Page 58 - North American Clean Energy March/April 2019 Issue

wind power
Conquering
the Sub Layer
Paradox
by Marc Breault
THE TERM “TERRA FIRMA” OFTEN ALIGNS WITH THE
sentiment of voyagers returning from adventures at sea, as they encounter relief from the solid ground beneath their feet. For those involved in the operations of industrial and infrastructure projects, such as road construction, the literal concept of terra rma translates to a variety of conditions, many of which directly a ect the simple movements of people, the transportation of goods, and the access to areas where natural resources can be sourced.
Experts tasked with nding solutions to the many challenges of constructing reliable, safe, and long-lasting roadways and access points, deal with a vast number of factors that a ect the quality and durability of these projects.
e energy and mining industries in western Canada are synonymous with the provisions of commodities across Canada, and throughout the world. Large plays, where valuable natural resources are sourced, are often in areas virtually inaccessible; unstable land foundations such as high-water tables and soft layers of earth, impede access to these locations. e performance and demands of the heavy equipment required
to operate these regions rely on the foundations beneath them to be extremely sturdy. Which presents a paradox: how to create strength where virtually none exists.
Reportedly, construction industry consumes 16 percent of water, 25 percent of raw timber, and 40 percent of stones, sand, and gravel, as well as 40 percent of the total energy produced in the United
States annually. Road construction is one of the major contributors to consumption of these materials. Construction requires a huge amount of resources that are costly, and hard to replace. e industry has been dealing with challenges such as the virgin aggregates mining, hauling to the construction site, and the process of onsite construction, along with the necessary heavy construction equipment (the emissions from which contribute to more carbon dioxide and other pollutants to the environment).
One innovative solution can be found in geocells. To overcome the issues faced by “sustainable construction”, geocells can minimize the need for virgin aggregate; in turn, this reduces the carbon footprint of the construction project. An expandable, honeycomb shaped, 3D system that can be in lled with di erent materials - such as sand, gravel Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and Recycled Asphalt Concrete (RAC) - provides a sti layer that can support heavier loads. 3D con nement of material reduces the pressure applied to the subgrade soil, improving the modulus of the reinforced material by up to 7.5 times (for geocells comprised of a nano-polymeric alloy).
Geocell technology is not new. It made its mainstream debut in the late 1960s, during the Vietnam war. Developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers as a viable means to land heavy equipment on beaches, the technology was later licensed for civilian applications (following an evolution of alloy materials containing polyole n, and engineering thermoplastic polymers). e resulting product has changed the way many roadway construction projects are being built. Bene ts include substantive economic savings, as well as exponentially increasing the life and durability of the roadway.
In Alberta, Canada, notable projects include a 1000-meter roadway testing. e project was led by the University of Alberta near Nisku, where cement-treated base went head-to-head
with a polymeric alloy product, to measure and contrast their destructive properties. Another project took place in the village of Ryley, Alberta, where a residential street was in grave need
of rehabilitation. In both cases, geocell technology provided
the solutions and savings - both economically, and in future maintenance requirements. e Ryley project realized a 10 percent savings on initial construction, 25 percent on asphalt required, 25 percent on excavation, and an overall 20 percent savings over conventional methods. By completion, CO2 emissions were reduced by 20 percent, along with a 50 percent reduction in long-term maintenance demands, and a 15 percent increase in support capacity.
BOLT TENSIONING
BOLT TENSIONING
Foundation Construction
NTCWIND.COM
• Tensioning equipment is customized for any bolt configuration or clearance
• Our customized equipment can be modified or repaired in the field, reducing downtime
• Certified pump gauges are recalibrated with each foundation
• Professional reports routinely provided for each foundation tensioned
• Free bolt cap installation with tensioning service
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800.359.0372
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MARCH•APRIL2019 /// www.nacleanenergy.com