CONCRETE CANVAS

CONCRETE CANVAS

        Concrete Canvas is a British brand name for a revolutionary concept known generically as concrete cloth.    Concrete Canvas is referred to as a “building in a bag,” which only needs air and water to complete construction. Some people scoffed at the idea but these structures have proven to be durable and incredibly useful. Consider the convenience of such a product in a disaster area, refugee camp, or war zone.

          

A tent-like structure made of concrete obviously provides far more protection than even the highest quality tent. Prefabricated metal buildings have been used in situations where Concrete Canvas is likely to be used, but the former are not only expensive material and delivery wise, they also require more time and trouble to construct. Concrete Canvas structures only take about 12 hours to construct and be ready to use.

          

The bag Concrete Canvas comes in is filled with water and then inflated with air. No measuring is required as the volume of the bag is limited. Just fill, inflate, and use. These Concrete Canvas structures look similar to igloo shaped tents but when complete, they offer the protection of concrete. Even better, Concrete Canvas offers a sterile option, which will undoubtedly prove to be a huge benefit for field hospitals.

       

    Another benefit is the affordability of Concrete Canvas. For about a third of the cost of many other structures, this product provides much more in terms of convenience and durability. As compared to tents in price, Concrete Canvas structures cost about twice as much as the typical tent used in similar situations, but there is no comparison in terms of sturdiness or protection. Tents can be torn, cut, and burned and they often leak, while Concrete Canvas does not share these vulnerabilities.

        

   Two engineering students from London, who have since patented the idea, are the developers. The concept has won awards and is likely to win more. The two have traveled to such places as refugee camps to demonstrate Concrete Canvas, Culinary Schools California 

Which is incidentally, what motivated them to market it. It was originally developed for a contest.

         

 The United Nations as well as non-governmental and other aid agencies are interested in and impressed by Concrete Canvas. Clearly, it could also be very useful in military construction as well. Aside from field use, there are potential practical domestic applications as well. Even homeowners have shown interest in this product for use as possible storm shelters.

1). INTRODUCTION:

Concrete Canvas / Concrete Cloth (CC) is a flexible cement soak fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable water proof and fire proof concrete layer.

The product can be formed into the required shape then allowed to absorb water, causing it to set after two hours. Essentially , it's concrete on a roll, all you have to do is just add water. It is useful to all communities for rural to urban up to military applications

2.Methods of Hydrating CC

Concrete Cloth can be hydrated using saline or non-saline water. The minimum ratio of water: CC is 1:2 by weight

1.     CC Before hydration

2.     CC darkens when initially sprayed with water

3.     CC lightens as it absorbs water

CC is saturated when water pools on the surface or runs off. Re-wet 1-2 hours later.

KEY FACTS IN USE:

EASY TO USE

CC is available in man portable rolls for applications with limited access or where heavy plant equipment is not available. There is no need for mixing or measuring, the concrete is premixed and cannot be over

hydrated. It will set underwater and in sea water.

Rapid

Once hydrated, CC remains workable for 2 hours and hardens to 80% strength within 24 hours. Accelerated or retarded formulations can be produced to meet specific customer requirements.

Environmentally Friendly

CC is a low mass, low carbon technology which uses up to 95% less material than conventional concrete for many applications. UK home owner loan.
 It has minimal impact on the local ecology due to its limited alkaline reserve and very low wash rate.

Flexible

CC has good drape characteristics allowing it to take up the shape of

complex surfaces including those with a double curvature. Unset

Canvas can be cut or tailored using basic hand tools.

Strong

The fibre reinforcement prevents cracking, absorbs energy from impacts and provides a stable failure mode.

Durable

CC is chemically resistant, has good weathering performance and will not degrade in UV. CC has an expected life of over 50 years.Remortgaging 

Water proof

The PVC backing on one surface of the Canvas ensures that the material is completely water proof and chemically resistant.

Fire proof

CC is fire-safe, does not contribute to the surface spread of flames, has a low level of smoke development and minimal hazardous gas emissions. CC has achieved Euroclass classification B-s1, d0. Bulk

Slope Protection

In December 2010, ADIF, the Spanish authority responsible for railway infrastructure management, specifi ed Concrete Canvas (CC) to be used as slope protection for a railway station in Madrid. CC was chosen to address years of erosion and instability issues affecting the entrance of Alcobendas tunnel station. Erosion of the steep railway slope trenches had caused silting at the drainage pumps in the tunnel entrance. Shotcrete has long been the traditional solution, but presents several problems with installation and durability. CC8 was specifi ed and 2500sqm of material was delivered on site in bulk rolls.

The project’s fi rst phase of 800sqm was completed in under 3 days and was 70% quicker to install than if shotcrete had been

used.

    View of 40% completed project

CC APPLICATION:

1.                  DITCH LINING

2.                  EROSION CONTROL

3.                  GABION REINFORCEMENT

4.                  GROUND SURFACING

5.                  PIPE LINE PROTECTON

6.                  CULVERTS

7.                  BUILDING CLADDING

8.                  MINING APPLICATION

9.                 ROOFING

Ditch Lining

CC can be rapidly unrolled to form ditch or tank lining. It is significantly quicker and less expensive to install than conventional concrete ditch lining.

          It will conform to a range of ditch profiles and curves and requires no specialist plant equipment. The 100 ft ditch shown above was lined in 45 min.

PIPELINE PROTECTION:

CC can be used as a coating for overland or underwater pipeline protection, providing a superior tough rock shield. In remote areas it can be used to coat steel pipe on site without expensive wet concrete application plants. CC will set underwater and provide negative buoyancy.

GABION REINFORCEMENT(

CC can also be used to upgrade or repair existing gabion structures to provide a durable solution that can last for decades.

EROSION

CC can be used in erosion control applications such as temporary and permanent slope protection, retaining walls, boulder fences, low level bunds and river bank and dam revetments.

Ground Resurfacing

CC can be secured with ground anchors to rapidly create a concrete surface for flooring, pedestrian walk-ways or dust suppression.

CULVERTS

CC can be used as an effective and faster alternative to precast or cast-in-place concrete culverts.

BUILDING CLADDING

CC can be used to create organic and custom moulded decorative panels for building refurbishment and exterior installations.

MINING APPLICATIONS

CC can be used above and below ground as an alternative to poured or prayed concrete or as a quick way of erecting strong permanent or temporary blast and vent structures.

Concrete canvas roofing:

Concrete Canvas (CC) was used to provide reinforcing and water proofi ng for an 8m x 8m low profi le roof with a cement screed top surface. The roof was first coated with a roll fing adhesive.

1. 8mm thick Concrete Canvas (CC8) was then unrolled intoposition and cut to length, allowing a 100mm    overlap between adjacent layers. The CC was laid with the   fibre surface facing upwards.
2.  The ends and sides of the CC layers were then fi xed onto the side walls with self tapping concrete anchors. 
3. The CC was then hydrated. 
4. After 24 hours, the CC set, providing a durable, water and fi re proof surface that will not degrade from UV or weathering.

Other Applications

Other applications include roofing ng, retaining walls, scour protection, culverts, blinding layers, shotcrete replacement, weed inhibiting, basement lining, water tanks, flood defenses, tunnel lining...

CONCLUSIONS:

Many advantages with concrete canvas such as Rapid hardening, Easy to Use, Environmentally Friendly, Flexible, Strong, Water Proof and Fire Proof.

                             It is very easy to installation.Need not be require curing.