On February 21, Will Crawford of Concrete Canvas will be a featured speaker at an Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists (Hong Kong) engineering event. The lecture, “Introducing GCCMs (Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats): A new material for erosion control,” will be delivered at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
There is no charge to attend and CPD certificates will be provided to attendees.
DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER (PDF)
GCCMS & EROSION CONTROL
From the lecture synopsis:
GCCMs are a new class of geosynthetic material with a wide range of geotechnical applications. They are flexible concrete impregnated fabrics that harden on hydration to form a thin, durable, waterproof and fire-resistant concrete layer.
GCCMs consist of a 3-dimensional fiber matrix containing a high early-strength concrete mix. A PVC backing on one surface provides a waterproof capability and the internal fiber matrix prevents crack propagation and provides tensile reinforcement once set. This allows GCCMs to provide a range of benefits over conventional concrete including speed of installation and logistical advantages. For example, when replacing sprayed concrete, these materials remove much of the complexity and cost associated with mobilizing shotcrete equipment. When replacing poured concrete, they remove the need for on-site mixing and measuring and factory quality control ensures that the concrete used on-site meets the required design specification.
GCCMs are most commonly used as erosion control linings for water channels, either for drainage or irrigation. [They are also used] as facings for slopes as a replacement for non-structural concrete. On slope facing, they are far easier to construct than conventional concrete and can be supplied in man-portable rolls allowing them to be used in remote or difficult-to-access sites. Japan, for example, is one of the largest markets for GCCMs, where it is predominantly used for slope facing in sites with poor access. The high early-strength concrete mix also enables GCCMs to have excellent abrasion resistance (approximately twice that of OPCs), UV resistance, and chemical performance with a typical design life of well over 50 years.
Case histories will include:
- Lining of water channels
- Protection of slopes
- Capping of secondary containment berms
- Remediation of concrete structures
ABOUT WILL CRAWFORD
Will Crawford (MEng MA (RCA) DIC ) is Director and co-founder of Concrete Canvas Ltd, which was set up in 2005 to develop and commercialize Concrete Canvas technology.
He previously worked for GKN, QinetiQ, and for the UK Ministry of Defence. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Bristol and Berkeley in the US and also has a joint Masters in from Imperial College and the Royal College of Art, where he co-invented Concrete Canvas products. During this time he also invented several other award-winning designs, including an innovative lo-tech fridge for developing countries which has featured in TED lectures and is backed by an US VC firm.
Will Crawford was recently awarded a Silver Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition of his contribution to British Engineering.
Learn more about GCCM systems and projects at www.concretecanvas.com.
