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Share with PrideWales Route - Infrastructure Projects

RAMWALL System: Tomorrows Future Today‘The Permanent solution’

Innovative Value Engineering

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Existing Situation – Sea Defence damage

The site at Tonfanau near Tywyn (Sandilands) is situated on the Cambrian Coast, North West Wales. Following the extreme storm events of January 2014 many sea defences along the whole of the West Wales coastline from North to South suffered extensive damage following a combination of high tidal surges and Force 8, Westerly gales.

These photos were taken immediately following the extreme storm events and illustrate the damage that these extreme events have on our coastal assets such as damage to the sea defence revetment wall, embankment erosion and extensive damage to the existing ‘Gabion baskets’ sea defence structure.

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The SolutionDue to logistical constraints and difficult beach access AMCO derived the following solution:

• Located a Shotcrete pumping station in a field adjacent to the cliffs (stakeholder involvement)

• Placed ducts under the track to accommodate feed hoses

• Spray filled the voids with AAA40 dry concrete (added steel fibres to mix) – 250 tonne used

• Provided tie-in dowels and mesh to create a bond to the existing asset and steep embankment

The ‘Ramwall’ system was originally designed for the mining industry and has been modified by AMCO as an alternative to the typical ‘Gabion wall’ sections found along many areas of coastline. The system has proved to be an excellent choice, especially as the design can be modified to suit any location, erected quickly with each element designed as a ‘one-man’ lift. This not only improves productivity but has a superior structural capability that satisfies a permanent design structural life. Each element is ‘hog ringed’ together and a substantial front face meshing added and the whole retaining system is infilled with granite ballast which was transported to site by a RRV and transferred from the Cess via a builders chute and the ‘Ramwall’ infilled safely from above (>400 tonnes of ballast).

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‘Ramwall’ Building Procedure

Lee Green. Area Delivery Manager

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Application of Hog rings

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‘Ramwall’ Infilling Procedure

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The Permanent Solution ‘Ramwall’

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General view of overall area where damage occurred

Lee Green. Area Delivery Manager

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Benefits

Permanent Solution• A quick permanent solution that can be designed for any application (ISS in house design team)

• Minimal plant required

• Environmental friendly - No Contamination (NRW requirement)

• Improved risk mitigation to installation team i.e. Manual handling/HAVS etc.

• 3965 ‘Accident free’ man hours without incidents.

• An excellent robust and versatile permanent design solution that can be used in many scenarios.

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Future Sea Level Estimations

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SUMMARY - ‘RAMWALL specification’

Permanent Solution Raw material supplied by Rom-tech 8mm-35mm dia bar sizes Matrix (200 x 200mm) Manufactured to BS 448 -2005 Manufactured to ‘Cares standards for welded mesh’ Welds designed to 4 tonne diametrically opposed pull load Galvanizing to BS ISO 1461-2009 to 87 microns Longevity in Sea Defence environment (60 years). Versatility (Can be adapted to suit location) Steel diameters to suit location and environment ISS internal design team Environmental Friendly AMCO fully trained installation team (ready and able to assist in any

situation).

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