GB2497581A

GB2497581A - Internal sheet mesh reinforced fabric formwork scour protection apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2497581A
Application number: GB1121681.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Mountain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: GB201121681D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a scour protection apparatus consisting of fabric bags 1 for casting and forming the shape of concrete, micro-concrete, mortar or grout, insitu, in or around watercourses. The apparatus forms scour protection or scour repairs, incorporating a flexible sheet reinforcement mesh 3 inside the bag 1 that becomes cast into a hardened block to provide protection of the finished block against cracking and disintegration. The apparatus comprises a fabric bag, 1, to form a block or slab 2, which incorporates the flexible reinforcement mesh 3 that becomes cast into the finished slab or block. The mesh 3 may be a woven grid of fabric or geotextile. The mesh 3 may be a non woven grid of geotextile or material. The mesh may be fiberglass, polypropylene or polythene.

Description

INTERNAL SHEET MESH REINFORCED FABRIC FORMWORK

SCOUR PROTECTION APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a method of improving the structural integrity and durability of fabric formed scour protection blockwork, by incorporating sheet reinforcement mesh into the insides of the fabric formwork bag, to protect against cracking, fractures and disintegration This is intended as an improvement and development of an existing patent, number EP1809815.

Fabric formwork is where fabric is used to shape and cast cementitious material, retaining and shaping the wet concrete, micro-concrete, mortar or grout until it has hardened. This technology has been used for 40 or so years in or near watercourses, to form scour protection in a number of ways, with filter point and constant thickness mattresses being common examples but more recently modular forms of scour protection. Typically it consists of an upper and lower sheet of fabric, often tailored into shapes, bays or blocks, independent of one another or linked together in a number of ways.

Where fabric formwork is used to form and shape blocks or slabs of concrete, grout or similar cementitious material, the strength and durability of the finished block or slab is a function of the crystalline strength of the concrete forming the block or slab. Typically, a high strength grout or concrete will result in a stronger, more durable and longer lasting block. The physical and environmentally aggressive location that these concrete blocks are subject, as a result of freeze/thaw, hydraulic action or sediment load, puts the concrete block or slab at risk of damage, cracking or fracturing, which ultimately reduces the integrity or effectiveness of the concrete as a means of providing protection against scour, or as a scour repair for example.

The invention is a means by which the structural integrity of the finished block is maintained by the inclusion of a flexible sheet mesh reinforcement to the inside of the fabric formwork bag. By incorporating a flexible mesh of woven, non-woven, fibreglass or similar mesh reinforcement, holes in the mesh allow the wet, fluid concrete, grout or similar material to flow through and fill the bag, and allow the cementitious material above and below the mesh to physically bond. The mesh then becomes cast into the finished block once the concrete or grout has hardened. The benefit this reinforcement mesh provides is that should any cracks or fractures occur to the finished block or slab, the reinforcement will ensure that the cracked or fractured blocks stay together and the larger block does not disintegrate into smaller, potentially loose blocks, which could be carried away by the action of the watercourse for example.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a section through a typical bag.

Figure 2 shows the configuration of the reinforcement mesh in detail.

Figure 3 shows the concrete in its hardened state.

Figure 1 shows a typical filled bag forming a slab or block, where the bag, 1, forms the slab or block, 2, when filled with grout, concrete or similar cementitious material, incorporating the flexible sheet reinforcement mesh, 3. The bag is typically filled through an inlet, 4.

Figure 2 shows a typical configuration of the bag consisting of the flexible sheet reinforcement mesh, 5, incorporating gaps to form the mesh, 6, typically 2-50mm depending upon the sand/aggregate size, sandwiched between an upper layer of fabric, 7, and a lower layer of fabric, 8. The flexible mesh is typically sewn into the bag, in this example, along the edge seam, 9. The bag is typically pump filled, insitu, with grout, micro-concrete or concrete, 10, to then harden and form a block or slab.

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a finished hardened block with the mesh reinforcement, 11, ultimately encapsulated into the finished hardened block of grout or concrete, 12. The gaps between the mesh, 13, allow for flow of grout through the bag, a physical bond between the cementitious material above and below the mesh, as well as encapsulating the mesh into the finished block.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A scour protection apparatus consisting of fabric bags for casting and forming the shape of concrete, micro-concrete, mortar or grout, insitu in or around watercourses for forming scour protection or scour repairs, incorporating a flexible sheet reinforcement mesh inside the bag that becomes cast into the hardened block to provide protection of the finished black against cracking and disintegration of the finished block or slab.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, where the flexible reinforcement mesh consists of a woven grid of fabric or geotextile.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, where the flexible reinforcement mesh consists of a non-woven grid of geotextile or material.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, where the flexible reinforcement mesh consists of fibreglass mesh fabric.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, where the flexible reinforcement mesh consists of polypropylene, polythene or similar plastic net or grid.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, whereby the reinforcement mesh is flexible to specifically allow the formwork product to be rolled or folded to facilitate shipment and storage.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A scour protection apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, whereby the reinforcement mesh is sandwiched between the top and bottom layers of the fabric formwork bag, attached to at least part of the inside of the bag along the peripheral seams of the bag.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A scour protection apparatus, as herein described above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings or description.</claim-text>