ABSTRACT
During the PVC geomembrane installation for waterproofing of tunnels and structures and in order to mechanically protect the product, we usually pour a 6 cm thick slab of concrete. This screed allows the installation of reinforcement bars for the internal structure.
After dynamic and static tests, we realized that we could use cementitious geocomposites instead of this on site poured concrete. In fact, the presence of a big quantity of polypropylene fibers in the product offers a subsequent resistance which is sufficient in most of the cases.
It has a real impact on resiliency as the use of this type of product instead of a thick concrete slab is reducing: 1. the depth for the digging and 2. the quantity of concrete poured on site.
The example of this use in tunneling applications demonstrates it can be used in many other situations for protection: basins, basements, buried structures, temporary protection … offering on each project a reduction of energy compared to traditional solutions.
