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MarineStructures

MARINE ENGINEERING

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Geotube®

Geocontainer®

Geobag®

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Geotube® forMarine and Hydraulic Engineering

Geotube® containers are geotextileencapsulated soils that may be used to replacerock as conventional building blocks in marineand hydraulic engineering structures.Geosystems tend to be more stablehydraulically and geotechnically because they

are heavier units with larger width to heightratio and have better boundary contacts withadjacent units.

Rock may not be available within economicalhauling distances in many river, lake, coastal oroffshore marine construction projects.Sometimes the use of rock may be undesirableas it can pose high risk to cargo ships whereasa Geotube® provides a soft contact.Geosystems are often competitive solutions inmarine and hydraulic engineering by enablingthe use of finer materials to be used as fill mate-rial for construction of marine and hydraulicengineering structures.

Geotube®

A Geotube® is a long geotextiletube, hydraulically filled withsoil to be used as marine andhydraulic structures. EachGeotube® is custom made andsupplied in various sizes andlengths to suit design andinstallation requirements. Theyare ideal for installations on dryland or in water depths to 15 ft(5 m).

Geocontainer®

A Geocontainer® is a very largesized geotextile bags filled withsoil. A split bottom hopperbarge is used to form, transportand install the Geocontainer®.Each Geocontainer® is custommade to fit the split bottomhopper barge. They aregenerally installed in waterdepths of over 15 ft (5 m).

Geobag®

A Geobag® geotextile containeris designed to be filled with soiland installed for construction ofmarine and hydraulic struc-tures. Each Geobag® is custommade and supplied in variousforms and sizes to suit designand installation requirements.They are ideal for installationson dry land or placed intowater of any depth.

Installed Geotube® dyke. Reclaimed shore line of Shamrock Island.

Creation of wetland habitat using Geotube® dyke.Installation of Geotube®.

Containment DykeShamrock Island, Corpus Christi, Texas, USAGeotube® for containment dyke to reclaim a rapidly eroding island.

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Geotube® containers were used to constructcontainment dykes for land reclamation andcoastal protection for Shamrock Island.Shamrock Island is rapidly eroding and is closeto the point of vanishing completely.

Approximately .5 mile (1 km) of tubes wereinstalled as part of the works to rehabilitate therapidly eroding island. After the Geotube® con-

tainers were installed, sand was pumped tocreate a wetland habitat. March grass wasplanted to help establish the migratory birdsanctuary.

The project was extremely successful. TheGeotube® protected coastline is no longer erod-ing and a bird habitat has been created from anisland that was close to disappearing.

Placing of rip-rap cover. Aerial view of Naviduct project.

Cross section of the Geotube® containment dyke.Installation of Geotube®.

Containment DykeNaviduct, Lake IJssel, The NetherlandsGeotube® containers for a dyke to retain dredged material from the Naviductproject.

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A total of 4.5 miles (7.5 km) of Geotube® con-

tainers were used to contain dredged material.

Each Geotube® had an initial theoretical diame-

ter of nearly 13 ft (4 m) and were filled hydrauli-

cally at a rate of 1,800 m3 per hour of sand slur-

ry to attain a filled height of approximately 10 ft

(3 m). The tube lengths were manufactured

such that each Geotube® could be completely

filled within a working shift of between 8 to 10

hours.

Finally, a rip-rap cover was placed on the outer

edge of the Geotube® containment dyke. The

containment dyke project was completed with-

in a relatively short period of 20 weeks.

Cross section of Geotube® containment dyke. Installing upper Geotube®.

Laying of Geotube®.Aerial view of artificial islands under construction.

3

Geotube® structures were used as containmentdykes to create artificial islands for the AmwajIslands Project in Bahrain. This project is aprestige housing development site in thePersian Gulf.

Reclamation was carried out in two stages. Thefirst stage involved the installation of a Geotube®

of height approximately 8.5 ft (2.6 m) followedby hydraulic filling of sand behind the Geotube®.The second stage involved installation of anoth-

er Geotube®, followed by further hydraulic fillingof sand to achieve the finished platform level ofChart Datum of 3.6 m.

Upon completion of the reclamation, rockarmour of 130-650 lbs (60-300 kg) was placedin front of the Geotube® dyke.

Eventually, submerged reef breakwaters are tobe constructed about 1000 ft (300 m) from theGeotube® dyke to create artificial beaches.

Artificial IslandsAmwaj Islands, BahrainGeotube® for containment dykes to create artificial islands.

Sections of Geotube® containers being installed. Cross section of Geotube® dyke.

Aerial view of area badly eroded.Geotube® facing the sea.

Shoreline RevetmentShell Island, North Carolina, USAGeotube® for shoreline revetment to reconstruct a badly eroded slope.

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Geotube® containers were used for erosion pro-

tection to reconstruct a badly eroded shoreline

slope on Shell Island, North Carolina.

The erosion was so bad that it was threatening

an adjacent resort complex.

The slope reconstruction consisted of a seven

tier Geotube® structure. The installed Geotube®

structure halted further erosion and maintained

stability of the exposed structure.

Since installation of the protection dyke, no furtherflooding has occurred.

Wave and surge attacking Geotube® structures dur-ing construction.

Installation of Geotube® containers.Installation of Geotube®.

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Geotube® containers were used to internally

reinforce a frontal sand dune to protect the

coastal road and properties in Sea Isle City from

flooding.

With each hurricane season, Sea Isle City, on

the Atlantic coast, would be subjected to strong

winds and waves that would cause extensive

flooding along coastal areas. Damage costs

were continually high.

The Geotube® structures, buried within the

frontal sand dune, prevent breaching of the pro-

tection dyke during heavy storms. Furthermore,

the tubes prevent erosion of the dyke structure.

Shoreline ProtectionSea Isle City, New Jersey, USAGeotube® containers for construction of hidden protection dyke within a frontal sanddune to protect area behind the dyke from flooding.

Coastline and property saved by Geotube®. The aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison.

Cross section of Geotube® revetment.Installation of Geotube®.

Shoreline ProtectionBolivar Peninsular, Texas, USAGeotube® structures for construction of shoreline protection within the sanddune flood protection.

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With each hurricane season, homes built alongthe coastline of the Bolivar Peninsular wouldbe subject to damage by the sea. During badseasons, homes would be lost through erosionand undermining of foundations.

Geotube® structures were used to reinforce thefrontal sand dune along approximately 4 miles(6 km) of the beach front coastline to prevent

further damage and erosion.

Tropical storm Allison made a direct hit on thearea in June, 2001 and the Geotube® revet-ments performed extremely well. This prevent-ed millions of dollars in damage. The projectwas so successful that an additional 3 miles (5km) of Geotube® shoreline was constructed toprotect the Bolivar Peninsular.

Sand retained by Geotube®. Cross section of Geotube® jetty.

View of shrimp farm.Geotube® jetty.

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Geotube® structures were used for jetties to

protect the water intake channel to the pump

station of a shrimp farm located on the Pacific

coast of Mexico.

The jetties were constructed to heights of 10 ft

(3 m), using a 1-2-3 stacked Geotube® struc-

ture. Sand from the beach was used to fill the

Geotube® using sand slurry pumps.

The portion of Geotube® jetty on shore also

serves to prevent sand from being washed into

the intake channel.

Intake JettiesPacific Coast, MexicoGeotube® for jetties and bunds to construct the water intake channel to the pumpstation of a shrimp farm in Mexico.

Underwater stacked Geotube® structures. Outer breakwater to protect jetty.

View of beach and jetty protection using submerged Geotube breakwater.

Offshore BreakwaterEl Dorado Royale, MexicoGeotube® structures for construction of an offshore breakwater to retain beachfront.

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Geotube® structures were used to construct off-shore breakwaters to widen the beach front andprotect the jetty of the El Dorado Royale resortin Mexico.

The Geotube® structures were installed offshorein waters about 6 ft (2 m) in depth to protect thebeach. An additional Geotube® breakwater wasconstructed in a water depth of 13 ft (4 m) toprotect the foundation of the jetty.

Marine growth was evident even during the con-struction period helping the geotube breakwaterto appear as a natural reef sheltering swimmersand other users along the beach.

Sand accretion was evident following installationof the Geotube® structures and a new perchedbeach is the result.

Closure of Geocontainer®. Dropping of filled Geocontainer®.

Cross section of Geocontainer® dyke.Placing of fill into Geocontainer®.

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Geocontainer® dykes created a submerged

containment dyke between two existing break-

waters to create a disposal area for excavated

spoil.

The river sediments of the River Elbe consist of

sand and silt, and this material was used to fill

the Geocontainer®. Over 600 Geocontainer®

dykes of 392 cy3 (300 m3) each were installed

over a period of 6 months.

The project was extremely cost effective

and successful, demonstrating the beneficial

use of dredged spoil to construct stable

hydraulic structures.

Submerged Containment DykeRiver Elbe, Twielenfleth, GermanyGeocontainer® dykes for construction of a disposal area for excavated spoil.

Opening of split bottom barge. Dropping of filled Geocontainer®.

Cross section of Geocontainer® dyke.Placing of sand fill into Geocontainer®.

Buttress SupportZoutkamp, The NetherlandsGeocontainer® dykes to form a submerged buttress support for reconstructuring ascoured slope underwater.

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Geocontainer® dykes were used to construct

submerged buttress support to reconstruct a

failed underwater slope that was threatening to

undermine an adjacent gas pipeline.

The reconstruction of the slope involved several

tiers of Geocontainer® dykes and backfilling

combinations. The containment dykes were

constructed with sand used as the fill material.

The lowest tier of Geocontainer® dykes were

placed about 65 ft (20 m) below water surface

level.

The project was extremely cost effective and

successful. The slope has been stabilized with

the innovative use of Geocontainer® dykes.

Lifting of Geobag®. Geobag® structures placed on top of unstable slope.

Placement of Geobag®.Filling of Geobag® with sand.

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Geobag® structures were used for buttress pro-tection to stabilize an eroding shoreline slopealong the Pacific Coast.

The Geobag® containers were placed on adump-truck bed and then taken to a local readymixed concrete plant, where they were dry filledwith sand. The filling ports of each Geobag®

were then closed using hog rings. At site, theGeobag® structures were lifted and placed usinga lifting harness and spreader beam arrange-

ment.

Under California law, the permit would not allowthe placement of the Geobag® stuctures at thetoe of a slope. Consequently, to prevent furthererosion of the coastline, the Geobag® containerswere placed on the top of the slope, so whenthe next storm occurred, the sand under thegeotextle bags was scoured away, and thebags literally moved en-mass downslope bythemselves.

Buttress SupportGuadalupe Shoreline, California, USAGeobag® structures for buttress protection for an eroding shoreline slope along thePacific Coast.

Pumping of concrete to Geotube®. Filling of Geotube® with concrete.

Aerial view of Chivor Dam, Colombia.Survey of opening.

Cavity SealingChivor Dam, ColombiaGeotube® structures as closure units to seal the openings of a bypass constructiontunnel inadvertently left open.

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During maintenance and inspection of the gen-erator turbine blades of the Chivor Dam, it wasfound that undue wear and damage hadoccurred. The source of the problem wastraced to the impact and abrasion of reservoirbottom sediments entering the bypass con-struction tunnel that was inadvertently left opensince the construction and filling of the reservoir.

The opening, which had to be closed, waslocated 330 ft (100 m) below water surface.

Closure was carried out using Geotube® con-tainers filled with concrete and lowered usingfour winches to the reservoir bottom. The con-crete was pumped through pipe on floating raftsto the barge where the Geotube® containerswere filled.

Since completion of the sealing using Geotube®,sealing solids passing the turbine blades havereduced significantly and the solution has beendeemed highly successful.

Installation of Geobag®. Aerial view of project site.

Project features in L.A. Times.Lifting of Geobag®.

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Geobag® structures were used to construct anartificial surfing reef at El Segundo in California.

The geometry of the reef was designed to inten-sify wave heights to allow recreational surfingactivities on the coast.

Geobag® structures were chosen because theywere easy to install and, unlike rock fill, wouldnot injure surfers. Also, submerged bags do notpose any danger to other recreational activities.

The project was so successful that it literally aswell as metaphorically made new waves.

Artificial ReefPratts Reef, El Segundo, California, USAGeobag® containers to construct an artificial reef to create surfing conditions forrecreational purposes.

Design Assistance:

Ten Cate Nicolon uses the Sofftwin™ computer design software to model the dimensionsof the Geotube®, Geobag®, or Geocontainer® structures. Sofftwin™ also provides theexpected filling volumes, and calculates the stresses that the structure will experience duringthe critical time of filling.

Custom Fabrication:

Ten Cate Nicolon has been fabricating Geotextiles for over 25 years. The Geotube®,Geobag®, or Geocontainer® can be custom fabricated to meet the requirements of eachspecific project. Ten Cate Nicolon has more than 100 types of geotextiles from whichGeosystems can be fabricated. Also, Ten Cate Nicolon has fabricated structures with cir-cumferences up to 120 ft. and lengths up to 1,000 ft.

Installation Assistance:

Ten Cate Nicolon has the largest staff of experienced techniciansand sales personnel that can provide field installation assistance inthe most challenging environments.

In North America contact:

Ten Cate Nicolon USA3680 Mount Olive RoadCommerceGeorgia 30529USA

Telephone: 1(706) 335-3400Toll Free: 1 (888) 795-0808Fax: 1(706) 335-3405

In Europe contact:

Ten Cate Nicolon EuropeSluiskade NZ 14Postbus 2367600 AE AlmeloThe Netherlands

Telephone: +31-546-544487Fax: +31-546-544490

In Asia contact:

Ten Cate Nicolon Asia Sdn Bhd11th Floor, Menara GlomacKelana Business Centre97, Jalan SS 7/247301 Petaling JayaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia

Telephone: +60-3-7492-8283Fax: +60-3-7492-8285

The information contained herein is to the best of our knowledge accurate, but since the circumstances and conditions in which it may be used are beyond our control, we do not accept any

liability for any loss or damage, however arising, which results directly or indirectly from use of such information nor do we offer any warranty or immunity against patent infringement.

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