Overview
The terminal manager for the channel lining project wanted a low maintenance repair option for a ditch that had been a recurring maintenance issue. There was a need for limited site impact as well as the ability to handle active springs and flowing water into the channel during construction. A hard protective liner was desired, but most hard armoring options can be expensive and time-consuming to install. The project had been delayed, so the petroleum distribution terminal was hoping to alleviate this constant maintenance issue before the next rainy season, as the ditch experiences an increase in active flow during that time.
The Solution
The Milliken Infrastructure Solutions (MIS) team assisted Burrow Global Services in the design of the project, as well as how to approach the repair practically using concrete cloth GCCM in a live flow installation. Although the project had other options on its specification, concrete cloth GCCM was determined to be the most economical and quickest option for the project.
The ditch was cleaned out and graded for installation, and rip rap was installed at the end of the channel to buffer the retaining wall and concrete cloth GCCM cross-section. The contractor elected not to remove the retaining wall, though it is possible to place the concrete cloth material over the wall had they chosen that option. Active springs were discovered within the ditch, so MIS worked with the engineer to put together a design to provide a bedding layer to deploy the concrete cloth GCCM and divert the spring.
A woven monofilament fabric was used as an under-drain with a layer of washed stone on top for water to flow through. Therefore, the live springs that were draining in the bottom of the ditch would now flow out on top of the concrete cloth GCCM through a pipe outlet. The material was anchored with percussive driven earth anchors and was laid transversely to the ditch in a shingled application followed by caulking and screwing the material together, which is a typical ditch installation method.
The Results
Approximately 16,000 sq ft of GCCM was used to line the 375-ft drainage channel. Due to weather constraints, the entire installation required a week. The company was satisfied with the timeliness and ease of installation associated with concrete cloth GCCM. “Concrete cloth GCCM is a unique product,” said Bessant. “Though my team had no prior experience with the material before, it installed and hydrated easily and has held up well months after the initial installation.”
