Project Name:   Concrete Dome Barrier Project

Location: Thailand

Application: Precast Concrete

In Thailand, coastal erosion results in approximately 5 m to 20 m of lost shoreline each year, at a cost of nearly 160 Million USD. In 2015, he Department of Marine and Coastal Resources funded the Concrete Dome Barrier Project as one of many measures to combat the problem.
The project utilises specifically designed precast concrete domes placed in rows horizontal to the shoreline that reduce wave energy (thus reducing corrosion) and facilitate the creation of new marine ecosystems.

The final concrete dome is a hollow, perforated concrete dome on a hexagonal base for stability and is manufactured in three sizes; small, medium and large in accordance with The Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM 2002) of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Due to the corrosive environment, the domes could not use steel reinforcement. Consequently, the domes needed to be 150 mm thick for transport and installation.

To reduce thickness, units were produced using macro synthetic fibre concrete reinforcement, which passed all performance requirements and were subsequently specified on the project. Macro synthetic fibre eliminated any risk of corrosion and allowed element thickness to be reduced from 150 mm to 50 mm, saving significant time and money.

Outcomes:

• Eliminates the risk of corrosion in the ocean environment
• Reduced precast element thickness from 150 mm to 50 mm
• Increased production speeds at manufacturing plant
• Reduced labour and material costs during production

Author:  Geoff Sedgman: gsedgman@elastoplastic.com