The Application of ACEModule™ for Creek Restoration

"TOP STORY"

ACEModule™ is a monolithic element made up of 3,000~4,500 psi reinforced concrete material. It can be applied to build revetment or toe protection where the waterfront environments such as riverbank, channel, pond and lake etc. are vulnerable to erosion damage.ACE provides not merely a precast concrete unit but an iron mold for self-casting.

There is an ACEModule™ application case shown below:

Background
This presented case was part of the Yangang Creek drainage restoration project in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Yangang Creek basin belonged to the highland drainage situation and was a flood potential disaster area. Before the restoration, because of insufficient drainage section, many meanders and turns of the section have caused overgrown vegetation and severe siltation. Therefore, whenever torrential rains attacks, flooding disasters initiated by the overflow of waterways continue to occur.

Problems 
The targeted creek was mainly located in an agricultural area. It mainly collected local farmland drainage and surface runoff when heavy rains occurred. Because the capacity of the flow section of the creek cannot accommodate the discharge of water in this area, the runoff was unable to drain efficiently and thus overflowed the riverbank and caused flooding in the surrounding area. The ravage seriously destroyed farmland, crops, and properties and significantly affected the lives of residents. In addition to the engineering difficulties, we also found ecological importance for the local environment. Many notable species, such as the Common kingfisher, Gray-throated martin, Fowlea piscator, and Hylarana guentheri, were observed along the creek, indicating that maintaining an eco-friendly environment was extremely necessary for living creatures at the site. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the creek's flood control and drainage function, particular attention should also be paid to reducing the biological and environmental impacts of the engineering facilities.

Construction
The design strategy for the restoration was first to widen the drainage section to improve the flowing capacity and efficiency of the creek. Secondly, to construct dependable revetment system along the creek to prevent any possible hydraulic destruction or erosion of the riverbank. Based on the site conditions, the restoration consisted of two types of revetment: traditional reinforced concrete and ACEModule™ system. 
For sections along the creek with varied curvature, reinforced concrete structure revetment was practically not feasible because of complicated quality and higher cost of formwork. The designer introduced the ACEModule™, a patented stackable precast hollow concrete block revetment system developed by ACE Geosynthetics to solve the problem. The system was initiated by placing a 1.7-m thick reinforced concrete foundation as the base of the revetment. Then, four layers of ACEModule™ were stacked on the foundation to serve as the main structure of the revetment.
The rigid concrete structure of ACEModule™ can withstand the direct attack of water flow, protect the riverbank and maintain stability. At the end of the curve section, the slope of the river bed was adjusted by the arc-shaped groundsill steps. Such a particular structure also can reduce the local scouring of the toe of the groundsill steps by the plunge-flow caused by the elevation differences.

The lower three layers of ACEModule™ adopt structural units without faces. Pebbles and boulders were then backfilled to the hollow structure to provide porous habitat for aquatic organisms. Whereas the top layer of ACEModule™ adopted structural units with faces, each module piece was backfilled with soil bags for planting to create a natural environment and green landscape. In addition, to maintain and respect the unique local ecological system, the designers used the existing reinforced concrete culverts in the revetment.  

Results and Improvement
The ACEModule™ system was used for river bank protection and flooding prevention in this case. Its precast concrete structure and hollow design facilitate the construction and present substantial benefits to safety assurance, simple construction, landscape beautification, and eco-friendly environment:
 
1. Safety Assurance: ACEModule™ system comprises precast concrete structure units with sound quality. With its rigidity presenting high resistance to scouring and erosion, it can be applied for riverbank protection, thus reducing flooding disasters and ensuring people's and property's safety.
 
2. Simple Construction: ACEModule™ construction is relatively simple compared with traditional riverbank structures. With unit modules and mortise and tenon assembly construction, materials, equipment, and manpower requirements for field works are uncomplicated. The installation also presents lower noise and vibration and lesser site disturbance.
 
3. Aesthetic Landscape: The assemblies of the module and tenon of the ACEModule™ system can match different site conditions and the landscape needs of the riverbank, such as the curvature or squiggle shape of the meandering river. ACEModule™ also provides landscape or seasonal planting spaces to enhance the overall visual beauty.
 
4. Ecological Restoration: The hollow design of the ACEModule™ system is suitable for various natural or man-made materials to create an eco-friendly environment and space to enrich the ecological habitat of the river and diversify the species.

   
 

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UPDATED RESOURCES

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Please refer to the latest uploaded information and files on the official website below, and feel free to contact us for further details.

Case Study

1. Road widening and slope restoration with geosynthetic reinforced soil slope, Nigeria

    ○ Type: Slope Stabilization, Basal Reinforcement
    ○ Product: ACEGrid^® GG, ACETex^® PET

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