Asia Pacific
Performance Polymers
Asia Pacific
Performance Polymers
Elastocoast® — Making our Coasts and Rivers Safer
Elastocoast® is a novel, intelligent polyurethane system. It is a two-component binder for revetments in coastal areas and stabilization of river banks. It is so open-pored that it deprives wave run-up of its destructive energy, thus demonstrating its strength to make shorelines and river beds substantially safer.
An ideal revetment solution for coastal protection, Elastocoast® can also be used to restore ecology of rivers and weirs.
Benefits
The Advantages of Elastocoast® for Coastal Protection and River Bank Stabilization
- Makes coasts safer
- Porous and water-permeable
- Reduces the cost of construction and maintenance
- Absorbs the energy of impacting waves
- Environmentally sound
- Strong and with a long track record
Do you want to learn more about Elastocoast?
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Revetments made with BASF’s innovative solution for coastal protection, Elastocoast®, now spans an additional 820m2 of the shoreline at Gwanme-do Beach in South Korea’s largest national park, Dadohae-haesang National Park. Learn more about the project from the video!
Coastal and Flood Protection with an Intelligent PU System
Whereas conventional technology contains rigid concrete structures that can be broken down by wave impact, frost and ground subsidence, the Elastocoast® system involves the mechanical bonding of an aggregate (crushed rock or gravel) bonded with an environmentally compatible 2-component polyurethane plastic.
Elastocoast® technology
• The porous structure between the stones withstands heavy wave impact.
• The cover layer also offers a habitat for flora and fauna.
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While protecting the coasts from floods and slowing the rate of soil erosion, the open-pored structure also provides favorable conditions for restoration of the habitat’s flora and fauna. Watch to find out more!
Applications
Experts predict that the sea level may rise by up to 50 centimeters in the coming years as a result of global warming. Of course, no scientist can foresee when and how this rise will actually occur – or the ultimate consequences. But it does highlight the obvious need to intensify coastal protection and flood prevention activities.
Experts predict that the sea level may rise by up to 50 centimeters in the coming years as a result of global warming. Of course, no scientist can foresee when and how this rise will actually occur – or the ultimate consequences.
Protecting over 1000m2 of revetment along the Pattaya beach resort in Thailand that was destroyed by constant high tides
Elastocoast® revetment in Bathpolder, Netherlands
Elastocoast was used to protect the 1,600 m² beach at Pranburi National Park in Thailand that was destroyed by constant high tides.
The local marine department in Pattaya, Thailand used Elastocoast to protect the beach resort that was destroyed by constant high tide. The department extended the revetment area after monitoring the project for 3 years .
Experts predict that the sea level may rise by up to 50 centimeters in the coming years as a result of global warming. Of course, no scientist can foresee when and how this rise will actually occur – or the ultimate consequences.
But it does highlight the obvious need to intensify coastal protection and flood prevention activities and particularly to raise the dikes.
Another dangerous scenario is dike overtopping, since subsequent erosion on the land side inevitably results in complete dike failure. This is where Elastocoast® opens up a totally new dimension in coastal protection.
Flood prevention and river bank stabilization
What has already proven successful in coastal protection can also be used on river banks and canals. The goal here is also to create a strong and near-natural revetment to consolidate shore zones and stabilize them against traffic-induced waves and – as in the case of the Elbe River – against the tides.
In waterway engineering, there is also the possibility of underwater installation where the rock-PU mix, after sufficient reaction time, is poured into the water close to the bank and compacted. The principle is just as simple as for dike construction and protects the banks from disintegration and damage due to strong currents.
Elastocoast was used to rebuild the revetment alongside a beach near an abalone farm in Jindo, Korea. The beach was facing very high waves and damaged by a typhoon in 2011.
The stones used have to be clean and surface-dry before being processed. This is a requirement that seems to be difficult at first sight. As other realized projects show, certain simple measures regarding handling and logistics eliminate this obstacle.
Elastocoast® consists of approx. 50% of vegetable fatty acid esters, thus renewable raw materials. In addition, due to the high porosity cavities it provides additional habitat for animals and plants. Also the Elastocoast® revetments easily integrate into the overall appearance of the landscape. Due to the transparency of the material, it is difficult to set them apart from naturally coloured rip-rap.
Before the material has completely cured, the surface should be covered with dry sand by which the visual effect is additionally adjusted and a skid resistant surface can be created.
Step 1:
Mixing A- and B-component
Step 2:
Adding Elastocoast® to the stones
Step 3:
Coating with Elastocoast® by tumbling process
Step 4:
Placing Elastocoast® stones in the water
Step 5:
Placing Elastocoast® coated stones. Avoiding undercutting with geotextiles.
Finished Elastocoast® revetment
Biological studies by the University of Amsterdam have shown that revetments with Elastocoast® are colonized by the flora and fauna typical of the local region within just a few weeks.
Unlike conventional, impervious coastal defense structures, Elastocoast® revetments with their cavities also provide additional habitats for the animal and plant world. And thanks to the transparency of the material, the revetment blends noticeably better into the local landscape.
To demonstrate the environmental impact and ecological benefits of new Elastocoast® technology, an extensive eco-efficiency analysis has been carried out. This involved a life-cycle analysis of various products and processes in terms of their impact on the environment.
The ecological assessment is based on DIN EN ISO 14040 and 14044 and has been certified by TÜV (Technical Control Board) Berlin as an overall method. Elastocoast® was compared to traditional coastal protection methods such as concrete and open stone asphalt (OSA) on a surface area of 20,000 m².
The most recent study (in 2014) of the Institute of Environmental Hygiene and Toxicology in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, has confirmed the safety of the PU system in coastal protection in terms of toxicology and environmental medicine.
Long-term monitoring and controls of stability, erosion resistance, recolonization, resistance to weathering and saltwater, and many other parameters have shown that Elastocoast® revetments already achieve top results on the decisive counts.
Hydraulic engineering structures are expected to have a life time of 20 years and more. All construction materials on inorganic (cement-bonded) or organic (plastics) basis are subject to the impact of weathering when used outdoor. Particularly damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, salt water and frost must be considered. PU materials are established in outdoor applications such as concrete and sports ground coating or offshore, oil and gas pipelines resisting salt water attack.
The degradation process that takes place in sea water was accelerated by increasing the temperature in small steps up to 80²C. In this way the results can be extrapolated back to 20-30°C. This extrapolation shows that the PU-material is fully stable in salt or sea water at service temperature of 20 - 30°C and it has a lifetime expectation of 80-100 years.
The TUHH provided evidence that there is a sufficient persistence when exposed to UV irradiation, tested in special developed water transition area equipment. The frost resistance is secured by tests in accordance with DIN EN 13383-2.
Elastocoast was used to restore the ecology of the Daecheong river in Kimhae, Korea, which was affected by the repeated collapsing and installation of concrete structure.
Elastocoast was used in the SanCheong ByukGye Weir located in Korea, changing a straight concrete fishway to a natural looking curved fishway with reduced effects on the water ecology
Elastocoast was installed in ByukGye Weir, SanCheong, Korea, changing a straight concrete fishway to a natural looking curved fishway
Elastocoast helped to restore the ecology of the Daecheong river in Kimhae, Korea that was affected by strong hydraulic power of water against the original concrete structure
Processing
Elastocoast constructed on Dachi River, China
The stones used have to be clean and surface-dry before being processed. This is a requirement that seems to be difficult at first sight. As other realized projects show, certain simple measures regarding handling and logistics eliminate this obstacle.
Elastocoast® consists of approx. 50% of vegetable fatty acid esters, thus renewable raw materials. In addition, due to the high porosity cavities it provides additional habitat for animals and plants. Also the Elastocoast® revetments easily integrate into the overall appearance of the landscape. Due to the transparency of the material, it is difficult to set them apart from naturally coloured rip-rap.
Before the material has completely cured, the surface should be covered with dry sand by which the visual effect is additionally adjusted and a skid resistant surface can be created.
Step 4: Placing Elastocoast® coated stones. Avoiding undercutting with geotextiles.
Finished Elastocoast® revetment
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