WELSH SLATE AGGREGATE IS THE ONE FOR TENSAR
30 September 2021
New study shows slate by-product is cheaper than other aggregates for reinforced earth structures.
Slate by-product as an alternative to traditional aggregate fill in reinforced earth structures has been shown to be up to 60% more cost effective.
Those are the findings of an award-winning study supported by Welsh Slate, the UK’s leading natural slate manufacturer, and Tensar International, a world-leader in technology-driven soil reinforcement and mechanical ground stabilisation.
The year-long study was carried out by Owen Bracegirdle, a consultant engineer at independent multi-disciplinary engineering, environmental and project management consultancy Egniol Environmental, which is based near Bangor in north Wales, just a few miles from Welsh Slate’s main Penrhyn Quarry.
Owen chose the study, Utilising secondary slate waste aggregate as an alternative to common aggregate fill within reinforced earth retaining structures, as his dissertation for a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering. And it helped him win the CIHT* Cymru Wales region’s award for Emerging professional of the year 2018.
Tensar has already suggested slate as the aggregate fill for two major civil engineering infrastructure schemes scheduled to happen in the next couple of years.
It had already been apparent, through extensive research and input from industry professionals, that secondary slate aggregate sourced from north Wales was not being used to its full potential.
The study set out to establish if secondary slate aggregate (13mm blinding) from Welsh Slate’s main Penrhyn Quarry was acceptable for use as the aggregate fill within a Tensar reinforced soil retaining structure.
The selected secondary slate aggregate, and all its associated parameters, was compared with a commonly-used primary aggregate fill (granite/limestone) to not only establish its structural performance and feasibility but most importantly, to highlight the financial benefits of its use.
The study first researched current and relevant design textbooks, online literature and design standards, such as BS 8006, to establish the design requirements and parameters of a suitable aggregate fill within a reinforced soil structure. Observation and analysis of all relevant testing results was then carried out to numerically compare slate aggregate against granite/limestone fill.
Additional site and laboratory testing was also undertaken as part of the study to address any gaps in the data. Most importantly, through research and testing, it was found that the reinforced earth design relied upon the reduction factors applied on Tensar geogrid grades.
These reduction factors are derived from the selected fill being used. It was concluded that the reduction factors RFCH (Chemical and Environmental Reduction Factor) and RFID (Installation Damage Reduction Factor) were critical in determining the feasibility of using the selected aggregate fill.
Installation damage testing was carried out at Penrhyn Quarry to ascertain the RFID for the secondary slate aggregate. This determined the selected secondary slate aggregate provided varying design reduction and safety factors over the alternative aggregates.
These subsequent variances were inputted to two design cases. The design outputs highlighted the geogrid requirements and content for both the slate and granite/limestone design cases. The design outputs were also analysed taking aggregate costs into consideration and these highlighted that the slate aggregate not only performed successfully as a structural fill within a reinforced soil structure but also provided a commercial benefit through substantial cost savings.
In summary, the study highlighted that, in the scenario modelled, the Welsh Slate 13mm blinding provided a 61.49% cost saving over the limestone equivalent. A limestone Type 1 sub-base aggregate (a larger stone usually used for highways applications) was also considered, with the Welsh Slate secondary aggregate delivering a 21.77% saving.
Tensar product and technology manager for walls and slopes Craig Roberts said the study was something the manufacturer had wanted to do for some time, as it had conservatively used slate fill previously on private schemes but required official test results for public projects.
“We were more than happy to get involved as it served a dual purpose,” he said.
“We had always been confident that slate could be used as an alternative but now we have the proof, through testing and this should give us an advantage at tender stage. Without Owen and Welsh Slate we would have had to get the testing done another way.”
Craig added:
"That using slate could require additional stronger layers of geogrid, as the material can cause minimal additional installation damage compared to granite and limestone, which has to be accounted for within the design.
“But the additional cost of this is more than offset by the overall structure savings,”
Owen said:
“Being from the area and growing up around the slate tips it was just something I wanted to do and was really interesting to me. I’m really happy with the results from a commercial aspect and with the award from a personal one.”
Sean Edwards from the aggregates division of Welsh Slate, now part of the Breedon Group, said:
“We are always looking at ways to maximise the yield of material extracted and material recovery from historical slate waste tips and are delighted to have helped Owen not only to reach this commercial conclusion but to win an award in doing so.”
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