Slope Protection | Texas, USA
CCX-M® Installed to prevent rain water run-off from eroding a nearby slope
Project Overview
In February 2020, Concrete Canvas® GCCM* was specified for a project in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, where an erosion prevention measure was required for embankment side walls.
The site is owned by the client Ma’aden Aluminium, a joint venture between mining company Ma’aden and American aluminium production company ALCOA. The client required a solution which could provide bank erosion protection to a newly constructed RSA (residue storage areas) pond which would be used to store Bauxite liquor produced by the company. Two ponds had already been constructed and were in operation; however, it had been witnessed in the existing ponds that winds would create waves in the stored liquor which would then cause erosion of the slopes over time, exposing the lining beneath the soil and damaging any existing infrastructure such as pipe sleepers at the crest of the slope.
Solution
The slope had previously been protected from erosion using asphalt. The asphalt needed replacing and, due to the size and difficult location this was both a costly and time consuming solution to reuse asphalt again. As the client who owned the facility was looking for a more cost-effective and rapid solution, CCX-M® was specified.
Using CCX-M® for the project eliminated the need for specialist labor or equipment and would provide a long-term and low mainteance solution to a difficult to access area.
Design & Installation
- Old asphalt and vegetation growth removed, and slope regraded
- CCX-M® Bulk Rolls specified
- Vertical layup
- CCX-M® installed from both sides of slope
- Screwed joints
- Water truck used to hydrate material
- Anchor trenches backfilled
Summary
Although access restrictions posed a challenge for the project, the installation as a whole was deemed a success with 30,000ft2 of CCX-M® installed in 5 days (8 hour shifts) by a team of 7 installers from RSI. For the larger sections of the site, the team were able to install 7 rolls of CCX-M® per day. Areas that were odd shapes and required a lot of cutting, an installation rate of 3-4 rolls per day was normal.
Both the client and the contractors were pleased with the simplicity of which CCX-M® was installed. 6 weeks after the installation was completed, the slope was exposed to 2 severe storms and noted that the material performed excellently, providing the required erosion protection.