Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 16
Innovative geosynthetic solution saves 106-year-old Panama Canal structures
FIGURE 2 Dec. 2014 sonar image of Gatun Locks scour erosion
During the December 2014 annual
inspection, digital sonar in 66 feet (20 m)
of water detected significant erosion and
damage to all three sets of locks. However,
the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side were
experiencing the most critical erosion
and, if steps were not taken to repair the
erosion, the locks could be in danger of a
catastrophic structural collapse (Figure
2). The erosion had extended more than
20 feet (6 m) under the leading edge of
the approach slab and almost completely
under the dividing wall foundations.
Also, the bases of several wing walls of
the other locks were experiencing severe
foundation erosion.
The challenge
FIGURE 3 Full-scale 65-cubic-yard (50-m3) test geotextile bag
The ACP engineers determined that
immediate action should be taken and
that the challenge was threefold: (1) the
repair of the damage must not inhibit
the flow of traffic through the canal, (2)
the repairs must be done during routine
maintenance scheduling windows when
one side of the locks was temporarily shut
down for a 12-hour maintenance operation, and (3) the repairs must be able to
be performed by the ACP Engineering
and Maintenance Division due to the
time constraints and the emergency
nature of the repair.
Given these challenges, it was obvious that the repairs would be performed
in water depths of up to 66 feet (20 m)
with limited visibility, and there was
zero margin for error. Also, all preparations for the repairs would need to be
performed at an off-site location and
be able to be mobilized and then demobilized in short order to stay within
12-hour maintenance windows.
The solution
The ACP Engineering and Maintenance
D i v i s i o n m e t w i t h t h e Te n C at e
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Geosynthetics August/September 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geosynthetics August/September 2020
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - Cover1
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - Cover2
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 1
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 2
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 3
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 4
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 5
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 6
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 7
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 8
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 9
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 10
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 11
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 12
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 13
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 14
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 15
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 16
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 17
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 18
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 19
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 20
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 21
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 22
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 23
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 24
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 25
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 26
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 27
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 28
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 29
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 30
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 31
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Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 33
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 34
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 35
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 36
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 37
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 38
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Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 40
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 41
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 42
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 43
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Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 45
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 46
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 47
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - 48
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - Cover3
Geosynthetics August/September 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-october-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geoysynthetics-august-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-june-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-april-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-february-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-december-2022-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-october-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-august-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-june-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-april-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-february-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-december-2021-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-october-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-august-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-june-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-april-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/geosynthetics-february-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1220GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1020GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0820GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0620GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0420GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0220GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1219GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1019GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0819GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0619GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0419GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0219GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1218GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/1018GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0818GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0618GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0418GS
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/geosynthetics/0218GS
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