Volume 7, no. 13 - Colbond Geosynthetics

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12 Colbond Geosynthetics News 13 - 2002 Cross-section tunnel: rock gunite/shotcrete Enkamat/Enkadrain liner inner-wall lateral drains main drains
“One way to keep tunnel walls intact is to ensure that water seepage is ruled out. And one major function of Enkamat is to protect the waterproof liner, and so the entire tunnel, against leakage. Add to that the higher discharge capacity of Enkamat and its much lower susceptibility to clogging, and you have the best system available for protecting the inner shell of the tunnel and for leading water into the tunnel drainage system.” Here at Giswil, 80-centimeter-high concrete “benches” have been built on both sides of the tunnel floor, serving to protect the parallel drains which themselves are covered with a single layer of Enkamat. The geospacer’s lack of sensitivity to particle or mineral clogging means that seepage from the rock face and seepage from the stream high above the north portal of the Giswil tunnel can continue to pass into the Enkamat. In chalky surroundings like Giswil, this is crucial to keeping the tunnel dry. For builders, one of the prime advantages of Enkamat geospacers is how easily they can be adapted to individual projects. “We offer Enkamat in different breadths, of course,” says Colbond Geosynthetics Sales Manager Karl Wohlfahrt. “The most usual being the 3.85 m wide rolls. But even more importantly, part of our service is to deliver the right lengths to the site. If they want 24meter lengths, they can get it. If they want 23 meters, they can get that too.” Meanwhile, further down the tunnel, the roar of the huge shuttering machine that is compacting the concrete for the inner shell makes conversation difficult. But when the machine is quiet for a moment, we’re able to ask construction foreman Georges Strickler about his experiences with the Colbond material. His reply is typically Swiss and typically down-to-earth: “Enkamat is easy to use. Most tunnels in Switzerland are built this way nowadays. That’s all. It’s a good product.” And what will the future bring for Giswil? The latest news is that the Swiss federal government has approved plans for yet another, slightly shorter, bypass tunnel to the north, between here and the town of Ewil. Construction will start in 2003, and the first cars will pass through in 2006. Before long, the loudest noise in the valley of the Reuss may once again be that of cowbells. Colbond Geosynthetics News 13 - 2002 13
Page 1 and 2: Volume 7, no. 13 N GEOSYNTHETICS W
Page 3 and 4: Dear Readers, From the editors Geos
Page 5 and 6: Forces at play Fire safety is a ver
Page 7 and 8: High-pressure cascade Tunnel shells
Page 9 and 10: Column “The world changes rapidly
Page 11: Today, most of the 2,000 meter gall
Page 15 and 16: Waterproofing system The waterproof
Page 17 and 18: The exceptional conditions of the p
Page 19 and 20: Once the drainage layer and liner a
Page 21 and 22: Present state of development in str
Page 23 and 24: In the case of non-ventilated metal
Page 25 and 26: Reinforced Enkamat Filled Armater E
Page 27 and 28: Mekastone and Enkagrid support Worl

Volume 7, no. 13 - Colbond Geosynthetics

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