TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION WITH GEOSYNTHETICS IN COASTAL AREAS AND WATERWAYS

by: Prof. Dennes T. Bergado School of Civil Engineering Asian Institute of Technology

Khao Lak Coastal Erosion

Before

After

Coastal Erosion by Tsunami

Coastal Erosion by Tsunami

The fury of the December 26, 2004 tsunami is still evident in the wreckage of this oil station at a fishery cooperative at Ban Nam Khem (from Bangkok Post)

Introduction
The raging current
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River Ouveze, Europe (1992) 15 m high wall of water 38 dead

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Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Introduction
Erosion by waves

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Toe erosion leading to landslides

Introduction

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Introduction
The fury of waves
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1,300 dead from Hurricane David (1979)

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Polymer Background
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geosynthetics are really geopolymers feedstock is natural gas reacted to form resin in a flake form mixed with additives into a formulation manufactured into a particular type of geosynthetic material

Geosynthetic (GS) Materials

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geotextiles (GT) geogrids (GG) geonets (GN) geomembranes (GM) geosynthetic clay liners (GCL) geopipe (GP) geofoam (GF) geocomposites (G C)

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majority are made from polypropylene fibers standard textile manufacturing woven (slit film, monofilament or multifilament) nonwoven (needle punched or heat bonded) characterized by an open and porous structure

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unitized, woven yarns or bonded straps structure allows for soil strike-through bidirectional equal strength in both directions unidirectional main strength in machine direction focuses entirely on reinforcement applications, e.g., walls, steep slopes, base and foundation reinforcement

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all are made from high density polyethylene results in parallel sets of ribs as a integral unit biplanar flow is equal in all directions triplanar flow much greater in machine direction function is always in-plane drainage surfaces must be covered; usually with GTs

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function is always containment represents a barrier to liquids and gases many types: HDPE, LLDPE, fPP, PVC, EPDM, etc. manufactured rolls are field seamed required by regulations for waste containment new applications in hydraulics and private development

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its really buried plastic pipe! function is always drainage HDPE and PVC most common both can be smooth walled or corrugated corrugated HDPE growth is enormous

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EPS or XPS in block form lightweight fill on soft or sensitive soils relieves lateral pressure on walls also used for insulation of frost-sensitive soils

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array of available products GT/GM; GT/GG; GT/GN; etc. considerable ongoing innovation primary function depends on final product

Roles of Geosynthetics
Separator Reinforcement Drainage Filter Energy absorber Container Barrier

Lake Marken, Netherlands

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Allowed use of sand as core fill material of breakwater Over 1 km of Geotubes (theoretical diameter of 2.65 m) used Breakwater to protect habitat for birds Armour rocks placed as permanent cover to Geotubes

Armour Rock 80 - 300 kg

-0.2

+0.3
v 3h:1

1m
2h : 1v

-1.93

Mirafi PP80L

Mirafi Geotube

MIRAFI Geotubes
Core material for breakwater, Lake Marken, Netherlands

MIRAFI Geotubes
Core material for breakwater, Lake Marken, Netherlands

MIRAFI Geotubes
Core material for breakwater, Lake Marken, Netherlands

MIRAFI Geotubes
Core material for breakwater, Lake Marken, Netherlands

Sea Isles City, US

Building Road 1.6m

Sand Dune 3.65m

Prevents storm waves from inundating shoreline and loss of sand into the sea

GeoTube Scour Apron Previous road

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

Sea Isles City, US

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

Sea Isles City, US

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Coastal protection dyke, Sea Isles City, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

Geotubes

3 mile long barrier island South facing beach experience erosion since 1970s. Emergency conditions started in 1994. Need express sln&consrt Extremely restrictive environmental regulations in North Carolina. Traditional hard structures prohibited

Hand Drawn: not to scale

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

1992 10,000 ft of South Beach renourished with 360,000 yd3 of sand 1993 ( 18 months later ) Entire nourishment plus additional natural material were completely eroded Groynes proposed North Carolina Coastal resources prohibits hardened structures, hence 14 soft groynes were proposed
Shore line Feb 1987, Receding

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

Geotube groyne installation costs

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$550,000 ( mat. & cont. )

Geotube 500 ft apart Geotube 300 ft in length Entire project cost

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$2,934,000

Work began in early Jan 1996

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650,000 yd3 of material over 12,000 ft of beach front

MIRAFI Geotubes
Groyne field for coastal protection, Bald Head Island, USA

Amwaj Islands Project

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Creation of artificial islands through reclamation to form 3,000,000 m2 of land Creation of 9.5 km if beach front To house 2,000 sea view homes, 2 marinas, 9 hotels, cinemas, restaurants, ice-skating rink and aqua park

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

Geotube as reclamation dykes

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Armour rock 60 - 300 kg

Geotube

Geotubes of constructed height 2.6m stacked in 2 tiers as reclamation dykes Later construction includes submerged reef breakwater 300m in-front of geotubes to create perched beach

Platform level = CD+3.6m MHWN = CD+2.2m

3 h: 1 v

Sea bed level = CD-1.6m

Geolon PP80L

Geotextile

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

Geotube installation
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Laying of geotube

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

Geotube installation
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Construction of lower geotube in progress

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

Geotube installation
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Competed lower level geotube

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

Geotube installation
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Construction of upper level geotube

Amwaj Islands Project, Bahrain

Geotubes as reclamation dykes to form artificial islands

What is Miracell

MiraCell is cellular confinement systems or technically called geocell. It is a three-dimensional cell made of HDPE strips ultrasonically welded together to contain soil.

Slope repaired with stacked geocell

Slope of the channel is lined with geocell. Above water line, the geocell are tufted and below water infilled with stones.

Gabions

Mattresses

Revetments
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Geotextile Revetment Filters

Primary armour Existing soil Fine filter Coarse filter Underlayer a) Revetment consisting wholly of granular materials Primary armour Existing soil Geotextile filter Underlayer(s) b) Revetment containing geotextile filter

Geotextiles are used as filters to replace granular layers Primary armour can be dumped rock, concrete blocks or wire mattresses or gabions Geotextile filters are the most economical solution for revetment filters

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Concrete facing Water Geotextile filter

Retained soil

Concrete facing
Rock armour Geotextile filter Water Stone-flled gabions Water Geotextile filter

Retained soil

Retained soil

Rock armour

Stone-filled gabions

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Revetments
Gabions and mattresses
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Gabion baskets confine smaller stones to resist erosion better than exposed stones

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Revetments
Precast concrete units
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Concrete blocks may interlock for higher erosion resistance and allow easy placement

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Dykes & breakwaters

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Shore attached breakwaters to protect harbour entrance

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

Dykes & breakwaters

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Shore attached breakwater to protect recreational beach front

Geotextiles, Geotubes & Geocontainers

For Marine Engineering Applications

CONCLUSIONS
1) Erosion on coastal areas and waterways by Tsunami, Hurricane and Flood waves. 2) Geosynthetics are thin, flexible, sheet-like materials most suitable for earth retention, erosion control and coastal/channel protection. 3) Geosynthetics are reliable and easy to install 4) Geosynthetics are lightweight with minimum maintenance. 5) Geosynthetics have low handling and overall costs.