Pioneering in underwater

tunnel support
A new rail tunnel is being constructed under the River Schelde to provide
additional access to the increasing cargo traffic in and out of the port of Antwerp
(Belgium). Once completed in 2014, the tunnel will be a historic first, as it is
extremely close to the bed of the Kanaaldok port terminal. Since pushing the limits
of tunnel construction means deploying the best technology available, Bekaert
was glad to contribute to this challenging project.

Steel fiber reinforced concrete for safety

The Liefkenshoek rail tunnel called for the use of a huge concrete slab as
protection during the drilling process. According to Locobouw1, the main
contractor, the concrete ‘floor’ will prevent overpressure from escaping to the
surface, which could otherwise cause a collapse. In addition, it will protect the
tunnel from damage when ships anchor in the port waters above.
To construct this 2 meters thick, 32 meters wide and 270 meters long fiber
reinforced concrete slab, Bekaert offered an integrated solution with at its core From left to right: Arnold Roos (Locobouw),
600 tons of Dramix® steel fibers and all the dosage equipment to cast it according Geert Bettens (Bekaert) and Wim Vriens
to specifications and within a tight timeframe. (DCN Diving)

Short timeframe for a challenging job “Reliability is key in the underwater

Since no reinforcement cages or mesh could be used and the concrete slab had pumping of steel fiber reinforced concrete.
to be one solid, monolithic structure, ensuring a continuous flow of concrete Our divers need to be sure that the product
during the casting process was crucial to success. Timing was another important is easily pumpable and does not cause
issue: traffic at this location in the Antwerp port could only be halted temporarily. lump formation. That is why we prefer the
So, the casting had to be completed in a minimum of time. glued concept of Dramix®”.
Wim Vriens, Director of Operations, DCN
Bekaert lives up to high standards Diving
Locobouw selected Bekaert and its Dramix® steel fibers based on strenuous
testing at the technical university of Braunschweig (Germany). We were the only
supplier of steel fiber to live up to the high standards set for this challenging
project. Bekaert was also the only bidder capable of providing the right kind and
numbers of automatic dosage equipment to ensure a continuous flow of steel
reinforced concrete.
Furthermore, DCN Diving, the company in charge of the underwater activities,
preferred to work with steel fiber reinforced concrete as it significantly increases
operating speed and safety compared to reinforcement cages. “Together with the project
Our totally integrated solution guaranteed the automatic lowest possible dosage partners we performed the
of the steel fibers, and a perfect spread in the concrete mixture as a result. necessary tests to fine-tune
Our 24h technical assistance and the availability of spare parts and backup the composition and the
personnel were key to rounding off the project on time and in conformity with the pumpability of the steel fiber
high quality standards. reinforced concrete.
Because of Bekaert’s concept
Putting our knowhow to future use involving glued steel fibers,
Our experience with the long-distance pumping of steel fiber reinforced concrete pumping of the concrete over
in the Liefkenshoek rail tunnel project was essential in the success of another 250 meters went fluently.”
major project in tunnel construction, this time in the rail link with Brussels Airport
(Belgium). Arnold Roos, Project Manager,
In the near future, we will again partner up with DCN for a concrete casting project Locobouw
at an underwater location in Utrecht (the Netherlands), once more putting into
practice our better together philosophy.

1 Temporary association of MBG, CEI De Meyer, VINCI Construction Grands Projects and Wayss & Freytag