Construction World April 2016

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

APRIL

2016

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Geobrugg’s TECCO system offers safety, cost effectiveness and

sustainability. The TECCO system can be applied to nearly any

slope, regardless of whether it is solid rock, soil or anything

in-between. Two new spike plate sizes further expand the

range of application and allow optimisation of anchor spacing.

TECCO System

The key to the success of the TECCO system lies in the large-scale field

experiments performed by the Geobrugg Group in the last three years in

collaboration with the University of Bern. The full-scale testing provided

detailed, scientific proof of the key to the success of TECCO mesh – the

high tensile wire. Tests showed that success or failure of the stabilisa-

tion system is completely dependent upon the ability of the mesh to

transfer forces from the slope to the nails. The only way to achieve this

Old challenges

–

NEW SOLUTIONS

In a world where time is money, it is not

worth the effort to re-invent the wheel. But

sometimes the wheel needs to be changed.

Historic solutions for slope stabilisation

can be improved with innovation.

efficiently and safely is to use mesh with a high tensile wire that enables

this critical load transfer from the mesh to the spike plates.

TECCO high tensile steel mesh is available in 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm

wire size. The tensile strength of the steel wire is at least 1 770 N/mm

for all three wire diameters. With the special Geobrugg Supercoating or

Ultracoating of the wire, TECCO provides up to three times longer life-

time than conventional zinc wire. Geobrugg has also recently launched

its TECCO stainless products. This mesh, made of stainless steel, offers

even a wider range of possibilities for slope stabilisation. The mesh is

ideal for use in all situations where aggressive environmental conditions

prevail. TECCO stainless was designed for use in extremely salty and

moist conditions.

In many projects, geotechnical engineers are forced with challenges

and always want a solution that offers less time on site, with fewer

materials and the least impact on the environment. Solutions need to

MAIN:

Franschhoek Pass midway through the

project.

INSET:

High-tensile steel wire mesh

with newly developed large spike plate.

Experimental setup for testing

flexible facing systems in large scale.