project. The rapid installation rates of CC were also a significant advantage.
Design & Installation
- CC5® Bulk Rolls specified
- Slope graded and compacted prior to deployment
- Vertical layup
- Perimeter edges secured in anchor trenches
- Connected to infrastructure using clamping bar and anchors
- 50mm zigzag overlap joints
- Hydrated using a water tank and hose with sprinkler head attachment
Summary
A total of 23,700m² of CC5® material was installed by a local contractor. A team of ten carried out the works over 24 days, with around ten hours worked per day in hot, dry conditions.
The client had provided a very tight deadline for delivery, as they had to make part of the pond operational. The use of CC meant the installation was completed well before the deadline and the project was considered a success.