What Is Grasscrete?
Grasscrete is a reinforced cellular in situ (cast on-site) concrete grass paving that grows with real grass. It consists of a mixture of concrete and natural soil in a patterned layout. The mixture incorporates 47% concrete and 53 % holes for the grass. The grass will gradually grow within the concrete and conceal it by filling the gaps.
Grasscrete is an environmentally sustainable alternative for creating aesthetically beautiful and environmentally favorable urban environments. It helps to make our country greener by minimizing the negative consequences of modern construction. It is made in a direct way by pouring concrete over styrene void formers.
Source: doityourself.com
The pavement structure may be used all year without sacrificing its elegance. As a result, it is a sustainable product that makes extensive use of recycled materials. Because of the reduction in heat island effect, effective stormwater management, extended life span, and cheap maintenance. As a result, it has a major advantage over precast concrete and plastic pavement systems.
The ‘feel good’ aspect of greenspace cannot be overstated as streetscapes are softened without sacrificing structural performance. Greenspace within cities is crucial for balancing CO2 levels caused by automobile traffic. Natural digestion by a grassed parking space, located at the source of emission, can help to avoid atmospheric CO2 buildup.
Types Of Grasscrete
- Partially Concealed Grasscrete
- Concealed Grasscrete
- Slope Protection Grasscrete
- Stone Filled Grasscrete
1. Partially Concealed Grasscrete
The vegetation is positioned parallel to the concrete in partially concealed concrete. Along with the vegetation, a five-and-a-half-inch-thick concrete slab is given, as well as half-inch-thick root protection.
Grasscrete with partial concealment is appropriate for high-traffic areas. Furthermore, because of the presence of plants, it is practical, environmentally good, and aesthetically beautiful.
Applications:
- Vehicle Parking
- Access Roads
- Road Shoulders
- Driveways
- Fire and Emergency Access
2. Concealed Grasscrete:
There is a 1-inch layer of soil above the concrete in buried Grasscrete. The concrete beneath this layer of earth is buried and is five and a half inches deep. This type of Grasscrete is appropriate for low traffic regions with low traffic volume. Concealed Grasscrete is also one of the best solutions for your home’s and garden’s pavement.
Applications:
- Fire and emergency access
- Overflow vehicle parking
- Low traffic access roads
3. Slope Protection Grasscrete
Grasscrete has been flow tested to speeds in excess of 26 feet per second and can be installed at a slope of 1:2 (50 percent). This allows it to be employed in demanding environments such as emergency spillways.
The same testing procedure revealed that Grasscrete is hydraulically efficient when employed in water flow. High flow flattens long stemmed grass, and the ensuing thatch reduces the Mannings ‘n’ value for hydraulic roughness to as low as 0.03.
In order to achieve directional adjustments, precast concrete systems require infill panels. These gaps can generate turbulent flow, which can become a focal point for erosion. Grasscrete, on the other hand, is a continuous slab with no such flaws.
Applications :
- Swales
- Drainage Channels
- Emergency Spillways
- Access Roads and Ramps
- Detention/Retention Ponds
4. Stone Filled Grasscrete
The soil between the concrete blocks is replaced with crushed stone. The crushed stone thickness should be between 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch. Stone-filled Grasscrete drains at speeds of up to 450 inches per hour while retaining 100 percent of the water. For a low-maintenance design, the stone-filled application is appropriate.
Applications:
- Vehicle Parking
- Access Roads
- Fire and Emergency Access
- Military Installations
Advantages of Grasscrete
Structural Advantages
The following are some of the primary structural advantages of Grasscrete:
1. High Load Bearing Capacity
The main advantage of Grasscrete’s structure is its great load-bearing capability when used with a saturated sub-base. It can support a vehicle load of up to 114000 pounds (51858 kg).
Furthermore, even after sub-base saturation, it supports a variety of applications such as military tanks and light-speed rail track access.
2. Resistance to Differential Settlement
A monolithic concrete slab, as we know, uniformly distributes the weight of the load over a wider surface area, thereby resisting differential settlement, which is frequently the case in modular precast or plastic systems. As a result, Grasscrete is thought to be more resistant to differential settlement than the other choices.
The structural integrity of Grasscrete, on the other hand, is not dependent on the vegetation and can be peddled once the concrete achieves the desired compressive and flexural strength at the same time.
3. Shallow depth for the sub-base is sufficient
Grasscrete can be put with a thinner sub-base than other types of pavements due to the thickness of the section and its continuous reinforcement.
4. Edge Specifications are not required
Modular precast concrete necessitates the need for edge restrictions or curbs, whereas Grasscrete does not. It bends naturally with the adjacent edges and finishes, creating an appealing appearance.
Economic Advantages
1. Longer Life Cycle
When compared to other common types of impervious paving technologies, it has a longer life cycle. It features installations that date back to 1974 and are still in use today.
2. Reduce Expensive Infrastructure
Its effective qualities include the ability to allow natural water infiltration. In some circumstances, the need for costly stormwater infrastructures such as curbs, gutters, and underground piping can be reduced or eliminated.
3. Low Operating Costs
The stone-filled Grasscrete on pavements is the most common and effective alternative with minimum maintenance.
Environmental Advantages
1. Increases Green Space and Reduces Heat Island Effect
Heat islands are urban regions that are hotter than neighboring rural areas. The visually pleasing green area or vegetation minimizes the heat island effect, offering a comfortable, appealing, and tranquil environment for citizens.
2. Makes Use of Recycled Materials
Grasscrete encourages the use of recycled resources in the production process of the concrete mix to fill voids and sub-base layers. It maintains its commitment to sustainability by fully utilizing recycled materials.
3. Stormwater Infiltration
It not only preserves the natural stability of groundwater recharge but also considerably reduces runoff. Furthermore, through bioretention, this penetration promotes water quality improvement. Metals are naturally cleansed in this process by plant and soil structure.
Method Of Installation
1. Preparation
It is important that the workspace has an edge framework and a consolidated sub-base from the start. The sub-base is laid after the topsoil has been removed and the level has been reduced.
A sharp sand blind covers the sub-foundation and formwork is made up for the edge making sure there is a 10mm to 20mm sand binding layer.
2. Laying of formers:
600 mm x 600 mm formers are arranged edge to edge. The formers can be cut to fit the available space. The Grasscrete plastic formers are then laid next to each other, with a margin of 100 mm at the edge and expansion joints.
3. Mesh Reinforcement
Mesh reinforcements should be placed on formers. The mesh is placed on the up-spacers placed between the former’s main up-stand. Mesh must be ordered separately. The mesh reinforcement is supported by integrally molded spacers in the formers.
4. Pouring Concrete
With the use of staging boards, concrete is poured into the formers. The usage of flowing concrete should be noted.
It should be ensured that the concrete is laid around the formers and mesh and that it is leveled to the top of the formers.
Squeegees are used to level the concrete up to the formers’ tops. The solid edges are trowelled, and the concrete is allowed to set for 48 hours.
5. Melt Former Tops with Flame Guns
An LPG flame gun is used to burn out the top of the plastic formers. Each former top should be sharpened with a long steel pipe to produce a leading-edge for the flame.
6. Top Soil and Seed
An LPG flame gun is used to burn out the top of the plastic formers. Each former top should be sharpened with a long steel pipe to produce a leading-edge for the flame.
Fine soil fills the Grasscrete pocket, which is then watered to allow for settlement. To establish grass cover, the planting must be watered daily for two weeks after the initial settlement.
Applications Of Grasscrete
Grasscrete can be used for many applications such as
- Paver
- Car Parks
- Driveways
- Landscaping
- Access Roads
- Fire Paths
- Hard Standings
- Helipads
- Highway Emergency Lanes
- Laybys
- Storm Channels
- Slope Protection
- Canal Lining
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