Cofra and Geoflex
18/06/2011
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What is it?
- A light-weight co-extruded PVC profile with interlocking clutches.
- The profile core is made from recycled PVC from a post industrial single source. In the manufacturing process, the material is given a tough outer coating to increase durability.
- Two different section sizes, which can be arranged to give two different layouts (corrugated or standard pile)
- Can be easily drilled to take a wailer or other ground anchors to increase potential retained height.
- Easily adapted to accept many various cladding materials. Different colours available to enable blend with existing environment
What can we use it for?
Geoflex has been used in place of traditional steel piling as both, impermeable barrier and structurally. Including groundwater cut-off and containment, prevention of slip plane failures within existing flood bunds, ditch improvement for serviceability and flow, water control systems and erosion control and retaining walls.
What are the advantages?
- Lightweight and easy to handle, no separate plant required to pick and place piles ready for installation. GF210 weighs 3Kg/m and GF420 weighs 5Kg/m run of pile.
- Inert with excellent chemical resistance and does not leach poisonous chemicals into the environment. Does not rust or reduce capacity with time.
- Possible to make two configurations with the same profile, corrugated or standard pile formation.
- Specially designed clutch to receive hydrophilic strip to create hydraulically impermeable cut off barrier, sufficient for contaminated ground situations.
- Cost savings in material and installation combine to give overall saving of 30-40% on similar installation in steel.
- Post-industrial recycled material used for manufacture reduces carbon footprint.
- Available in a variety of colours and may be faced with cladding products using screw or bolted fixings.
What are the limitations?
- Geoflex piles have been installed up to 8m deep.
- Locations that would prevent the installation of a 10mm steel sheet piles due to issues of drivability, may preclude the installation of Geoflex.
- Retained height in cantilever of approximately 2m. Greater retained heights can be achieved with the use of ground anchors.
Where has Geoflex been used before?
Cofra UK Limited successfully installed Geoflex at:-
- Gunness Flood Alleviation Scheme. 3.7km wall of Geoflex 210 sheet piles [37,000m of pile] were installed to an existing flood bund securing it against slip plane failures. The ability to utilise light weight plant avoided the necessity to strengthen the bund for the works secured major cost savings against the traditional steel piling method and avoided a large earthworks operation with all the associated potential damage to the local environment and important wildlife habitats. Spring 2010
- Abberton Reservoir. 21,500m of Geoflex 210 piles are being installed to increase the impermeability of ground below newly formed dams that will be used to raise the height of Abberton Reservoir. Summer 2011.
- Worthing Sea Defence. Geoflex 420 piles were installed through the shingle beach with N values of between 35 and 40, to depths of 6.5m. This impermeable barrier has successfully safeguarded houses adjacent to beach from flooding. Spring 2006
- Mulberrry Way. Geoflex 420 piles at 7m long were installed to support an existing road where the adjacent flood ditch required widening. The piles at this location were designed in cantilever and retained a height up to 1.9m without additional anchoring. Summer 2010
- Gainsborough Frontages Flood Alleviation Scheme. Geoflex sheet piles were installed to as part of improvements to the flood defences to provide a low permeability barrier within the existing flood bund. Approximately 20,500m of Geoflex piles (up to 5.5m deep) were installed over a 15 week period. Winter 2007/08
These are just a sample of the many projects completed.
Click on the link below for a document with all the latest Geoflex 2011 specifications and data - together with imagery from some of our Geoflex projects:
http://www.cofra.co.uk/geoflex.doc
