The Masterbuilder - June 2012 - Infrastructure Equipment and Surface Coating Special

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Aquarius Engineers Pvt.Ltd
Aquarius Engineers Pvt.Ltd
Pidilite Industries Ltd.( Dr. Fixit)
Palfinger Cranes India Pvt.Ltd
Metecno India Pvt.Ltd
Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt.Ltd
Greaves Cotton Ltd
Marini India Pvt Ltd (Fayat India)
Gandhi Automations Pvt.Ltd
Contents
Tourism: Infrastructure
Key to Sustainable Tourism: A Low Carbon Footprint
Sadagopan Seshadri, Chief - Content Development, CE - Infrastructure - Environment
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96 104 112 122 130 136 134 138
Editor's Comment.......................10 News & Events............................24 E-Scape......................................218 Advertisers Index.......................20 Classification Index....................22
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Road Infrastructure: Analysis Indian Road Sector Headed for a Period of Steady Growth and Consolidation
M.K. Prabhakar, Associate Editor
Geosynthetics Review of Critical Aspects for Long Term Performance of Geogrid Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall Ground Engineering: Soil Nailing Fundamentals of Soil Nailing Technique
Construction Equipment: Amphibious Excavators Amphibious Excavators: Versatile Machines with Superb Outreach
Sonjoy Deb, Associate Editor, B.Tech,'Civil', Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology
Equipment Focus: Knuckle Boom Cranes Knuckle Boom Truck Loader Cranes: Fast Becoming the Preferred Choice of Contractors
Bhavani Balakrishna
Ground Engineering: Underpinning System Basics of Underpinning System its Application & Benefits
Equipment: Cranes Lifting & Erection Equipment: Continued Push to Nuclear and Wind Energy Projects Keep Indian Market in Limelight
Ground Engineering: Utility Locating Underground Utility Locating

Bhavani Balakrishna
Foundation Current Trends in Deep Foundation and Super Structure Testing
Equipment: Focus At the Forefront of Backhoe Loader Technology Ground Engineering: Geosysnthetics in Soft Soil Use of Geosynthetics to Assist Construction Over Soft Soils
Strong Foundations: Building the Future
Pile Testing Resume on Modified Testing Procedure for Ground Water
Dr. G.Venkatappa Rao1 and Dr. R.S.Sasidhar2 1 Distinguished Professor, KL University, Vijayawada, 2 Managing Director, Saimaster Geoenvironmental Services Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad
Ground Engineering: Lining Systems Geosynthetic Lining Systems in Engineered Landfills An Indian Perspective
Concrete Surface Coatings Protective Coating for Exposed Concrete Surfaces
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12 The Masterbuilder - June 2012 www.masterbuilder.co.in
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Enviro Geosynthetics Pvt.Ltd
Contents
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Sustainable Materials Reflective Coatings: Cooler Homes Reflect on your Energy Savings
Chaitanya Raj Goyal
192 Setting Benchmarks in Infrastructure Equipment Solutions 194 The 'Zaxis 50' Designed to Outperform 198 'In-Situ' Rock Crushing: A New Approach to Rock Cutting 200 Hyundai's '9 Series' now on Indian Soil 204 A Quality Product Range Backed by Latest Technology 208 'State of the Art Insulations' from Supreme Industries
Effective Admixtures as Aid to Concrete Technology 212 for Best Results
Technology: Steel Coatings 154 Composite Graphene to Rust-Proof Steel

Bhavani Balakrishna
Policy 158 Infrastructure: The 'LARR' Bill 2011: A Balancing Act
Sadagopan Seshadri, Chief - Content Development, CE - Infrastructure - Environment
Focus 174 Equipment: Excavator: Large Scale Infrastructure Projects Hold the Key to Sustained Demand
Feature 182 Communication Marini's Roadstar: Adds Wing to L&T's Godhra Halol Project Roll-Up, Self-Repairing, Heavy-Duty 186 Rapid Automatic Flexible Door
214 Spartan Conducts First of its Kind Operators meet at Bengaluru

Focus 202 Equipment: Bobcat MX418 The 'Next Gen' Mini Excavator Curtain Raiser 216 Event: 16 Indian Plumbing Conference: Focus on Sustainability
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The Masterbuilder - June 2012 www.masterbuilder.co.in
H & K Rolling Mill Engineers Pvt. Ltd
Contents
Advertisers Index
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16th Indian Plumbing Conference 16th National Congress on Corrosion & its Control 20th ICI Annual Awards 4th International Seminar on Forensic Geotechnical Engineering Ace Infrastructure Pvt.Ltd Action Construction Equipment Ajax Fiori Engineering (I) Pvt.Ltd Apollo Infratech Aquarius Engineers Pvt.Ltd Atul Fasteners Ltd Baicon 2012 Bauma China 2012 BC India Case New Holland Construction Equipment (India) Pvt.Ltd Caterpillar India Pvt.Ltd Climax Synthetics Pvt.Ltd Coatings & Foaming Inc., Construction Concrete Equipment Cosmos Construction Machineries & Equipments Pvt.Ltd Cosmos Sales Corporation DCS Trading & Services Pvt.Ltd Doosan Infracore India Pvt.Ltd Enviro Geosynthetics Pvt.Ltd Esquire Cmac Pvt. Ltd. FAE Group (Marque Innovation Pvt.Ltd) Gandhi Automations Pvt.Ltd 190 / 191 197 209 207 Gayatri Geotechnical Research Geo Dynamics Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt.Ltd Geosys Infrastructure Pvt.Ltd Greaves Cotton Ltd H & K Rolling Mill Engineers Pvt.Ltd Hess Group 181 177 185 77 8 Regional Conference of the Int'l network of Women Engineers & Scientists (INWISE) Reliance Industries Ltd Relyon Facility Services Roljack Industries Safari Construction Equipments Pvt.Ltd Sastha Pile Foundation Schwing Stetter (India) Pvt. Ltd Shriram Automall India Ltd Sleek Boards (India) Ltd Soilmec Foundation Equipment P.Ltd Spartan Engineering Industries Pvt. Ltd. Speedcrafts Ltd STA Concrete Flooring Solutions Stefon Constructions STP Ltd Strata Geosystems India Pvt.Ltd Techny Chemy Tessco Construction The Masterbuilder Subscription Form The Supreme Industries Ltd Toshniwal Systems & Instruments Pvt.ltd Ultratech Cement Ltd Unisteel Engineering Works United Steel & Structurals Pvt. Ltd Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment Ltd. Varshitha Concrete Technologies Pvt.Ltd Venus Equipments & Tools Pvt.Ltd Vertical & Green Summit (Tavess) Volvo India Pvt. Ltd. Wirtgen India Pvt.Ltd 201 169 185 133
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29 181 27 23 37 25 35 161 101 / 145 181 99 Back inner
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Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt.Ltd 7
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Igloo Tiles Instruct Ironite Co.of India Ltd J.B Engineering & Industrial Co. JBA Concrete Solutions Pvt.Ltd JK Cement Ltd Kalyan Industries Lipi Polymers Pvt.Ltd Maccaferri Marini India Pvt Ltd (Fayat India) MC - Bauchme (I) Pvt Ltd. Metal Tech Constructions Pvt. Ltd. Metecno India Pvt.Ltd MM Castings (P) Ltd Neocrete Technologies Pvt.Ltd Nina Concrete Systems Pvt.Ltd Palfinger Cranes India Pvt.Ltd Pidilite Industries Ltd.( Dr. Fixit) RD Mining Equipments Pvt.Ltd 91 187 149
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2nd wrapprer 79 Front inner -1 Pennar Engineered Building Systems Ltd
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JK Cement Ltd
Contents
Advertisers Index / Classification

Cement J K Cement Ltd UltraTech Cement Ltd. Concrete Batching Plant Apollo Infratech Pvt. Ltd. Aquarius Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Schwing Stetter India Pvt. Ltd. Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment Ltd. Concrete Blockmaking Machine Hess Concrete Machinery India Pvt Ltd. Concrete Pump Aquarius Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Schwing Stetter India Pvt. Ltd. Construction Chemicals Technychemy Nina Concrete Systems Pvt. Ltd. Pidilite Industries Ltd.( Dr. Fixit) STP Ltd. Construction Equipment & Machinery ACE Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd Action Construction Equipment Ltd. Ajax Fiori Engineering (I) Pvt. Ltd. Apollo Infratech Pvt. Ltd. Aquarius Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Case New Holland Construction Equipments (India) Pvt. Ltd. Caterpillar India Cosmos Construction Machineries & Equipment (P) Ltd. Doosan Infracore India Pvt. Ltd. Esquire Cmac Pvt. Ltd. Greaves Cotton Limited Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. J.B Engineering & Industrial Co. Marini India Marque Innovation Pvt. Ltd. Palfinger Cranes India Pvt. Ltd. RD Mining Equipments Pvt. Ltd. Safari Construction Equipments Pvt. Ltd. Spartan Engineering Industries Pvt. Ltd. Speedcrafts Limited Telco Construction Equipment Company Ltd. Toshaniwal System & Instrument Pvt. Ltd. Unisteel Engineering Works Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment Ltd. Venus Equipment and Tools Pvt. Ltd. Volvo India Pvt. Ltd. Wirtgen India 59 155 103 31 Gatefold 57 39 157 115 129 8 7 179 9 33 2nd Wrapper 61 29 35 161 41 173 69 107 121 / 125 49 53 73 95 Front inner -1 99 Gatefold 27 151 31 Gatefold 27 107 21 Back Cover Cranes DCS Trading & Services Pvt Ltd Crushing RD Mining Equipments Pvt. Ltd. Roljack Industries Doors Automatic Gandhi Automation Pvt. Ltd. Excavators ACE Infrastructure Pvt . Ltd Doosan Infracore India Pvt. Ltd. Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. Telco Construction Equipment Company Ltd. Exhibition-Bc India MMI India Pvt. Ltd Facility Services Relyon Facility Services Pvt Ltd. Fibre Reinforced Concrete Nina Concrete Systems Pvt. Ltd. STA Concrete Flooring Solutions Flooring Ironite Company of India Ltd. JBA Concrete Solution Kalyan Industries Neocrete Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Nina Concrete Systems Pvt. Ltd. Reliance Industries Ltd. STA Concrete Flooring Solutions Foundation Gayatri Geotechnic Research Geo Dynamics Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd Sastha Pile Foundation Stefon Constructions Geosynthetics Climax Enviro Geosynthetics P. Ltd. Geosys India Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd. Maccaferri Strata Geosystems (I) Pvt. Ltd. Shriram Automall India Ltd Knuckle Boom Cranes Palfinger Cranes India Pvt. Ltd. Metal Building Metecno India Pvt. Ltd. OEM Suppliers M M Casting (P) Ltd Paving Machinery Venus Equipment and Tools Pvt. Ltd. 121 / 125 127 Front inner -2 2nd Wrapper 177 13 77 83 Back inner 23 181 177 185 181 181 149 111 181 137 95 169 101 /145 95 101 / 145 185 59 115 7 41 195 179 11 61 133 65 Peb Metal Tech Constructions Pvt. Ltd. 171 Metecno India Pvt. Ltd Front inner -2 Pennar Engineered Building Systems Ltd 79 United Steel & Structurals Pvt. Ltd. 93 Pile Testing Gayatri Geotechnic Research Geo Dynamics Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd Sastha Stefon Constructions Pile Vibrators Manufacturers Varshitha Concrete Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Piling Contractors TESSCO Constructions Piling Machinery Soilmec Foundation Equipments Pvt. Ltd. Repair & Rehabilation Pidilite Industries Ltd.( Dr. Fixit) Nina Concrete Systems Pvt. Ltd. STP Ltd. Technychemy Roofing Lipi Polymer Pvt Ltd Metal Tech Constructions Pvt. Ltd. United Steel & Structurals Pvt. Ltd. Roofing Fastners Atul Fastners Ltd. Rubber Doors Sleek Board (India) Ltd. Scaffolding Cosmos Sales Corporation Soil Investigation Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd Gayatri Geotechnic Research Geo Dynamics SASTHA Stefon Constructions Thermal Insulation The Supreme Industries Ltd. Tiles Manufacturers Igloo Tiles TMT-Technology Suppliers H & K Rolling Mills Engineering Pvt. Ltd. Waterproofing Pidilite Industries Ltd.( Dr. Fixit) Coating & Foaming Inc MC - Bauchme (I) Pvt Ltd. Nina Concrete Systems Pvt. Ltd. STP Ltd. Technychemy Front inner -1 143 141 95 99 73 185 181 177 181 181 43 91 19 87 171 93 163 37 165 Front inner -1 95 99 73 109 185 25 181 177 185 181 181
Hirers-Construction Equipment and Machinery
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Shriram Automall India Ltd
Shriram Automall India Ltd
News & Events
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
the heat of the opposition due to the economic slowdown has also got to face a situation where in funding is hard to come by for infrastructure projects. It is in this scenario that asphalt recycling has emerged as a major boon in recent times. The country is witnessing the entry of a slew of global players offering asphalt recycling equipment.Cold milling machines that can dig up existing roads and recycle them , in some instances, in just a single pass, are now making their increasing appearance on Indian roads. There have been instances when using ride-on power trowels vast stretches of flooring has been completed within a day too. With the demand for these mean machines increasing, several leading global manufacturers are reportedly eyeing entering the Indian market. Several manufacturers have also come up with asphalt mix plants that are especially meant for recycling asphalt. With the bidding process for road and highway projects picking up steam, several global manufacturers could be entering the lucrative Indian market in the near future.
Ride on Power Trowels now the Choice of Flooring Contractors

The variety of construction equipment that has made a mark for itself in India over the last decade or so is truly amazing. From what started as a trickle at the turn of this century, today there are certain types of equipment without which no construction site is imaginable. Ride on power trowels are a good example for machines that are virtually omnipresent in construction sites these days. Ride-on power trowels have come as a boon to contractors, who are almost always under pressure to execute projects on time, apart from ensuring that the project costs don't overshoot. This is where ride-on power trolleys have come in handy for them for they allow for both.
Massive 795 F AC Packs a Punch in Mining Sites
With the Indian government pitching in for continued growth of the mining sector, the day could not be far away when such monsters would become part and parcel of the mining sites in the country.
India could emerge as Manufacturing Hub for Demolition Attachments

The growing construction equipment industry in India has given fillip to several other ancillary industries in the country. For example, demolition attachments is a field where the country could soon become a key global hub. India has emerged as an important destination for re-engineering in recent times and has been in fact able to give even the Chinese a run for their money in the field. The country's large pool of qualified engineers has meant that there has been a spurt as far as product design and incorporation of the latest technologies, whether indigenous or imported goes.
India becoming a Key Market for Asphalt Recycling Equipment
The race among manufacturers to be quite literally one up on another has never been more obvious than in the case of mining dump trucks. The size of these mean machines seems to be getting more and more mind bogging by the day. Take the case of the monstrous 795 F AC from industry leader Caterpillar. These monsters can dwarf even the biggest of trucks and can carry huge amounts of loads with ease. Equipped with a spacious cab that is almost like sitting on a two-storied building, the sophisticated and yet easy to operate panels give a clear idea to the operator about the various functions of the truck.
With the continued emphasis on road and highway projects, India is fast emerging as one of the key global markets for asphalt recycling equipment. Scores of companies are said to be eyeing the rapidly growing Indian market. The government, which is already facing
What this has meant is that the country has emerged as hub for construction equipment components and attachments. With the realty sector reeling under the impact of rising property prices, there has been a spurt in redevelopment projects off late which augers well for the demolition equipment suppliers.
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Trans harbour Link Project in Mumbai may be Delayed
Karnataka is reportedly mulling offering land in Bagalkot or Yadgiri districts for setting up a steel plant. The South Korean steel giant Posco has been in talks with the state government for setting up a steel plant in the state for quite some time now. The state government is said to be scouting for land in these two places for setting up of the 6 million tonne per annum steel plant. It must be noted here that in places including Halligudi, Gadag district, the local populace had protested against the steel major setting up a plant in the region. In such a scenario the latest moves of the Karnataka government are being keenly watched by the industry big wigs. Posco had already burnt its hand with its project in Odisha not taking off as expected due to widespread protests that drew national attention. addressing the Chief Ministers of North Eastern States in a special meeting called to evolve strategies to accelerate development. The Chief Ministers present in the meeting included Mr.TarunGogoi, Chief Minister, Assam, Mr.O.Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur, Mr.Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister, Sikkim, Mr.Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister, Meghalaya, Mr. Nabam Tuki, Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Lal Thanhawla, Chief Minister, Mizoram and Mr.Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister, Nagaland. The North Eastern State of Tripura was represented by its Finance Minister Mr. Badal Choudhary. Addressing the Chief Ministers, the minister said that the Centre is aware of the special issues of the region, including a low base to mobilize resources and a geographical terrain that created challenges for communication and infrastructure development. He said that based on an appreciation of these challenges, the Central Government had accorded special category status to North Eastern States, so as to assist them in their efforts to raise their economies to the level of other States.
The much hyped Mumbai Trans harbour Sea Link (MTHL) project may be once again delayed due to it not getting the necessary green nod. The National Green Tribunal has recently restrained civic body MMRDA from taking any decision on the project without getting prior consent. The news comes as a disappointment to all those who were awaiting expedition of the project construction, since it could make a significant difference in reducing traffic snarls in the city. The tribunal said, We feel that substantial questions relating to environment are involved in the case, which needs to be considered, on the already much delayed ` 8, 800 cr project. The project has been inordinately delayed for well over two decades now. It remains to be seen whether MMRDA on its part makes any efforts towards expediting the clearance process in order to begin construction any time in the near future.
FM assures support to North Eastern States to tackle Infrastructure Problems
Planning Commission Agrees to Provide ` 1500 cr for Developing Infrastructure in Smaller Towns
The Union Rural Development Minister, Mr.Jairam Ramesh has said the Planning Commission has agreed to provide `1500 cr in the 12th Five Year plan for developing infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing areas known as 'census' towns in the new versions of PURA ( Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas). The minister while addressing the media said that the number of Census Towns in India has increased from 1,362 in 2001 to 3,894 in 2011, while the number of villages and the statutory towns have remained the same. A Census town is described as a town
Karnataka Offers Land for Steel Plant

The Union Finance Minister Mr.Pranab Mukherjee has said that the Centre is committed to the development of the North Eastern States and would continue to support the State Governments in their development endeavours. The Finance called upon the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States to participate in making collective efforts with the Centre to address economic and financial challenges. An official statement from the ministry said that Mr.Pranab Mukherjee was
With competition among the various southern states intensifying when it comes to wooing industrial investment,
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schemes in Kerala in February this year under PURA 2.0, which is different from PURA 1.0, conceived by the former President DrA.P .J.Abdul Kalam as that one principally related to knowledge connectivity. The report along with the latest data released by the Central Statistics Office that showed industrial output had risen only just 0.1% compared to the figure of 5.3 % last year, had put the government on the back foot, as the government had to take the brunt of opposition criticism for an increasingly fragile economic situation. What added to the ire of the opposition was the dismissal of the S & P report by the Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee who said that there were signs that a turnaround was in the corner. Perhaps the most stringent criticism came from Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi , who reportedly said that the present GDP growth rate was the lowest in nine years in a quarter. He reportedly asked, With monsoons deficient till now, where are we heading towards as a nation? The situation could get tougher for the government in the coming days since it will also need consensus of the opposition in order to carry forward further reforms for putting the economy back on track.
Political Battle over Economic Slowdown Continues after S & P Report
having more than 5,000 populations with a density of 400 people per square kilometer and where the male population engaged in non-agricultural activities is more than 75 percent. Mr.Ramesh said that 10 to 15 projects will be taken up this year in the states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in a public-private partnership mode to build and improve upon the physical infrastructure. Expression of Interest for the private parties has already been notified and the private companies in consultation with Gram Panchayats, which will be the nodal agency, can take up projects like sanitation, water supply, street lighting, roads and solid and liquid waste management on user-charges basis in the census towns. Each project is likely to cost about Rs. 150 cr with Rural Development Ministry providing a grant of ` 40 to 50 cr; ` 70 to 80 cr will be mobilized by ongoing central schemes, while the private sector is expected to bring in about ` 20 cr. The private company in consultation with the Gram Panchayat will get the lease of 10 years for the physical infrastructure to be developed in such towns to recover the investment. The minister said two projects each in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh and one each in Puducherry and Uttarakhand are awaiting final approval. The Ministry had already launched two such The aftermath of the recent Standard and Poor report, that saw the rating agency stating that political roadblocks to economy policymaking could cause the country the first among the BRIC to lose investment grade rating.
India Invites Brazilian Investment in Infrastructure Sector

The Union Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Mr.Anand Sharma had a ministerial dialogue with his Brazilian counterpart, Mr.Fernando Pimentel, the country's Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade in Brasilia to discuss about areas of cooperation between the two countries. A recent statement from the Ministry of Commerce said that Mr.Anand Sharma invited the Brazilian investment in recently launched National Infrastructure and Manufacturing Special Economic Zone as well as in the food processing industries. Both sides agreed that infrastructure was one area in which lot of opportunities existed on both sides for the companies to participate in. The Union Minister has been accompanied by a pharma delegation of 15 top Indian companies coordinated by Pharmexil. During the Ministerial dialogue, both sides agreed that the establishment of a Working Group in the Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences would be a welcome step towards furthering the cooperation between India and Brazil in this area. Brazil expressed keen interest in collaboration with India in joint production of essential drugs for fighting HIV Aids, malaria, etc.
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and Trade) scheme notified 144 thermal power stations to a specific target for fuel consumption reduction. The measures would make them energy efficiency by March 2015. This way BEE expects to that these thermal power stations will be able to save ` 3,000 crore in three years' time. According to Mr.Ajay Mathur, Director General, BEE, one fourth of the power capacity needs to be upgraded in order to be able to ensure that the target is met.
POWER
18000 MW is the Capacity Addition Target for 2012-13
Several parts of the country have been facing a tough time when it comes to the power situation. The situation is expected to ease somewhat with the government setting an ambitious target of 18000 MW (17,957 MW to be precise) as target for 2012-13 The target was set during the Prime Minister's recent meeting with key infrastructure ministries. The capacity addition target for the year also includes 2000 MW to be added by the Kudankulam atomic power project. The power generation target has been set at 930 billion units, which is an increase of 6.2%. Transmission is another key area that
was the centre of focus during the meeting. The ministry of power is increasingly laying transmission lines with higher voltage (765 KV in place of 400 KV) and consequently increasing transmission capacity per kilometer.
PM Intervenes to Remove Fears over Hydel Projects
It remains to be seen how successful the measures are and whether any other sector too introduces such measures in the near future.
'anti-bacterial' properties that have been found in the water of the Ganges. The Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, has now intervened in the matter and has deputed an official emissary to meet Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand for further discussions on the issue. There have been fears expressed from several quarters about possible protests erupting over the issue in the region. The once in 12 years Maha kumbhmela is also slated to be held on the banks of the rivers next year and this had led to tension building up over the matter. It remains to be seen as to how the government tackles the tricky situation given the fact that it has to depend on increasing the number of hydel power projects to tackle the dicey power situation in the country.
Agartala to Generate Power from Plastic

The acute power crisis that is being faced by several states has meant that novel as well as technologically advanced methods of power generation are being thought out by state governments. The Tripura state government has plans to generate electricity from plastic. The
Not a day seems to pass without some kind of controversial news about hydel projects over Ganga. With Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand of the Ganga Seva Abhiyanam claiming that the river will lose its medicinal properties if hydel power projects were built on it, there had been apprehensions about major protests erupting in the northern part of the country. The National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) had recently claimd that there were certain unique
Energy Efficiency Measures Could Save ` 3,000 cr for Thermal Power Stations
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has under its PAT (Perform, Achieve,
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Agartala-based non-government research organization ARPAN has planned to set up a plasma gasification plant for converting Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), including thin plastic bags into electricity. According to the research organizations Vice-President, Mr.D.Das Choudhury, the agenda has already been set for turning municipal waste into wealth. The success of the scheme could lead other civic authorities in the country to try out similar methods.
Elevated Rail Corridor to be awarded in FY 2012-13

The government has set some stiff targets for key infrastructure ministries in a recent meeting. Among the targets include the ones meant for PPP projects of the railways. earlier taken this decision which was later on ratified by the state cabinet. The MoUs were due for renewable on June 10, 2012. Although the project developers had sought time ranging from six months to 24 months, the cabinet has allowed for a maximum time frame of 18 months. Uttar Pradesh is banking on these power projects to bail it out of the tight corner that it finds itself in when it comes to power generation facilities. The state is also reportedly planning giving a push to renewable energy projects in a big way in the near future. An official statement from the PMO said that the Dedicated Freight Corridor, PPP project for the Sonnagar- Dankuni stretch will be awarded during the financial year. Another interesting announcement is the elevated rail corridor project in Mumbai with a total investment of ` 20, 000 crore that has been again targeted for award in FY 2012-13.
Nine Power Projects Allowed Grace Period in UP

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has allowed nine pending power projects a grace period of 18 months. The MoUs for the power projects were signed during the earlier Mayawati regime. The Energy Task Force of the state had
RAILWAYS
Karnataka Ups the Ante for Bullet Trains

The statement also added that the financial year will also see the concessions for two locomotive manufacturing units at Madhepura and Marhowra being awarded. Similarly, the year will also see the proposal and approach for a high speed corridor from Mumbai to Ahmedabad being finalized.
PORTS & DAMS

While even the Central government has been silent on the issue of bullet trains, Karnataka seems to have upped the ante on its own. The state has plans to launch an ambitious network of bullet trains connecting cities such as Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, and Gulbarga. T h e s t a t e I n d u s t r y M i n i s t e r, Mr.Murugesh Nirani has reportedly stated that the state government is in talks with Japanese experts for building the high speed train network in the state. The state government has been adopting the PPP model for development of infrastructure across the state. There is immense competition among the southern neighbours to attract investment into the infrastructure sector in recent times.
Elevated Rail Corridor to be awarded in FY 2012-13

India's port sector which was till recently, growing at a sluggish pace is all set to gain some momentum. The recent targets set for the sector indicate a total of 42 port projects for FY 2012-13. The value of the projects will be `14,500 cr and a capacity of 244 MTPA. This is
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cabinet meeting which was presided over the Chief Minister, Mr.Nitish Kumar. The road project would be spread over 7 districts of the state and is scheduled for completion by 2015-16. While 46.7 percent of the cost of the project would be borne by the central government, the rest 53.3 percent would be borne by the state government for the project. Transport System. Dr.Joshi emphasized that Canadian expertise in these areas will enable India to achieve the goal through enhanced cooperation, technology transfer and capacity building programmes under the MoU signed between India and Canada. Dr. Joshi informed that the objectives of India's plans for adopting the Intelligent Transport System are manifold which include collation, development and management of a huge networked and compatible database on various aspects of transport, road infrastructure and regulatory aspects of transport logistics like national register for standardized database of all registered vehicles, data on driving licenses and permits issued, road safety related data etc. with intelligent and dynamic user interface with various agencies including enforcement agencies. The Conference was attended by Ministers of various Governments, industry representatives, non-government organizations, and academic institutions. The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways has highlighted plans for the development and modernization of national highways and expressways requiring an investment of about more than US $ 1 trillion for financing the intended infrastructure. An official statement from the ministry said quoted the minister stating that the country is looking forward for extensive use of information technology to adopt 'Intelligent Transport System 'across the country. The Minister was addressing the First Plenary Session of the 15th Annual Conference Organized by the ITSCanada and the Indo-Canada Business Council on the theme, 'Transportation in Transition towards a New Digital Economy' in Quebec, Canada. Dr.Joshi is on an official visit to the country on the invitation from Mr. Denis Label, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communication, and Government of Canada from 10-13 June, 2012. The Minister acknowledged that India has to travel a long distance before coming up with a full fledged Intelligent
three times what was achieved last year. The targets set during a meeting between the Prime Minister and key infrastructure ministries also have plans for two brand new major ports to be taken up during the year. Both these projects are expected to be in the eastern coast of the country, in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The projects will involve a total investment of 20,500 cr for a capacity of 116 MTPA. The total capacity that will be awarded during FY 2012-13 will be 360 MTPA involving a projected investment of `35,000 crore. With fund inflow expected to ease by the end of this year, the port sector looks like headed for a smooth sail in the near future.
Dr. C. P . Joshi Highlights Plans for Development and Modernization of National Highways
ROADS
Bihar Plans Major Road Project on Nepal Border
Minister Reviews Construction of Bogibeel Rail-cumRoad Bridge
An amount of ` 2, 552.86 cr has been sanctioned by the Bihar state government for the construction of a road on the Indo-Nepal border. The 552.3 km two-lane road would run parallel to the East-West Corridor. According to Mr.Ravikant, Principal Secretary (Cabinet Coordination and Secretariat), the decision was taken at a
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Paban Singh Ghatowar has held a review meeting of the Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge with senior officials of the North Frontier Railways. The Minister also inaugurated a new flyover at Gadapani in Dibrugarh district on June 10th, 2012. The rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra river at
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News & Events
INFRASTRUCTURE
Bogibeel has been declared a National Project. The Bogibeel National Project is expected to be completed by March 2015 at an expected cost of ` 3230.01 crore. The expenditure incurred up to March, 2011 is ` 2162.02 crore. It is expected that there would be an increase in involvement and participation from the Canadian industry in India's ambitious National Highways and the Expressways Development Project. It is sealing a long-standing bilateral relationship and providing for cooperation between the two countries in the roads and road transportation sector. tional zed at Delhi and Chennai in FY 13. In the meeting it also decided that by the end of July 2012, additional PPP projects would be finalized for 10-12 existing airports and for 10-12 Greenfield airport projects. These projects would be awarded during the year.
India and Canada Sign MoU on Infrastructure Development, Operation & Maintenance of Roads
AIR PORTS
Land for Expansion of Civil Air Terminal in Chandigarh Airport
Boost to Airport Projects

The government has come out with a plan for developing airport projects during the 12th Five Year Plan period. In a recent meeting between ministers of key ministries along with the Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, several key targets were set for the development of civil aviation infrastructure in the country. India has signed a MoU with Canada on infrastructure development, operation and maintenance of roads. Dr. C.P . Joshi, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Mr. Denis Label, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communication, Government of Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Canada in Cubec, Canada, said an official statement from the ministry. The MoU will facilitate sharing and exchange of knowledge and technical expertise in the areas of infrastructure development, operation, and maintenance of roads and Intelligent Transport System etc. India has shifted focus towards the Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) mode for undertaking development and upgradation of national highways network across the country as also development of express-ways which are going to be access-controlled with all modern construction technology, Information Technology, including Electronic Toll Collection System. One of the targets is the award of three new Greenfield airport projects in FY 13 . These will be at Navi Mumbai, Goa, and Kannur. Work on the Itanagar airport would be commenced by the AAI, the official statement from the PMO added. The total investment on AAI projects will be ` 2100 crore. New international airports have been targeted in 3 or 4 of the locations from amongst,Lucknow, Varanasi, Coimbatore, Trichy, and Gaya. The statement further added that an airline hub policy would be finalized and hubs would be operaThe Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence for mutual exchange of 2.50 acres of land between the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Indian Air Force (IAF) under Ministry of Defence for expansion of civil air terminal at Chandigarh Airport. A government statement released on the occasion said that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has plans to expand Chandigarh Airport in order to augment air services from Chandigarh airport. However, as the AAI does not have land to provide to the IAF which is required for any transfer of defence land, the union territory administration undertook to transfer an equal value of land at Sector 31-D at Chandigarh to the IAF. This mutual exchange was approved by the Cabinet. The statement further added that the defence land is to be transferred to the Administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on a permanent basis in lieu of an equal extent of land being transferred to the IAF.
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Sleek Boards (India) Ltd
News & Events
POLICY
the scheme, houses would be provided free of cost to around 4,000 urban poor. A provision of `100 crore has been made for the scheme under the state government's budget for 2012-13. The bodies that will be overseeing the implementation of the scheme would be the Urban Development Department and the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA).
National Manufacturing Policy nearer to Reality
Goa Mining Policy could be in Place Soon
In a big push to concretize the operational contours of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), the Government has established a Manufacturing Industry Promotion Board (MIPB) for matters pertaining to the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy. The Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Mr.Anand Sharma will head the board, said an official statement from the ministry. Along with the MIPB the Government has also notified Board of Approval, Green Manufacturing Committee, and High Level Committee. The Notifications were signed on 1st June, 2012. The key task of the board will be to periodically review the overall situation of the manufacturing sector in the country. The Board will also review the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy in general and the development of NIMZs, wherever approved, in particular. High Level inter-ministerial nature of the board will enable it to resolve co-ordination issues among central ministries on the one hand and state governments and central ministries on the other. The statement further added that the policy aims to create world class industrial infrastructure, a conducive business environment, an ecosystem for technological innovation especially in the domain of green manufacturing, institutions for industry relevant skill upgradation, and mechanisms for easy access to finance for entrepreneurs.
The much talked about Goa mining policy could be placed before the state assembly for approval later this month. Mining activities in the state had been generating a lot of controversies off late and this is the reason why the mining policy is much eagerly awaited. The Chief Minister of the state, Mr.Manohar Parrikar has meanwhile decided to hold a high level meeting with top officials to deliberate on the new mining policy. The drafting of the mining policy is expected to begin after June 15. According to industry analysts the policy could be ready by the time the new mining season on the state commences. Goa exports around 85% of its iron ore to neighbouring China. It also exports iron ore to the Middle-East, South Korea, Europe, and Japan.
New Housing Scheme for Urban Poor in UP Planned

The Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has announced plans for a new housing scheme for the urban poor. The plan called 'Asra' will be launched in place of the 'Kanshiram ShahriGaribAwasYojana' of the earlier Mayawati regime.In the first phase of
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Caterpillar India Pvt.Ltd
News & Events
CORPORATE
L & T IDPL Bids Successfully for Country's Longest Four-Lane Highway Suzlon Announces New Low-Wind Turbine with up to 29% Increased Output NLC Records Highest Ever Profit
L & T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited (L & T IDPL) has announced that it has successfully bid for developing two contiguous road projects of length 484 km 4-lane road at a cost of approximately Rs.4800 crore. Separate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), subsidiaries of L & T IDPL signed concession agreements with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Both the projects have concession period of 20 years, including a construction period of 30 months. The two road sections are part of NH 6 connecting Surat to Kolkata and are on prominent East-West connector. The projects are the longest stretches to be offered in Maharashtra on BuildOperate-Transfer (BOT) basis. NH6 is also called the Great Eastern Road and passes through mineral rich states like Orissa and Chattisgarh and industrial states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. The stretches extend from Amravati to Jalgaon (275 km, Project 1) and Jalgaon to Maharashtra, Gujarat border near Surat (209 km, Project 2). Currently, the road is in two- lane configuration and has to be widened to fourlanes along with other facilities like bypasses, flyovers, over bridges, across all railway level crossings, underpasses, bridges, toll plazas, etc. The project will be built to the latest safety standards and will have facilities like crash barriers, guard rails, bus shelters, ambulance, crane services, etc. The projects will be built by the construction arm of L & T as EPC contractors. The project should offer seamless, safer and faster commute between places like Surat, Dhule, Nagpur, etc and shall pave way for development in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra
Suzlon Group, the world's fifth largest wind turbine manufacturer has announced the launch of its newest wind turbine- the S111- 2.1 MW machine designed for low wind speed sites. The turbine featuring a rotor diameter of 111 meters and a swept area of more than 9,500 square meters, the S111 is the latest generation of Suzlon's 2.1 MW fleet and one of the highest-yielding IEC Class III wind turbine in any comparable class machine, the company said in a recent press release. Announcing the launch of the new product at 'Windpower 2012' in Atlanta, Mr.Tulsi Tanti, Chairman of the Suzlon Group said, We are extremely pleased to introduce the S111 wind turbine. This new turbine builds on our extensive experience operating over 2,500 units of our S88, S95, and S97, 2.1 MW turbine platforms around the world. With the industry increasingly looking to lower wind speed sites, the S111 represents a major step forward in our strategy to create products that deliver ever increasing output from lower wind speeds, delivering solutions that precisely fit our customers need. We believe the S111 will be a market defining product. Giving the North American perspective, Mr.Duncan Koerbel, Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation's Interim CEO and Global Head of OMS added, In today's ultra-competitive North American PPA market, our customers need a higher efficiency machine that can generate more megawatts at the lowest possible cost per kWh. We believe S111 meets those needs. The company also introduced its improved IEC Class II S95 -2.1 MW turbine with an improved power curve offering an additional two percent performance advantage on the occasion.
At a Chennai press conference, Neyveli Lignite Corporation CMD, A R Ansari announced a record performance for his public sector Company, with an alltime high in profit, power generation and lignite excavation, during the financial year 2011-2012. NLC earned a net profit of ` 1411.33 crore, an increase in growth of 8.7 % from the last financial year. This yearly growth has been un-precedented in all its years since 1956. A dividend of 28% has been declared. Lignite production was recorded at 245.91 lakh tonne, an increase of 6.25 % over the previous fiscal. Power generation showed a record growth of 5.08 % with 18788.59 million units, where its export peaked a high with 5.60 % growth over last year, with 15810.27 million units. Further, the overburden removal from the mines measured 1651.47 cubic LM, the highest since commencement of operations. With capacity addition at Barsingar thermal power plant, the Company's power generation capacity has increased from 2490 MW to 2740 MW. Nature-friendly power projects have found favour this year, with a 10 MW solar PV power to start soon at Neyveli, while a wind-powered project hopes to generate 50 MW.
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Telcon Construction Equipment Company Ltd
News & Events
SUSTAINABILITY
Solar Cells that Produce Electricity Underwater
While there is no doubting the rapid strides that has been made in the field of solar power generation, a latest research initiative has taken the process one step ahead. Scientists at the US Naval Research laboratory have successfully used solar cells to generate electricity underwater. The scientists used gallium indium phospide solar cells to generate electricity underwater. Till now solar photovoltaic panels had to be placed on the surface of water in the cheaper labour that the country is now famous for globally. Chinese institutional lenders have lent at least US$ 43 billion in credit to renewable energy companies according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It remains to be seen as to what is the strategy adopted by Indian manufacturers to tackle the Chinese onslaught. order to power any device underwater using solar power. Further research is on in the field in order to determine whether the process can be made a commercially viable option.
Solar Panels Planned at Delhi Metro Stations
New Cell to be set up for Attracting Renewable Energy Investment
Solar Equipment Makers Feel Chinese Heat

The recent decision by the US government to raise import duty on certain types of Chinese equipment used in the renewable energy industry could well be finding echoes in the Indian context. Indian manufacturers of solar equipment are finding it tough to compete with Chinese imports. According to Mr.S.Venkataramani, General Secretary of the Solar Manufacturers' Association, China is primarily responsible for playing havoc with the economics of this industry around the world.
An exclusive cell for attracting investments in the renewable energy sector is among the plans of the Indian government.The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the government plans to invest substantially in renewable energy generation. The government plans to invest US$ 25 billion in solar power, US $ 3 billion each in hydro and biomass and US$ 19 billion in wind energy projects. The ministers asked global investors while addressing a gathering in London to invest in the Indian renewable energy sector. He said that the investment was needed for supporting India's quest for an environmentally sustainable growth path.
There have been allegations globally about the strategy adopted by Chinese manufacturers, who leverage the benefits of subsidies and price their products low. Chinese solar panel equipment makers for example get incentives for exports, apart from other sops such as free power and land for setting up the manufacturing unit. This is apart from
It is now the turn of the Delhi Metro stations to go green. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is planning to install solar panels in some of its stations.The plan is in consultation with the Delhi Government. The solar panels will be installed in the Noida Sector-21 and Karkardooma metro stations, apart from the Yamuna Bank metro depot. The DMRC would plan further based on the success of the project at these stations. Several metros around the world are trying to harness the potential of sunlight as part of their sustainability initiatives. Space available on elevated metro routes is for example considered ideal for placement of solar panels.
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The Supreme Industries Ltd
Road Infrastructure Analysis
Headed for a Period of Steady Growth and Consolidation

Indian Road Sector
he Indian road sector has been going through its bumpiest ride in the past five years. Just as the monumental achievement of the Golden Quadrilateral program was sinking in, there came more good news in the form of announcement of several more ambitious road and highway projects. It was during this time that the ambitious 20 km per day program began to do the rounds in cabinet meetings. Building a network of world-class roads was high on the agenda of the UPA government and the 20 km per day slogan also came in handy from the point of view of
attracting voters at the political turnstiles. Then came the dampener, in the form of global economic uncertainties. This was followed by a phase of recovery during 2010-11 and just as everyone was heaving a sigh of relief and believing that things have turned hunky-dory came the present, crippling phase of economic slowdown, throwing the road sector into further confusion. However, a closer look reveals several positives that have happened in the recent past. There had been a definite spurt in award of road and highway projects during 2011-12. According to the Union Minister of Road
Transport & Highways, Dr. C.P . Joshi, in all 7,957 km in 62 projects was awarded during FY 2011-12. This comprises of 6,491 by the National Highways Authority of India (49 projects) and 1,466 km (13 projects) by the ministry through state agencies. This achievement according to the minister is about 54 percent better than the best ever which was in the preceding year 2010-11 in which 5,058 km were awarded by NHAI and 108 km by the ministry through state agencies. Another key highlight was the fact that out of the 49 bids awarded by NHAI, 32 fetched premium. The total
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premium offered during the financial year was about ` 3,000 crore. In the Ministry out of 13 projects awarded 5 fetched premium of a total of ` 38 crore. Since the premium is payable yearly increasing by 5% every year, the Net Present Value (NPV) of the total premium offered is about ` 30,400 crore. The total project cost of the 62 projects awarded in FY 2011-12 is about ` 68,000 crore, which is the highest ever and substantially higher than the best ever. One area where marked improvement has been visible is in that of the bidding process, which has got far more streamlined in the past year or so. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has personally been taking keen interest in the progress of road projects, realizing the overall impact that they could have on the economy. It is necessary to demonstrate that the award, construction and operation of highways projects is based on a fair and transparent approach which eliminates any suspicion of favouritism or what might be described as crony capitalism, was how he put across his views on the way forward. The continued thrust to highway projects was also evident in the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjees budget presentation. While presenting the Budget for 2012-13 the Finance Minister
It is necessary to demonstrate that the award, construction and operation of highways projects is based on a fair and transparent approach which eliminates any suspicion of favouritism or what might be described as crony capitalism
Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister of India
had proposed a target of covering a length of 8,800 km under NHDP next year and also announced the allocation of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has been enhanced by 14 percent to ` 25,360 crore in 2012-13. These two important points that give an insight into the governments thinking about how crucial are highway projects, from the point of view of infrastructure development, as well as from the point of view of reviving the economy. The road sector got another boost recently in the
The Indian road sector finds itself in a cross-road from where only tough policy decisions can take it in the right direction
www.masterbuilder.co.in The Masterbuilder - June 2012
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aftermath of the latest review meeting headed by the Prime Minister with various key ministries for setting targets for infrastructure development in FY 2012-13, held on June 6th, 2012. It was decided during the meeting that the total road length to be awarded in FY 12-13 will be 9,500 km, which is an increase of 18.7 % over last year. The investment will also rise by 73.6%. Similalry, it was also targeted during the meeting that 4,360 km of roads will be awarded for maintenance under the OMT (Operate, Maintain, Transfer) system for the first time.
To ease access of credit to infrastructure projects, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) has put in place a structure for credit enhancement and take-out finance. A consortium for direct lending and grant of in-principle approval to developers before the submission of bids for PPP projects has also been created
Recent measures including IDFs and various budgetary proposals have helped in improving investor confidence
Adding to the pressure was delayed execution of projects and the everrising commodity prices. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been on its part encouraging projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model in recent times. Developers had been encouraged to take projects on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Weaker capital markets
and the fact that it involved the equity component, which is so very crucial in BOT projects, meant added pressure, and a significant slowdown in the bidding process Q3 FY 2012. Fortunately for the road sector, a silver lining shone brightly on the horizon in the form of a policy initiative-Infrastructure Development Funds (IDFs), a pro-posal that was mooted by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee
Pranab Mukherjee
Union Finance Minister, Government of India
Fund Crunch Eases While factors such as land acquisition and clearances have contributed in a big way in slowing down the pace of progress of road projects, perhaps the biggest hurdle experienced by developers in recent times has been that of reduced availability of funds. While major developers who already had a portfolio of operational toll road projects were able to absorb the impact of higher interest rates to at least an extent, it was the newer players who were driven to their wits end, trying to find ways and means for financial closure of projects.
Apart from new road projects, widening of existing roads presents a huge opportunity for all the stakeholders in the road sector
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Volvo India Pvt. Ltd.
Land acquisition is one of the factors contributing to delay in implementation of some projects under NHDP
Dr. C.P. Joshi

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India
during his 2011-12 budget speech, and which turned into a reality, a few days before his budget speech for 2012-13. It was during March 2012 that the country saw its first IDF being launched amidst heightened expectations. Four top financial institutions, Bank of Baroda (BoB), ICICI Bank, LIC and Citi Financial came together to form the US$ 2 billion (appx ` 10,000 crore) IDF to finance infrastructure projects in the country. While ICICI Bank, the sponsor of the joint venture, will hold 31 per cent equity in the IDF followed by Bank of Baroda (30 per cent), Citi Financial (29
per cent), and LIC (10 per cent). ICICI Bank had already received the Reserve Bank's in-principle nod to set up the IDF through the NBFC (non-banking financial company) route. The launch of the IDF has set the ball rolling for further similar initiatives that could pull the road sector out of the sluggish growth pattern that is being presently witnessed. It has also sent out a positive signal to all the stakeholders in the road sector, including developers, contractors, and road construction equipment manufacturers, among others, that things are after all not as gloomy as it was perceived earlier and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Another strong positive signal to emanate recently was the assurance given by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee that in order To ease access of credit to infrastructure projects, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) has put in place a structure for credit enhancement and take-out finance. A consortium for direct lending and grant of in-principle approval to developers before the submission of bids for PPP projects has also been created, during his budget speech in March 2012. All these developments have been able to revive investor confidence in the road
The biggest challenge for the road sector is land acquisition. This single factor is primarily responsible for the delay in execution
Ramesh Palagiri
Managing Director, Wirtgen India
sector going into the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). The Land Acquisition Hurdle One of the major stumbling blocks for the road sector has been the land acquisition issue. It is something that the government needs to address on an urgent basis, since it affects almost every segment of infrastructure development. The damage caused by the issue can be gauged from the fact that out of around 200 projects worth a reported ` 15,000 crore have been stalled in various parts of the country. The issue was brought into sharp focus in the Lok Sabha recently when the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Dr.C.P .Joshi told the house that land acquisition is one of the factors contributing to delay in implementation of some projects under NHDP . The ministers view are shared by almost every stakeholder in the road sector, a good example being Mr. Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director, Wirtgen India, a leading player in the road building machinery industry, mentioned during an earlier interaction with The Masterbuilder, that, The biggest challenge for the road sector is land acquisition. This single factor is primarily responsible for the delay in execution. There are however some positive signals coming through in the recent past with the government trying to arrive at a consensus with various other political entities for the tabling of a strong land acquisition bill in the near future.
The road construction equipment is expected to continue in its growth path
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The road construction sector in India has witnessed increased mechanization with the equipment market currently growing at 5-10 percent. The current volume of road construction equipment used every year is 2500 machines and there is a growing use of equipment such as pavers and compactors. Some of the other latest equipment gaining popularity is higher capacity paver finishers, compactors, and bitumen pressure distributors
mechanization with the equipment market currently growing at 5-10 percent. The current volume of road construction equipment used every year is 2500 machines and there is a growing use of equipment such as pavers and compactors. Some of the other latest equipment gaining popularity is - higher capacity paver finishers, compactors, and bitumen pressure distributors. The renewed impetus being provided to road projects comes as good news for road construction equipment suppliers. The Finance Minister during his budget speech had announced the extension of full exemption from import duty on specified equipment imported for road construction by contractors of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI and State Government to contracts awarded by the Metropolitan Development Authorities. He further added that tunnel boring machines and parts of
their assembly are also covered under this exemption and that he proposed to allow their import free of duty without end-use condition. With the latest review meeting of the key infrastructure ministries setting a target of over 9000 km to be awarded during FY 2012-13, apart from award of maintenance contracts under the OMT system for over 4000 km of roads, things are looking up for the road construction equipment industry. Adding to the positive sentiment is another key emerging market-recycled road. It is not surprising that leading manufacturers have been making a beeline for India with products including cold milling machines and asphalt mix plants that are especially designed for using recycled asphalt (RAP) in recent times. The Indian road construction equipment market has evolved from being that of being strictly price-driven to one that is
A.M.Muralidharan
Managing Director, Volvo India Pvt Ltd
National Highways Development Project Golden Quadrilateral
Optimistic Outlook One of the silent heroes of the road and highway revolution in India over the last decade has been the road construction equipment industry. A quite revolution was heralded in a way with the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which set the tone for several key road projects in the country. Latest road construction equipment made its entry in a big way into the country and there was quite literally no looking back. The challenges of shortage of labour, road projects adhering to strict quality standards and contractors to stick to project guidelines, all in a way contributed to the rise of the road construction equipment industry. Industry experts have been optimistic about the prospects of the road sector. Mr.A.M.Muralidharan, Managing Director, Volvo India Pvt Ltd, a key player in the road construction market segment, when quizzed on the prospects for the sector observed, The road construction sector in India has witnessed increased
India's golden quadrilateral
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now driven by value additions and technology, a transition explaining which, Mr. Blesson Varghese, Managing Director, Marini India, a leading player in the field of asphalt mix plants, pointed out, Smart pavement professionals & contractors do not just focus on the now and today, but they always make decisions with an eye on the future. A plant with 10 % downtime, could cost a customer, yearly losses much more than the investment made on the plant itself, before adding, Thats one reason why we never compromise on quality and our plants clock over 98 % uptime in the market. We therefore focus on reducing this cost by guaranteeing a product with unhindered productivity and uptime. The battle on the turf is now being fought on these two key planks. The increased emphasis on sustainability , apart from the pressure to adhere to strict budgets in this day and age of economic uncertainties, plus the compulsion to adhere to quality standards, have meant that India continues to be one of the key global markets for road construction equipment. Positive Undercurrents The government had for the year 2011-12, announced taxfree bonds for ` 30,000 crore for financing infrastructure projects. For 2012-13, it has
Smart pavement professionals & contractors do not just focus on the now and today, but they always make decisions with an eye on the future. A plant with 10 % downtime, could cost a customer, yearly losses much more than the investment made on the plant itself
Blesson Varghese
Managing Director, Marini India
been proposed to double the amount to ` 60,000 crore, which includes ` 10,000 crore for NHAI. This is in addition to the putting in place of a structure for credit enhancement and take-out finance by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) mentioned earlier. After the successful launch of the countrys first IDF, several others are reportedly in the pipeline. IL & FS along with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) are reportedly planning to
set up an infrastructure debt fund with a corpus of US$ 2 billion. Media reports in recent times have also suggested that a few other leading financial institutions such as IDFC and IIFCL are also reportedly exploring the possibilities of raising infrastructure debt and equity funds. It is no secret that the government is banking on increased private sector participation for pushing the infrastructure development initiatives. Several state governments are also said to be planning on similar lines and could come out with specific funds for speedy infrastructure development. Given the importance of roads for the economic development of the country, it wont come as a surprise if additional policy initiatives for the development of the sector were to be announced in the near future. The Prime Ministers recent statement that There is a need to create an atmosphere which is conducive to investment and to removing any bottlenecks to growth, hints at further reforms down the line probably this year. Renewed Focus The recent economic slowdown has shown that India is not insular from what is happening thousands of miles away. The almost sudden downturn and decrease in the GDP growth rate, has in a way been a wakeup call which has sparked a revival of sort for the infrastructure sector. The governments, both at the Centre and states have been forced to pull up their socks and focus on infrastructure development, which holds the key to the revival of the economy. Road building projects constitute the major chunk of infrastructure development projects in the country today. This being the case, the renewed spurt in road projects and various policy initiatives which have resulted in a slow, albeit sure, easing of the funding situation, augers well for all the stakeholders in the road sector. Photo Courtesy:
Land Acquisition has been a major stumbling block for the road sector
www.indolinkenglish.wordpress.com, www.nhai.org www.blog.blogbee.in, www.padeco.jp www.stevenlefebvre.wordpress.com
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Wirtgen India Pvt.Ltd
Construction Equipment Amphibious Excavators
Amphibious Excavators:
Versatile Machines with Superb Outreach
here are few other sights that are as exhilarating as watching an excavator work. The sheer power and dexterity of the modern day excavator has been behind the success of many a mega project around the world. Rapid advances in technology have meant that the application areas of excavators have increased over the years. They no longer are machines used just for earthmoving work. They can
T
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demolish buildings, make short work of quarries, remove huge quantities of earth for clearing the way for road projects and even be used for dredging, erosion control and maintenance of rivers, among others. No longer are excavators confined to only construction or mining project sites. New horizons have been conquered by these mean machines. For some of them their latest playgrounds are rivers, ponds, lakes
and shorelines welcome to the world of amphibious excavators. Also known as 'marsh buggies', 'floating excavators' or 'swamp excavators', they are gradually making an increasing number of appearances in India. It should not come as a surprise given the fact that India has a coastline that extends over 7000km. Moreover, the country also has an extensive network of inland waterways in the form
water transport (IWT) mode by declaring potential waterways as National Waterways (NWs) and developing IWT infrastructure thereon. In this process five waterways totaling about 4382 km. have been declared as NWs, which should spell good news to suppliers of amphibious excavators. Adding to their demand has been the rising number of canal projects around the country, plus their application in construction sites in swampy areas and near water bodies. Specialized Machines Amphibious excavators are usually mounted on pontoons and have a reach ranging from have a reach ranging from 18 to 20 meters and are capable of reaching even the hard to reach spots on shorelines, apart from helping in expediting the dredging process. 'Spuds' attached to the pontoons help in enhancing their stability and these mean machines are capable of excavating huge amounts of earth, with their bucket capacity ranging from 2.75 to 6 tonnes. All these features make them ideally suited for the unique requirements of projects on or off the shorelines of water bodies. One of the typical application areas of amphibious excavators is dredging and landscaping. This is an application area which offers immense growth opportunity for this niche segment of excavators. Swampy construction sites
of rivers, canals, backwaters and creeks. In fact, research statistics point out that about 5200 km of river and 4000 km of canals can be used by mechanized crafts. Freight transportation by inland waterways is an area where the country lags way behind other countries. In order to get a perspective one just needs to look at what the US has done with its inland waterways. While the total cargo moved is about 21 % of the
total inland traffic in the US, in India it is a dismal 0.1 %. While the figures may be appallingly low for a country with such an extensive network of inland waterways, it also points to the immense potential for amphibious excavators here. The UPA government has recently spelt out its plan to tap this sector. The Union Minister for Shipping, Mr.G.K.Vasan had recently stated that The Government is taking steps to develop inland
The Government is taking steps to develop inland water transport (IWT) mode by declaring potential waterways as National Waterways (NWs) and developing IWT infrastructure thereon
G.K.Vasan
Union Minister for Shipping
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Wide Ranging Applications Since amphibious excavators work in some of the harshest environs, plenty of thought goes into their design. While leading players have started to come out with stand alone amphibious excavator models off late, a vast majority of them are actually designed by rental suppliers catering to unique market requirements. It is remarkable indeed that even though a vast majority of amphibious excavator suppliers are actually heavy industry equipment rental companies, lacking the financial and R & D muscle power of the bigger excavator manufacturers in most of the cases, there have been still attempts made at incorporating several technologically advanced features. A good
Boldly going where others have not. Amphibious excavators have enabled several new application areas
are not uncommon, especially along the coastal belts in India. Mumbai and its surroundings are a good example for places where dredging and landscaping are more often than not, required. Deepening of waterways is another key application area of amphibious excavators. This is another key application where amphibious
excavators play a crucial role. While till now, a combination of different equipment was necessary for the purpose, the use of amphibious excavators has cut down on this necessity, allowing for savings of both time and money. Maintenance and cleaning of water bodies is another area where amphibious excavators are increasingly finding more takers in India.
The amphibious and longreach excavators segment will continue to be niche in future as well and the volume of products will be low in comparison to the total construction equipment market
A.M.Muralidharan
Managing Director, Volvo India Pvt. Ltd.
Hydraulically operated pontoons allow for increased manoeuvrability of amphibious excavators
example is that of extendable pontoons. Using this feature the operator can either extend or retract the pontoons. This feature is enabled through the use of hydraulics. Retracted pontoons would mean a reduced footprint and ease of transportation of the excavator as a single unit, instead of dismantling it into several components. Fabrication of the pontoons is an area where a lot of thought is applied. The undercarriage and the pontoon is fabricated using material that is both durable, has high strength and at the same time does not make the base
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Case New Holland Construction Equipment (India) Pvt.Ltd
Amphibious excavators are playing a key role in canal dredging, land reclamation and landscaping projects.
structure heavy. The designers have also got to keep the safety factor in mind, while also ensuring that the extra layers of protection do not hamper with easy access to some of the key parts of the pontoon for periodic inspection and preventive maintenance. Giving an insight into the technology behind amphibious excavators, Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Managing Director, Ace Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, one of the few companies in India which deals with these specialized types of excavators remarked, Our amphibious excavators use a failsafe technology for floatation and are incorporated with air tight floating chambers which have a 1.5 times safe floatation. The machines are further fitted with an integrated 4 x 4 drive system (an industry first and patented design) for working in sludge and slurry without getting bogged down. It can also climb a high degree gradient and are fitted with hydraulic spuds system to work while fully floating as well. One of the key factors that have been hindering the growth of this niche market segment is the fact that it continues to be largely unorganized. With the major brands not focusing on coming out with exclusive models catering to this market segment, it is often domestic players, usually heavy
industry rental companies, that are offering amphibious excavators in India. One major advantage though with hiring amphibious excavators is the fact that at the end of the day these are highly
Our amphibious excavators use a failsafe technology for floatation and are incorporated with air tight floating chambers which have a 1.5 times safe floatation. The machines are further fitted with an integrated 4 x 4 drive system (an industry first and patented design) for working in sludge and slurry without getting bogged down. It can also climb a high degree gradient and are fitted with hydraulic spuds system to work while fully floating as well
specialized pieces of machinery that needs specialized expertise to operate as well as maintain. However, with rise in demand, the situation is expected to gradually change in the future. As pointed out in a realistic assessment of the present market situation by Mr.A.M.Muralidharan, Managing Director, Volvo India Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of global construction equipment major Volvo CE, The amphibious and long-reach excavators segment will continue to be niche in future as well and the volume of products will be low in comparison to the total construction equipment market. He also added that, Volvo CE as a company always believes in innovation. We constantly develop new products to suit even the niche segments. Today we already have super long boom and arm products in the market for barge unloading and dredging applications, a trend that is soon expected to be cashed in on by other major global excavator manufacturers , given the slow, but sure growth of demand for amphibious excavators. While India has got some catching up to do with its western counterparts and neighbouring China, it should be only a matter of time before the market is put on the fast track. Thrust to Inland Waterways The development of inland waterways is high on the agenda of the government and this augers well for the growth in numbers of amphibious excavators in the near future.The development of inland waterways is being overseen by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The growth potential of inland waterways can be gauged from the fact that the sector has registered an increase of over 100 percent over the last three years. The figures for cargo carried jumped from around 49 lakh metric tonnes in 2010-11 to about 74 lakh metric tonnes in 2011-12, according to industry estimates. The government is also taking steps to develop projects under different phases in the PPP mode. Commercially viable stretches such as Kakinada-Puducherry canals, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry, Rajahmundry-
Rajiv Mehta
Managing Director, Ace Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
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Ace Infrastructure Pvt.Ltd
Eluruon National Waterway 4 have been considered for development under PPP mode in Phase-I. Development of remaining stretches including NorthBuckingham canal (between Pedaganjam and Chennai) and South Buckingham canal (between Chennai and Markanam) are to be taken up in Phase-II. The developments in inland waterways offer excellent growth scope for amphibious excavators in the country. The versatility of amphibious excavators has come in handy in India at construction sites near water bodies or in swampy areas, common in cities in the coastal areas of the country. Land reclamation after the necessary earth removing and wetland restoration is an area where these excavators play a key role. Amphibious excavators are also being used for trench digging that precedes the installation of oil & gas projects. Similarly, they are also gradually becoming a familiar sight at sites where bunds are being built, either for water storage or flood prevention. Adding to their demand has been the numerous canal projects in the country. A Growing Market There is no doubting the growth potential of niche market segments in India, as far as excavators are concerned.
These mean machines are finding an increasing number of takers in India
The continued impetus being provided to infrastructure development means that excavators, of all kinds, are going to be the key pieces of machinery that will dictate terms at the work site. Niche products, such as amphibious and long reach demolition excavators are going to be in demand and called for duty more often in the near future. For contractors since they can quite literally go where no
other machine can and finish off work in a jiffy, they are also important from the cost advantage point of view, apart from helping in sticking to project deadlines. The onus now lies squarely on leading manufacturers to tap the hidden potential for amphibious excavators in the country. While till now only a few rental companies were catering to the market segment through usually indigenously modified excavators, with increasing demand, the demand supply gap would mean that bigger players, with meaner machines will need to enter the market, sooner than later. Since amphibious excavators are highly specialized equipment at the end of the day, bigger brands with their widespread service network would be able to increase customer confidence, as far as offering technical support services are concerned. With signals pointing to gradual entry of global brands with exclusive product offerings in this segment, this niche market could be in for a period of growth and consolidation in the near future. Photo Courtesy:
www.floatingplantservices.com www.amphibiousexcavators.net www.autoline.info www.keatingconstructions.ie www.evangelchina.en-made-in-china.com
Development of inland waterways can propel demand for amphibious excavators
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RD Mining Equipments Pvt.Ltd
Equipment Focus Knuckle Boom Cranes
Knuckle Boom Truck Loader Cranes:

Bhavani Balakrishna
Fast Becoming the Preferred Choice of Contractors
he success story of knuckle boom truck loader cranes in India is nothing short of remarkable. In a relatively short span of time, these cranes, thanks to their versatile application areas have become a common sight at construction sites along with earthmoving equipment. One of the contributory factors for knuckle boom truck loader cranes rising popularity is the increased emphasis on productivity, efficiency, and safety. With so many advantages on offer, it is not surprising to hear that knuckle boom truck loader cranes are giving pick and carry cranes a run for their money. In order to understand the reason behind the rising popularity of the knuckle boom truck crane, the working mechanism
behind it has to be understood first. The knuckle boom truck has a built-in articulating crane mounted on a truck or trailer chassis. What differentiates it from the normal crane truck is its bend in the middle of the boom hence the name knuckle boom. Knuckle boom trucks can continuously rotate 360 degrees with ease that facilitates loading and unloading even if there are many obstacles in the working area. The crane's capability to fold into a compact size gives the advantage of carrying a larger payload on the same vehicle. The crane is mounted on the knuckle boom truck which allows for easy transportation from one location to another. Knuckle boom trucks are equipped with hydraulic outriggers to promote
safety and prevent potential hazards while at work. While a stiffboom crane would need to be extended higher, a knuckle boom having horizontal extensions can reach longer distances at a lower overall height. Safety is ensured since the boom is usually made of high tensile steel to withstand breakage even if it is extended to its maximum reach. It is also equipped with an overloading detection device which helps prevent the hazard of overloading and going beyond the capacity of the boom to lift heavy objects. Knuckle boom cranes can easily be maneuvered around obstacles on a building site. The articulation of the knuckle boom crane truck makes it very useful in narrow or small places like residential streets.
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Another advantage of this vehicle is the ability of the operator to have more precise load control. The load can be placed almost anywhere desired, which is certainly more efficient than the traditional crane truck. It allows the operator to choose different controlling devices including: stand-up control, ground control, topseat control, or wireless radio remote. Being a single integrated unit, the immediate advantage of a truck loader crane is that it cuts down on requirement of a separate transportation system, post loading the cargo from the point of its origin. This is because, with the crane mounted, the truck can undertake multipurpose functions of loading-unloading and transportation of the cargo. Therefore, the truck that made multiple trips in the past for short lead distance, benefits on better turnaround time, due to reduced waiting time on loading and unloading. Truck loader knuckle boom cranes are increasingly being used for several applications across industries including concrete pouring, handling of pre-fabricated steel/concrete structures, building materials, bricks, tiles, hume pipes, steel beams, roofing and panels and routine applications like overhead electrical maintenance and street light maintenance. Knuckle boom cranes are also increasingly finding use in mining, recycling, waste management, refineries and other industrial projects due to their versatility and efficiency. Integrated solution with loading, transportation and unloading is what gives knuckle boom cranes the edge over other types of cranes. Wide-ranging Usage in India It is not surprising given all the advantages that are on offer that knuckle boom truck cranes are being widely used in India today. Take metro projects for instance, where intra-site and inter-site shifting of precast material has been completely revolutionized by the use of knuckle boom cranes. The process has become lesslabour intensive, while also ensuring saving of precious time. Similarly, these truck loader cranes have also become a staple of power distribution companies. One of the major advantages offered by these cranes is the ability to work in congested areas, so typical of Indian cities and in the case of power distri-
bution it often involves carrying precast components like towers from one place to another. There are instances where knuckle boom truck cranes are the only option left with certain congested areas not being easy to access for other types of cranes. With India being in the midst of it's biggest ever road building spree, it is not surprising that knuckle boom truck loader cranes have also carved a niche for themselves in highway projects. They are being widely used in highway and expressway projects. With their ability to offer an integrated solution, combining loading, lifting, and unloading, they have come as a boon to road contractors, who are always under pressure to stick to project deadlines and cost. Moreover, in these days of acute labour shortage it also helps that these cranes can be operated by a just a few people. The real estate sector is another area where truck mounted knuckle boom cranes are being widely used these days, primarily for material shifting. Material stockyards is another area where these cranes play a key role, saving time, money and labour. A good example are the marble stockyards, where often lifting of heavy pieces of marble is involved, and that too in confined space, where it would be difficult for pick and carry cranes to work. Railway projects are one more area where knuckle boom cranes are now being
A competitive edge gained through technological innovation and a high level of product quality has always been central to the company.
Subhamoy Ghosh
MD, Palfinger India
used in India. Diesel powered knuckle boom cranes are mounted on railway wagons and used for removal or laying of rail sleepers, thereby making the process a lot faster. Gaining Momentum The use of truck loader cranes has been gaining momentum in the Indian market over the last decade or so, a trend that is keeping in tune with what is being witnessed elsewhere in Asia. Although there is no denying the fast growing market of knuckle boom cranes, what would be heartening to manufacturers is the fact that what has been tapped is just the tip of the iceberg. With increased awareness about the varied applications of these
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cranes, the market is expected to grow fast during the next five years according to industry experts and touch the 6,0008000 units per annum mark. The onus is now on the manufacturers to tap the market potential in India. Several companies are offering knuckle boom truck loader cranes in India today. Some examples include, Palfinger, HIAB, and Hyva. Raising awareness about the different applications of these versatile cranes is one of the strategies that are being adopted by leading players these days. Suppliers have realized the fact that the Indian consumer has evolved from one that was mostly price-driven to becoming one that is increasingly becoming conscious of the necessity of saving time and labor costs at work sites while handling constant stream of loads of different weights and sizes. Companies are also training their dealers and distributors to disseminate such information and this has certainly made an impact in the usage of the equipment. Hurdle One area of concern though is the lack of clarity in ARAI certification when it comes to truck loader cranes. RTOs of most states insist on an ARAI certificate of approval for fitting the particular crane model and variation on any make/model of the truck. This becomes difficult as each model of crane would have three to ten variations of boom length or other features. With each crane manufacturer
having several models of cranes that can be mounted on trucks, the crane manufacturer has to effectively provide details of each crane model and variations thereof to ARAI with different makes and models of trucks to get the ARAI certification for his full product range. Industry experts feel that it is high time authorities took note of this issue and resolved it since these cranes play a key role in infrastructure development. Players in Fray HIAB's product portfolio comprises cranes of lifting capacity ranging from 1 to 92 tonne meters with an outreach bet-
ween 2 to over 30 meters. HIAB has an engineering center in Pune and factory in Bangalore and there are plans of designing a new crane system with price and performance characteristics adapted for the Indian market. Hyva India has more than 200 variants of truck loader cranes ranging from 2 Ton Meter to 90 Ton Meter lifting. Depending upon the application needs, these Cranes can also be stationery mounted / pedestal mounted. Palfinger is the global market leader in this segment with close to 150 models ranging from 0.9 meter-ton to 116 meterton and with production capacity of 30,000 Cranes per annum. Its Chennai facility manufactures and globally sources Palfinger stiff boom cranes. There are plans of including knuckle boom cranes in this unit. Despite the current slow growth rate, India is an interesting market due to the huge emphasis laid by the government on Indian infrastructure. The fast growing rental market has been another reason behind the growth story of knuckle boom truck cranes. For rental companies they offer a winning proposition due to their versatility and ability to operate even in confined spaces. With the government planning investments to the tune of US$ 1 trillion in infrastructure development during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17), the next five years could see an exciting growth phase for knuckle boom truck loader cranes.
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DCS Trading & Services Pvt.Ltd
Equipment Cranes
Lifting & Erection Equipment:

Continued Push to Nuclear and Wind Energy Projects Keep Indian Market in Limelight
f there is one sector that has been hitting headlines on a regular basis in recent times it must be that of power-or rather the lack of it. Not a single day passes without headlines screaming out of the print and electronic media about power crisis in some state or the other. The government too on its part
I
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has been focusing on this key sector for without power there is very little that it can achieve in terms of infrastructure development. The Union Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee had announced a series of sops for the ailing power sector in order to put it back on track during his 2012-13 budget speech.
While the sector may not have completely recovered, signs of doing so are already visible. There is a distinct buzz about the concerned authorities wanting to complete power projects in time recently. Whether it is the commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant or capacity addition in various other power
Equipment Cranes
projects around the country, the pace seems to be picking up, slowly, albeit, surely. In a recent meeting held on June 6th, 2012, chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh , with ministers of key infrastructure sectors, including power participating, it was decided to set a target of 18000 MW (17,957 MW to be precise) for 2012-13. These recent developments would have definitely brought back the smile on the faces of lifting and erection equipment manufacturers. While there has been no doubting the government's commitment to infrastructure development, the pace of progress of projects, especially in the power sector had left much to be desired. This had meant a period of lull for lifting equipment manufacturers in the recent past. A segment that was growing at an estimated CAGR of 25 %-30% suddenly seemed to have taken a downward spiral in the aftermath of the present economic slowdown. However, things seem to be returning to normalcy. The continued thrust on nuclear power projects, the protests notwithstanding is a good sign for lifting and erection equipment manufacturers. Recently there were news reports indicating plans by four leading PSUs including, NPCIL, NTPC, Nalco, and IOC to start nuclear power projects. Similarly, the intense focus and competition among various states for setting up renewable energy projects is another good sign for lifting equipment manufacturers. Adding to the demand has also been the renewed spurt in award of contracts for hydro electric power projects, especially in the lower Himalayan and northeastern regions. While there is no denying the slowdown of the economy, there is also no denying of the fact that the growth rate of the Indian economy has been much higher than those of several other nations and what this has also meant is that for global crane manufacturers India still remains the market to watch out for. In fact, the recent economic uncertainties in Europe and the slowdown in the Chinese market, adding to the fact that the Union Finance Minister had announ-
We have seen that companies are more cautious in their investments, but everybody recognizes that India's demand for power is only going to increase. Therefore any slowdown is related to short-term financial concerns. Long-term, the outlook for this industry is excellent
nizes that India's demand for power is only going to increase. Therefore any slowdown is related to short-term financial concerns. Long-term, the outlook for this industry is excellent, a positive sentiment that is evident from the continued interest among global players in the Indian lifting and erection equipment market. Interest in Larger Cranes Another trend that is being witnessed in the Indian market is the growing interest in larger cranes. This has again got to do with power sector projects, especially nuclear power projects. With the size of nuclear reactors getting bigger, this is said to be an obvious market reaction according to industry experts. It is not uncommon to find reactors that weigh over 1000 tonnes and are more than 100 metres. The lifting equipment industry was earlier agog with rumours of mammoth cranes of over 3000 tonne capacity doing the rounds. However, the subsequent economic slowdown meant is stated to be the reason for many bigwigs of the industry putting such plans in the back burner. The go ahead for the Kudankulam nuclear power project though has again kindled such ambitions. While the massive over 3,000 tonne capacity cranes may not be in demand, a market for lifting equipment
Raman Joshi
Managing Director, Manitowoc India
ced ` 50 lakh crore investment for infrastructure development during the 12th Five Year Plan period, has meant that India is where all the action is taking place, along with Brazil, when it comes to lifting and erection equipment. Industry experts are hopeful of the subsequent turnaround of the economy. Mr.Raman Joshi, Managing Director, Manitowoc Cranes India, one of the leaders in the field pointed out that, We have seen that companies are more cautious in their investments, but everybody recog-
A Potain MC 475 in action at the Alknanda River hydro electric project in Uttarakhand
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Equipment Cranes
The Chakan plant will act as a substitute for import of cranes all the way from China. Earlier, the crawler cranes were to be imported from Sany China according to customer's requirements. However, consequently looking at the constant growth of the crane market and our products receiving appreciation in India, Sany has taken the step forward to start production of cranes at the plant
capacity all-terrain cranes are also well suited to heavier lifts inside power stations. Potain special application cranes from the company are also used in power station constructions. In fact, two Potain MC 475 special application tower cranes from the company are helping build a major hydroelectric power project over a remote section of the Alknanda River in Uttarakhand, North India. The 25 t cranes are lifting general construction materials for building a 330 MW hydroelectric power station estimated to be worth US$ 730 million. The slew of nuclear power projects that have been announced are ex-
pected to drive forward the demand for the larger cranes. However, as mentioned earlier, the country's crane market has still got a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the real monstrous cranes. Sany Group, one of the market leaders, for example had launched its SCC86000 TM model, claimed to be the largest crawler crane in the world, with a lifting capacity of 3600 tons for the nuclear engineering industry in China. Similarly, Zoomlion had sometime earlier announced the launch of its ZCC3200NP , a 3200 ton capacity double lattice boom crawler crane again in China. While cranes of such high capacity have still
Zeng Zhihong
Director of Sales, Sany Heavy Industry India
above 1,000 tonne capacity is emerging in India. Another reason that can be attributed to this growing reason is the entry of several major global brands who have either established manufacturing units in India or in the process of doing so. Names such as Manitowoc, Liebherr, Sany, Zoomlion, Fushun etc to mention a few have established a recall in the Indian customer's mind. Another indirect benefit of the increase in demand for larger cranes has been the fact that it will gradually make crane industry more organized, since those in the unorganized sector simply do not have the necessary expertise or wherewithal to deal with high capacity cranes. A good example for a crane model that has been successfully used for executing power projects is the Manitowoc 1800, which was used by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for construction of the Gujarat State Energy Generation (GSEG) Plant. According to Mr.Raman Joshi, from the company's Grove range of mobile cranes, the rough-terrain cranes are used for lifting duties at power plants. The larger
The market for crawler cranes hinges on continued push to thermal power projects
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Unisteel Engineering Works
Equipment Cranes
not made a regular appearance on Indian horizons, given the continued thrust to nuclear power projects, it won't come as a surprise that if similar cranes become commonplace here. This however does not mean the demise of the pick and carry cranes, the staple of the Indian crane market. Several leading names including TIL, ACE Cranes, ECEL, Palfinger etc are catering to the needs of this market segment, considered the biggest among lifting equipment. While much smaller than the huge crawler and tower cranes used in thermal, nuclear or wind energy projects, they continue to play a key role in most of the construction sites, including that of the power sector. Key Market Segment Just as important as the crawler and tower cranes for thermal, as well as hydro-electric power projects are the gantry cranes that are usually used in power generation turbine plants. Capable of handling 1-1000 tons the versatile gantry cranes are a fast emerging market segment in India. ElectroMech, a leading name in the field, for instance offers single and double girder cranes that are ideally suited for in-shop handling. These specially designed gantry cranes can be quickly assembled on project sites, a crucial aspect sine most of power projects are located in remote areas and
We are planning to achieve 35% of localization in 2012 and increase it to 50% in the near future
Aida
President & CEO, Kobelco Cranes
sometimes terrain and climatic conditions make the task even more challenging. The market for gantry and EOT (Electric Overhead Travelling) cranes that are typically used in applications such as handling of reactors, precast segments, and turbines is expected to grow at a fair clip in the next five years, given the fillip to nuclear and wind energy projects during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). Global Players Set Up Shop The fact that several key players are setting up manufacturing plants in India is in itself an indication of the growing demand. For global players, domestic manufacturing is also a win-win proposition, as far as cost cutting is concerned too. A good example for a global construction equipment giant setting shop
in India has been that of Sany, that has set up its state-of-the-art fully integrated crawler crane production plant in India. Sany Heavy Industry India set up the plant in April 2012 at Chakan, Pune. Indigenization and the cost advantages offered by local manufacturing seem to be the logic that has dictated the company's decision. Going into the details of the reasons behind the new plant, Mr. Zeng Zhihong, Director of Sales in the company had pointed out, The Chakan plant will act as a substitute for import of cranes all the way from China. Earlier, the crawler cranes were to be imported from Sany China according to customer's requirements. However, consequently looking at the constant growth of the crane market and our products receiving appreciation in India, Sany has taken the step forward to start production of cranes at the plant. Another globally leading name that set up its plant recently is Kobelco Cranes, the first Japanese company to do so. The company's Indian arm, Kobelco Cranes India Pvt. Ltd. has established its plant recently ( February 2012) at Sri City, Tada, Chittoor District Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh, about 100 km north of Chennai. Inaugurated in February 2012, the company aims to produce 100 units comprising 100, 150, and 260 ton class cranes during the current year. Localization seems to be the buzzword among manufacturers and
Competition is getting intense between states for wooing investment in the wind energy sector
The go-ahead given to the Kudankulam nuclear power project has come as a shot in the arm for lifting and erection equipment suppliers
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Equipment Cranes
wind turbines. Manitowoc 1600 cranes with wind attachments are working on the Jasdan wind power project near Rajkot in Gujarat. The wind attachment uses existing hardware in a new configuration and gives the crane significantly enhanced lift ability when working at short radii, as is generally required in wind turbine erection. Gradual Growth Expected The Indian market for lifting and erection market has fast emerged as a key market segment, along with road construction and earthmoving equipment. A lot of the growth story has got to do with the increased thrust to power projects, both conventional, as well as renewable energy projects. One of the direct beneficiaries of this growth story is the crawler cranes, which are expected to be at the top of buying list of power sector project developers. While a vast majority of the cranes that are sold in the country are in the 80-100 t capacity, the demand for larger capacity cranes is expected to rise slowly, but surely, given the several nuclear power projects that are on the anvil. Adding to the demand would be the spate of wind energy farms that are being blamed across the country. The market for specially designed tower cranes is expected to ride on the renewed impetus being provided to hydro electric thermal power projects, while good tidings are also expected for gantry and EOT cranes. With the budgetary proposals easing the funds crunch situation, power projects are expected to pick up steam soon. Many of the key policy initiatives kick-starting the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) are also expected to be aimed at giving push to power and transmission projects. If one were to add other infrastructure projects such as cement plants, refineries and bridges to the mix, then lifting and erection equipment manufacturers have a lot to look forward to during the next few years. Photo Courtesy
www.mmcranetech.com, www.towercrane-cn.com www.comansajie.com, www.blogs.vancouversun.com www.cranesservices-allcargo.com
Going up: Easing of finance for power projects is expected to see a spurt in demand for cranes
it is no and it is no different in the case of Kobelco Cranes, whose President & CEO, Mr. Aida while addressing the media on the occasion had emphatically stated, We are planning to achieve 35% of localization in 2012 and increase it to 50% in the near future. According to the company's top officials local manufacturing of cranes would reduce the cost of cranes and will be made available in the price range of ` 2.5 crore to ` 10 crore. Wind Energy Projects The trend seen the world over, that of wind energy project driving forward the momentum of the lifting and erection equipment market is also being seen in India. In fact, it has become a specialized area since there are several constraints involved. For example, more often than not the terrains on which wind turbines are installed are often remote and are not exactly suited for a smooth installation process. This is in addition to the difficulties in transportation of the cranes, given the often poor condition of roads in remote locations. It is indeed a testimonial to the modern day sophisticated crane that in spite of such hurdles over 7000 MW capacity of wind energy has been installed in the country in the past
three years time. There is more good news waiting for crane manufacturers, as experts feel that it is only the tip of the iceberg and that demand for wind turbine installation could grow exponentially in the next few years. Manufacturers have also been tailoring their R&D efforts towards coming out with product innovations for catering to this growing market. For example, Liebherr, a global industry leader in lifting equipment had recently announced the development of a special tower crane for the construction of wind turbines with hub heights from 110 m in weak-wind regions. The 630 EC-H 70 Litronic crane is built-up on the foundation of the wind turbine and is configured so that the necessary lifting height can be attained with only one guying on the wind turbine tower. In doing so, the 630 EC-H 70 Litronic crane can lift loads of up to 70 tonnes. Liebherr had earlier during a premier trade show held in India displayed its 600 tonne capacity LR 1600/2 crawler crane which is again, primarily used for erection of wind power plants. Similarly, Manitowoc had come up with an innovative new attachment for its 16000 crawler crane model in order to boost the crane's capacity for placing latest generation
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Equipment Focus
At the Forefront of Backhoe Loader Technology

flagship backhoe loader- CASE 770. Driven by a 76 horse power engine , this mean machine has got a higher breakout force and digging depth compared to other contemporary product offerings, making it ideally suited to work in Indian conditions. The CASE 770 backhoe loader has also gained widespread acceptance in the hiring segment due to its low fuel consumption and operating cost. The CASE 851 model has also been yet another runaway winner from the company. This backhoe loader in the 96 hp category comes with dual stage pump with load sensing system, which results in higher productivity and fuel efficiency. The 4-wheel drive version of this model has gained good acceptance in the tough hilly terrains of North East and Nepal, due to higher wheel torque and force. To expand and retain its market presence, Case India will bank on its manufacturing facility at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh which is fully integrated to its global manufacturing network and currently building backhoe loaders and vibratory compactors. The plant is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as high precision laser and cutting machines, welding robots, CNC machine tools, a new automated powder coating system and a variable speed assembly line. The plant also holds ISO 9001 certification for design and manufacture of construction and road building equipment and ISO 14001 certification for environmental management to roll out quality products. For enhanced product support, the company is making its dealers' network strong. CNH-India is strongly committed to assist its 58 dealers to grow their own business and increase the value that they will have from Case brand in terms of products and services for better customer support. The marketing offices of the company are spread across the country at 18 strategic locations. CNH- India expects to have a dominant presence in India's backhoe loaders market by increasing its customized product portfolio, backed by its unmatched engineering expertise gathered from its operational presence in major construction markets across the globe, in the near future.
D V Junnarkar
Head Sales and Marketing, Case New Holland Construction Equipment (I) Pvt. Ltd.
ase New Holland Construction Equipment (India) Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of CNH, popularly referred to as Case- India, considered a global leader in construction equipment has made rapid forays into the Indian market with its range of quality products. Propelling the company's growth story in the Indian market has been its
For further details:

Case New Holland Construction Equipment (India) Pvt. Ltd.
"Boomerang", Chandivali Farm Road, Near Chandivali Studio, Andheri (East) Mumbai - 400072. Ph: +91-22-61271840,
Fax: +91-22-61271850,
E-mail: caseindia@cnh.com Web: www.casece.com

Case 851
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Techny Chemy
Ground Engineering Geosysnthetics in Soft Soil
Use of Geosynthetics to Assist Construction Over Soft Soils

Sonjoy Deb
Associate Editor, B.Tech,Civil, Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology
eosynthetics are a construction material made from polymers. These materials are manufactured as textiles, grids, nets, solid membranes or as a combination of one or more of the above. The type of geosynthetic selected for a particular project depends on the intended application, which can include drainage, separation of different materials, filtration of soil particles from draining water, reinforcement, confinement and containment. Geosynthetic usage has steadily increased in both public and private construction projects and innovative uses and new products continue to appear on the market. Geosynthetics reinforce the shear stresses of the fill material leading to an increase of the foundation bearing capacity. High strength geosynthetics provide a cost effective solution to achieve a greater and quicker stability of embankments constructed on soft foundations (Refer Figure 1). Geosynthetics allow:
- - - -
Optimum embankment height over a minimum area Steeper side slopes Increase in construction speed with no loss of stability Resistance to outward movement of the embankment
Types Geosynthetics Geosynthetics have been increasingly used in geotechnical and environmental engineering for the last 4 decades. Over the years, these products have helped designers and contractors to solve several types of engineering problems where the use of conventional construction materials would be restricted or considerably more expensive. There is a significant number of geosynthetic types and geosynthetic applications in geotechnical and environmental engineering. Due to space limitations, this paper will examine the advances on the use of these materials in
in-plane porosity that is used to carry relatively large fluid or gas flows. Geocomposites are geosynthetics made from a combination of two or more geosynthetic types. Examples include: geotextile-geonet; geotextile-geogrid; geonetgeomembrane; or a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL). Geopipes are perforated or solid-wall polymeric pipes used for drainage of liquids or gas (including leachate or gas collection in landfill applications). In some cases, the perforated pipe is wrapped with a geotextile filter. Figure 3 presents schematically these products.
Figure 1. Geosynthetics reinforce the embankment foundation
reinforcement and in environmental protection. Common types of geosynthetics used for soil reinforcement include geotextiles (particularly woven geotextiles), geogrids and geocells. Geotextiles (Refer Figure 2) are continuous sheets of woven, nonwoven, knitted or stitch-bonded fibers or yarns. The sheets are flexible and permeable and generally have the appearance of a fabric. Geogrids have a uniformly distributed array of apertures between their longitudinal and transverse elements. These apertures allow direct contact between soil particles on either side of the sheet. Geocells are relatively thick, three-dimensional networks constructed from strips of polymeric sheet. The strips are joined together to form interconnected cells that are infilled with soil and sometimes concrete. In some cases 0.5 m to 1 m wide strips of polyolefin geogrids have been linked together with vertical polymeric rods used to form deep geocell layers called geomattresses. A wide variety of geosynthetics products can be used in environmental protection projects, including geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners (GCL), geonets, geocomposites and geopipes. Geomembranes are continuous flexible sheets manufactured from one or more synthetic materials. They are relatively impermeable and are used as liners for fluid or gas containment and as vapour barriersWhen hydrated they are effective as a barrier for liquid or gas and are commonly used in landfill liner applications often in conjunction with a geomembrane. Geonets are open grid-like materials formed by two sets of coarse, parallel, extruded polymeric strands intersecting at a constant acute angle. The network forms a sheet with
Figure 3. Schematic view of some typical geosynthetics used in environmental protection works
Construction in Soft Soil Construction across soft soils creates a dilemma for the engineer. The construction proceeds at a slow pace because much time is spent recovering equipment mired in muck and hauling large quantities of fill to provide adequate bearing strength. Traditionally, the following options may be considered: - Bypass the area: This course of action is often negated by the tactical situation or other physical boundaries. - Remove and replace the soil: Commonly referred to as mucking, this option is sometimes a very difficult and time-consuming procedure. It can only be used if the area has good, stable soil underneath the poor soil. Furthermore, a suitable fill material must be found nearby. - Build On Directly: Base course construction material is often placed directly on the weak soil; however, the base course layer is usually very thick and the solution is temporary. A pumping action causes fines to intrude into the base course, which causes the base course to sink into the weak soil (see Figure 4). As a result, the base course itself becomes weak. The remedy is to dump more material on the site. - Stabilize: By using geofabrics, the poor soils can be separated and confined to prevent intrusion or loss of soil finally leads to stabilization of the soft soil. The process is very fast and cost effective too, there is no
Figure 2. Commonly used geosynthetics for soil reinforcement
www.masterbuilder.co.in The Masterbuilder - June 2012 75
need to bring good soil for foundation or replace entire foundation soil which is soft. For low lying areas or areas where good soil in scarcely available, the method of stabilization using geosynthetic is very effective.
of these products. One claim is that bitumen coatings provide a superior bond to other polymers, enhancing grid performance in preventing crack propagation.
Figure 6. Geogrids to avoid reflective cracking in pavements (Separation function of geosynthetic)
Figure 4. Effect of pumping action on a base course
Functions of Geosynthetics Geotextiles/Geosynthetics serve four primary functions: - - - - Reinforcement. Separation. Drainage. Filtration.
(A) There are many developments in mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls and slopes and in basal stabilization. The MSE concept is essentially a uniaxial force problem and is served by the insertion of tensile members whose principal strength is uniaxial and that property is oriented to the expected forces of failure in the design. In 1993 a textile geogrid was employed using an ultra high strength polymer (the aramid known as Kevlar) to construct a road over karst terrain, as schematically shown in Figure 5.
(C) The most important and critical of all the problems is to counter the difficulties in soft soil foundations. Soft soil is characterized by huge pore pressure and very long consolidation period, which makes construction of foundation over it a challenging task. Electrokinetics and electroosmosis are techniques employed in manipulating pore pressure and plasticity indices of soils. Formerly hampered by difficulty in establishing suitable electrodes in soil structures, electrokinetics and eleectroosmosis are becoming viable technologies for soil reinforcement and environmental rehabilitation and geosynthetics are one of the means of introducing anodes and cathodes into a soil structure (Refer Figure 7), soil nailing is another. The concept of electrokinetics is the use of current to induce water flow. The technique can be used in environmental remediation wherein contaminants are recovered or removed from soil by causing groundwater to flow to a collection point. Anodes and cathodes are created from geosynthetics by using conductive materials such as carbon fiber, or by interlacing conductors (wire) in the textile. Other geosynthetic applications are mine tailing dewatering and sewage (perhaps contained in geotextile tubes) dewatering. Sports turf is managed by using current to draw off excess water, or by reversing polarity, delivering water to plant roots. The concepts of electrokinetics are applicable to slope stability, mechanically stabilized earth (walls), drainage and can result in cementation wherein ions precipitated from solution cement clays and the result is stiffer clays. Geocells have been used in innovative ways to stabilize aggregate while providing high volume drainage and working platform support. In an airport de-icing compound, the geocell confines the aggregate, improves the load capacity of the aggregate and the subgrade, contains large volumes of fluid in high volume events and drains fluid from the structure in a controlled manner. Another innovative use of geocells is as the facia on avalanche protection earthen mounds in Iceland (Bygness 2007). Five mile long barriers were raised 15 to 20 feet using multi layers of geocells with compacted soil filling as the facia resulting in an aesthetically pleasing alternative to conventional technique of concrete retaining walls.
Figure 5. Reinforced embankment on unstable foundation soil (Reinforcing function of geosynthetic)
(B) Rigid grids have also experienced innovation with the development of new punching patterns that yield triangular shaped apertures after the stretching process. The new shape has several benefits in the product profile, rib thickness and in plane stiffness and this three dimensional structure is expected to offer improvement in confinement which will yield improved rut resistance and better load distribution. Geogrids have been employed to resist or remediate reflective cracking in asphalt for many years (Refer Figure 6). Nonetheless, innovation is present here in the continuing study and analysis of performance
Geosys Infrastructure Pvt.Ltd
Construction sequence using Geosynthetic As Reinforcement The steps followed are Step1 Step2 Step3 Step4
Figure 7. Electrokinetics geosynthetics for soft soil stabilization (Drainage function of geosynthetic)
- Ground preparation - Laying of geosynthetic - laying and spreading aggregate over the geosynthetic - Compaction of the aggregate
The entire sequence is shown in Figure 8 below.
Design Principles Of Geosynthetic For Roads During construction of roads on soft soils a certain bearing capacity of the subbase is required to prevent unnecessary differential settlements of the road structure. For subsoil with insufficient bearing capacity, stabilization is necessary. The bearing capacity can be increased by excavation of the soft material, chemical stabilization by using chalk or by using geosynthetics. When using geosynthetics in paved road structures (surface layer existing of asphalt or concrete) the long term behavior has to be taken into account. The measures bearing capacity on top of the base should be maintained during the total service life of the road. Existing design methods for flexible pavements reinforced with a geosynthetic in the unbound base aggregate layer are largely empirically based (Berg et al., 2000). These existing design methods have been limited in use by many state departments of transportation due to several factors, namely: - Design methods are not part of a nationally recognized pavement design procedure. - Design methods are often times applicable to a narrow range of design conditions. - Design methods are often times proprietary, making it difficult to directly compare the cost-benefit of several reinforcement products from different manufacturers Efficiency Factor of Geosynthetic as Reinforcement The efficiency of the geosynthetics as reinforcement in a pavement (Palmeira, IGS) can be estimated by the efficiency factor (E):
Figure 8. Construction Sequence using Geosynthetic
Conclusion Geosynthetics have great potential to be used as costeffective solutions for several engineering problems. This paper presented type and functions of geosynthetic products, on the utilization of these materials in reinforced soil structures. Manufacturing of geosynthetics products allows incorporating recent advances in material sciences. Therefore, the expectation is that innovations in products, types and properties will continue to take place, adding to the already vast range of applications of these materials. Geosynthetic reinforced soft soil present better performance than soil strengthening options. Thus, this type of structure can be cost effective. New construction methodologies have also broaden the applications of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining wall, which include new facing units and that reduces the construction time, costs and allow better aesthetic conditions for the final structure. The use of geosynthetics has also led to major advances
Nr = number of load repetitions up to failure for the reinforced pavement. Nu = number of load repetitions up to failure for the unreinforced pavement.
Pennar Engineered Building Systems Ltd
in environmental applications. While geosynthetics has been used in a number of applications in environmental project, application of use of geosynthetics in landfills are also increasing. Specifically, simple yet accurate formulations are now available for the design of liquid collection systems, which involve proper quantification of the thickness of liquid within drainage composites. Also, significant advances have taken place regarding the use of reinforcements for stabilization of steep cover systems. Approach include the use of geosynthetic reinforcements parallel to the cover slope, horizontal reinforcements embedded into solid waste, and fiber reinforcement of the cover soils. Overall, the use of geosynthetics has led to major advances towards the construction environmental systems that are cost effective but that provide enhanced environmental protection. Reference
1. An overview on the use of geosynthetics in pavement structures, Mounes et al., Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 6(11), pp. 2251-2258, 4 June, 2011 2. Advances in Geosynthetics Materials and Applications for Soil Reinforcement and Environmental Protection Works, Palmeira et al.
3. Adams, M. (2008) The GRS bridges of Defiance County. Geosynthetics, 26(1): 14-21. 4. Allen, T.M. and Bathurst, R.J. (2006) Design and performance of an 11-m high blockfaced geogrid wall. 8th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Yokohama, Japan, September 2006, 953-956.
5. Allen, T.M. and Holtz, R.D. (1991) Design of retaining walls reinforced with geosynthetics. In Geotechnical Engineering Congress 1991, McLean, F., Campbell, D.A., and Harris, D.W., Editors, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 27, Vol. 2, In proceedings of a congress held in Boulder, Colorado, USA, June 1991, 970-987. 6. Allen, T.M., Bathurst, R.J., Holtz, R.D., Walters, D.L. and Lee, W.F. (2003) A New Working Stress Method for Prediction of Reinforcement Loads in Geosynthetic Walls. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 40(5): 976-994. 7. Allen, T.M., Nowak, A.S. and Bathurst, R.J. (2005) Calibration to Determine Load and Resistance Factors for Geotechnical and Structural Design, Transportation Research Board Circular E-C079, Washington, DC, 93 p. 8. Alexiew, D. (2008) Ultimate bearing capacity tests on an experimental geogridreinforced vertical bridge abutment without stiffening facing, New Horizons in Earth Reinforcement, Taylor & Francis Group, London, 507-511. 9. www.tencategeosynthetics.com
Maccaferri
Ground Engineering Lining Systems
Geosynthetic Lining Systems in Engineered Landfills An Indian Perspective

Dr. G. Venkatappa Rao1 and Dr. R. S. Sasidhar2
1 2
Distinguished Professor, KL University, Vijayawada, Managing Director, Saimaster Geoenvironmental Services Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad
The paper presents the existing provisions of the Central Pollution Board, Government of India for Geomembranes in Hazardous Waste Landfills and by the Ministry of Environment of and Forests, Government of India, for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. To ensure adequate performance the method of installation, particularly the seaming method is of utmost concern. This has been described adequately, along with the necessary field and laboratory testing methods.
eosynthetics are extensively used in modern landfills to perform all the five classic functions, viz., separation, filtration, drainage, reinforcement and protection. An important constituent of all these, is a geomembrane, which is a relatively impermeable sheet of polymeric formulation used as a barrier to liquids and/ or vapours. According to ISO, a Geomembrane is a low permeability material in the form of a factory made synthetic polymeric or bituminous sheet, used in geotechnical engineering and civil engineering applications with the purpose of reducing or preventing the flow of fluid and /or vapour through the construction. With the regulatory, economic and activist climate making replacement or expansion of existing landfills as well as new siting it is becoming difficult and expensive. Management of the given volume of the landfill has become quite critical. The goal of the landfill manager is to obtain maximum fees for the waste collections made. It is no longer possible to continue practices that began when landfilling was just what the word implies-an effort to fill in areas considered undesirable or to create buildable space in gullies, swamps or marshes. Today, squeezing the last Rupee out of that space requires close attention to many factors. The primary objective is clear- to fully compact the maximum amount of material into every cubic inch of air space. Though the statutory organizations in each country specify in detail, the quality of the geomembrane and also detail the method of application, in India , more often than not, it is found that the workmanship is far from satisfactory and also the specifications are strictly not being followed. So much so that in one case the landfill had to be abandoned.
Keeping this in view, this paper deals with the system prevalent in India, the methodology of installation and the fool proof seaming methodology. Lining Systems in Engineered Landfills The Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India (CPCB) has brought out the Criteria for Hazardous Waste Landfill (HASWAMS/17/2000-01) in February 2001. They include: - - - - - - - Site Selection Site investigation criteria Planning and design criteria Landfill liner criteria and cover criteria Construction and operation criteria Inspection, Monitoring Post - closure criteria
Subsequently, the Manual for Design, Construction and Quality Control of Liners and Covers for Hazardous Waste Landfills (Hazardous Waste Management Series: HAZWAMS/20/2001-02) was published by the CPCB, in December 2002. It deals with the principles of design, construction and quality control of various components of liners and covers used for the secured landfill for disposal of hazardous landfills. Hazardous Waste Landfill liner and cover criteria The liner system must include the following components. However, depending on the design requirements, the number of components as well as the specifications of the components can exceed the minimum specifications listed
below. The components listed below are waste downwards (Fig 1).
a) A primary leachate collection layer of thickness 30 cm or more and coefficient of permeability in excess of 102 cm/sec b) A primary composite liner comprising of i) A HDPE geomembrane of thickness 1.5 mm or more (see specification), and ii) A compacted clay (or compacted amended soil) layer of thickness 45 cm or more having a coefficient or permeability of 1 x 10-7 cm/sec or less. c) A secondary leachate collection layer (also called leak detection layer) of thickness 45 cm or more and coefficient of permeability in excess of 10-3 cm/sec. d) A secondary composite liner comprising of i) A HDPE geomembrane of thickness 1.5 mm or more, and ii) A compacted clay (or compacted amended soil) layer of thickness 45 cm or more having a coefficient or permeability of 10-7 cm/sec or less. For extremely hazardous waste, the number of composite liner layers shall, if necessary, exceed two and these will be finalized by the design engineer. The cover system is typically shown in Fig. 3.
Figure 1. Single composite liner system (CPCB, 2001)
a) A leachate collection layer of thickness 30 cm or more and coefficient of permeability in excess of 10-7 cm/sec b) A single composite liner comprising of i) A HDPE geomembrane of thickness 1.5 mm or more, and ii) A compacted clay (or compacted amended soil) layer of thickness 150 cm or more having a coefficient of permeability of 10-7 cm/sec (10-9 m/sec). At locations where availability of clay is limited, amended soil will constitute by mixing bentonite or any other suitable clay to locally available soil to achieve the desired permeability. In regions where rainfall is high and/or subsoil is highly permeable (e.g. gravel, sand, silty sand) and/or the water table is within 2.0 m to 6.0 m beneath the base of the landfill, the linear system shall be a double composite liner and shall include the following components, waste downwards (Fig.2).
Figure 3. Cover system (CPCB, 2001)
Figure 4 depicts the arrangement of various components of landfill lining system and cover, along with the details of the junction. As per CPCB 2001, geomembranes are required to be of HDPE and the other recommended values along with their test methods are presented in Table 1. The other desirable parameters are also mentioned in the same table. The carbon black should be of group 3 category or lower as defined in ASTM D-1765.
Figure 2. Double composite liner system (CPCB, 2001)
Use of materials other than HDPE like VLDPE, PVC and
CSPE is governed by fulfilling the conditions stated in Sections 7.1.1 and 7.2.1 of CPCB (2001) for use as equivalent materials.
Use of materials other than HDPE like VLDPE, PVC and CSPE is governed by fulfilling the conditions stated in Sections 7.1.1 and 7.2.1 of CPCB (2001) for use as equivalent materials. The anchorage details of Geomembranes are presented in Fig 5.
Figure 4. Landfill cover and liner components (CPCB, 2001)
Property
Thickness Tensile strength & properties Tear Resistance Puncture Resistance
Test Method*
ASTM D5199, D5994, D1593 ASTM D638 ASTM D1004 ASTM D5494 or FTMS 101B (method 2065) ASTM D1505 ASTM D1238 ASTM D1603 ASTM D3015 ASTM D746 ASTM D1693 ASTM D4437 ASTM D4437, D413 ASTM D1204 ASTM D5321 or Modified Direct Shear Test (Standard size) EPA 9090
Specified Values
1.5 mm 18kN/m at yield 30 kN/m at break 150 N 250N Typical Desirable Value
Density Melt Flow Index Carbon Black Content Carbon Black Dispersion Low Temperature Brittleness Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance Seam Strength (Shear) Seam Strength (Peel) Dimensional Stability Interface Shear Resistance (Soil - Geomembrane) (Clay - Geomembrane) Waste Geomembrane Compatability
0.94 g/cc <1 g /10min 2%
Figure 5. Geomembrane anchorage details (CPCB, 2001)
Geomembrane for base and side lining of Municipal Solid Waste An impermeable lining system is required to be constructed at the base and wall of the waste disposal area for MSW landfills. According to MoEF (2000), the low permeability lining system must have barrier soil layer (clay/amended soil) of minimum 60 cm thickness with permeability not greater than 1 x 10-7 cm per second if, waste reaching the landfill is non-biodegradable and inert. For landfill receiving residues of waste processing facilities or mixed waste 01 waste having contamination of hazardous materials (such as aerosols, bleaches, polishes, batteries, waste oils, paint products and pesticides) minimum liner specifications shall be a composite barrier having 1.5 mm thick High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes (or equivalent) overlying 90 cm of soil (clay/amended soil) having permeability not greater than 1 x 10-7 cm/sec. The highest level of water table shall be at least 2.0 m below the base of clay/amended soil barrier layer. Integrity of Geomembrane Seams As was brought out earlier, the performance of the geomembrane lining system will be predominantly dependent the seaming methodology, which is detailed in the subsequent section. Whereas the methods of Test for these the specific Test Method may be referred, in the
90 % of parent material 60 % of parent material 2%
* Other equivalent codal methods can be used for testing Table 1. Specifications for Geomembranes (CPCB, 2001)
As per CPCB 2001, geomembranes are required to be of HDPE and the other recommended values along with their test methods are presented in Table 1. The other desirable parameters are also mentioned in the same table. The carbon black should be of group 3 category or lower as defined in ASTM D-1765.
Lipi Polymers Pvt.Ltd
following a highlight of the principle of the seam testing is brought forth. Further details may also be referred to in Venkatappa Rao and Pothal (2008) and Venkatappa Rao and Sasidhar (2009). The shear and T- peel methods are destructive quality control and quality assurance tests used to determine the integrity of geomembrane seams. These test procedures are intended for non-reinforced geomembranes only.
to accommodate field conditions. Each panel used for the installation will be given a number that will be correlated with a batch or roll number.
Figure 7. Locus-of-Break Codes for Dual Hot Wedge Seams in Un-reinforced Geomembranes Tested for Seam Strength in Shear and Peel Modes (as per ASTM)
Figure 6. Shear and T-peel specimen
For the shear and peel tests specimens are seamed as shown in Fig.6 and tested for maximum load and maximum strain, according to ASTM D 4337 - 99 and ASTM D 6392 - 99 (2006). The locus of the break for both these tests is interpreted with the help of Figs. 7 and 8. Important Considerations During Construction One of the key factors in construction of landfills is seaming of geomembranes. This has to be done diligently using the right kind of equipment by trained operators. Great care has to be taken in preparation of the subgrade and the proper placement of the cut geomembrane panels. Checks are done during seaming and also some tests are destructive. All these aspects are presented in detailed herein. Preparation for Geomembrane Deployment Preparation of panels Prior to commencement of HDPE geomembrane deployment, layout drawings shall be prepared to indicate the panel configuration and general location of field seams for the project. The actual panel layout may vary in order
Figure 8. Locus-of-Break Codes for Fillet Extrusion Weld Seams in Unreinforced Geomembranes Tested for Seam Strength in Shear and Peel Modes (as per ASTM)
Overlap the panels of geo-membrane approximately 10 to 15 cm prior to welding. Clean the seal area prior to seaming to assure the area is clean and free of moisture, dirt or debris of any kind. No grinding is required for fusion welding. Adjust the panels so that the seams are aligned with the fewest possible number of wrinkles and fish mouth. Grind seams overlap prior to welding within one hour of the welding operation in a manner that does not damage the geo-membrane. Grind marks should be covered with extrude whenever possible. In all cases, grinding should not extend more than 6 mm past the edge of the area covered by the extrude during welding. The minimum roll length and width of HDPE sheet shall be 20 m and 7 m respectively. Sub-base Preparation The sub-base must be properly prepared and compacted for installation of HDPE liner. The sub-base must not contain any particles. The sub-base must be checked for footprints or similar depressions before laying the liner. It should not have any cracks or evidence of swelling. The seaming equipment tends to get caught in such small depressions, causing burnout and subsequent repair. A small piece of the synthetic membrane placed below the membranes that are being seamed (this piece is moved forward along with the seaming equipment) may reduce burnout due to small depressions. Field Panel Placement HDPE deployment will generally not done during any precipitation, in the presence of excessive moisture, in an area of standing water, or during high winds. Installation of field panels shall be done as indicated on the layout drawing.. Adequate temporary loading (i.e. sandbags, tyres) which will not damage the HDPE, will be placed to prevent uplift of the HDPE by wind. The method and equipment used to deploy the panels must not damage the HDPE HDPE Field Seaming In general, seams shall be oriented parallel to the slope, i.e. oriented along, not across the slope. Whenever possible, horizontal seams should be located on the base of the cell, not less than 2 m from the toe of the slope. Each seam made in the field shall be numbered. Seaming information shall include seam number, welder ID, machine number, temperature setting and weather conditions.
Equipment (1) Fusion Welding: Fusion Welding consists of placing a heated wedge, mounted on a self propelled vehicular unit, between two (2) over-lapped sheets such that the surface of both sheets are heated above the polyethylenes melting point. After being heated by the wedge, the overlapped panels pass through a set of pre-set pressure wheels which compress the two (2) panels together to form the weld. The fusion welder is equipped with a device, which continuously monitors the temperature of the wedge. (2) Extrusion Fillet Welding: Extrusion fillet welding consists of introducing a ribbon of molten resin along the edge of the overlap of the two (2) HDPE sheets to be welded. A hot air preheat and the addition of molten polymer causes some of the material of each sheet to be liquefied resulting in a homogeneous bond between the molten weld bead and the surfaces of the overlapped sheets. The extrusion welder is equipped with gauges giving the temperature in the apparatus and a numerical setting for the pre-heating unit. Seaming of HDPE - Seams shall be made by overlapping adjacent sheets approximately 2.5 cm for extrusion welding and approximately 10 cm for hot wedge welding. Seam strength is not a function of the overlap. The overlap simply needs to be wide enough to weld and test properly. In general, seams shall be oriented parallel to the line of maximum slope, i.e., oriented along and not across the slope. - Fishmouths or wrinkles at the seam overlaps, shall be cut along the ridge of the wrinkle in order to achieve a flat overlap. The cut fishmouths or wrinkles shall be seamed. - Seaming shall extend along panel edges into the anchor trench. Seam Testing All field seams shall be non-destructively tested over their full length using test equipment and procedures described herein. Seam testing shall be performed as the seaming work progresses, not at the completion of the field seaming. Air Pressure Testing The welded seam is composed of a primary seam and a secondary track that creates an un-welded channel. The presence of an un-welded channel permits fusion seams to be tested by inflating the sealed channel with air to a
predetermined pressure and observing the stability of the pressurized channel over time. Equipment for Air Testing The equipment required for air testing consists of following components: 1. An air pump (manual or motor driven) capable of generating and sustaining a pressure between 1.5 to 4 kg/cm2 2. A rubber hose with fittings and connections. 3. A sharp hollow needle or other approved pressure feed device with a pressure gauge capable of reading and sustaining a pressure between 0 to 4 kg/cm2. Procedure for Air Testing Both the ends of the seam to be tested should be sealed. Needle or other approved pressure feed device should be inserted into the sealed channel created by the fusion weld. Test channel should be inflated to a pressure of approximately 2 kg/cm2, and the pressure should be maintained within the range listed in Initial Pressure Schedule given below. Valve should be closed and the initial pressure should be observed and recorded. Procedure for Non-Complying Test In the event of a Non-complying Air Pressure Test, the following procedure shall be followed: 1) Seam end seals should be checked and seams should be retested. 2) If a seam does not maintain the specified pressure, the seam should be visually inspected to localize the flaw. 3) If no flaw is found, area to be vaccum tested should be marked. Entire length of the seam should be vaccum tested as explained later in this section. a) If leak is located by the vaccum test, it should be repaired by extrusion fillet welding. Repair should be tested by vaccum testing. b) If no leak is discovered by vaccum testing, the seam will be considered to have passed non-destructive testing. Vaccum Testing This test is used on extrusion welds, or when the geometry of a fusion well makes air pressure testing impossible or impractical, or when attempting to locate the precise location of a defect believed to exist after air pressure testing.
Equipment for Vaccum Testing The equipment required for vaccum testing shall consist of following components: 1. Vaccum box assembly consisting of rigid housing with a soft neoprene gasket attached to the open bottom, a transparent viewing window, port hole or valve assembly, and a vaccum gauge. 2. Vaccum pump or Ventura assembly equipped with a pressure controller and pipe connection. 3. A rubber pressure/vaccum hose with fittings and connections. 4. A bucket and means to apply a soapy solution. 5. A soapy solution. Procedure for Vaccum Testing 1. Excess overlap from the seam should be trimmed, if any. 2. Vaccum pump/compressor should be turned on to reduce the vaccum Box to approximately 25 cm of mercury, i.e., 0.5 kg/cm2 gauge. 3. A strong solution of liquid detergent and water should be applied to the area to be tested. 4. Vaccum box should be placed over the area to be tested and sufficient downward pressure should be applied to seat the seal strip against the liner. 5. Bleed valve should be closed and vaccum valve should be opened. 6. A minimum of 0.3 kg/cm2 vaccum should be applied to the area as indicated by the gauge on the vaccum box. 7. It should be ensured that a leak tight seal is created. 8. The suction should be held for an adequate time to thoroughly examine the HDPE through the viewing window for the presence of soap bubbles. 9. After this period vaccum valve should be closed and bleed valve should be opened, the box should be moved over the next adjoining area with a minimum 7.5 cm overlap, and the process should be repeated. Procedure for Non-Complying Test 1. All the areas where soap bubbles appear should be marked and repaired. 2. The repaired areas should be retested. Destructive Testing The purpose of destructive testing is to determine and evaluate seam strength. These tests require direct sampling and thus subsequent patching. Therefore, destructive
Igloo Tiles
testing should be held to a minimum to reduce the amount of repairs to the HDPE. Procedure for Destructive Testing 1. Destructive test samples shall be marked and cut out randomly at a minimum average frequency of one test location every 150 m of seam length, unless otherwise specified or agreed. 2. Destructive samples should be taken and tested as soon as possible after the means are welded (the same day), in order to receive test results in a timely manner. 3. Qualified personnel will observe all field destructive testing and record date, time, seam number, location, and test results on Destructive Testing Form. 4. Sample Size (a) The sample should be 30 cm wide with a seam 40 cm long centered length-wise in the sample. The sample may be increased in size to accommodate independent laboratory testing by the Owner at the Owners request or by specific project specifications. (b) A 2.5 cm specimen shall be cut from each end of the test seam for field testing. (c) The two 2.5 cm wide specimens shall be tested on a field tensiometer for peel strength. If either field specimen does not pass, it will be assumed the sample would also not pass laboratory destructive testing.
Initial Pressure Schedule Material (Mil)
40 60 80 100
for each test method. Four out of the five specimens must exhibit for each round of peel and shear testing. In addition, four of the five individual specimens must meet or exceed the strength requirements as listed in Material specification sheet in order for the seam to pass the destructive test. Defects and Repairs Repair Procedures Any portion of the HDPE or HDPE seam shown a flaw, or having a destructive or non-destructive test in noncompliance shall be repaired. Procedures for repair include the following Patching Patching shall be used to repair large holes, tears and destructive sample locations. All patches shall extend at least 7.5 cm beyond the edges of the defects and all corners of patches shall be rounded. Grinding and Welding Grinding and welding shall be used to repair sections of extruded fillet seams. Spot Welding or Seaming Spot welding or seaming shall be used to repair small tears, pinholes or other minor localized flaws. Capping Capping shall be used to repair lengths of extrusion or fusion welded seams. Operation Of Landfilling Landfill managers emphasize the importance of regular operational planning involving the entire staff. The equipments needs are to be clearly identified. Compacting equipment The compacting equipment can be as heavy as 40 t and deliver that weight to the working face through specialized wheels. While it is generally agreed that compactors increase short term face densities and stability, some believe that in the long term it is the overburden which is effective. Important factors to remember while selecting a compactor are maneuverability, ground clearance, durability and ease of maintenance. Drums can be smooth or textured and some are fitted with replaceable teeth to help shredding and compress the waster. Dozers To help spread the waste evenly before compaction, dozers on tracks are very much required.
Min. Psi
24 27 30 30
Max. Psi
30 35 35 35
Maximum permissible pressure differential after 5 minutes for HDPE
Material (Mil)
40 60 80 100
Pressure DIFF (PSI)

4 3 2 2
Laboratory Testing of Destructive Seam Samples 1. Seam destructive samples may be sent to laboratory or tested on site when permitted by a site specific quality control plan or in the event that third partly laboratory destructive testing is not being performed. 2. Destructive samples will be tested for Shear Strength and Peel Adhesion. Five specimens shall be tested
United Steel & Structurals Pvt. Ltd
Alternative Daily Cover At the end of each traditionally soil cover is required over the working face. This ultimately eats into effective volume of the landfill apart from the cost involved bringing such large quantities daily. The alternatives may include use of foam or covering with tarpaulin to minimize the environmental influences. Alternately waste materials like foundry sand, distressed soils, construction and demolition waste or ash from different sources are worth considering. Where conventional soil is used, it is becoming a common practice in the U.S. to scrape it back up again for reuse the next day. Concluding Remarks It is clear that without effective construction and operation practices, the fundamental objective of Land Filling, i.e.,
minimum impact to the environment will not be fulfilled. References

- - CPCB (2001), Criteria (HASWAMS/17/2000-01) for Hazardous Waste Landfill
CPCB (2002), the Manual for Design, Construction and Quality Control of Liners and Covers for Hazardous Waste Landfills (Hazardous Waste Management Series: HAZWAMS/20/2001-02) CPCB website: envfor.nic.in/cpcb MoEF (2000) Municipal Waste Management & Handling Rules, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Venkatappa Rao, G. and Pothal, Goutam K. (2008). Geosynthetics Testing - A Laboratory Manual, Saimaster Geoenvironmental Services P . Ltd., Hyderabad. Venkatappa Rao, G. and Sasidhar, R.S. (2009), Solid Waste Management and Engineered Landfills, Saimaster Geoenvironmental Services P . Ltd., Hyderabad.
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Nina Concrete Systems Pvt.Ltd
Geosynthetics
Review of Critical Aspects for Long Term Performance of Geogrid Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall
products used in making RE walls are highlighted. This paper specifically deals with related aspects of performance requirements of polymer Geogrid. Introduction 'Sustainable development' cannot be implemented without adaptation of eco-friendly green technology to make the construction energy saving c o s t- e f f e c t i v e a n d e n d u r i n g . Simultaneously we need to focus on the aspect of environmental changes that this developmental process may bring out. Sustainable development with minimum degradation should be the basis for use of any new technology. That this can be done rationally, confidently and economically with Geosynthetics is evident by the vast experience amassed around the world. It is well established that the environmental engineering applications include utilisation of waste and debris as building materials, pollution control, ecological and erosion control, nature friendly appearance and improved habitat ad environment, which help preservation of natural soil, flora, fauna, plant, marine and primal life form and resource conservation. Reinforced soil technology provides a green source of energy conservation by eliminating use of heavy concrete structure, is nature friendly and use natural resources. Reinforced earth walls are common as retaining structures chosen for highways and railways for approaches to R.O.B / Flyover / Underpasses, where conventional slope profiled embankment is replaced by near vertical retaining structures in back to back configuration. The walls compose of selected soil fill
Som S. Sarkar
Chairman, ENVIROGEO Group, New Delhi, India
eosynthetics are advanced engineered products that may bring amazing opportunities to tackle environmental stabilisation problems using various tested and proven materials to yield radical results. Now-a-days almost all embankment approaches for ROBs, Flyovers etc abundantly use RE wall technology using Geosynthetics. However for adequate long term performance of such structure, the user should provide due consideration of the soil properties with due understanding of the soilgeosynthetic interaction using a particular geosynthetic soil reinforcement. Ignoring such vital aspects may lead to trouble and failure of performances as well as waste of valuable resources. While caution and knowledge needs to be exercised, the future appears to be promising with stronger and more durable geosynthetics emerging into the market. With this in view, this paper deals with an overview of the geogrid-soil interaction aspects that are eminently responsible for performance of Reinforced Earth (RE) wall structures. The significant of various
Nagpur RE Wall-NH-6
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Geosynthetics
(mainly free draining soil, to avoid pore pressure build up) reinforced with suitable durable soil reinforcement, which is predictable and proven to perform for long term ( > 100 yrs) or in short term ( >60 yrs). Radiation plays the most important role in creating conditions conducive to thermal comfort / thermal stress. Radiation during winters may be soothing as everyone who has enjoyed the winter Sun knows, but the same solar radiation can lead to excessive heat load on the person during summers with attendant uncomforting experience and heat stress. A Reinforced soil/earth structure is a combination of soilreinforcement composite encapsulated with a facia and drainage presented as a system. Therefore for obtaining the best performance of such a system, not merely the performance of reinforcement is important, but the logistic design elements, choice of type and characteristics of soil fill, particle size and their compaction, drainage construction during and after construction, failure mode of type of reinforcement used, principle governing the behaviour
of the reinforced soil, etc are equally responsible for the system performance. At the starting point of selection, type of RE wall chosen is dependent on reinforcement performance for both ultimate and serviceability aspects of the RE structure. Several kinds of reinforcements are available in market which use various criterion for design, out of which most popular are polymer Geogrids, Knitted and coated Technical textiles, metallic strips etc. Properties of each of these products are well understood today from ultimate failure aspect. From engineering requirement availability of dependable strength over the design life (free from Creep related failure and deformation), durability, construction survivability, soilreinforcement interaction potential, effect of chemical and environmental degradation etc need to be carefully evaluated for in-situ performance against ultimate failure based on boundary condition that may prevail. At any rate a RE wall will perform even in the short term not only when the reinforcement is chosen correctly, but also when the installation of the overall system comprising
Facia, soil, logistics and system design will be done as per design requirement. Perceived failure of wall, rather than an actual ultimate failure is most common, they include situations like wall facia bulging, wall leaning forward outside vertical, loosening of facia panel/blocks, sinking of wall toe, etc indicate serviceability failures. Therefore, the mechanism of soilreinforcement composite behaviour and correct design logistics of system chosen are key to the desired serviceability performance. A few major aspects, (besides many others factors depending upon the experience of the technology provider), that influences the performance RE wall serviceability aspect, are indicated below: A. Facia stability may impair seriously, arising from nonconformity due to: Sufficiency of Interlocking in panels/blocks to act as flexile armour against fill at the back. Freedom from rigidity and flexibility to distribute the imposed earth pressure.
Orai RE Wall-UP-4
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Geosynthetics
Geogrid to facia connection. Sufficiency of Foundation Bearing capacity, extent of settlement from superstructure load. Facia stability against settlement due to damage of bed block and effect on reinforcement.
B. Soil reinforcement performance i m p a i r s e r i o u s l y, a r i s i n g f r o m nonconformity due to: Inadequate Geogrid joint continuity. Excessive or poor deformation of Geogrid providing incompatibility with soil strain . Creep deformation aspect meting long term serviceability requirement. Failure of reinforcement action (such as frictional slippage or lateral strand tearing). Excessive post construction strain beyond serviceability requirement.
their frictional failure in soil as ultimate failure mode. The mechanism of soil reinforcement action of integral jointed Geogrid reinforced RE wall is different from Anchored bulkhead type design, and considers confinement of soil at REST condition, where the soil transfers the pressure imposed on it to the reinforcement. The geogrid interlocks soil in its grid aperture, and provide pseudo cohesion and confinement of soil particle. The effect of such interlocking provides a tensioned membrane effect in soil-grid composite which holds the soil at rest condition, being compatible with soil deformation. Therefore the design principle considers interlocking (or tearing) failure as ultimate mode. Geogrid functions as reinforcement need Integral joint & Dimensional stability The polyester knitted and coated mesh acts as an anchor to hold the facia by virtue of frictional resistance developed within soil, since such mesh does not have integrally joints and cannot effectively interlock soil. Therefore the design principle should consider the frictional failure as ultimate failure mode.A Geogrid is a planar structure formed by a regular network of tensile elements with apertures of sufficient size to allow interlocking with surrounding soil, rock earth. They are also characterized by high dimensional stability, high strength and high tensile modulus at very low elongation (achieved by patented processes of orientation of polymer molecules). They are of two varieties, viz., uniaxially oriented and biaxially oriented with enhanced strength in one or both the directions. They are primarily used for soil reinforcement. MoRTH specification of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, in India, Cl:701.2.2 ( 4th Edn), defines Geogrid properties as: Geogrid shall be made from integrally jointed mono or bidirectionally orientated or stretched mesh made from polyethylene or
polypropylene or Polyester or similar polymer, with high secant modulus, is square, rectangular, hexagonal or oval mesh form. Their junction strength shall be high with high creep resistance, and dimensional stability. Their open structure shall permit effective interlocking with soil, aggregates, rock etc., they shall be used as a tensile member or reinforcement Therefore just any grid look alike product are unlikely to function as Geogrid, (such as Geonets, coated or uncoated Woven or Knitted fibrillated mesh/fabrics/textiles, fused Tape-form mesh elements etc). Use of these can lead to serious consequences since they don't conform to soil geogrid interaction requirements defined in BS 8006-1995. These are disqualified for use as Geogrid, as they lack integral joint, and have poor junction strength to ensure interlocking of the soil, which provides confinement to soil particles leading to load transfer from soil to Geogrids. HDPE/PP integrally jointed geogrids as ideal soil reinforcement HDPE/PP Geogrids were developed since early 70's and have a long development history. Current technology is extremely advanced with decades of research and evaluation, building user confidence. They are used as long term soil reinforcement in innumerable structures for last 40 years and standardized all over the world, including ASTM, BS 8006-1995 & FHWA. HDPE/PP extruded punched sheet, integrally jointed Geogrids conforms to the true definition of Geogrids, providing ideal junction strength, dimensional stability, oval aperture for optimum interlocking, connection strength to Panel fascia, long term design strength and service life of 120 yrs. The design of Reinforced soil walls for highways require to meet MoRTH specification in India, meeting provisions of BS 8006:1995 and FHWA with seismic load considerations. Extent of serviceability failures that need to be catered to
C. Fill stability performance impair seriously, arising from nonconformity due to: Improper Compaction of fill slippage of reinforcement due to lack of installation control. Excessive fill particle size on compaction, lowering load transfer from soil to reinforcement. Effect of ingress of water (e.g., precipitation during construction) on dilation of compaction . Poor drainage condition or faulty use of substandard fill (semi permeable). Delay in construction of sealing pavement structure to stop ingress of water from top. Improper internal drainage corresponding to fill permeability or Lack of surface drainage.
Various kinds of soil reinforcement are used to provide a reinforced earth structure like, HDPE integrally jointed oriented Geogrids, Knitted and bitumen coated Polyester (PET) mesh, polymer straps/tapes and metallic straps, have different perspectives of function. Metallic straps and polymer straps acts as a frictional anchor to hold an anchored bulkhead (facia). Therefore the design principle should consider
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STP Ltd
Geosynthetics
Several RE wall structures in India have shown post construction problems, arising from various aspects. Experience show that there may be several serviceability concerns like: - Problems emanating from lack of Junction strength and absence of soil interlocking. - Foundation strength adequacy, leading to excess settlement or rotational failures. - Fascia slumping due to avoidance of using a RCC bed block and rupture of PCC bed. - Lack of appropriate batter in fascia installation, leading to leaning of wall forward. - Large post-construction deformation due to incompatible in soilreinforcement strain. - In case of Panel fascia, face bulging lead to panel loosening, isolation and fracture. - In case of Blocks, instability of block fascia after 4-6m height, and rotation of fascia. Some major reasons for lack of RE wall performance A. Effect of lack of Junction strength affects several functions: Fascia connection BS 8006:1995 stipulates in Cl: 6.8 and Table-5 that for an articulated fascia with discreet panels, the geogrid
joints with fascia must provide up to 85% of applied force. For integrally jointed HDPE geogrid the junction strength arising from integral joint is typically 95% of parent strand strength, and are jointed following a Bodkin joint (refer BS 8006:1995, Cl: 3.2.4.4 and Fig-7), which meets the requirement of code entirely. However knitted and coated PET mesh used as geogrid, has typically less than 5% junction strength and therefore cannot be joined by Bodkin method. Therefore such mesh use must satisfy a tested and proven mechanical Fascia fastener system, certified by accredited certifying agency like BBA ( ref BS 8006:1995, Cl:3.5 & Fig-8). Geogrid piece jointing BS 8006:1995 stipulates in Cl: 6.8.1 3.2.4.1. And 3.2.4.4, that the geogrid joints must have load carrying efficiency of 95%, which is entirely possible in HDPE integrally jointed Geogrid but not in PET knitted mesh. For such mesh designer must satisfy a tested and proven mechanical geogrid joining system, certified by accredited certifying agency like BBA, etc ( refer BS 8006:1995, Cl: 3.5 and Fig-8). Interlocking of soil ( Refer BS 8006-1995, Chapter-2, Fig-2) As already mentioned the
soil-reinforcement interaction is determined by failure mode of the reinforcement on application of ultimate load. If the reinforcement fails to interlock the soil by wedge action within its aperture, even if the soil is compacted adequately, the soil surrounding the reinforcement would not be influenced by an active pseudo cohesive lateral confinement, thereby providing soil pressure transfer to the reinforcement, while soil will not experience the effect of deformation beyond the initial strain. This is why the reinforcement and soil must be compatible in initial strain, which occur during the construction phase. For non integral jointed mesh (knitted mesh) load transfer is not possible due to poor
Soil Geogrid interaction for reinforcing effect

joint strength, therefore the interlocking of soil is not created. Such mesh still functions as reinforcement, but they provide an anchorage to the fascia bulkhead. Design principle should follow the necessary principle of such mode of failure B. Foundation strength inadequacy emanates from inadequate assessment of Safe bearing capacity due to imposed load from superstructure and eccentricity of loading due to overturning of wall. The result can be severe risking excessive settlement, punching failure of wall toe, sinking of fascia etc. C. Fascia slumping occurs in cases where fascia is resting on yielding bed block chosen, which usually happens from PCC bed block. It is seldom realized that a 10m high wall with 180mm thick fascia, the overburden pressure on the bed block due to chance imposition of
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STA Concrete Flooring Solutions
Geosynthetics
Wu
(n)
F g (n). a cs
cs
fascia panel stack one above earth can be seriously imposing due to slender fascia footprint on bed block. Use of RCC bed block is always advocated. D. Fascia panels and Blocks should be designed with inclination towards soil side to cater to reinforcement strain for designed load on reinforcement (usually 23%), also compatible with soil strain. This deformation is part of design allowance, as geogrid will strain on absorption of load. The batter provided with this consideration will eliminate the leaning of the wall beyond vertical. E. Post construction strain in RE wall must conform to BS 8006-1995, Cl: 6.6.3.2 Large post-construction deformation due to incompatible in soil-reinforcement strain Post construction deformation may arise from several factors like (i) high wall height, (ii) soil creep strain, (iii) designed reinforcement extension, (iv) reinforcement creep, (v) reinforcement stiffness and (vi) yielding of soil (dilation). With integral HDPE geogrid being stiff geogrid interlocking soil movement, the post construction internal strain serviceability limit of 1% can be objectively met even for height of 15m. The PET knitted geogrid being more flexible and without integral joints, allows more soil dilation,
resulting in higher post construction strain for higher wall heights than 6m. F. Fascia bulging in panel fascia Fascia may bulge due to several problems, which in all cases are due to yielding of fascia from the anchorage of reinforcement as well as demonstrated soil movement (deformation) behind wall arising from soil being not confined. Generally such bulges are common at 2/3rd height, depicting a pregnant belly syndrome and also at the top of the wall face where the fascia is not restrained properly, commonly in RE wall built with knitted mesh. In case of Panel fascia these usually occur due to: - Failure of reinforcement connection with fascia. - Slippage of non integral mesh reinforcement due to poor junction strength. - Slippage of non integral mesh reinforcement due to lack of soil compaction - Ingress of water triggering dilation of soil compaction G. Fascia bulging in Block fascia must conform to BS 8006-1995, Cl: 6.6.3.1 & Table-23 Block fascia needs use of an integrally jointed Geogrid to satisfy the stability of the fascia arising in segmental retaining wall units using Blocks, as the block interface is sheared at a constant rate of displacement until
failure occurs due hinge height phenomenon. The maximum number of blocks that can be stacked as an isolated column without toppling is limited based on block size, shape, connection with geogrid, stiffness of geogrid etc. Conclusion Use of RE wall has come of age in India since 1993-94, when first Geogrid reinforced soil wall was installed in Okhla Flyover by Delhi PWD, which bears the successful performance today. This installation catered to foundation treatment using Geogrids and improvement of bearing capacity using reinforced fly ash fill. Today large scale RE wall applications using various other reinforcements like tape, straps, knitted mesh etc. are common. Scores of structures are built since then using integrally jointed HDPE geogrids, which are performing satisfactorily, besides their worldwide use over last 40 years. Use of polymer tape, straps, or PET knitted mesh with woven joints is much recent and user need to understand their long term performance for reasons stated above.

Enviro Geosynthetics P. Ltd.
1401- 1410, DLF Galleria, DLF City Ph-IV, Gurgaon-122002. Ph: 0124-5050615-616, Fax: 0124-5050617 E-mail: admin@envirogeo.com Web: www.envirogeo.com
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Ajax Fiori Engineering (I) Pvt.Ltd
Ground Engineering Soil Nailing
Fundamentals of Soil Nailing Technique

Sonjoy Deb
oil nailing is a technique in which soil slopes, excavations or retaining walls are passively reinforced by the insertion of relatively slender eflements - normally steel reinforcing bars. Such structural element which provides load transfer to the ground in excavation reinforcement application is called nail (Refer Figure 1). Soil nails are usually installed at an inclination of 10 to 20 degrees with horizontal and are primarily subjected to tensile stress. Tensile stress is applied passively to the nails in response to the deformation of the retained materials during subsequent excavation process. Soil nailing is typically used to stabilize existing slopes or excavations where top-to-bottom construction is advantageous compared to the other retaining wall systems. As construction proceeds from the top to bottom, shotcrete or concrete is also applied on the excavation face to provide continuity. In short Soil Nailing increases the shearing resistance of soil by acting in tension.
In the present era, soil nailing is being carried out at large in railway construction work for the stabilization of side lopes in existing track-road or laying of new tracks adjoining to an existing one (Refer Figure 4). Development Of The Soil Nailing Technique The soil nailing technique was developed in the early 1960s, partly from the techniques for rock bolting and multi-anchorage systems, and partly from reinforced fill technique (Clouterre, 1991; FHWA, 1998). The New Austrian Tunnelling Method introduced in the early 1960s was the premier prototype to use steel bars and shotcrete to reinforce the ground. With the increasing use of the technique, semi-empirical designs for soil nailing began to evolve in the early 1970s. The first systematic research on soil nailing, involving both model tests and full-scale field tests, was carried out in Germany in the mid-1970s. Subsequent development work was initiated in France and the United States in the early 1990s. The result of this research and development work formed the basis for the formulation of the design and construction approach for the soil nailing technique in the subsequent decades.
Figure 1. Soil nail with centralizers
Figure 2 depicts cross section of a grouted nailed wall along with some field photographs of the same in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Cross-section of a grouted soil nailed wall
(a) Highway
Soil-Nail Reinforcement: A soil-nail reinforcement is the main element of a soil-nailed system. Its primary function is to provide tensile resistance. The reinforcement is typically a solid high yield deformed steel bar. Other types of materials, such as fibre reinforced polymer, can also be used as a soil-nail reinforcement. Reinforcement Connector (Coupler): Couplers are used for joining sections of soil-nail reinforcing bars. Cement Grout Sleeve: Cement grout, made of Portland cement and water, is placed in a pre-drilled hole after the insertion of a soil-nail reinforcement. The cement grout sleeve serves the primary function of transferring stresses between the ground and the soil-nail reinforcement. It also provides a nominal level of corrosion protection to the reinforcement.
(b) Railway Figure 3. Application of soil nailed wall
Various types of soil nailing Various types of soil nailing methods that are employed in the field is listed below: Grouted Nail: After excavation, first holes are drilled in the wall/slope face and then the nails are placed in the predrilled holes. Finally, the drill hole is then filled with cement grout. Driven Nail: In this type, nails are mechanically driven to the wall during excavation. Installation of this type of soil nailing is very fast; however, it does not provide a good corrosion protection. This is generally used as temporary nailing. Self-Drilling Soil Nail: Hollow bars are driven and grout is injected through the hollow bar simultaneously during the drilling. This method is faster than the grouted nailing and it exhibits more corrosion protection than driven nail. Jet-Grouted Soil Nail: Jet grouting is used to erode the ground and for creating the hole to install the steel bars. The grout provides corrosion protection for the nail. Launched Soil Nail: Bars are launched into the soil with very high speed using firing mechanism involving compressed air. This method of installation is very fast; however, it is difficult to control the length of the bar penetrating the ground. Basic Elements of a Soil-nailed System Figure 5 shows the cross-section of a typical soil-nailed cut slope. A soil-nailed system formed by the drill-and-grout method comprises the following basic elements:
Corrosion Protection Measures: Different types of corrosion protection measures are required depending on the design life and soil aggressivity. Common types of corrosion protection measures are hot-dip galvanising and corrugated plastic sheathing. Heat-shrinkable sleeves made of polyethylene and anti-corrosion mastic sealant material are commonly used to protect couplers.
Figure 4. Soil nailing in railway construction for laying of new tracks adjoining to an existing one
Soil-Nail Head: A soil-nail head typically comprises a reinforced concrete pad, a steel bearing plate and nuts. Its primary function is to provide a reaction for individual soil nails to mobilise tensile force. It also promotes local stability of the ground near the slope surface and between soil nails. Slope Facing. A slope facing generally serves to provide the slope with surface protection, and to minimise erosion and other adverse effects of surface water on the slope. It may be soft, flexible, hard, or a combination of the three (CIRIA, 2005). A soft slope facing is non-structural, whereas a flexible or hard slope facing can be either structural or non-structural. A structural slope facing can enhance the stability of a soil-nailed system by the transfer of loads from the free surface in between the soil-nail heads to the soil nails and redistribution of forces between soil nails. The
most common type of soft facing is vegetation cover, often in association with an erosion control mat and a steel wire mesh. Various issues affecting soil nailed slope There are several factors that affect the feasibility and stability of soil nailing in slopes or excavations. As mentioned earlier, construction of soil nailing is subjected to favorable ground conditions. There are also various internal and global stability factors for soil nailed slopes. Favorable Ground Condition: Soil nailing is well suited for Stiff to hard fine-grained soils which includes stiff to hard clays, clayey silts, silty clays, sandy clays, sandy silts, and combinations of theses. It is also applicable for dense to very dense granular soils with some apparent cohesion (some fine contents with percentage of fines not more than 10-15%). Nailing is not suitable for dry, poorly graded cohesionless soils, soils with cobbles and boulder (difficult to drill and increases construction cost), highly corrosive soil (involves expensive corrosion protection), soft to very
soft finegrained soils, and organic soil (very low bond stress or soil nail interaction force leading to excess nail length). Soil nailing is also not recommended for soils with high ground water table. External Stability: The external or global stability of nailed slope includes stability of nailed slope, overturning and sliding of soil-nail system, bearing capacity failure against basal heave due to excavation. Sometimes long-term stability problem also come into picture, e.g., seasonal raining. In such cases, though ground water table may be low, the seeping water may affect the stability of nailed slope without facing or proper drainage system. Internal Stability: It comprises of various failure modes of nailed structure e.g. nail soil pull-out failure, nail tensile failure, and facing flexural or punching shear failure.Such issues may be overcome by:Conducting adequate ground investigation and geotechnical testing for identification of soil parameters and ground characterization. Performing in-situ test for soil nail interaction and nail strength.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e) Figure 5. Schematic Diagram of a Soil-nailed Cut Slope Figure 6: Construction of soil nailing (a) Excavation (b) Mobile drilling rig, (c) Steel bar Installation, (d) Grouting Process (e) Stage construction
Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment Ltd.
Effective design of nailed slope system. Construction procedure of nailed structure Soil nailed structures are generally constructed in stages and it involves following steps:- Excavation till the depth where nails will be installed at a particular level - Drilling nail holes - Nail installation and grouting - Construction of temporary shotcrete facing Subsequent levels are then constructed and finally permanent facing is placed over the wall. Some of the field photographs of soil nail construction procedure are presented in Figure 6. Design Requirement Installation of nailing along the slope face increases the resisting force against the driving force of the soil mass in the failure zone. Hence, it can be regarded as a slope stabilization method. The fundamental principle of soil nailing is the development of tensile force in the soil mass and renders the soil mass stable. Although only tensile force is considered in the analysis and design, soil nail also resist bending and shear force in the slope. Through finite element analysis by Cheng (1998), has demonstrated that the bending and shear contribution to the factor of safety is relatively insignificant and the current practice in soil nail design (of considering only tensile force) should be good enough for the most cases. Nails are usually constructed at an angle of inclination from 10 to 20. Depending upon the climate of a particular region some sort of thickness of corrosion zone is assumed for an ordinary steel bar soil nail. As in Hong-Kong practice, a thickness of 2 mm is assumed as the corrosion zone so that the design bar diameter is totally 4mm less than the actual diameter of the bar. The nail is usually protected by galvanization, paint, epoxy and cement grout. Alternatively, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) may be used for soil nails which are currently under consideration. There are several practices in the design of soil nails. The effective nail load is usually taken as the minimum of - the bond strength between cement grout and soil, - the tensile strength of the soil nail and - the bond stress between grout and the nail. Design Considerations A soil-nailed system is required to fulfil fundamental requirements of stability, serviceability and durability during construction and throughout its design life. Other issues such as cost and environmental impact are also important design considerations.
- Stability: The stability of a soil-nailed system throughout its design life should be assessed. The design of a soilnailed system should ensure that there is an adequate safety margin against all the perceived potential modes of failure. - Serviceability: The performance of a soil-nailed system should not exceed a state at which the movement of the system affects its appearance or the efficient use of nearby structures, facilities or services, which rely upon it. - Durability: The environmental conditions should be investigated at the design stage to assess their significance in relation to the durability of soil nails. The durability of a steel soil-nailed system is governed primarily by the resistance to corrosion under different soil aggressivity. - Economic Considerations: The construction cost of a soil-nailed system depends on the material cost, construction method, temporary works requirements, buildability, corrosion protection requirements, soil-nail layout, type of facing, etc. - Environmental Considerations: The construction of a soil-nailed system may disturb the ground ecosystem, induce nuisance and pollution during construction, and cause visual impact to the existing environment. Appropriate pollution control measures, such as providing water sprays and dust traps at the mouths of drillholes when drilling rocks, screening the working platform and installing noise barriers in areas with sensitive receivers, should be provided. Merits And Limitations The soil nailing technique offers an alternative design solution to the conventional techniques of cutting back and retaining wall construction. Merits (a) It is suitable for cramped sites with difficult access because the construction plant required for soil nail installation is small and mobile. (b) It can easily cope with site constraints and variations in ground conditions encountered during construction, e.g., by adjusting the location and length of the soil nails to suit the site conditions. (c) During construction, it causes less environmental impact than cutting back and retaining wall construction as no major earthworks and tree felling are needed. (d) There could be time and cost savings compared to conventional techniques of cutting back and retaining wall construction which usually involve substantial earthworks and temporary works.
Varshitha Concrete Technologies Pvt.Ltd
(e) It is less sensitive to undetected adverse geological features, and thus more robust and reliable than unsupported cuts. In addition, it renders higher system redundancy than unsupported cuts or anchored slopes due to the presence of a large number of soil nails. (f) The failure mode of a soil-nailed system is likely to be ductile, thus providing warning signs before failure. Demerits (a) The presence of utilities, underground structures or other buried obstructions poses restrictions to the length and layout of soil nails. (b) The zone occupied by soil nails is sterilised and the site poses constraints to future development. (c) Permission has to be obtained from the owners of the adjacent land for the installation of soil nails beyond the lot boundary. This places restrictions on the layout of soil nails. (d) The presence of high groundwater levels may lead to construction difficulties in hole drilling and grouting, and instability problems of slope surface in the case of soil-nailed excavations. (e) The effectiveness of soil nails may be compromised at sites with past large landslides involving deep-seated failure due to disturbance of the ground. (f) The presence of permeable ground, such as ground with many cobbles, boulders, highly fractured rocks, open joints, or voids, presents construction difficulties due to potential grout leakage problems. (g) The presence of ground with a high content of fines may lead to problems of creeping between the ground and soil nails. (h) Long soil nails are difficult to install, and thus the soil nailing technique may not be appropriate for deepseated landslides and large slopes. (i) Because soil nails are not prestressed, mobilisation of soil-nail forces will be accompanied by ground deformation. The effects on nearby structures, facilities or services may have to be considered, particularly in the case of soil-nailed excavations. (j) Soil nails are not effective in stabilising localised steep slope profiles, back scarps, overhangs or in areas of high erosion potential. Suitable measures, e.g., local trimming, should be considered prior to soil nail installation. Conclusion Soil nailing is embrassed by practicing engineers as a
highly competitive well proven technique. Soil nailing has certain similarities to both reinforced earth and anchoring, although its particular operating principles and construction methods give it a firm and distinct identity. Similar considerations distinguish it from allied insitu soil reinforcing techniques such as reticulated root piles and soil dowelling. Most applications of soil nailing to date have been associated with new construction projects such as foundation excavations and slope stabilization, for both temporary and permanent works. The system has equal facility in a wide range of remedial projects, and indeed it is most likely that nailing will find its wide applications in the India in this field, bearing in mind the prevailing economic trends. It is to be hoped that the growth of the technique in India can be fostered by practical research collaborations between industry, the universities and government, in the manner of developed countries like France, Germany, United States of America and United Kingdom, who are the current leaders in this field. Reference
1. FHWA (2003), Soil NAIL walls, Geotechnical Engineering circular No 7 , Report No FHWAO-IF-03-017, Federal Highway Administration. 2. Juran I., Gerge.B.Khalid F. and Elias V. (1990a): Kinematical Limit Analysis for Design of Soil Nailed Structures, J. of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, vol 116, No 1, pp. 54-71. 3. Juran I., Gerge.B.Khalid F. And Elias V. (1990b): Design of Soil Nailed Retaining Structures, Design and Performance of Earth Retaining structures, J. of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol 116 pp. 54-71. 4. Guide to Soil Nail Design And Construction, Geotechnical Engineering office Civil Engineering and Development Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 5. Soil Nailing For Stabilization Of Steep Slopes Near Railway Tracks, Prepared by Dr. Amit Prashant, Ms. Mousumi Mukherjee, Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Submitted to Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO), Lucknow 6. www.williamsform.com/Ground_Anchors/Soil_Nails_Soil_ Nailing/soil_nail_soil_nailing.html 7. http://www.classes.ce.ttu.edu/CE5331_013/ 8. http://www.geofabrics.com/docs/Tamworth.pdf 9. http://www.wmplanthire.com/slope_stabilisation.htm 10. http://www.keller-ge.co.uk/engineering/case-studies 11. New Directions in LRFD for Soil Nailing Design and Specifications, C. A. Lazarte (GeoSyntec Consultants, Columbia, Maryland, USA), G. B. Baecher (University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA 0, J. L. Withiam (DAppolonia, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA)
JBA Concrete Solutions Pvt.Ltd
Ground Engineering Underpinning System
Basics of Underpinning System its Application & Benefits

Sonjoy Deb
n construction, underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Underpinning is a repair process that strengthens foundations which have been weakened by a variety of factors. In the process of underpinning, the area underneath the load of the foundation is repaired, made strong or reinforced. Underpinning comes in many types and suits different kinds of repair projects. In order to make the right choice, it is necessary to understand the structure of the whole foundation, the supports used and the factors that cause the foundation to crack or get damaged.
Reason for Underpinning Underpinning may be necessary for a variety of reasons: - The original foundation is simply not strong or stable enough, e.g. due to decay of wooden piles under the foundation. - The usage of the structure has changed. - The properties of the soil supporting the foundation may have changed or was mischaracterized during planning. - The construction of nearby structures necessitates the excavation of soil supporting existing foundations.
which case the movement is known as heave. Depending on the cause of subsidence or heave, horizontal stretching or squeezing of the ground can accompany the vertical movement. When movement is, or is likely to become excessive, so that the use or safety of the building is compromised, this is when underpinning is generally the best solution. Common Methods of Underpinning Process There are several types of underpinning methods to choose from, and each will be best for some situations only. Method 1: The traditional mass concrete underpinning method is a good example. The process is best suited for shallow underpinning and involves excavating the weak soil underneath the foundation and replacing it with mass concrete which provides more strength. Since the concrete base is now stronger than the soil that used to hold the foundation, the weight of the structure is carried in a much more efficient manner. Method 2: Another method involves the use of a beam and base. This method makes use of the traditional way of constructing mass concrete bases but also incorporates beams to serve as a support for the existing foundation. Its load is transferred to a concrete beam that is constructed underneath it. The beam then transfers the load to a mass concrete base which spreads it evenly for support. The construction of the beams depends on the architecture of the structure built above the foundation. Method 3: Another type of underpinning process, called mini-piled underpinning, involves transferring the load of the structure and the foundation to stable soils found deep under the ground. Usually, the depth of the soil exceeds 5 meters. The constructed piles are cased in steel and have a diameter ranging from 15 cm to 30 cm. The piles are driven into drilled holes, making them rest on a stable soil below ground level. Some piles may be constructed as to reach 15 meters below ground. Process of Basement Underpinning Basement underpinning pertains to the process of repairing or re-strengthening an existing foundation of a building. Basement underpinning is usually referred to as a repair method but it is also advised by landscapers for prolonging the durability of a residential building. Homeowners planning to undertake basement underpinning should have a basic understanding of what it entails since it quite expensive. Basement Underpinning Basics
Cavity created by the underpinning process to be filled with concrete to extend reach and depth of the foundations
Dry rot is a type of fungus that decays wooden piles under foundations
About the Process Underpinning is accomplished by digging underneath shallow footings and extending the foundation by pouring concrete to extend the reach of the foundations in depth or in breadth so it either rests on a stronger soil stratum or distributes its load across a greater area. Use of micropiles and jet grouting are common methods in underpinning. An alternative to underpinning is the strengthening of the soil by the introduction of a grout. Subsidence usually occurs in lowrise and mediumrise buildings which usually have shallow foundations or cellars up to about 3m deep. Subsidence and settlement are taken as interchangeable terms, meaning the sinking of ground on which a structure is founded. Ground can also rise, in
The most established form of basement underpinning uses
a combination of concrete and piers. Some people might refer to this as traditional underpinning but this is actually a slight modification since the earliest form of underpinning didnt use piers. While the concrete adds to the basements overall durability, the presence of piers increases its loadbearing strength.
Basement underpinning requires the creation of rounded or squared holes depending upon the kind of excavation tools used and the shape of the piers. Ideally, the holes should be at least 24 inches apart. Excavation tools include the use of backhoes and soil loaders that required for scooping-out and piling the dug-up soil. Some people prefer using shovels but this can make the entire process rather tiring. - Pier Piling: Once the excavation has created enough space, the extra support in the form of piers is introduced. This could be in the form of using: - Resistance Piersthey are installed using advanced machinery wherein they are driven through the soil without needing any screws or brackets. These are ideally suited for bigger homes. - Helical Piersthese are installed using the conventional system of screwing the piers upon a frame. These piers are difficult-to-manipulate once installed, since the framework secured with screws cannot be undone. - Pouring Concrete : Some landscapers prefer to pour concrete upon the pier frame too to make it more durable while some just like to pack some garden soil. The outer edge of the piers is secured along the perimeter of the basement by pouring concrete. The temporary support structure is removed. Concrete pouring is done in the traditional manner using tools like shovels, trowels and concrete rakes. The outer edge of the concrete-covered edge is smoothed with a concrete cutter. Safety Issues to be Given Utmost Importance Most types of underpinning involve digging holes under buildings in confined spaces. The existing structure is expected to defy gravity and temporarily arch over the excavation. Collapses can occur. The risks must be identified and managed well before and during the underpinning process. Following are list of safety activities that needs to be considered for underpinning process: - - - - - - - Investigate services before digging Check that underpinning pits cannot flood or be gassed Strengthen superstructure before digging Check that walls above are strong enough to support themselves over pits Support sides of excavations Ensure that workers can escape from pits easily Use threaded couplers instead of dowel bars to connect reinforcement rods between sections of shallow mass concrete underpinning Ensure safe access and ventilation to pits Use a Banksman to oversee safety.
Basement underpinning
Basement underpinning is recommended for many reasons, like: - The existing basement is showing signs of extensive cracking, moisture seepage or is sinking into the underlying soil bed. - The existing basement is leaking out the internal heat even after repeated, basic repairs with mortar and insulation treatment. - The existing basement needs to be strengthened for bearing additional weight as more floors are being added to the house. - Construction of large buildings in the vicinity along with moisture-friendly soil has caused large-scale soil compaction below the basement, causing overall instability of the house. Steps followed in Basement Underpinning - Installation of Temporary Support: At the time starting the project, a temporary support-like structure is created. This is done to ensure that the basement doesnt collapse during underpinning. Further, it provides a base upon which heavy materials like piers can be moved. - Excavation : Excavation or removal of soil from under and around the basement is vital. This provides access to the underside of the basement, creating space that is used for installing the stabilizing additions (piers). Before excavating the soil, one should have a detailed plan that explains the angles and spots wherein the piers would be inserted. Unnecessary excavation can lengthen the project and weaken the basement.
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Common Problems Encountered in Underpinning Though Underpinning is very good for stabilizing an old sinking building of structure, yet all is not well with this technique. There are lot of cases where one will end up with serious problems with Underpinning. Underpinning of an existing foundation is typically required whenever a new excavation compromises the stability of the soils supporting that foundation. underpinning involves extending a buildings foundation downward, usually by adding concrete under the existing foundation wall. It is a specialty operation, which even under the very best conditions, has considerable risk associated with it. There are some conditions that make it even more difficult to perform without causing damage. These are as follows:
the perimeter footings was mostly successful. However, the church building had interior foundations for walls and columns that were not underpinned. The drawdown of the water table caused consolidation of the silty soils, which in turn caused settlement of these interior elements. The interior walls developed severe cracks and the slab-ongrade experienced extensive settlement. As a result, the building was vacated. (C) Sandy Soils Sandy soils pose dual problems - They settle when vibrated. Pile driving is one potential source of vibrations. Even if the permanent building does not use piles, the contractor may decide to use piles as part of the temporary soil retention systems. For example, soldier pile walls with wood lagging are commonly used. The settlement caused by vibration of cohesionless soils can affect not only the foundations immediately bordering the excavation, but can also cause settlement of interior foundations and slabs-ongrade. - They spill out. Cohesionless soils have no ability to stand vertically. So if sheeting or lagging is not installed as the excavation progresses, sandy soils will spill into the excavation, causing the building to lose foundation support. Precautions to be Taken in Underpinning
Rubble foundations
(A) Rubble Foundations Older buildings may use foundations composed of large stones, which may or may not be mortared together. These rubble foundations, while perfectly adequate for distributing gravity loads to the soil, are not well suited to bridging over underpinning pits. They lack the continuity that is inherent in reinforced concrete footings, or even unreinforced concrete footings. In some cases, it may not be feasible to underpin these foundations. Instead, it may be necessary to install a retaining wall next to the wall that is designed to withstand the lateral load due to the surcharge. (B) High Water Table with Silts and Clays In one case that the author investigated, a high-rise building was constructed next to an abutting church. The basements of the highrise building extended several levels below the church, which required underpinning the perimeter foundations of the church. In addition, the presence of a high water table meant the site would need to be dewatered. The underpinning operation for
Underpinning is a messy, noisy and traumatic operation for buildings and their occupants alike. Unless sophisticated and expensive jacking systems are incorporated, the underpinning will almost inevitably promote some additional subsidence as the works settle in. If a structure is partially underpinned, for example one house in a terrace, then future damage may recur as the rest of the non-underpinned structure continues settling. For these reasons, underpinning should be avoided if at all possible. Underpinning is not necessary from a purely engineering viewpoint in the following situations: - Where the cause of the ground movement has ceased and is unlikely to recur, repairing the damage should be sufficient - Where the rate and total magnitude of anticipated ground movement is unlikely to significantly threaten the structural strength, stability or integrity of a building during its required lifespan, periodic repairs and redecoration should suffice. Doors and windows may have to be eased from time to time or changed for other types which are more tolerant of frame distortion.
Some Underpinning Cases Photographs of some underpinning jobs are shown below: Figure 1 shows some general pictures of underpinning in foundations.
be installed with minimal site disturbance and under low headroom conditions.
Figure 3. Process of Helical Pile Underpinning
Underpinning of a building with piles and reinforced concrete raft is shown in Figure 4. The work is being carried out by Falcon structural UK.
(a) (b) Figure 1. (a) Approach pit and pit below foundation (b) Dry packing the underside of the footing
Underpinning to a flank wall to enable the construction of a Reinforced Concrete Basement is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 2 shows combining isolated foundations through underpinning.
Figure 4. Underpinning with Pile and Reinforced Concrete Raft
Figure 5. Underpinning to a flank wall to enable the construction of a Reinforced Concrete Basement
Benefits of Underpinning System - The process of underpinning the foundation makes buildings accessible for inspection, correction and improvement. As underpinning is usually undertaken in older homes, older household plumbing, electrical and insulation systems can be replaced with new ones. Also, one will have a new concrete floor. Overall, one will get long term savings in energy, safety and comfort of the entire house. - Foundation underpinning dramatically increases the usability of the below ground space, up to fifty percent
Figure 2. Combining Foundations by Underpinning
Figure 3 shows process of helical pile underpinning. Helical piles consist of specially made augers or helical sections which are drilled and left in place to form the pile. Their capacity is proportional to the installation torque and typically ranges between 10 and 30 kips. They can
of the available room in a house. In doing so basement may simply become an entertainment field, spa, training room, etc. Conclusion In the construction world, underpinning is a process in which you strengthen and also stabilise a foundation of a building which could be potentially dangerous if no action was taken. A few of the reasons and benefits one should consider are as follows.... - The existing foundations are not strong / stable enough - underpinning will correct these problems. - The use of the building has changed - Possibly you have changed the purpose of a building, maybe from a house to a shop - underpinning will allow the building to take more pressure. - The soil properties that the building lies upon have changes - there could have been some movement in the ground, perhaps through subsidence - underpinning will help strengthen the building in this case. - New buildings or structures added to the surrounding area. If a new house is build next to an existing property, then underpinning maybe needed to strengthen the first property.
- Land cost has increased. If the price of land increases by a great deal, it maybe cheaper to use underpinning with a view to improving the existing property (perhaps adding a new floor) rather than purchasing more land. Hence significant advantages can be gained by early coordination and understanding of the specific requirements that must be met by the underpinning and excavation support systems. Incorporating the design of the underpinning system into the overall project deliverables has the potential of resolving unforeseen problems during construction. Reference
- - - - - - http://www.buildingconservation.com http://www.doityourself.com http://www.aquamasterplumbing.com Getting to the Bottom of Underpinning, David B. Peraza, P .E., STRUCTURE magazine 17 December 2006. http://www.falconstructural.co.uk http://ezinearticles.com
Photo Courtesy:
www.alphastructural.com www.great-southern-exterminating.com www.thebasementspecialists.ie www.knollmeyerbuildingcorp.com mohlermasonryblog.wordpress.com
Venus Equipments & Tools Pvt.Ltd
Ground Engineering Utility Locating
Underground Utility Locating

Bhavani Balakrishna
ith several utility lines such as phones, electricity, gas, fiber optics, drainage and flood control facilities, water mains and waste water pipes populating the urban underground, they are increasingly becoming susceptible to damage as construction and renovation equipment excavate in the proximity. When construction projects are surprised by a utility, the results can include redesign costs, repair costs, delay costs, change orders, claims, and damages. The ability to physically determine the location, nature and depth of underground utility services is critical to reducing the risk and consequences of inadvertent damage during construction. However, due to lack of a proper centralized and updated database, much of the existing data on utility location, composition, ownership, and status is missing, incorrect, or incomplete. Utility locating is the process of identifying and recording the precise vertical and horizontal location of a utility to help make excavations safer. Some of the most popular methods of detecting underground utilities are the Electromagnetic Pipe and Cable Locators, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Non-destructive Air-Vacuum Excavation, Acoustic Emissions. This article examines various technologies aimed at locating subsurface utilities. Methods of Underground Utility Locating Electromagnetic Pipe and Cable Locators Pipe and cable locators based on electromagnetics are the most common instruments for detecting and tracing underground utilities. Its main short-
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coming is that it will not locate nonmetallic lines such as plastic pipes. However, utilities taking the small amount of trouble to lay tracer wires with plastic pipes are not affected by this short coming. These locators do not find pipes and cables, instead they find magnetic fields. A current flowing along a conductor such as a metallic pipe creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field forms a cylindrical shape around the conductor and is called the signal. These line locators work by locating either a background signal or a signal introduced into the utility line using a transmitter. As a transmitter emits electromagnetic waves, a magnetic field is generated. If a metal pipe or a cable is laid within the magnetic field, induced current (signal current) is produced and flows through the underground metal pipe or cable according to the principle of electromagnetic induction. Then, a receiver picks up the magnetic field generated by the subsurface metal pipe or cable. The location and depth of the subsurface pipe or cable is located by the angle of the magnetic force concentrically generated by the metal pipe and the strength of the magnetic field. There are two main ways of getting signal onto cables; either a direct connection with crocodile clips or inductively with a coupler or clamp. A signal introduced into using direct induction is a preferred method as it minimizes the
interferences from other utilities or subsurface features. The signal carried by the utility line can be located horizontally on the surface using a receiver. The receiver is moved across the estimated location of the utility line. The point at which the signal strength is highest is marked as the approximate horizontal location of the utility. The signal transmitter and receiver and sonde make up a locating set. Sonde is a small transmitter that can be propelled along non-metallic ducts or sewers so that they can be traced by
Magnetic field Low signal High signal Transmitter
Induction Current
locating the sonde using the locator as it travels along the duct or drain. Equipment vary in antenna size, shape, and number; in the frequency and threshold of output; in types of attachments; in its depth measurements and current-flow direction indicating; in its signal strength displays; and in the shape, size, and weight of transmitters and receivers. Lower-frequency locators can penetrate deeper into the ground, but more power is needed to do so. Less-conductive utilities need higher frequency to propagate over distance. However, with higher frequency, the signal will travel less distance. A larger homogenous conductor can be more difficult to detect and trace than a smaller one, since the radio waves spread out and travel on the pipe surface. A larger surface means more signal attenuation. Pipe and cable locators can be effective up to a depth of 20 ft., and with high power-sondes up to a depth of 50 ft. Depth estimation with pipe and cable locators is possible, but it is fraught with potential for error due to site conditions. GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar)
Underground Cable or Pipes Magnetic field
GPR works by sending an electromagnetic pulse into the ground. For
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utilities, the frequency range is typically between 50 MHz and 500 MHz. Some ratio of this pulse signal is transmitted through boundaries and some ratio is reflected from the boundaries back to the receiving antenna. The boundaries are formed as a function of a particular particles dielectric properties. Overall propagation into the ground is a factor of power, frequency, and soil resistivity. With GPR, detection occurs when the utilitys dielectric constant differs from that of the surrounding soil. A dielectric constant that differs significantly from the soil around it would produce the best reflection. This occurs, for instance, when the utility is metallic and the ground is dry sand. GPR has several advantages over pipe and cable locators. Its biggest advantage is that it can detect nonmetallic utilities. A second advantage is that, even if the utility itself cannot be imaged, GPR can sometimes detect the sides or the materials of the trench in which the utility was placed. A third advantage is its depth determination. The radar data display is directly proportional to the electromagnetic waves speed in the soil. Given that the soils properties are relatively uniform and consistent in relation to wave speed, the depth of the utility can be easily measured. With a few
test holes to calibrate wave propagation speed, the depth determination can be quite accurate and precise, as opposed to the variability and unreliability of the pipe and cable locator methods. Terrain Conductivity Terrain conductivity (TC) measures the average electrical conductivity of a cone-spaced volume of earth beneath the transmitting and receiving antennas. When less of a utility is within a cone, there will be less of an effect on the average resistivity. Maximum depth
penetration of the bottom of the cone can be as deep as 150 ft; however, greater depths require greater antenna spacing and power and decrease resolution. Factors affecting ground conductivity include earth materials, such as rock and soil, and the water and its solutes in the interstitial pore spaces. Most rocks and soils have high electric resistivity. Most of the water and solutes have low resistivity. Utilities resistivities can range from extremely low (metallic) to very high (large empty clay pipe). Attempts to look for contrasts between the utility and the earth can vary from highly effective, to somewhat effective, to impossible, depending on the type of utility and the soil. TC methods may be applied to trace septic systems, especially in dry soil. The moisture and chemical composition from the septic waste might produce a detectable anomaly, as might the gravel bedding or metallic drain pipes. TC methods might also trace buried tanks, well shafts, or vaultcovers. However, in general, interpreting TC data is much more complex than interpreting datafrom pipe and cable locators. Infrared Waves (Heat) Some utilities including steam pipes and sanitary sewers have operating temperatures distinguishable from the temperature of the surrounding soil. If the utility is shallow enough or if the temperature difference is large enough, a temperature differential can be detected at the surface using an infrared camera. But the deeper a utility is buried, the less chance there is that the heat signature can be detected at the surface. Infrared methods are also difficult to use and interpret in a congested urban environment with lots of cement paving. Solar gain during the day heats the ground to the point where infrared is mostly useless. Infrared also has no depth-estimation capabilities. The current state of the art employs infrared cameras or thermistors for very specific situations, but the infrared method is rarely used.
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Magnetic Methods Iron is a material commonly used in pipes. The magnetic properties of iron or nickel can be used to detect and sometimes trace an iron or steel pipe. The gradient survey method, which uses gradiometers, has the best application to find buried utility objects. With the gradient method, a single instrument is used to cancel the effects of internal and external magnetic fields through the placement of two total-field sensors within about 20 in. of each other. In the absence of a nearby source of iron, these sensors are in balance. As the detector moves closer to a magnetic object, the shape and intensity of the magnetic field causes an imbalance in the sensors. This imbalance creates a reading that the operator can interpret. However, the buried pipes field contribution decreases rapidly as the distance between the sensors and the pipe increases. Pipes that are more than several feet below the surface will be difficult to detect unless they have a very high initial magnetic strength. Initial magnetic strength is related to object shape, internal structure, purity of material, and the objects location on the earth during manufacturing. As a result, some utility-related iron-bearing structures,
such as valve boxes, manhole covers, septic systems, magnetic marker tanks, wells and iron casings, can be found more easily than others. It is generally easier to detect a vertical linear structure than a flat round horizontal one. Depth estimation is not possible with magnetic methods. Acoustic Emission A pipe under rapidly varying mechanical stress may deform and generate noise. Various transducers, which are linear accelerometers that translate motion into electrical signals, can monitor this noise, or acoustic emission. The premise is that the noise will be loudest directly over the pipe, because the elastic wave will have traveled the shortest distance at this point and less signal attenuation will have occurred. However, the type of surface (for example, soil or concrete), fill (rock or clay), compaction, ground moisture, and so forth may distort the noise distribution. There are three methods for using acoustic emission techniques, all of which are susceptible to interference from noise, such as that produced by aircraft, automobiles, trains, and electrical transformers. It is a good trace technique, but it is not an effective search technique,
and access to the utility system must be available at one point. Active sonics involves inducing a sound onto or into a pipe, which can be accomplished by striking the pipe at an exposed point or by introducing a noise source into the pipe. The noise source may be pulled through metallic, nonmetallic, empty, or filled pipes, or it may be carried by a tractor device, thereby getting the sound closer to the detection point. By marking or measuring the loudest points at the ground surface, the utility may be traced. Active sonics is employed when a manhole cover is struck with a hammer to introduce sound waves into both the air inside the manhole cover and the pipe itself. Passive sonics relies on the ability of the pipes product to escape. For instance, water escaping a pipe or at a leak will vibrate the pipe. This vibration will carry along the pipe for some distance before attenuation. Factors such as product pressure, shape and size of orifice, and type of pipe material will affect the initial sound generation. Pipe material, surrounding material, compaction, and product will affect the distance the sound travels along the
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pipe. Detection over the pipe is again made with an amplified device that typically provides a sound and visual reading of signal intensity. Resonant sonics depends on the pipes product being a non-compressible fluid such as water. Interfacing the fluid surface and generating a pressure wave in the fluid will create detectable vibrations in the pipe. It is possible to tune the oscillators frequency to one or more of the resonant frequencies of the pipe, usually resulting in more tracing distance. A disadvantage is the need for many different types of fluid/ oscillator interfaces. Utility-joint damage is possible, so wave intensities are generally small, decreasing tracing distance. Non-destructive Air-Vacuum Excavation Non-destructive Air-Vacuum Excavation involves removing the surface material over approximately a 12in x12in area at the electronically determined approximate horizontal location. The air vacuum process then proceeds with the simultaneous action of compressed air-jets to loosen soil and vacuum extraction of the resulting debris. The process continues until the utility is uncovered. Certain soil conditions may warrant the use of water jets in place of air jets however it is outlawed in certain areas due to potential corrosion and damage. The following information can typically be recorded: utility, material, size, depth, condition, location (x, y and z), orientation, roadway section materials and depths, soil type and water table. Micro-gravitational Techniques In theory, microgravitational techniques may be used to detect extremely large, predominantly empty utilities or tunnels. Theoretically, one can calculate the expected gravitational force at a given point on the earth and this g-force is directly related to the effects of mass. If a large utility or tunnel is empty, the empty space has much less mass than if it is filled with product. The survey must be precise because of the small values being measured. Nearby sources of above-grade mass must be addressed,
as well as regional effects and the movements of celestial bodies. Elevations must be determined to millimeter accuracies. The method is theoretically possible, but there are few practical applications. Conclusions Many of the methods that have been mentioned can be combined with dataprocessing techniques and mathematical algorithms to enhance results. Data processing can range from traditional practices, such as manual data graphing, to complex algorithmic formulas linked to graphical outputs. New radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is rapidly developing as a means to both locate utilities at a specific point and characterize utilities. Active markers can be given unique preset identification number and programmed with utility information. Color coding the markers also provides visual differentiation. Using this method, it is possible to quickly find a buried marker
at a later date using a surface scan, verifying the utility details contained in the RFID tag, and then using a localized excavation process to physically expose the utility, if necessary. Bringing the signal generator or signal detection device closer to the utility can enhance the aforementioned methods. One way to do this is to bore holes in the ground that allow for signal generation and detection closer to the utility of interest. There are several ongoing projects aimed at developing new tools to help locate and characterize underground utilities, as well as new tools to identify utility conflicts and solutions. There are talks about excavation equipment equipped with a two-way GPS monitoring system that would monitor the location of the equipment in relation to the underground utilities. Should the equipment come close to a nearby underground utility an avoidance alarm system would notify the equipment operator.
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Foundation
Current Trends in Deep Foundation and Super Structure Testing

these methods have eliminated some of the constraints mentioned above. Many of these technologies were popularized by the author in the past decade in India and now the use and acceptance of these methods has considerably increased in the recent times. However, this has also led to a spurt in unethical testing practices and in many cases testing companies with inadequate knowledge who provide reports that are of poor qualities or they only cause more confusions. The author has even observed that instead of performing load tests with the globally approved High Strain Dynamic Testing using Pile Driving Analyzer / CAPWAP , reports are presented using Hiley's or Engineering news formula etc. This is a dangerous precedent and unless stopped can lead to disastrous consequences for the structure. Ultimately, it is Engineers/consultant's responsibility to accept such alternative test methods and testing agencies based on the site specific correlation studies, testing agency's past experience and expertise. It is suggested that the agency should have atleast 5 years of recognized experience in such type of testing. The following describes briefly various tests ,their process, and expertise involved in testing. High Strain Dynamic Pile Testing The test is applicable to practically all types of piles and is standardized as per ASTM D4945. It is also mentioned in MOST specifications. The method uses a Pile Driving Analyzer and associated strain gages and accelerometers to obtain both force and velocity data. Based on an assumed soil damping the method provides on site capacity estimate. The results are then refined and the soil damping, pile profile etc. is re-computed by CAPWAP analysis. This method provides information like simulated static load test curve, friction, end bearing, pile integrity, hammer performance etc. The test although quick yet requires certain minimum proper
Ravikiran Vaidya
Principal, Geo Dynamics
n current era, time is money and especially in Civil/construction industry many decisions have to be taken considering the time factor. Project schedules are becoming slimmer and demanding while lot of technologies such as precast structures, rapid hardening concrete etc. are emerging to satisfy the demand. Similarly deep foundation industry is one of the specialized branches of civil engineering and quality assurance in this industry is relatively new and very limited. For pile foundations static load test although is a known age old technique it requires lot of time/space and costs. With increasing pile diameters and limited spaces in urban areas, it is even more difficult to conduct these tests. Testing only 1% of the piles for fast track construction is inadequate and in no way helps assessing various problems at site. This eventually results in losses to both contractors and clients. Thanks to newer technologies such as High Strain Dynamic Pile Testing (HSDPT), Low Strain Testing, Cross Hole Sonic Logging, O-Cell etc. as
PIT Test in Progress
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Foundation
arrangements like a hammer having weight of 1% to 3% of the test load. The pile head needs to be made flat by either cutting the reinforcement projecting outside or by re-building the pile head. The test is then conducted by progressively increasing the drop height (normally upto 3m) till the time either the test load is achieved or the pile starts to settle (ultimate capacity is achieved). The author has written several technical articles and co-relations are available to demonstrate the reliability of the test method. This method should not be confused with the dynamic testing using Hiley's formula or any other dynamic formula which has no relevance and is an outdated approach. The IS 2911 also does not mention load test using dynamic formulae. Low Strain Integrity Testing The method is standardized as per ASTM D5882 and IS:14893. The method provides a quick tool to evaluate continuity and quality of bored/driven cast-in-situ piles. With proper site arrangements it should be possible to test upto 40-50 piles in one day. Although relatively quick, the method requires proper data collection, processing and interpretation of the results. Calibration with concrete pour card / soil information etc. is recommended and the data processing should be as per known acceptable norms so that interpretation is standardized and can be justified instead of being vague. Known limitations of this method include evaluating integrity beyond first major bulb / very high soil resistance or first major defects although these are relative and hence expertise is essential in interpretaton. The reliability of the method has been proven by exposing several piles that showed possible defects based on the data. However, note that efforts to rush through the job and test 100's of piles in one day can lead to serious consequences and potential losses to owners/contractors. For these tests, before awarding the job, the client/consultant should check the
knowledge of the testing agency, past experience and he should make an effort to study the report and understand the cardiograms or the output. The test agency should ensure that there is consistency in interpretation and reports. Merely accepting reports that state No integrity problems or doubtful without an equivalent clarity of the graph can result in several controversies and loss of time for the project. Cross Hole Sonic Logging The method is superior to the low strain test method and is standardized as per ASTM D6760. The test requires installation of PVC or steel pipes of 38mm or 50mm internal diameter in advance before concreting. Normally one tube is installed for every 300mm of pile / deep foundation. After concreting and after a suitable wait period (normally atleast 7 days), the test is conducted by lowering transmitter and receiver probes in the tubes so that the reach the bottom of the pile. The probes are then pulled at a constant rate so that a waterfall diagram, Wave Speed and Energy curve is displayed on the screen. The probe locations are then changed so that all diagonals and perimeters are scanned. The method is much more
superior to the low strain integrity method as the pile is thoroughly scanned and preliminary results can be seen on site. The method reduces the need to study wave forms like a low strain test and the results are not affected by soil/bulbs or defects. . The use of this method has increased in the recent times due to its clarity of results. Since CSL involves installation of pipes, it can be used for any sub-structure like piles, barettes, slurry walls, well foundations etc. There are methods like O-cell which are getting popular for heavy loads and large diameter piles and few such tests have been conducted in the country. Methods like Parallel Seismic tests have been used for determining the depth of existing foundations. Ground Penetrating Radars: Along with such innovative technologies use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for utility locating and other concrete inspection applications is proving to be very beneficial for Civil Engineering industry. A study by Purdue University has revealed that it is possible to save $4.62 when every $1.00 spent on GPR/SUE (subsurface utility engineering). Note that GPR principle is based on sending electromagnetic waves below ground and reflections at various times are obtained
CSL Test in Progress
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Foundation
based on the dielectric constant of the material. The depth of penetration depends on the frequency of the antenna. Normally higher the resolution, less is the penetration of the signal into soil/concrete etc. and vice versa. Antenna frequency generally ranges from 2GHz to 100MHz for structural and utility detection applications. The author has used this technology on several projects successfully. Normally this method is best used in conjunction with other methods like SUE for utility detection and with UPV/Rebar locator etc for structural members. The method is also effective for forensic applications, check pavement thickness, and host of other applications than utilities. Rebound Hammer Testing This is the most preliminary test to evaluate concrete strength. The use of this method should be discouraged as it only provides the strength at the surface and results also depend on carbonation, surface hardness, moisture etc. In certain cases, it can be used to have a relative comparison of concrete quality rather than using it purely to certify the concrete strength. When using this method, it is desirable that the hammer is of a good known brand and is recently calibrated. For large scale testing, sometimes anvil should be carried to site to periodically check the calibrations. If possible a calibration curve of Rebound number vs. cube test results should also be done at site to ensure some reliability. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Testing The method is relatively easy to use although final results depend on lot on intepretation and proper data collecton at site. It is standardized as per IS:13311 (Part:1). There are various forms of UPV testing used on site like DIRECT, SEMI-DIRECT and INDIRECT methods. To determine concrete quality and possibly strength, the DIRECT method should be used as much as possible. With new developments, it is possible to test concrete thickness upto 4m-5m with DIRECT methods.In some cases where the direct method is
not possible, the SEMI-DIRECT method can be considered. The INDIRECT method is more recommended to compute crack depth and check effectiveness of the repair works done by grouting etc. All the methods of UPV require that the probes are fixed on good uniform and flat concrete. It should be ensured that plaster, foreign material, grout etc. should be removed from the surface before testing. The surface also should be made uniform if required by grinding at the location of the probes. Covermeter Test The method is useful to determine the cover for reinforcement. The method also provides the bar diameter although this is sometimes not conclusive as there maybe corrosion, secondary steel, etc. which may cause errors. The method generally locates the first layer of steel inside the structure and the available cover reasonably accurately. It is also used in conjunction with UPV, core and half cell potential tests as these tests require that the rebars are located and marked in advance. Although having proper cover is not too much emphasized at some projects, a poor cover leads to corrosion, cracks and early deterioration of the structure. Half cell potential tests This test is used to estimate the probability of corrosion in steel reinforcement and is normally used in conjunction with the other tests. The method eliminates the requirement of hacking concrete to physically view rebar condition, however readings are weather sensitive and require that concrete is moist before conducting the tests. A very high negative potential indicates a higher possibility of corrosion. These tests should be conducted every few years for marine structures or structures exposed to marine environments. Effective assessment / repairs at early stage minimizes corrosion and increases the life of the structure. The carbonation test should also be
considered in conjunction with Half Cell tests. Core Tests Core tests can be recognized as semi destructive tests. These tests are useful to ascertain in-situ compressive strength of concrete. UPV can be performed on the cores before the compression tests and then strength results can be correlated with the UPV readings. Summary In summary, most of these tests require experts in interpretation and data collection. These methods require proper equipments, advance preparation at site. They also require good analysis and assessment. In many cases other than knowledge of testing, it is essential that the tester is well aware of the problems in deep foundations, piling, local site issues, concreting issues and various field information. The reports should be prepared after studying all such available data rather than merely relying on the test results. Some developed countries have qualifying exams for these tests to ensure that there is adequate knowledge before testing or report preparation is allowed. With the Indian economy and infrastructure growing at a fast pace, these tests if properly used will provide good quick quality assurance at lower costs. At the same time using sub-standard equipments, tools, or age-old dynamic formula or poorly qualified testers at the jobsite may also result in accidents, major repairs post completion of construction and even dangerous consequences in case of natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, etc.

Geo Dynamics
49, Atmajyoti Nagar Society, Near Atmajyoti Ashram, Ellora Park, Baroda - 390023. Telefax: +91-265-2393205, E-mail: info@geodynamics.net Web: www.geodynamics.net
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Roljack Industries
Pile Testing
Resume on Modified Testing Procedure For Ground Water
Dr. V. T. Ganpule, MD,

Stefon Constructions
nspite of large amount of research papers and experimentation, both in the field and in the laboratory on the durability aspects of concrete, little attention is paid to the fresh concrete in underground-water environment in particularly to the concrete shafts of cast is situ piles
either bored or driven. The published material on the effect of aggressive ground water on the rheological properties of concrete is scarce. The instability of freshly laid cast in situ piles as consequences of certain elements like chlorides and sulphate percentage is studied in
depth. The most of the published material relates to hardened concrete. Moreover the harmful composition of water is not completely revealed by the existing specification of water testing procedure. Many a times the damage is not due to chloride or sulphate principally but some other
Photos of Deteriorated piles Worli site, Mumbai.
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Pile Testing
Type of Cement
OPC PPC PSC
Table -1 Type of Cement
Ryzner
6.4 6.8 6.8
BOD in ppm
30 ppm 70 ppm 3500 ppm
COD in ppm
80 ppm 150 ppm 8000 ppm
phenomenon which clears the ground for sulphate/chloride attack leading to the disintegration of piles. It in this background the modified design procedure for ground water particularly from suitability to freshly mixed concrete based on the experimental results and observed case histories is proposed in the present paper. Present Testing Procedure The testing procedure of water plays a vital role in ascertaining the aggressive nature of ground water or otherwise. The engineer or designer can ensure a durable pile shaft if the water testing procedure gives him full information about the water quality. At present testing procedure of ground water includes tests like pH, chloride, sulphate and organic contents. Such test procedure serves the purpose in case of many situations. But it has been observed in number of cases that inspite of the quality of water being reported as non aggressive in nature (in accordance with prevailing water testing procedure) the constructed piles when exposed were found to be defective, deteriorated and in degraded condition In last two decades it was observed at number of sites that bored cast in situ piles on exposing were observed to be deteriorated. The studies under-taken to analyze revealed that proper investigation, including testing of soil and water samples confirming to the relevant Indian
Standard specifications (I.S. 456) was carried out. Only after proper analysis of data of soil investigation, designers proposed the bored cast in situ piles and yet the piles on exposure were found to be deteriorated as a consequence of adverse influence of aggressive elements in ground water which are not revealed by testing. An accidental testing revealed that there are some other parameters unknown to foundation engineer and not covered by present standard procedure for testing of water. This observation necessitated a deep probe in the matter so as to know the various causes which can lead to the deterioration of pile shafts. A detailed experimental scheme was planned. Based on the results a modified procedure for water of testing for under ground concrete construction is proposed. Theoretical Background Of Harmful Properties Not Covered By Present Testing Methods Though the deterioration of piles observed in last two decades in an around Mumbai shocking to the foundation engineers, the literature on quality of water for drinking purpose outlines at length the chemical pheno-menon involved due to unsaturated calcium carbonate in water which has lead to such situation. This concept addressed as calcium carbonate saturation index is assessed by conducting Ryzner Index test as outlined in IS.
Similarly oxygen demand in ground water, either because of bacteria or because of chemical demand of oxygen by the inorganic matter can causes the deterioration of the fresh concrete. Both these characteristics of ground water play a very significant role in deterioration of piles particularly when concrete is fresh. It is quite common in metropolitan cities that the leakage of sewage pipelines leads to contamination of soil and water around it. Such water is very harmful to concrete. It is in that perspective BOD and COD test as outlined in respective IS code need to be conducted. It is therefore essential that quality of water with respective to Ryzner, BOD and COD must be ascertained. Additional tests and their permissible limits
The table below gives the permissible range of Ryzner Index, BOD, and COD for three types of cement which may be referred in addition to pH, chloride and organic matter tests.

101, Laxmikant-A, Opp. Kakad Udyog Bhavan, S. Keer Marg, Off T. H. Kataria Marg, Mahim, Mumbai - 400 016. Ph: +91-22-24368044/48/99, 24385189 Fax: +91-22-24332248 E-mail: piling@stefon.in Web: www.stefon.in
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Foundation
Strong Foundations:
Building the Future

eo Foundations and Structures Private Limited is a firm specialized in the field of infrastructure development such as construction of Roads / Rail Bridges, Tank Foundations, Tower Foundations and design and construction of Deep Foundations such as large diameter bored cast-in-situ piles and under ream piles. The company is involved in varied and specialist activities in the field of Civil Engineering. The wide range of activities/ contracts the company undertakes are: Geo technical Investigation - On land and in water Survey - Land and Marine Foundation Engineering - Piling (Bored cast in situ/ Under ream), Stone columns and other ground improvement works.
- Superstructure - Bridges, Buildings, Jetties, Flyovers, Industrial Structures and Grade separators. Additionally, construction of Industrial Structures and Civil works are being increasingly undertaken. M/s Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd was founded in Nov. 1995 as a partnership firm, which later converted itself to a Private Limited Company in 1997. The company has its Head Office situated in Kochi with Branch Offices in Chennai and Port Blair and is ISO 9001 - 2008 certified. The company is well known in the field of geo technical investigation, foundation design and has its own well established laboratories at Kochi, Chennai and Port Blair. The laboratory at Kochi is also certified by the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories as per IS 17025.In the last seventeen
years since its inception, the Company has executed a number of projects of varying magnitude to a time-bound programme in a workmanlike manner, to the full satisfaction of clients. The growth of the company has been quite spectacular over the years and expects a turn over of ` 85 crores in the current year (2012 - 2013), which is in itself a measure of the confidence of our everincreasing clients. The spectacular growth of the Company within a short span of 17 years can be attributed to the fact that the Company is headed its four Directors and team of professionals with vast experience in the field of deep piling, sub soil investigation, and construction of civil works such as bridges, roads, etc., ably supported by competent engineering staff with professional approach, commitment to quality and team spirit.

Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd.
6th Floor, Alpha Plaza, K P Vallon Road Kadavanthra, KOCHI - 682 020. Ph: +91-484-2316042, 2324851 Fax: +91-484-2324851 E-mail: gfspl@vsnl.net, gfsplc@gmail.com Web: www.geofoundations.net
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Neocrete Technologies Pvt.Ltd
Concrete Surface Coatings
Protective Coating for Exposed Concrete Surfaces

Sonjoy Deb
oncrete structures in aggressive environment (Marine / Industrial area) are subjected to chloride attack. In order to protect concrete structures from chloride attack in aggressive environment, it is necessary that protective coatings are applied to concrete and steel both to prevent ingress of chlorides. Protective surface coatings are primarily used to protect new or repaired concrete surfaces from future chemical attack (e.g. against sulphurous and nitrous pollutants) and the ingress of aggressive liquids and gases (e.g.water borne chlorides or atmospheric carbon dioxide). Some corrosion induced damages in concrete are shown in Figure 1. This concrete surface protection can also be specified to be: water-repelling through impregnation and pore blocking; elastic and crack-bridging (to different degrees of elasticityat different temperatures); resistant
to different chemicals (such as in containment zones); or abrasion and wear resistant (e.g. on horizontal concrete surfaces such as balconies and car park decks).In order to meet all of the different requirements for concrete facades and horizontal concrete surfaces on different structures and in different exposure conditions, there are a wide range of different protective concrete coating products and systems required. On reinforced concrete facades single pack, acrylic resin based anti carbonation coatings are normally ideal as the protective coating solution. Also ideal are protective coatings based on, elastic film-forming, styrene acrylates or other copolymer resin based products, which should be used when additional crack-bridging properties are required. On horizontal decksfor combined chemical and wear resistance, the best protective deck coating
products are usually 2 component epoxy and polyurethane resin based solutions that are specifically designed to accommodate this additional stress and exposure.
the appearance of black heel marks. Because acrylic sealers dry quickly, they are a good choice when a short down time is important. - Polyurethanes-Polyurethanes are also available in both water-based and solvent formulations. They can be used inside or out and are available in a selection of sheens. Polyurethanes are almost twice as thick as acrylic sealers and produce an extremely durable cover. They are a good option for high traffic areas because they provide strong resistance to heel marks, scuffs and staining. A polyurethane finish is non-yellowing and dries to a transparent sheen.
Figure 1. Corrosion induced damages in concrete
Codal Provision The characteristics and performance requirements for protective surface coatings to be used on reinforced concrete are defined in the European Standard EN1504 Part 2, with the appropriate product selection then to be made in accordance with the specific requirements and exposure conditions of your project. Various Types of Concrete Coatings All conventional concrete coatings are multi-component systems, and the two-component epoxy/amine and urethane (isocyanate/polyol) are the most common. These epoxy and urethane coatings require more than one day before return to service. Faster curing systems include polyaspartic and methyl methacrylate coatings, which can be returned to service in hours instead of days. Following are the five basic types of concrete coatings that are available in the market- Penetrating Concrete Sealers-Penetrating concrete sealers are most often used to coat exterior concrete surface, especially those that are vulnerable to damage from freezing-thawing conditions and other harsh outdoor elements. These sealers dry to a natural matte finish, invisibly protecting the surface without changing its appearance. This type of coating works by penetrating into the concrete and creating a chemical reaction that shields the concrete from moisture and chemicals commonly used to deice surfaces. - Acrylic Sealers-Acrylic sealers work by creating a thin layer of protective film over the surface of the concrete. They are available in both solvent and water-based formulas and you can select the sheen level you desire. This type concrete coating can be used either in interior or exterior spaces. Acrylic sealers are economical but are not as durable as epoxies and polyurethanes. When used on interior floors, acrylic sealers require regular maintenance and waxing to reduce wear and
- Epoxy-Epoxies are a versatile choice that is available in a one or two component application. They can be clear or can have sand, colored quartz or vinyl chips incorporated in them so a variety of colors and patterns can be achieved. Because epoxy finishes are vulnerable to UV damage, these products are normally used on interior surfaces. Epoxies produce a hard, abrasionresistant coating that is durable and long-lasting. Careful surface preparation is vital to the success of an epoxy coating. - Concrete Overlays-Concrete overlays like Flex-cement contain polymer resins, cement and aggregates. The polymer resins make this coating strong and durable. Overlays have become very popular in recent years because they offer a cost-efficient way to restore old, damaged concrete surfaces without having to go to the time, trouble and expense of ripping out the existing flooring. Concrete overlays can be used to smooth and level uneven surfaces and when you choose a concrete overlay, youll experience minimal downtime, because they cure quickly. It may be only a few hours before freshly coated surfaces are able to support foot traffic. Overlays are good choices for either interior or exterior surfaces. They are one of the most versatile options available when it comes to design possibilities. Skilled installers can create a myriad of designs and colors by using special techniques and tools. Overlays can be stamped, stenciled, textured or stained. The design possibilities are basically unlimited with this type treatment. Protective Coating Over Existing Concrete Surface Protective coating-Protective coatings are used to protect concrete from degradation by chemicals and subsequent loss of structural integrity, to prevent staining of concrete, or to protect liquids from being contaminated by the concrete. The proper use of protective coatings is the extremely effective means of preventing concrete deterioration and corrosion in water and waste water applications. The function of a coating isto act as a barrier that prevents either
chemical compounds or corrosion current from contacting a concrete substrate.The coating s effectiveness of fulfilling this function depends on its degree of integrity (being a completely continuous film or freedom from imperfection or defects), its ability to bond to the concrete substrate, and its ability to insulate against the passage of corrosion current (dielectric strength) or chemicalions. Corrosion protection by coatings for water and waste water pipelines is the implementation of a well-balanced cycle of the following four equally important elements: - - - - Specifying and using a proper coating system Proper surface preparation for the coating system Proper application of the coating system Quality inspection of the coating system
B. Surface Preparation for Concrete Coating Since the adhesion of the coating will be limited by the strength of the surface, the deteriorated concrete must be removed to reveal a sound surface prior to application of any coating. Depending on the extent of deterioration, rebuilding of the surface with a mortar prior to coating application may also be necessary. No general surface preparation standard exists for concrete however, most coating projects have unique conditions and special requirements that must be evaluated to determine which will best meet the objectives of the engineers and owners. Some of the important factors for selection of surface preparation methods are: - - - - Substrate condition Owner requirements Material requirements Application conditions
A. Condition Assessment of Concrete for Protective Coating ApplicationBecause conventional sealers and paints are a comparatively thin and weak layer applied to the surface, they are wholly dependent upon the integrity of the concrete surface to maintain integrity oftheir protective film. In other words, paints and sealers are not structurally independent of the surface and, to be effective, must only be applied to a sound substrate. If the concrete has been in service without the benefit of protective coatings, the surface of the exposed concrete is likely deteriorated to some extent. A detailed inspection of the surface conditions has to be performed during the design stage or provisions must be made in the contract for varying conditions.The recommended practice and procedure for assessing the condition of the concrete by the American ConcreteInstitute (ACI) include visualexamination, nondestructive evaluationtest (NDT), and destructive tests (ACI364.1R). A typical NDT is shown in Figure 1.
Below Figure 3 shows surface preparation process.
Figure 3 Surface preparation
C. Concrete Coating Protective coatings play a critical role in extending the service life of concrete surfaces in harsh environments. When subjected to the harsh conditions inherent in water and waste water treatment facilities, the role of the coating system in protection of concrete surfaces is particularly important for a number of reasons: - The coating system must protect the concrete from chemical attack and deterioration by hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and chloride attacks. - The coating system must protect the concrete from microbiological attack. Microorganisms, which cause the breakdown of organic matter also, can cause deterioration of concrete (through the formation of hydrogen sulfide),resulting in spalling and sloughing. - The coating system must protect the concrete from spalling and cracking caused by moisture penetration. Moisture enters the concrete and isdrawn inside by capillary action. In cold temperatures the moisture freezes in the pores, swells, and causes spalling. Prior
Figure 2. A typical NDT in progress
MC - Bauchme (I) Pvt Ltd
to the late 1980s, relatively thin film coatings based on coal tar epoxyand amine cured epoxy formulations provided effective corrosion protection of concrete for up to 10-12 years.A typical coating might, for example, be only 12 mils (.012 ) thick; it would seem impractical to provide sufficient protection for the concrete structures. Incontrast, to a typical sealer and paint approach, a polymer lining has sufficient cohesive strength to provide substantial film integrity independent of the substrate. It will also provide a cost effective method to deal with anirregular concrete surface that has resulted from deterioration. Figure 4 shows the coating process in an exposed concrete surface.
year. If the storage life is known to be shorter, the expiry date must be marked on the container prior to dispatch from the manufacturers factory. Step 4 Method of using paint components-preparation and application techniques for all components of the paint system shall be stated. Step 5 Surface preparation of concrete-recommendations for preparing the surfaces of concrete shall be given, including the following: - The minimum age, - The maximum moisture content and measuring method, - The equipment to be used for preparing the concrete surface, and - The materials suitable for filling defects in the concrete. Step 6 Dry film thickness and coverage- The minimum and maximum DFT limits for each component of the paint system shall be given for a specific temperature. The corresponding coverage in L/m2 shall be quoted for prepared concrete surfaces typical of low strength (Grade 20) and high strength (Grade 40) concrete cured under site conditions, in order to achievere commended DFT values.
Figure 4. Coating Process in an exposed concrete surface
Step 7 Over coating-drying and over cutting times of the pretreatments and coats of the paint system shall be given for a particular temperature and relative humidity. Step 8 Physical properties-all components of the paint system shall be capable of unique identification such that any substitution, dilution or adulteration of the paint can be identified. The Contractor shall provide test data and methods of test for the following properties of each applicable primer, paint and solvent used in the system: - - - - - Specific gravity, - Volume of solids, Viscosity, - Fineness of pigment grind, Infra-red spectrograph, Pyrolysis gas chromatography of the binder, Ash content.
Basic checks for the coating processes When preparing a protective coating strategy over the exposed concrete surface from start to finish it is essential to prepare it in a comprehensive manner so that all the aspects are covered. Some guidelines are given to cover all the aspects below: Step 1 Supply of Information- Prior to the engineer giving approval of a particular paint type, the contractor shall supply information which will satisfy & comply with the requirements of the specification. Step 2 Coding system-all primers, paints and solvents to be used in the works shall be identified by a unique coding system, relating to the batch of raw materials from which the product was manufactured and the date of manufacture. Step 3 Storage life-storage life shall normally be a minimum of one
Step 9 Durability- The suitability of the coating for application on damp, alkaline, cement-based materials shall be stated.
Coatings & Foaming Inc.,
- The decorative life of the paint shall be stated, in terms of the colour-fastness of the finish coat and resistance to chalking, loss of gloss and atmospheric dirtying. - The life of a paint system prior to the need for recoating shall beat least 10 years. Examples shall be cited of where the paint systemhas achieved this life. - The paint system shall be capable of withstanding cleaning withhot water (in the range between 40C and 50C), detergent and scrubbing action without losing adhesion, softening or changing in colour or gloss. Step 10 Health andSafety- The contractor shall supply health and safety data relating to the storage and application of all components of the paint system. As aminimum, the check list contained in Table 1 shall be completed. - The effects of solvent and vapour build-up on the environment in the vicinity of the paint applicator shall be monitored, and the loss of volatiles per unit area of paint in terms of minimum air exchange rates in confined areas shall be determined. - The in-service performance of the paint under conditions of fire shall be given, making particular reference to the surface spread of flame, and the toxicity and opacity of combustion products.
Conclusion Concrete coatings have multiple capabilities of providing aesthetics and protecting structural concrete from weathering. They are viable for use on all concrete elements including barrierwalls, girders, abutments and wingwalls and all types of foundations. Severalof these coatings reduce the permeability of concrete (waterproofing) and limit the intrusion of harmful moisture and deicing salts. All of those coatings should provide enhanced aesthetics(compared to textured masonry coatings and stains) and better reparability. Beneficial coatings need to be identified by the engineers and tested to determine their effectiveness in protecting concrete. Due to the wide latitude of properties of these different coatings, guidelines need to be developed for determining where they are best suited (new and maintenance concrete application) to make their application more effective. Reference
- Applying linings to concrete surfaces in water and wastewater environments J. Peter Ault, P .E., PCS, T. Kyle Greenfield, PCS, SasanHosein, M.S.Corrpro Companies, Inc www.texcote.com, www.remmers.co.uk model specification for protective coatings for concrete, Civil Engineering Department Hong Kong Government, 1994. www.ConcreteRepairSite.co.uk www.sika.com.au www.matcoinc.com
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STA Concrete Flooring Solutions
Sustainable Materials
Reflective Coatings:
Chaitanya Raj Goyal
Cooler Homes Reflect on Your Energy Savings
uzzwords such as 'Green homes', 'Sustainable construction' and 'Building envelope' have taken over the industry for more than a decade now. The emphasis on sustainability has increased so much that no engineer or architect dares to ignore this aspect of construction whilst it's increasingly being used to woo the customers in real estate as the designers intensely compete to combine modernity, tradition and sustainability. Also real estate is not the confining limit to these upcoming technologies as the energy efficiency achieved by installation of such systems cannot be ignored and screams out for attention!
It can be observed that the temperatures are often a few degrees higher in cities than they are in their surrounding rural areas. This temperature discrepancy is the result of a bizarre phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. A concentrated effort to reduce energy consumption in buildings and their contribution to the heat island effect has led to recent advances in the materials and systems for flat roofs (roofs with a slope from to 3 inches per foot) and walls, used primarily in commercial and multi-family construction. Reflective coating is one such advancement, which can dramatically increase the roof & wall reflectivity and
potential energy savings of existing buildings. While enhancing roof life, reflective coatings can improve air quality and actually reduce the urban heat island effect. In addition, there are other incentives involved when your building meets LEED requirements and of course savings in operational expenses is obvious. What are reflective coatings? Elastomeric roof coatings were put into wide use during the early 1980s as a maintenance product for aging roofs. The original purpose of elastomeric roof coatings was not to provide reflectivity for the purposes of energy savings, but
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to protect the surface that was being coated. Today reflective coatings come in a wide variety of paints, membranes, and textures to reflect solar and ultraviolet heat. Such coatings consist of a polymeric binder blended with pigments and other additives to provide two main benefits: 1) protection of roof membranes, for longer roof life cycles; and 2) reflectivity of solar radiation, for lower air conditioning costs. The use of reflective coating can reduce interior temperatures of a building by 7 to 10 degrees and it has a life expectancy of ten times to that of normal paint. Using reflective coatings will reduce energy needed to cool homes, offices, and shopping centers and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Reflective coatings should be applied by a certified contractor because they might require special surface preparation, repair of leaks or damaged areas and proper selection of materials. While talking of reflective coatings it is more meaningful if we talk of reflective roof coatings as roofs are the critical structural elements absorbing most of the heat and the cause of major water leakage.
A monolithic acrylic coating system on this school provides waterproofing as well as reflectivity and energy
What are their benefits & why choose these over normal paints? Amongst the lesser known energy facts is just how much money the sun costs an average homeowner in air conditioning bills. Summer rays striking the roof of a home or residence can send attic temperatures skyrocketing well into the double digits, driving heated air downward into the cool comfort of your
Reflective coating being applied on roof of a house
home envelope. Most people don't even realize that a good portion of their air conditioning bills are wasted - instead of cooling the home this effort goes toward combating the radiant effects of the sun. And heat's not the only problem, either. High temperatures caused by a buildup of heat inside of your roof can de-laminate plywood, warp studs, and cause extensive damage over time. With heat comes moisture, and this could wreak further havoc in the form of water damage and swelling, depending upon the humidity of the climate. Luckily, reflective roofing products are sold these days to cool things down up there and keep the sun from unnecessarily inflating your air conditioning costs. A question arises here that why is there such concern over all this technology. Why didn't those flat roofs just get coated white and buildings painted in white or light colors? End of the problem, right? Well, they did and do. If you belong to a hot region, they traditionally paint there in lighter colors for aesthetics and temperature. Lighter colors do absorb less heat wavelengths translating to their being cooler regardless of what is being coated, e.g. a white car versus a black car, but this is not news. At least when compared to reflective coating which requires 40% less energy to cool the interiors! The many strengths of the these
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coatings however, versus the standard paints, comes from their doubling of durability/lifespan typically, in part because the coatings are more than twice as thick and more adhesive than regular quality paints. Reflective roof coatings are applied on a variety of roof substrates or membranes for a variety of reasons. For example, they provide protection against water, chemicals, or physical damage. Additionally, such roof coatings protect a roof against excessive temperatures and UV radiation by reflecting visible light and stopping ultraviolet radiation. Their ability to help reduce cooling costs for buildings with A/C units, and to help reduce interior temperatures on buildings with no cooling units along with the ability to protect and prolong the roof system life cycle by reducing the thermal shock stress associated with large temperature changes makes these coatings indispensable. Mechanism Behind the Effect Coatings and insulation regulate roof temperatures in the same manner in which oceans, atmosphere, clouds, and land masses regulate planetary temperatures, i.e., The Albedo of Earth. The solar spectrum can be divided into three wavelength bands, including ultraviolet (300 - 400 nm), visible (410 722 nm), and near infrared (724-2500 nm), accounting for approximately 5%, 43%, and 52% of solar power, respectively.
Matching coating with needs and ensuring performance Roof coatings are commonly specified by the consultants to extend or maximize roof life. This purpose is itself sufficient for a consultant to justify installing or reapplying a coating. But reflective coatings can save organizations additional money by minimizing a building's solar gain and, therefore, its cooling load. A proper research of the available products is must before selecting the appropriate coating for the purpose. Their advantages and disadvantages, potential for energy savings and, most importantly, their compatibility with the roofing system to be coated should also be well researched. Nothing is more discouraging than watching the coating - and energy savings - flake off and wash down the drain after a few short months because the coating was not compatible with the roof system. After consultants have reviewed all the literature and listened to the manufacturer's sales representatives, it is time to get down to what matters - reflectivity and performance. All of the laboratory testing in the world cannot simulate the roof conditions. Customers serious about selecting a coating product should look at some roofs in the area to see how reflective and well adhered the coating looks when it is new. The important things to look for when considering a coating include adhesion to a similar roof system, maintained reflectivity, and an ability to withstand anticipated events on the rooftop. For example, if water ponds start forming on the roof, the coating must be able to withstand it. Adhesion is paramount. Coatings that do not adhere to the roof will not perform. Reflectivity is the feature through which a coating delivers energy savings; if the reflectivity fades away, so do the savings. Once the appropriate coating for the roof has been selected, managers and crews need to take precautions to maximize the coating's performance and longevity. Firstly, have the coating installed by a qualified applicator following
Solar Energy
Reflective Coating
Working of reflective coatings
As more photons strike the roof, they break more molecular bonds of roofing materials, ultimately leading to deterioration of the roof. The most harmful of these are photons of ultraviolet radiation. Although there are fewer UV photons, they are potentially more damaging to roofing materials, so it is important for roof coatings to reflect or block them. The metal-oxide pigments used in reflective coatings scatter light by the same mechanism as water droplets in a cloud or fog; the scattering is due to the tiny particle size. (coatings on a roof are analogous to cloud cover over the earth).The usual pigments are zinc oxide (ZnO) or titanium dioxide (TiO2). These scatter a large fraction of the photons back into the sky, especially in the visible and near infrared bands.
Top coat Middle coat Primer coat Roofing Material Infrared Reflective resin Sunlight
Mechanism of Reflective coatings
Reflective-roof-coatings under application
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Condition before and after application of reflective coating
the manufacturer's printed instructions. Secondly, make sure the roof surface is clean, because paint does not stick to a dirty surface any better than a coating will stick to a dirty roof. If properly used, primers will significantly enhance the adhesion of most coatings. Thirdly, install the coating at the correct application rate. Too little or too much coating might prove faulty. Finally, make sure that the coating is applied during appropriate environmental conditions. Some coatings have specific installation temperature criteria, and some coatings cannot be installed during damp or wet weather. Customers and consultants can obtain these installation criteria and others from the coating manufacturer and incorporate them into the installation specifications. Coatings are maintenance items, so crews will need to reapply them periodically. Depending on the coating type, roof system type, roof drainage and environmental conditions, coatings may require replacement on a five-toseven-year cycle. The coating may last slightly longer than that, but from a reflectivity and energy savings standpoint, they may require replacement in this time frame. One last thing to consider in selecting the appropriate reflective roof coating is volatile organic content (VOC) compliance. Most coatings are manufactured with solvents. Depending on
the location and the applicable VOC regulations, a compliant coating may be required. Even if a low-VOC coating is not required by law, it might be desirable in reducing - but not necessarily eliminating - odors during coating application. Conclusion Consultants often refer to cool, or highly reflective, roofing as green. But does a roof have to be cool to be green? Manufacturers of cool roofs promise energy savings from their products, but in many cases, contractors can achieve similar results with the proper use of roofing insulation. These reflective coatings can save energy, but they do not solve all energy problems, and contractors should not omit insulation from building construction when specifying reflective coatings. It is also many a times mistaken that cool or sustainable roofs and walls applies only to new construction which is not so as most of this technology can be installed and applied to majority of old structures. Another common question about the energy savings of roof coatings revolves around the heating penalty that these coatings incur due to loss of heat gain in the winter months. Roof consultants are being called upon to evaluate coatings for various buildings on the basis of life-cycle extension and energy efficiency. They need to be in the know about the basic physics as well as the physical properties of coa-
tings, their compatibilities with other coatings and with various roofs, their methods of application, and recommended cleaning and maintenance schedules. As with most professions, roofing specifiers have a broad array of tools at their disposal. Most of the tools in the toolbox can be beneficial when used at the proper time and place, and reflective coatings are no different. Since the claims of energy savings or costs are difficult to estimate, they should not be the primary driver for the selection of a roofing product in more moderate climates. Reflective coatings have many other benefits that are more clearly measurable such as their ability to extend the life of a roofing membrane. Considerations around life-cycle cost, sustainability, and the protection of the roof assembly should be the paramount factors in making a product decision. Research continues as to when the use of reflective roof surfacing makes the most sense. In cooler climates, no real justification exists for white or reflective surfaces related to energy savings because buildings in these areas tend to require insulation for protection against low temperatures in the winter, which also reduces cooling loads in warmer months. Thus now more than ever, it is necessary for roof consultants to separate fact from fiction and provide the right coating solutions for their clients.
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Composite Technology Steel Coatings
Graphene to Rust-Proof Steel

Bhavani Balakrishna
esearchers at the University of Buffalo have now developed a new graphene-based anti-corrosion composite coating that rustproofs steel in a non-toxic manner. The composite coating was created by a team led by Sarbajit Banerjee, PhD, an assistant professor, and Robert Dennis, a PhD student at the University of Buffalo. The coating is a polyetherimide matrix with a graphene filler dispersion. The polymer is a common industrial polymer that blends well with graphene and its role in the coating is to provide adhesion with the steel as well as to provide thermal and chemical stability. At present an organic solvent is used but the group is working on developing a water-soluble formulation as well. As per the research team, the coating is effective because of it is both an active and passive coating. It is passive in that it prevents water ions from reaching the steel and it also works as an active coating by setting up a
Schottky-barrier that depletes electrons and shuts down the electro chemistry at the interface. What is Graphene? Graphene is a kind of nanomaterial that consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice a honey-comb pattern. It is the thinnest and strongest material known and one of the best conductors of electricity. These properties make it one of the most versatile nanomaterials in the world and are used in electronics, communications, and industrial products. Graphene is grown in the lab as very thin sheets (one millimetre of pencil lead contains approximately 3 million layers of graphene). Because graphene is only one atom thick, any of those atoms can interact with the environment. Since it is the worlds thinnest material and can be grown on many different types of metals, including copper, nickel, and ruthenium, and it can
also be mechanically transferred onto other types of metals, graphene is uniquely suitable for applications such as a coatings. How does it Work? The research team at University of Buffalo determined that graphenes hydrophobic and conductive properties made it most suitable for preventing corrosion. Graphene actually stunts electro-chemical reactions that transform iron into iron oxide, otherwise known as rust. Initially, pieces of steel coated with it lasted for only a few days when placed continuously in brine. Once the dispersion and concentration of graphene within the varnish were adjusted, treated steel was able to last for about a month under the same conditions. Since the brine used in the trials was far saltier than regular seawater, it is expected that the steel would last for much longer in the actual, real-world scenario. The exact compo-
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Action Construction Equipment
Composite Technology Steel Coatings
sition of the coating has not yet been disclosed. Graphene has previously been in news for its anti-corrosion properties in a study conducted by scientists from Nashville's Vanderbilt University. Here graphene was grown via chemical vapor deposition directly onto copper and nickel surfaces. When subjected to corrosive elements, it was found that copper protected with a single layer of graphene corroded seven times slower than bare copper. Nickel, when protected with multiple layers, corroded 20 times slower than when unprotected. Even when transferred onto other metals (as opposed to being grown on them), graphene was still found to offer the same amount of protection as regular organic coatings over five times thicker. Cyclic voltammetry measurements performed by the Vanderbilt research team has demonstrated that graphene effectively suppresses metal oxidation and oxygen reduction. And electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements suggest that a graphene coating on top of a metal substrate remains undamaged, while the metal itself corrodes where cracks in the graphene film form. These findings confirm earlier study results from Rodney Ruoff at the University of Texas at Austin and Jiwoong Park at Cornell University.
Other Ancillary Benefits One of the biggest advantages of this research is that graphene can replace the traditionally used hexavalent chromium in the rustproofing of steel which is highly carcinogenic. As per OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States, workers who breathe hexavalent chromium compounds at their jobs for several years may be at increased risk of developing lung cancer. This has raised severe concerns and a slew of environmental regulations, thus impacting steel manufacturers hence the thrust on non-toxic alternatives to prevent corrosion of steel. According to Banerjee, the coating can be made to work with the existing hardware of many factories that specialize in chrome electroplating, thus giving factories a chance to reinvent themselves in a healthy way in a regulatory environment that is growing increasingly harsh when it comes to chromium pollution. Future Steps The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) has given the research team $50,000 as grant to enhance the graphene composite's lasting power, as well as the quality of its finish. NYSP2I, a research and techno-
A graphene-based coating under development at University of Buffalo keeps a piece of steel rust-free (foreground), in stark comparison with a rusted sheet of steel
logy transfer center funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation states that the metals plating industry identified this as a highpriority research project. The scientists are now working on improving its staying power, and the quality of its finish. The group plans to evaluate the coatings effectiveness on other metals and against other corrosion mechanisms. The research team is also trying to tailor the coating by including other components, such as self-healing components that could add some cure with the prevention. Tata Steel that has provided past funding for Banerjee's projects, has been helping the scientists test larger sample sizes. University of Buffalo's Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach (STOR) has submitted a provisional patent application to protect the coating Banerjee and Dennis are refining. As sponsors of the research and due to inventive contribution by Tata employees, Tata Steel also has certain rights to the technology. "Tata Steel has always displayed leadership in motivating innovative research and product development by leveraging partnerships with universities. UB has been one of our choices for cutting-edge coatings technology development on steel substrate," said Debashish Bhattacharjee, PhD, Tata Steel's group director for Research, Development and Technology.
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Infrastructure Policy
The 'LARR' Bill 2011: A Balancing Act

Sadagopan Seshadri
Chief - Content Development, CE - Infrastructure - Environment
No holds barred: The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Bill, 2011 which was introduced in September last, the government had exempted land acquisitions processed under various Acts, including the SEZ Act, the Atomic Energy Act, the Land Acquisition (Mines) Act and the National Highways Act, among others. The parliamentary panel headed by Bharatiya Janata Party member Sumitra Mahajan has denied exemption even for the acquisition of land for infrastructure, mining and power projects, defence and special economic zones (SEZs). No Govt Role ! ? In a move that could be a setback to land acquisition for commercial use, a parliamentary committee unanimously recommended that the government should not acquire land for industrial, commercial or for-profit enterprises or private companies. MPs' panel recommends that publicprivate partnerships, private companies buy land in the open market This move could have severe ramifications on projects' viability and consequently push up end product /services prices finally affecting consumers as well as the economy as a whole. This proposal by the panel may ultimately end up being a disfavor to landowners instead of helping them. Going a step further The report that was tabled in Parliament now on Thursday May 17 further suggests the acquisition modality saying
that agricultural land should not be acquired and that a multi-member landpricing authority should decide the cost of the land and the compensation instead of paying out a fixed amount. Arguments banishing Govt Role The standing committee on rural development, comprising members belonging to various parties in both houses of Parliament, said that in developed countries such as the US, Japan, Germany or Canada, land is purchased by enterprises. Mani Shankar Aiyar, a senior Congress leader and a member of the panel, said, The three principal factors of production are land, labour and capital. Since there is no question of the state acquisition of labour or capital, there is no logic at all for (the) government to acquire land. The committee further said that the entity for which the land is acquired should not be any public-private partnership or private company. The states can facilitate the acquisition, Mahajan told reporters on Friday May 18. It may even identify the land and keep it for commercial purposes. The governments can offer tax exemptions too. But the purchase should be done in the open market. Keeping the country's food security in focus, the members of Parliament (MPs) argued that exempting irrigated multi-crop land from acquisition would not adequately address the challenge. Pointing out that the persistent deficit in the production of coarse cereals, which provide the highest proportion of nutrition
to the poorest and the most deprived consumers in India, the report said, Food security cannot be only limited to rice and wheat. The committee recommended that restrictions on acquisition of irrigated multi-crop land should be extended to any land under agriculture cultivation. The SIA obstacle The panel also suggested that whenever the government intends to acquire land for public purposes, there should be a social impact assessment (SIA) study in consultation with gram sabhas (village councils) or the equivalent urban bodies to determine whe-
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ted the demand for exemption under any of the 16 central Acts that were listed by the government. The committee said the provisions in the Bill to fix the cost of the land or compensation did not have any scientific basis. The Bill has proposed that the compensation will be four times the market value in rural areas and twice the market value in urban areas. The report said, The market value or registered value or circle rates are much below (the) real price of land across the country and there is tendency to register the sale deeds at minimum value to avoid stamp duty. Rejecting the argument by industry representatives and some state governments that very high costs for land acquisition would make projects unviable, the MPs proposed that the government should constitute multi-member land pricing commissions or authorities to finalize the cost of land acquisition/ compensation state-wise/area-wise. Aiyar added that rehabilitation and resettlement should be mandatory and made under the provisions of state legislation. Even Scrapping Emergency Clause! The panel also ruled out suggestions from some state governments to extend the emergency clause related to defence, national security or national calamities to certain infrastructure projects. However, it accepted the state governments' suggestion to reduce the time period to return the land, if unused, to the owners, from 10 to five years. Blocking the 'Notification' Route The committee insisted that the government would not make amendments to the legislation through just a notification, but will seek Parliament's consent for the changes. Bill of Controversy Land acquisition has become a controversial issue, after protests by farmers against unfair compensation and forcible acquisition in various parts of the country turned violent and became politicized. And it turned out to be the
ther any change in livelihood, social practices and environmental conditions may arise through the setting up of industry, mines or roads. The SIA teams should include the presidents or the nominees of panchayats at all levels involved in the acquisition, it said. What the Bill said The politically sensitive and critical LARR Bill permits land acquisition under three broad categories when the government acquires land for its own use, when it acquires land to ultimately transfer it to private companies for a given public purpose, and immediate and declared use by private firms for
public purpose. The legislation is expected to address rehabilitation and resettlement by providing safeguards for both landowners and livelihood losers while clearly defining the public purpose for which land can be acquired by the government. And what Panel says The panel, which perused the draft Bill for nearly eight months, pointed out that keeping these Acts outside the ambit of the legislation would mean that almost 95% of the land acquisition would be outside the purview of the Bill. Not convinced by the arguments of officials in various ministries, it rejec-
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Farmers from Haryana during a demonstration against land acquisition, in New Delhi. File Photo: Ramesh Sharma Hindu
key issue that led to the end of the threedecade-old Left rule in West Bengal and the ousting of the Bahujan Samaj Party government in Uttar Pradesh in recent assembly elections. Even Congress had political pressures and it's government though by itself had made the Bill farmer friendly could not escape vehement criticism from all quarters, at times for political mileage. Critical of the original Bill, Aiyar said that despite a fancy preamble, the substantive portions of the Bill do not live up to it. The provisions for rehabilitation and resettlement are decided bureaucratically with no participation of the people, he said. Minister Speak Govt should have role in acquiring land Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday rejected a key recommendation of a parliamentary panel that land for commercial use should be purchased in the open market, saying that the government should have a role in acquiring land for industrial, commercial or for profit enterprises or private companies. Growth Angle Justifying this as necessary for reviving economic growth in the country, Ramesh told reporters: At a time when investor sentiment is un-certain and economic growth is under some pressure in our country, we need to
quickly resolve the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill (LARR) 2011. Rational Ramesh Seeking fresh consultations before the suggestions are incorporated, Ramesh said the revised Bill could be brought before Parliament in the monsoon session. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may chair a meeting of state chief ministers on consultations on the Bill, he said, adding that the opinions of states would be given priority consideration for incorporation in the revised Bill. Pointing out that the standing committee recommendations were not binding, Ramesh said it was normal
Adi Godrej
Chairman, The Godrej Group
practice to accept important recommendations of the committee and at times when the government did not, it would give clear reasons for rejecting the suggestions. There are certain principles that we have to follow... one is that the state, that is the government, must have a role in land acquisition, Ramesh said, rejecting the argument given by the standing committee, which said the panel had studied similar processes in developed countries such as the US, Germany, France and elsewhere. India, he said, was a developing country, where land records were maintained under antiquated systems. We must recognise that we are not in a stage of development where government role in land acquisition can be completely eliminated and abandoned. Ramesh, however, was of the view that public purpose can at times be met by government organizations and at times these are met even by private companies also. The notion that private companies serve only private interests is not something that I believe in... There are interests and occasions where government consciously seeks private investment to promote public objectives. Stating that the existing land acquisition act dating back to 1894 was clearly outdated, Ramesh also pointed out that the old law was not in favour of those selling the land or those living off it. The LARR Bill had a resettlement and
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Photo Courtesy: www.mylaw.net Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh firms up his credentials as a doer
rehabilitation package that was strongly tilted towards these groups of people, he said. The minister favoured giving maximum flexibility to the state governments in the land acquisition process, stressing that the procedures linked to acquisition must be timely and transparent and should not be such that it leads to endless litigations or court procedures or to endless disputes. Ramesh added that he was in agreement with several suggestions made by the panel on issues such as enhanced compensation and involvement of village committees and city municipal authorities while deciding compensation issues. Industry & Trade: Land bill shocks Industry body CII said the suggestions would adversely affect the industry, especially the manufacturing sector. Unfortunately, rather than addressing concerns of the industry over the provisions of compensation and consent required for land acquisition, the recommendations of the Committee do not seem to be taking into account the need of the industry, thereby, leaving it to fend for itself, CII President Adi Godrej said in a statement. According to the report, industry will have to acquire land from the landowner on their own and the state governments
will decide on compensation on the basis of population. All cases of land acquisition must entail obligations for adequate compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to all land losers and other affected persons, said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development, chaired by BJP leader Sumitra Mahajan, in its report on the Bill tabled today. Godrej said this would make the land acquisition more complex and difficult leading to slower growth in industry and therefore, the economy. Assocham said the recommendations needed consultation with industry as their implementation would affect manufacturing zones the government plans to set up. The revamped bill proposes that land cannot be acquired by the state for any profit-making enterprise. This virtually reverses the government's plan to facilitate land acquisitions for industry and townships with better compensation. Under the revised bill, private players and public-private partnerships would have to buy land in the open market if their ventures involve any element of profit. It would be up to the companies to win the consent of the landowners. National Real Estate Development Council too opposed the Land Acquisition Bill saying it should not be applicable to private builders as it will impact
development of infrastructure across the country. Redefining public purpose, as suggest by Parliamentary committee, will impact infrastructure, industrial and township development severely, National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) Chairman Navin Raheja said in a statement. Provisions of LA and R&R Bill should not apply to private acquisitions done by developers after direct negotiation with land owners/farmers. Privately negotiated prices, in almost all cases, are much higher than acquisition compensation suggested in the bill, Raheja said. The proposal of 20 percent of developed land going back to owner in the Bill will make township development difficult, he added. Putting all land under agricultural cultivation in the same bracket as multi cropped land will make land acquisition for township more difficult, Raheja said, adding the ceiling of 5 per cent on multi cropped land acquisition in a district is to follow if acquisitions for all purposes taken into consideration together. Expressing similar views, Confederation of Real Estate Developer's Associations of India NCR President Pankaj Bajaj said: Today, all significant projects in the country are stuck due to land assembly issues. Industry needs government help. Whether it is China or any other competing economy, the government goes out of the way to facilitate industry. Aditya Mittal offers: Taken together with other regressive provisions that will push up land costs, the Bill will effectively defeat the government's stated intention to promote industrialisation and stimulate manufacturing activity in order to create jobs. Worse, it will prove counterproductive in defending the interests of farmers and landowners by throwing them at the mercy of the land mafia, which will almost certainly fill the vacuum created by the government's retreat. Indicatively, anyone acquiring 100 acres or more of land in urban areas (or 50 acres in rural areas) will need to secure the consent of 80 percent of the landowners. Compensation for the land
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Photo Courtesy: www.indiawaterportal.org The bill has caused distress among the masses leading to protests and rallies which often turn violent Dongria Kondh tribals opposing the Vedanta project in Orissa
must be made at a minimum of four times the market value in rural areas, and twice the value in urban areas. In addition, once the land is developed, 20 percent of the land has to be given back to the owners, and 20 percent of profits from sale or transfers within 10 years too will go to them. The attempt to protect landowners from 'profiteering' industrialists, in any case may be well intentioned but the Bill defeats the government's intentions on several fronts. First, by artificially inflating compensation for land at the primary level, it skews the economics of land pricing and renders the process of land acquisition for industrial activity more complex and expensive. It will effectively negate the government's intention to push up manufacturing activity & thereby creating jobs. This eventually will also slow down economic activity even further. Second, the complexities in the acquisition process will dampen demand for land and have a reverse effect of tying farmers to their land without recourse to selling binding them in unremunerative and unproductive agricultural activity. Taken with welfare schemes like NREGA, which provide a bare-minimum income stream and keeps villagers at home, the Bill effectively limits the scope for enhancing labour productivity and simultaneously drives up wage inflation for industrial labour.
Third, the government's total pullout from the land acquisition process on behalf of industry will be counterproductive actually working against the interests of the landowners. It should be realized by everyone that the government was not exactly doing industry any favour: 1. Government's engagement in the process served the purpose of focusing public scrutiny of the acquisition process, and 2. Ensured that it was not coercive. Imagine the state of affairs with absence of a regulator. It will be a situation is open for corruption and coercion, with the land mafia filling the vacuum. Also on the other end of the spectrum, Industrialists' favoring a land acquisition mechanism like in China, where the ruling party helps them illegally secure land by forcibly evicting villagers, is motivated entirely by callous greed. Everyone should understand that It is nobody's case that we need to replicate; moreover if a Bill that genuinely protects landowners' interests and helps them secure fair compensation it should be welcome. The question is, 'Is this so?' Let Good counsel prevail Land acquisition process in India under this Bill seems to swing between extremes, skewing the economics of land pricing by artificially inflating the compensation, and therefore works against the interests of all three parties
the industry the landowner and the government
All well intentioned Indians falling in each of these categories should shed personal differences and come forward rationally for a common cause: which is inclusive growth. The acquisition needs to be fair, both in terms of price & purpose. The seller and buyer should not be pawns in the hands of land brokers. The coming days will show the direction this important legislation takes as now it will be taken up in the next session of the parliament.
Author's Bio
The author leads our Delhi bureau. An Engineer and qualified ADR professional (NALSAR alumnus), Sadagopan Seshadri has been a senior Contract Management Professional in large national & International Companies. His domain experience is in Building Products, Cement plants and Mega Power project execution. He is expert visiting faculty for Contract Management at the SSAA, IP University, New Delhi. Being passionate about Environment he has now turned to Landscape Projects design teamed with likeminded architects & engineers for sustainable landscapes development He is vocal with his views on these areas through his writings. He can be reached design2xcel@gmail.com at
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Tourism Infrastructure
Key to Sustainable Tourism:

A Low Carbon Footprint
Sadagopan Seshadri
Chief - Content Development, CE - Infrastructure - Environment
The Backdrop The travel and tourism sector is highly climate sensitive, as climate by influencing environmental conditions of a place, is the major driver that defines not only the length and quality of tourism seasons but even has a profound effect in attracting tourists towards or deterring them from a tourists' destination Recognizing the high dependency of tourism activities on climate conditions, and the high vulnerability of many destinations to climate change impacts, UNWTO launched the Davos Process on climate change and tourism named after an international conference held in 2007. Against this background, UNWTO jointly with the Secretariat of Tourism of Mexico held a side event at the Sixteen Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 16), in Cancun,
Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. These efforts have been ever since judiciously followed up, evolving measures to combat climate impacts by the GHG from tourism and its accommodation cluster. The tourism sector is responsible for about 5% of global CO2 emissions, especially through the transport of tourists, which generates 75%of all the emissions. The accommodation sector by itself accounts for approximately 20% of emissions, and activities such as museums, theme parks, events or shopping contribute to 3,5% of emissions. In a world looking for new models of economic growth and development, fighting climate change and adopting sustainable management practices is no longer an option, but a condition for survival and success. The tourism sector is well aware of this reality.
Tourism's Potential: As an internationally traded service, inbound tourism has become one of the world's major trade categories. The overall export income generated by inbound tourism, including passenger transport, exceeded US$ 1 trillion in 2010, or close to US$ 3 billion a day. Globally, in export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. It is the main source of foreign exchange for one third of developing countries and one - half of each Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where it accounts for upto 40%of their GDP . Global market trends show rise in long-haul travel, rural and ethnic tourism, wellness and health holidays, cultural & spiritualism tourism, ecotourism, sports and adventure holidays, and coastal tourism besides cruises. World tourist arrivals in South Asia
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is likely to grow faster (6.2 %) than arrivals in Europe (3.1 %). Indian Tourism: Growing by leaps & Bounds Indian Tourism has outperformed global tourism in terms of growth in international tourist volume as well as revenue. The world travel & tourism council (WTTC) has named India along with China as one of the fastest growing tourism industry for next 10 to 15 years. The growth of inbound tourism in India has been better than the world. India registered a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% during 2001 to 2010 as against 3.6% for the world during the same period. UNWTO has forecast that the Travel & Tourism Industry in India will grow by 8% per annum, in real terms, between 2008 and 2016. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism could show annualized growth of 14% during the same period. Domestic tourism. The number of domestic tourist visits (DTVs) increased from 462 million in 2006 to 740 million in 2010. In 2009 economic meltdown when the country witnessed a negative growth of 2.2 % in FTAs, domestic tourist visits in fact registered a growth of 18.8 %! Indian Situation - Challenges Tourism in India despite its contribution of about 6% to the national GDP and 9.24% of the total employment in India, currently faces acute problems like Inadequate accommodation capacity ii. Lack of supportive infrastructure roads, health and hygiene, communication gaps, etc. iii. Costly travel - Gap between demand and supply of Infrastructure iv. Lapses in security and safety Core Issue is Infrastructure development such as accommodation, restaurants, built attractions, tours and transport which fall under the private sector. But private investors' precondition would be availability of support infrastructure: airport, road power, water, sewerage, electricity and telecommunications, which alone can make tourism investments economically viable. i.
India remains a hot underserved market The demand pattern shows that India continues to be a hot market for hotel chains as it's under-served in terms of hotel rooms. The growing demand for hotels in India, even as other markets are saturated, has put the country in the spotlight. This has led Asian brands from Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand to look closer home for opportunities to grow. With dwindling profits from European markets it makes sound economic sense for Hotel chains to target India especially since both occupancy rates and room revenues have shown a rise here. According to hospitality consultancy firm HVS, hotel occupancy across Indian cities grew at an average of 1.7 per cent during 2010-11 despite a huge addition of rooms. This needs to be seen in the context of occupancy in Europe declining in same period showing India to seem insulated by global economic downturn. It's no wonder that chains like Banyan Tree have made in roads for destinations such as Kerala, a favourite with highend international travellers. Banyan Tree is opening a lavish property at Perumbalam in Kerala with 61 villas, 19 deluxe villas, presidential villa and seve-
ral houseboats. The lucrative weddings market in India along with the growing spa segment too is luring the Asian hotel chains here. All know of Banyan's Angsana spa brand in Bangalore. Shangri-La too is set to expand to Mumbai this year and by 2013 open two hotels in Bangalore and another in Chennai. No room to grow Europe & N.America Moreover, In Europe and North America, there's hardly any more room to grow. So, all need to head to Asia today. Western hoteliers such as Starwood and Accor today have more properties under development in the continent than elsewhere in the world. But they face stiff competition from Asian chains such as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Peninsula Hotels, Six Senses Resorts & Spas and Banyan Tree Holdings are now not only defending their turf strongly, but aggressively expanding. The Indian Government's take The tourism ministry is in the process of finalizing sustainability criteria and indicators for the accommodation sector, which includes hotels and resorts, as part of drawing up such norms for tourism
One of Hyderabad's major historical sites, Charminar
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in the country as a whole. The Indian hotel industry, which has around 130,000 classified and 2.5 million unclassified rooms, according to 2010 government data, is one of the biggest energy consumers in the country. Carbon emissions by the global accommodation sector will increase 156% to 284 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035 from the 2005 level, according to a 2009 World Economic Forum report. One significant reason prompting the tourism ministry to draw up the sustainability guidelines is undoubtedly due to India's hospitality market growing at 10-15% annually will result in the country becoming a major contributor to increase in emissions if a 'business as usual' approach continues. Currently no guidelines or criteria to guide hotels in India on reducing energy consumption and their carbon footprint exist. The criteria now mooted for ensuring sustainability include measures to make hotels more energy efficient. The draft document listing the guidelines approved by the ministry recently sets the scheme to be voluntary while extending incentives to the establishments prepared to adopt it. The 12th plan approach paper The Approach Paper to the 12th Five Year Plan underpins the need to develop a comprehensive set of strategies for a diversity of actions, from macro to micro level, including product and infrastruc-
ture development, marketing, branding and promotion, planning, policy and investment. Accordingly, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has given a major thrust in this direction and is promoting tourism as a means of economic growth and social integration for the country. The role of government in tourism development has been redefined from that of a regulator to that of a catalyst. The tourism development plan is to focus on an integrated development of enabling infrastructure through effective partnership with various stakeholders. Defining Plan Targets Tourism Sector being one major component of the service sector in India, its growth targets are linked to the targeted growth of service sector during the 12th Five Year Plan. The current rate of growth in tourism sector of 9 % is planned to go up to 12% during the 12th Plan. To realize this, certain targets have been fixed for foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) and domestic tourism. a) Increase India's share of International Tourist arrivals to at least 1 % by end of 12th Plan - requiring an annual growth of 12.38% during 2011- 2016. b) Provide adequate facilities for domestic tourism to sustain the growth of 12.16% (witnessed in recent years) during 12th Plan (2011 to 2016).
Targets' Implications: (I ) Foreign Tourist Arrivals FTAs (2016) estimated to be 11.24 million and Foreign Tourist Visits FTVs (2016) will be 35.96 million. (ii) Domestic Tourism Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) in 2016 estimate is 1451.46 million. (iii)Additional Foreign Exchange Earnings from tourism during 201016 are estimated to be ` 69494 crore (US$ 15.7 Billion). (iv)Employment Generation An additional employment of 24.5 million (direct and indirect) is likely to be created during in 2010 to 2016. (v) Accommodation Units The existing accommodation units will fall short for the targeted number of FTAS and DTVs in 2016. The availability of number of rooms in 2010 and requirement of additional rooms in 2016 for the targeted growth of tourism during the 12th Five Year Plan are given below: This demand will have to be met in planned manner progressively through 2016 addressing sustainability requirements. Major Hotel Chains - Raising Bench mark bars Leading hotel chains have taken definite initiatives for going green. Many have taken up measures especially to
Tourist spots in the country require more maintenance
LEED Platinum rated by USGBC - ITC Hotel's Gardenia Bangalore
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reduce their energy consumption. ITC Hotels, that as a corporate goal promotes responsible luxury, has been rated LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council. ITC Hotels reduced energy costs by 16-19% in the last eight to 10 years. LEDs (light emitting diodes) and other energy efficient equipment too helped. Close to 29.5% of ITC Hotels's total energy comes from renewable resources, with four hotels, including ITC Maratha and ITC Grand Central in Mumbai, run on wind and solar energy. A hotel in Chennai this year will also run on wind energy. Hotel Leela Palace and Resorts has also been implementing various measures at its super luxury properties. The Leela Palace New Delhi reduced energy consumption by almost 4% after changing 600 lamps to LEDs. It has also installed variable-frequency drives for motors that allow savings of 20-25% on energy consumption. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), that runs the InterContinental and Holiday Inn hotels, uses an online platform tool known as 'Green Engage' to track, measure and improve performance and energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. It also helps in identifying the areas where conservation efforts can be made and suggests what measures have to be taken. It provides design and engineering information on building hotel in a energy efficient manner. It is the commercial viability of the technology in a given locale and a project that is the ultimate decider. HES - Hotel Energy Solutions is another international online platform used in EU. Most of the large hotel chains worldwide have been adopting these innovative engineering practices for their new launches. However upgrade costs are typically high for intervention in existing properties. Global hospitality chain, Accor SA, plans to have 23 properties by end-2012 in India. It has begun its Planet 21 initiative this year. This involves undertaking measures such as cutting water and energy consumption by 15% and 10%, respectively, across Accor's owned and
Availability of Hotel Rooms 2010
Requirement of Hotel Rooms 2016
Requirement of Hotel Rooms 2016

Table 1 Accommodation units Forecast 2016
Classified Unclassified Total Classified Unclassified Total Classified Unclassified Total
128771 2583519 2712290 310523 4661807 4972330 181752 2078288 2260040
leased hotels in the next three years. Paul Archer, Accor's general manager delegate for Andhra Pradesh says Our hotels use myriad types of technology and equipment, from simple stickers on bins to help sort waste to business management systems that allow the engineering team to control all areas of air conditioning within the hotel to solar power units and sewage treatment plants, which recycle waste water to the hotels having their own vegetable gardens. With global brands entering India, new standards and benchmarks will come in raising the bar thus forcing everyone to follow suit to keep up with the competition. The ground Situation - The Indigenous SME sector The small and medium hotel operators still have to go a long way. The issue is that it is this segment that quantitatively is responsible for high tourist intake in occupancy terms. Therefore it is imperative that SME Accomodation clusters must be the ones to be targeted if GHG
emissions and Green agenda is to be realized. For International chains greening is a matter of standard behavior coming from their peer groups. According to the tourism ministry, 90% of hotels in India are still unaccredited and have not come forward for classification into star categories by the ministry. This is not unique to India as the International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development (ITF-STD) and other reports too show the maximum prevalence of SME in hospitality sector. SMEs anywhere in the world cannot afford the luxury of huge spends without assured returns in terms of both turnover and incentives. Hence govts need to be liberal in this respect to give a push to the green agenda. In order to stop these hotels continue being energy guzzlers and enforce the sustainability aspect, the government tactically go for a carrot and stick policy. Sustainable Tourism Development Tourism, being a large and growing industry, needs to be scrutinized in terms of its impacts on the environment, economy, culture and societies. For Developing 'sustainable tourism' strategies should be in place to promote the positive impacts and minimise the negative. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural
As more and more global hospitality chains flow in, small and medium hotel operators have to step up their operations as they are responsible for highest tourist intake in terms of occupancy. Seen in the above pic is a photo of the Hyatt hotel in Chennai.
aspects of tourism development. Sustainable tourism requires the establishment of a suitable balance between these three dimensions to guarantee
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Emissions Reduction Levers
Abatement Measure Insulation (e.g. wall, solar films in windows) Standard operating procedures to decrease energy use by employees Building Energy Management System Motion detector / sensors Efficient lighting, appliances & office equipment Change in room temperature (1OC) Building design for new buildings Solar Thermal (water heating) Solar PV (electricity) Biomass / Bio-fuel Combined Heat Power (CHP) & Tri-Generation Sourcing Green Electricity Increased energy awareness Incentives for customers that use less than average energy (e.g. Eco-lodges)
Abatement Potential1 High High Medium Medium High Medium High High Medium High High High High High
Abatement Costs2 Medium Low High Medium Medium Low Low High High Medium Medium Low Low High
Which policy measures or market mechanisms can increase the adoption of emissions abatement options ? s Tax deductions for, - energy efficient investments, or - eco-labels or third party certifications s Subsidies on energy efficient appliances s Mandatory measures, e.g. - Stringent building codes - Obligation on energy efficiency certificates s Proactive role of governments in providing information and tools for energy management (e.g. European Commission providing free of charge Hotel Energy Management Software) s Adoption of sustainability measurement initiatives such as Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria directed at accommodation sector s Cooperative sourcing of Green Energy by industry s Government campaigns on energy awareness s Incentives for tour operators offering Green tourism s Tax deduction for investment in energy tracking systems
Supply Demand
Operational & Technical measures to reduce energy use
Change in Energy Source
Change in Consumer Behavior
Table2: Key CO2 Abatement Options for Accommodation
long-term sustainability of tourism development. The International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development (ITF-STD) has been aiming to increase awareness of the links between tourism and climate change and advance proposals to deal with the dual relationship that the tourism sector has with climate change, being both its victim and contributor. Tourism industry has cross-sectoral characteristics with component clusters throughout its value chain. The accommodation cluster is addressed here to see how well interventions can be made for abatement. Sustainability Approach for Accommodation Cluster The accommodation cluster is highly fragmented with 80% of global capacity managed by independent small-medium enterprises (SMEs). Accommodation real estate owners are typically different from those managing operations and leasing hotel properties. Hence, the degree of (global) organization of the accommodation cluster is relatively low compared to the airline sector. But in wake of medium/long term threat to business by climate change ruining the tourist spots themselves
SMEs may tilt towards Green measures if a conducive climate for adoption is dished out by reasonable incentives. A series of promising abatement options for the accommodation cluster have been identified, including operational and technical measure to reduce energy use; changes in energy sources; and changes in consumer behavior. (See Table 2: Key CO2 Abatement Options for Accommodation). 1. Abatement potential (i.e. % CO2 reduction per hotel) whenever a single measure is implemented at hotel level: Low 0-3 %, Medium 3-7 %, High >7%; Carbon abatement potential from various measures is not cumulative due to interdependencies reduction: Low <20, Medium 20-100, High >100*
*Source: IH&RA, UNWTO, Industry Partners, Booz & Company analysis
2) per tonne CO2 Insulation (e.g. wall, solar films in windows) The Way forward The green building movement would get a push forward in a healthy and sustainable fashion if these measures are taken up in India as well under the policy changes being framed by the MOT. These measures are in
implementation in EU and can be adopted elsewhere too. Given the growth of the tourism sector, and its potential as a leading agent for change in the transformation to the Green Economy, it is necessary to direct activities and proper information about energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities at SMEs level. SMEs' single greatest limiting factor for greening is a lack of access to capital and market. Hence, the incentives extended by the government should work as motivation. With respect to design tools 'Hotel Energy Solutions' is expected to be adapted and rolled out globally over the coming years. Once adapted, the project will benefit hotels worldwide, thus contributing to climate change mitigation and ensuring the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector. Correct investment in green strategies would allow the sector to continue to expand steadily over the coming decades while ensuring significant reductions in water consumption (18%), energy use (44%) and CO2 emissions (52%) are possible, as compared with a business-as-usual scenario.
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Communication Feature
Meet Your Concrete Dry Blend Need with Toshniwal Mixer

ineral Admixture demands good mixing technology, it partly substitutes the OPC Cement and supply the cementicious concrete mix with cost effective building products. Concrete is known for its workability, mouldability, viability and feasibility and it is used even for making thin elements like shells and folded plates achieving strength and stability through the inherent properties of the constituent materials and the form and shape of the structural member. However conventional concrete of ordinary Portland cement in different environmental conditions may not exhibit the required quality and durability and thus admixtures such as fly ash, silica fume and blast furnace slag are used to modify the concrete properties to make it more suitable for such aggressive environment. The great advantages in use of these admixtures are to improve the durability characteristics of concrete through the control of high thermal gradients, pore refinement, depletion of cement alkalies and the capability of continued long-term hydration by pozolanic reaction etc. Mineral Admixture in Concrete Mix The inclusion of mineral admixture in concrete blend process demand dry state of mixing. The complexity of dry blend is to handle the very lighter ingredients such as rice bran, silica fume and the other fly ash and Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), hence the concrete process demands a good mixing technology to pre blend the admixture homogeneously to include the same efficiently and to get good quality concrete mix. In many situation the demand of the building products are increasingly calling for lower costs in terms of material, energy, capital and faster completion of times of building projects. Hence the manufacturing OPC cements paved the way to seek alternative solution of blending fly ash, ground blast furnace slag in a customize proportion to meet ready mix concrete blend and supply the same with economic cost. Toshniwal Mixer The unique Fluidized Zone mixing action of the mixer which make all ingredients in a near weightless condition has enable the unit to handle lighter & heavier particles by way of nullifying the gravitational force in the fluidized zone allowing the irrespective of particle size / density / shape of the ingredients mix homogeneously in a perfect manner. Also these mixers had proven record for the building materials and construction care products like Building Material: Dry Mortar Renders Wall Plasters Wall Putty (Dry) Floor Screeds Skim Coats Blended Cement. Construction Care: Integral Water Proofing Compound Grouts Flour Hardener Repairing Mortar Tile Joining Compound Thermal insulation products Fire Proof Cement Wall Paper Compounds. Further details from: M/s. Toshniwal Systems & Instruments Pvt. Ltd., 267, Kilpauk Garden Road, Chennai - 600 010, India Phone No: 91-44-26445626 / 26448983 Email: mixer@toshniwal.net / Web : www.toshniwal.net
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Equipment Focus
Excavator: Large Scale Infrastructure Projects Hold the Key to Sustained Demand
o talk about India these days is complete without the discussion veering towards infrastructure development. Every citizen of this country knows that his or her destiny is directly entwined with the success of the infrastructure development process since it could make or mar the economy. The turn of the century saw the country embark on its most ambitious nation
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building spree. Everything from mega hydro electric projects to expressways was built over the last decade, at a scale that was never witnessed earlier in the history of the nation. As the country enters its second phase of infrastructure building, things however are not quite the same though. The earlier collective enthusiasm of the nation has been replaced by cautious optimism, thanks to
the impact of global economic uncertainties. The Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee had reiterated the commitment of the government towards continued emphasis on infrastructure development and projected a figure of ` 50 lakh crore towards the process during the 12th Five Year Plan (201217) during his Budget 2012-13 speech.
Equipment Focus
The seriousness being accorded to infrastructure development was evident from a recent meeting held in June 2012 between the Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, and key infrastructure ministries, where targets for FY 2012-13 were set. A total of 42 port projects, which includes two new Major Ports, have been planned for the financial year. Similarly, the total road length to be awarded in FY 12-13 will be 9,500 km, with investment expected to rise by 73.6%. Several Greenfield, as well as up gradation of existing airports to international airports has been planned. Impetus for dedicated freight corridors is expected to push the railway infrastructure development process. Similarly in the power sector capacity addition target of 18,000 MW has been planned. The positive signals emanating from the powers that be auger well for construction equipment industry in general and earthmoving equipment industry in general. Leading the path of the construction equipment industry would be one key segment-earthmoving equipment. Among earthmoving equipment, the market segment that needs to be watched out for is the excavators. In fact, today no construction site in India is imaginable without excavators or backhoe loaders. The immense popularity of excavators has made them being referred to as the 'money
Volvo CE's strategy is robust enough to work in a range of economic scenarios, and designed to be achievable throughout the business cycle of the construction equipment industry
A. M. Muralidharan
Managing Director, Volvo India Private Limited
machine' for contractors and rightly so since they help in saving precious time and money. The trends in the Indian excavator market are interesting; mimicking what was witnessed in other developed countries a few years ago. While backhoe loaders continue to be the machines that sell more, according to industry experts, it is only a matter of time before they are overtaken by excavators. The handling of the baton is expected around 2016 when the sale of excavators is expected to touch 40,000 units and cross, if not match,
that of backhoe loaders. The increase in size and scale of projects is the factor that is expected to make this turnaround happen in the Indian market. The Indian excavator market, as is the case with other types of construction equipment, is entering a crucial consolidation phase. The key to the future growth of the market lies in how fast the typical customer is able to accept new technology, in excavators, or for that matter in the case of any type of construction equipment. As rightly pointed out once recently by Mr.Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director of JCB India, leading players in excavators and backhoe loaders,The Indian construction equipment market is already having an access to the technology, as most of the big players from around the world are here to manufacture. The question is can we adapt the technology and can we do it at a speed. The key word for the construction equipment industry as it enters its second growth phase is 'speed'. It is indeed the pace at which newer technology is adopted that will determine the growth rate of the excavators market, notwithstanding the recent economic slowdown. Leading players are however, optimistic about tiding over what they consider a temporary phase of slowdown. Companies have been devising strategies to tide over the difficult times. Outlining the strategies adopted by
Excavators are expected to play a key role in the 9500 km of road projects that are expected to be awarded in FY 2012-13
Equipment Focus
New generation excavators are packed with technological advancements making the job that much more easier and safer
them, Mr.A.M.Muralidharan, Managing Director, Volvo India Private Limited, Volvo CE's Indian subsidiary and one of the market leaders in excavators quipped, Volvo CE's strategy is robust enough to work in a range of economic scenarios, and designed to be achievable throughout the business cycle of the construction equipment industry. As a market leader Volvo CE has been able to increase market share in key products and markets, as customers preferred the assurance of a dependable and strong brand such as Volvo. And being part of the Volvo Group means that we have been actively investing in technology for the future, even in the depths of the downturn. This will make us a stronger company tomorrow. The positive outlook has mirrored itself in
the number of recent launches, so far as excavators are concerned and the enthusiastic participation witnessed during recent trade shows for construction equipment. Several New Models With the market for excavators expected to maintain a consistent growth rate during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17), it is not surprising that almost every leading brand is focusing on the Indian market. While many of them have set shop here, there are others who have established tieups with domestic players for serving a market that is estimated to be growing at a rate of 25%-30% in recent times. Telcon, a market leader in earthmoving equipment, for example, offers
a wide range of hydraulic excavators with over 30 models ranging from 2T up to 800 T capacities catering to the mining and construction industries. One of the latest models to have been introduced by the company is the Tata Hitachi Zaxis 50 a 5 ton class tracked hydraulic excavator that is designed to work in areas where space is at a premium, typical of urban Indian job sites. Powered by a noiseless, compact and efficient 35.5 HP Kubota V2203 engine, the compact excavator is also compatible with a wide range of attachments, making it a truly versatile machine. Another good example for a compact excavator is the Bobcat MX 418 miniexcavator offered in India by Doosan Infracore India Pvt Ltd. The MX418 with its heavy traction base, combined with proper weighting means that it can move across literally any type of terrain with ease. The MX 418 compact excavator has an operating weight of 1,167 kilograms and a dig depth of 1.83 metres making it suitable for excavation, plumbing,landscaping,grading, demolition, electrical and cable applications. As far as the Indian excavator market is considered, the 20-22 T is the largest product segment, while the 14 T capacity excavator segment has been the fastest growing in recent times, with excavators over 30T gradually increasing in demand, due to the rise in the number of large scale infrastructure projects. Hyundai Construction Equipment Pvt Ltd (HCEIPL) had recently launched their popular '9 Series' excavators to cater to some of these key market segments. The excavators launched by the company under the series are the 'Robex 220' and Robex 140' models. According to the company, the 9 Series excavators provide excellent stability and greater digging force, along with advanced hydraulics, making it ideally suited for tough working conditions that excavators have to face in India. A 'Data Download' feature is another highlight of these models which enables monitoring of the excavator at a work site. With competition intensifying, manufacturers are banking on the latest
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Climax Synthetics Pvt. Ltd
Equipment Focus
of earthmoving equipment. JCB India, which offers a wide range of excavators including the JS81, JS120, JS140, JS200, JS200HD and JS210 LC models has been in the news off late for its ecoMAX engine built on the same platform as its globally popular Dieselmax engine. The Bharat Stage-III emission compliant ecoMAX engine has been customized for Indian conditions. Intense Competition While the demand for excavators is fast rising, there is no denying the fact that their close cousins - backhoe loaders still continue to be immensely popular among contractors in India. Their versatility and the cost factor make them a popular choice, although with increasing project scales and size, they are likely to give way to excavators in the near future. Naturally the competition for the backhoe loader market has been intense in recent times with several players launching new products recently. Case New Holland Construction Equipment (India) Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of CNH, has introduced its flagship backhoe loader model- CASE 770 in the Indian market. Driven by a 76 HP engine this
Excavators are amongst the most essential equipments at job sites owing to their versatility and adaptability
technology to woo customers. LiuGong India for example offers a range of excavators that are known for their durability and fuel efficiency. Powered by a Cummins engine, one of the highlights of the company's excavators is the unique bypass electrical system that allows continued machine operation in the unlikely event of a main CPU maintenance issue. The machines also feature standard lubricated track chains, besides featuring 'power boost' and 'heavy lift' options for increased lifting capabilities. Given the market potential on offer, it is not surprising that several big brands have set up manufacturing units in India. Volvo CE is a good example, with its subsidiary Volvo India Private Ltd setting up a manufacturing unit in Peenya, Bangalore. The company which already offers popular models like the Volvo EC700 crawler excavator and the EC 210B and EC290B models had announced a strategic investment of ` 90 crore in the manufacturing plant. The plant has capabilities to manufacture 20-tonne and 29-tonne excavators
tailored to the needs of the Indian market. Stricter emission control norms are today dictating product specifications in the Indian construction equipment market and it is no different in the case
The mining sector is expected to drive demand for high capacity excavators
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J.B Engineering & Industrial Co.
Equipment Focus
The sustained demand for backhoe loaders has meant that newer players have been entering the market in recent times. Mahindra & Mahindra for example, had launched their model the Mahindra Earthmaster Backhoe Loader last year. The company has its manufacturing unit located in Chakan, Pune.The joint venture between John Deere and Ashok Leyland had a few months ago launched the Leyland Deere 435 backhoe loader model, manufactured out of its facility in Gumidipoondi, near Chennai. Market Enters Crucial Phase As far as India is concerned, this is the 'age' of infrastructure development. The country is in the midst of its biggest infrastructure building spree, the scale of which is unlikely to be duplicated in the future. Infrastructure development was the buzzword when the economy was bullish and now that it is down, infrastructure development is again the magic potion that promises to cure what ails the economy. The government has been going to town with its avowed goal of US$1 trillion investment for infrastructure development during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). Adding to the positive signals are the recent trends that point out to further reforms in the mining sector. Additionally niche application areas such as demolition and dredging are also expected to push demand for specialized types of excavators. All these factors point out to continued growth of the earthmoving equipment segment in general and excavators in particular. With the size and scale of projects growing by the day, industry analysts predict that excavators could be overtaking backhoe loaders as the preferred earthmoving equipment of choice in a few years time. With sales plateuing in several parts of the world, including China, India would be the excavator market to watch out for in the near future. Photo Courtesy:
www.flickr.com, www.cranstonplant.com, www.aggman.com, www.volvoce.com, www.hyundaiindia.net
Compact excavators is a fast growing market segment in India
mean machine has gained popularity because of its fuel efficiency and low operating cost. The CASE 851 model from the company in the 96HP category, with dual stage pump and load sensing system has also been a runway success in the country. The 4-wheel drive version of the model has gained good acceptance in the hilly terrains of North East India due to the higher wheel torque and force. Global majors have been focusing on the huge market potential for backhoe loaders in India. JCB India for
example has the world's largest manufacturing facility for backhoe loaders located in Ballabhgarh, Haryana. Similarly, Caterpillar is another major player that offers backhoe loaders ideally suited for the Indian market. Its models such as the popular 424B are known for their versatility, ergonomics and fuel efficiency. Backhoe loaders from Caterpillar feature a power hydraulic system for fine precision and high productivity, apart from the unique ride control option for better material retention and smoother ride.
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Kalyan Industries
Sastha Pile Foundation
Marini's Roadstar:
Adds Wing to L&T's Godhra Halol Project

he state of Gujarat, having aimed at International standards for infrastructure, has perhaps the best roads in India. As part of this development plan L&T was awarded the construction of additional two lanes for Halol - Godhra- Shamlaji Road Project. The 173 km stretch of Halol-GodhraShamlaji Road Corridor, runs through the administrative boundaries of two districts known as Panchmahal & Sabarkantha and connects the three adjoining states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra in the shortest possible way. Apart from shorter connectivity, the
road is also expected to provide a great impetus to the industrial growth along the route. The highway will create an easy access to this erstwhile rural belt which is set to attract industrialization and ample of employment opportunities. The Selection The Engineering Giant, Larsen and Turbo introduced the Marini Roadstar series of asphalt plants in India during 2006. Ever since, the company has employed this amazingly reliable hyper mobile asphalt plant at numerous road projects and have
produced millions of tons of high quality asphalt mix. Due to their sheer, performance, uptime & productivity, the Roadstar plants were again selected for the Halol - Godhra- Shamlaji Road Project. Speed, that's what rightly, defines the Marini Roadstar. Many of L&T's Marini Roadstar plants have been relocated for more than 3-4 times. The amazing simplicity in relocation, erection and commissioning, equally competes with the plants production capability. The Challenge For India's leading professional
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construction company, time is very valuable. Being involved in numerous simultaneous projects, L&T always needs quick mobilization of the plants to ensure timely completion of projects and to ensure optimum utilization of its capital equipment. The Tool The Marini Roadstar takes the sting off from this pressure to mobilize and set up plants from one project to another. With L&T's strong & well equipped execution team, mobilizing the Roadstar plants from site to site is just plug-n-play. The Roadstar's key features like the sheer speed, ease in transportation, quick set up time, zero civil foundation requirements, minimal assembling and fewer components, make it a perfect choice for any contractor wanting to do more in less time. Four Roadstar's were pressed in to service from L&T's previous project sites, where these plants had already clocked some fantastic records.
Commissioning of the Roadstar's were carried out by L&T's already trained and equipped team of experts. The superior controls and automation along with industry's most reliable components make the Roadstar a trouble free no non-sense plant. The self-diagnostic mode on the controls, hot start capable burner, highly reliable and robust skip and track system makes it a favorite with all the project site staff, adds Soundarraj, who has been supporting these plants. Usually while designing mobile plants, transport dimensions constrain designers and manufacturers to compromise some crucial aspect in the plant design. While others try to test the limits, resulting in their plants failing to perform as claimed. The Marini Roadstar, has become a synonym for Productivity. The Marini Roadstars being rated @ 5 % moisture content convincingly demonstrates the confidence that rightly fits the market leader, in a market where every other manufacturers rate their plants at 3 % moisture content.
Productivity cant be compromised, else it defeats the entire purpose of investing in a mobile plant. Road contractors employ mobile plants on medium sized road projects, generally to move on to the next one immediately. With productivity compromised, plants are forced to stay at a site longer than intend and the entire planning for the future projects in the pipe go haywire. The Results The 173 km project, required roughly 12, 00, 000 MT of hot mix. The Four Roadstar plants were strategically located along the route, in order to ensure optimum movement of aggregates and hot mix. The Roadstar's delivered some amazing reliability and performance on the project. With L&T's well planned execution, the project witnessed some unique challenges resolved by L&T's proprietary Imagineering feats, resulting in timely completion of the project. Versatility & Ease - Demonstrated The amazing flexibility and perfor-
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mance of the Roadstar plants are demonstrated clearly thru the way Marini Roadstar's are pressed in to service by L&T. To illustrate, the package 2 Roadstar plant after having produced 3,20,000 MT, was moved to Gandhidham Samakhali road project, which was ready now for hot mix. Another Roadstar having completed its requirement on the project was quickly dismantled and packed up to travel over 1500 kms to be pressed in to service at the Krishnagiri Wallajah road project in Tamil nadu. The Third Roadstar, having clocked over 200 000 MT, was relocated and is raring to start its work now on the First Mega Project site in Pali Rajasthan. This immense amount of versatility & flexibility, provides amazing speed to operations for L&T. The fast setup, zero civil foundation requirements, reliability and performance of the plants make it a
versatile tool, which can be moved and pressed in to service almost at the speed of thought. Uncompromised Future : The Roadstars L&T owns are capable of processing Recycled Asphalt up to 30%. The plant has a very low carbon footprint and can be configured to produce various new age green mixes. The next projects will see some amazing green mixes which will be produced on the Roadstar. The Marini Roadstar will play a very crucial role in the future. Once large construction work is finished, maintenance of these roads will need highly mobile & reliable plants to move in to sites to maintain them. With a Roadstar you not only make your today shine, but secure light for your future. The Roadstar is available in models ranging from 80-200 Tph.
Blesson Varghese
MD Marini India
The Marini Roadstar is in a starsphere of its own. The difference is quite evident, most clients with nonMarini brand of stationary plants with even double the rated capacity of the Roadstar, struggle to deliver this level of productivity and reliability in India states Blesson Varghese, Marini's National Director.

Marini India
E-mail: support@marini.co.in Web:www.marini.co.in
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Geo Foundations & Structures Pvt.Ltd
Tessco Construction
Relyon Facility Services
Rapid Roll-Up, Self-Repairing, Heavy-Duty Automatic Flexible Door

andhi Automations Pvt Ltd is considered an industry leader and pioneer in the field of entrance automation systems and loading bay equipment in India. The company offers a wide range of products that includes, high speed industrial doors, sectional overhead doors, dock levelers & dock shelters, aircraft hangar doors & shipyard doors, motorized rolling shutters, tail lifts & scissor lifts and boom barriers & gates. 'Smart Reset'- rapid roll-up door with self-repairing full curtain, is yet another world-class offering from the company.
The smart, high performance and self-repairing heavy-duty automatic flexible door features a special and innovative self-repairing system. If the curtain were to accidentally get dislodged, the self-repairing system ensures that it will be automatically recovered with a simple opening and closing operation. The company supplies Smart Reset in different levels of design (basic comfort) to satisfy different operating requirements and to comply with different local standards. The wide range offered features a
whole array of unparalleled technological features. These include: Hot-galvanized steel available in the RAL versions with over-baked epoxy coating with smooth finish or fine satin-finish AISI 304 stainless steel, complete with galvanized curtain winding pipe and with vertical uprights fitted with special self-lubricating sliding guide installed on a shock-absorbing spring system. Provision for roll-up roller casing. DSC electronic safety device to reverse motion when door is closing if an obstacle is hit. Heavy duty motor: 3 phase 400 V motor, complete with limit switch and electrically operated hand brake. Ip55 rated electronic panel, complete with open-close-stop membrane push-button panel with autotest function, in compliance with European Directives 98/37/CE and 89/106/CE. Provision for manual opening device with operation crank. 'Inverter System' on request for different speed, accelerations, and braking control. Full size flexible curtain entirely made of class 2 self-extinguishing polyester, with no horizontal strengthening parts, which slides inside the side hinges and features self-repairing properties and high resistance to air and wind pressure to 120 km/h.

Gandhi Automations Pvt Ltd
2nd Floor, Chawda Commercial Centre Link Road, Malad (W,) Mumbai 400064.
Ph: +91-22- 66720200, Fax: +91-22-66720201, E-mail: sales@geapl.co.in Web: www.geapl.co.in
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Instruct
A One-Stop Platform for Buying and Selling Pre-Owned Commercial Vehicles and Construction Equipment
Arial View of Shriram Automall
lthough India is considered the second largest market for medium & heavy commercial vehicles (MHCVs) and one of the fastest growing markets for construction equipment, the fact remains that the market is largely unorganized. It is only in recent times that concepts like fleet management have found a foothold in the market, thanks to one pioneering venture Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL). Quite often the cost of maintaining the fleet often pressurizes operators to either postpone or in some instances even completely forgo their expansion plans. In such a scenario it is not
surprising that the market for preowned commercial vehicles and industrial equipment has been growing steadily. However, even though the used-equipment market was growing steadily, there was still a lacunae existing, of a transparent platform, where fair trade practices are adopted. This transformation is what Shriram Automall has brought into the country. Giving an insight into the pioneering concept, Mr. Sameer Malhotra, CEO of the company, observed, We have been spearheading the buying and selling of pre-owned vehicles and equipment. Through our Automalls, we have given
Sameer Malhotra, CEO Shriram Automall India Ltd.
the buyers and the sellers a unique platform where they can conduct transactions with absolute transparency.
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Adding further Mr.Malhotra points out that the customers not only take a look at the wide array of equipment and vehicles, but are also allowed to test, inspect, and bid for the same. The company which has been setting the trendsetter when it comes to auctioning of commercial vehicles and equipment also offers several valueadded services. Parking facility is one of them, with parking services available on a daily/weekly/monthly rental basis. Shriram Automall offers Documentation Services, wherein documents are arranged for the vehicles by the Automall team. Similarly, Valuation Services is another highlight, with valuation of the vehicle done by a team of experienced and dedicated professionals. The company additionally offers Refurbishing facility the 'Shriram New Look 'initiative, under which vehicles are inspected and with the consent of the owner, are refurbished or re-conditioned. At present the product range covered in the auctions include, commercial, transport, construction and agri machinery, with an exclusive category for automobiles expected to be added soon. The company conducts over 100 auctions across various locations in the country. The company's
Refurbished Trucks With Quality Assurance
Automalls are located at Chennai, Vadodara, Panvel, Manesar, Aurangabad, Pathankot, Cuttack, Gulbarga, and Vizag. The company has plans to set up 60 Automalls across the country by the end of this year. For those who cannot make it to the auctions, the company also has a userfriendly online portal- www.samil.in/bids, where bidders can easily participate in
the auctioneering process. Computerized touch-screen kiosks are also installed at all auction venues by the company, which provides real time information about the equipment that are being put up for sale. The presence of such an organized platform for commercial vehicles and construction equipment could not have come at a better time. The advent of Shriram Automall has come as a boon for fleet operators, NBFCs and other stakeholders from the commercial vehicles and equipment industry. It is not surprising given the number of advantages offered by the Automall concept, that it is fast becoming the preferred platform of both buyers and sellers looking to replace their obsolete fleet with a newer one at a cheaper price.

Shriram Automall India Ltd.
709, Best Sky Tower, F-5, Netaji Subhash Place, Pitampura, Delhi -110034 Ph: +91-11-41414444, Fax: +91-11-42414444, E-mail: contact@samil.in Web: www.samil.in
The Virtual Truck Bazaar to Buy/Sell Vehicles
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16th Indian Plumbing Conference
16th Indian Plumbing Conference
Setting Benchmarks in Infrastructure Equipment Solutions

ce Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is a company involved in the field of infrastructure equipment related solutions for the past 15 years. Promoted by a team of highly competent professionals with over 26 years of experience in the industry, the Ace Infrastructure is working with many reputable companies in the field of telecom, water, power, utility service providers and others in the field of infrastructure development. The company's core competencies span a wide range of specialized areas including, Soil Engineering, Infrastructure Installations, Equipment Sales & Rentals, Custom Equipment & Attachments for Earthmoving Equipment, Equipment Safety & Productivity Solutions, Custom Equipment Modifications for niche applications and Equipment Spares. A company with a strong R & D focus, they conceptualize, design and then provide the right infrastructure equipment solution. Ace Infrastructure is the authorized partners/dealers for
equipment and attachments for both Indian and international sources including, Sumitomo-Japan for hydraulic excavators, Stanley- USA for hydraulic mounted attachments, EIK-Malaysia for long reach attachments and amphibious undercarriage. The company has been the trendsetter in these specialized areas. A good example for its specialized expertise is available in the form of its amphibious excavators, a niche area, where Ace Infrastructure has been doing pioneering work. Another good example for its indigenous R & D prowess is 'Viber', a vibro ripper that makes hard ground excavation butter smooth. Viber is equally at home on land and water and makes light work of ripping the soil to make the excavation process productive and easier. Virtually no modification is required to switch from working on land to water and viceversa. The tool is in fact designed and tested for working 6 meters underwater. The inexpensive easily replaceable wear
Vibro Ripper
tool is provided for economical operation and can be changed according to the strata to be ripped. Viber has been extensively field tested internationally for more than 10000 hours on a variety of soil conditions. In India the machine is working on an underwater hard ground excavation project with effective productivity. Safety and productivity solutions is another area where the company has carved a niche for itself. It offers machine control systems which apart from helping in improving equipment efficiency also contributes to increase in construction site productivity. The in-house quality assurance team ensures that every product and solution offered by the company passes through a series of rigorous tests, an approach that has paid rich dividends to the company.

ACE Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
113 MAMA Parmanand Marg, 603 AMAN Chambers, Mumbai - 400004. Ph: +91-22-23637493, Fax: +91-22-23633932 E-mail: info@aceinfra.com Web: www.aceinfra.com
Amphibian Excavator
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Baicon 2012
The 'Zaxis 50' Designed to Outperform

elco Construction Equipment Company Limited (Telcon) offers a full range of constructive solutions which include Hydraulic Excavators, Backhoe Loaders, Wheel Loaders, Soil Compactors, Motor Graders, Transit Mixers and Dumpers. Telcon has the widest range of hydraulic excavators with more than 30 models starting from 2T up to 800T, capacity catering to mining, construction, quarrying and other applications. Telcon is the leader in the Indian excavator market, with a range that straddles the diverse requirements of
the customer. While the ZAXIS series excavators address the cutting edge technology segment the popular EX series is widely accepted in the market for cost effectiveness, easy maintain-ability and low operating costs. Telcon has always been at the forefront in providing the latest technology, features and customization to the discerning Indian customer. The ZAXIS series of excavators exemplifies this. With pioneering offerings in the mini excavator range, Telcon has
Adjustable Seat with Safety Levers
Tata Hitachi Zaxis 50
consistently broken new barriers in the evolution of the CE Industry in the country. Again, in keeping with its stature as the trendsetter in the Industry, Telco is now proud to introduce the TATA HITACHI ZAXIS 50, a 5 Ton class Tracked Hydraulic Excavator .Telcon recognizes the need to offer speedier, more efficient and cost effective Construction solutions to a nation on the cusp of rapid growth. This product is another manifestation of this recognition and is focused on the burgeoning needs of the urban and rural utility applications segment. ZAXIS 50 is a versatile machine which gives the customers an opportunity to work in compact areas where traditional machines can't work. It is designed for Quality, Comfort, Safety, Reliability and Durability. The machine is designed to work in various rural applications like Sand Loading, Land Development, Rural Roads, River Bed Excavation, Tractor Trolley Loading, Minor Excavation, Drip Irrigation Channels, Farm Bund Formation, Rural Roads, Brick Kilns, Tree Uprooting and various urban applications like Municipal Application, Building Foundation, Construction Sites, Loading at Crushers, Mini Excavation Jobs, Demolition, Road
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BC India
Kubota Engine
Wrist Support with LCD control Panel
Newly Developed Box Section Frame
Widening, Solid Waste Handling, Truck Unloading, Solar Panel Foundation, Dump yard, Tunneling. The TATA HITACHI ZAXIS 50 is powered by the noiseless, compact and efficient 35.5 HP Kubota V2203 engine. The 05 Series Engines are Vertical, Water Cooled 4 Cycle diesel engines. They incorporate KUBOTA's foremost technologies, with KUBOTA's E-TVCS (Three Vortex Combustion System), well known Bosch MD type injection pump & well balanced designs, thereby giving greater power, low fuel consumption, low vibration & quieter operation. Various attachments like the GP / HD / sand application buckets are provided to suit various types of soil & job conditions. The 360 degree swing and the compactness make the machine capable of digging in confined spaces making it truly capable of going where others can't. The machine has a newly developed rugged box section frame to meet tough Indian applications. With this pocket size dynamo, we are sure that the Indian construction scenario would take a quantum leap into a new dimension of mechanized excavation work in utility application and herald a new era in the Industry.

Telco Construction Equipment Company Limited
Jublee Building, 45, Museum Road, Bangalore - 560025. Ph: +91-90-66953301/02/03/04/05 Fax: +91-80-66953309 E-mail: marketing.group@telcon.co.in Web: www.telcon.co.in
Works Where Others Can't
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16th National Congress on Corrosion & its Control
'In-Situ' Rock Crushing A New Approach to Rock Cutting

Subhash Niyogi, CEO,
Rockster Recycler India Pvt.Ltd., Bangalore
Vaivab Single
IIT, Kharagpur, M.Tech Mining Engg.
Abhishek Jain
IIT, Kharagpur, M.Tech Mining Engg.
he conventional method of mining consists of several operations like drilling, blasting, loading and hauling, crushing. Blast free mining by surface miners has gained a lot of popularity around the globe in recent years. The concept is under study for its implementation in large scale mining. Surface Miner cuts, crushes and crushes the material in one go. It is a substitute to drilling, blasting and primary crushing for mining of soft rocks and minerals or coal. Surface Miners have been important role players in the blast-free mining concept in the Indian mining industry but to a very small extent. The small extent accounts for the limitation of Surface Miners to cut rocks economically beyond specific hardness. This limitation of Surface Miners restricts its use not only in harder materials but also in coal or soft materials like lime stones which encounters harder deposits with in the coal seams or deposit. The overburden in most of the cases has to be blasted because of limitation to its ability of cutting harder materials. In coal mines where the stripping ratio varies generally between 1:4 or 1:5, this accounts to around 6080 percent of total mining volume to be blasted. Thus, the concept of blast-free mining has been defeated as for most of the mining output, blasting is indispensable. In coal mines having intrusion of hard rock in the coal seam, the surface miners have its limitation to operate continuously as it needs deployment of other machines or blasting. A new approach of rock cutting can be a subject of study for the blastfree mining to be implemented in mining on a large scale.
Principle of Rock Cutting in Surface Miners Surface miners made their debut in Indian surface mining industry in 1994. Till now the surface miners used in Indian surface mining are mostly of the middle drum configuration. The operating method of these surface miners are based on cold milling machines. The cutting drum in the surface miners works on the principle of cutting by milling. The milling process basically is well applicable to asphalt on the roads because of its precise depth of cut, uniformity of cut surface as necessary in the road rehabs but limits its cuttability in harder material because of grinding action than rupturing, fracturing or crushing the rock. A different approach has been used by FAE Group, Italy. In this approach the rock or the mineral is crushed insitu by impact force of the tools thereby fracturing or rupturing the rock than just grinding. The technology is an evolution of FAE's traditional in-situ crusher for stabilization of rural roads or highways where the machine crushes the rock insitu and stabilizes with or without additives. FAE Group FAE GROUP of Italy has been in the industry of heavy duty machinery for the last 25 years, concentrating on applications for road construction industries and forestry equipment.
Model MTH 200 GV MTH 225 GV MTH 250 GV Tractor HP 230-360 230-360 250-360 Working Width (in) 82 90 100 Weight (Lbs)1 12100 12540 12980
Mining of rock by crushing in-situ is more feasible for mining harder material than milling.
After a rapid development in Europe, subsidiaries have been created to be closer to the final users and to support the local dealers in strategic areas. The In-situ crusher or stabilizer, MTH is a new family of machines from FAE that has been developed in their European Headquarters and proven for different applications. MTH comes in three models: The transmission is entirely mechanical in order to transfer as much power as possible from the tractor PTO to the rotor or by its own prime mover PT400 or PT500. The revolutions of the rotor have been reduced to 190 rpm in order to allow more torque to be transferred to the material to be crushed, stabilized and/or recycled. The MTH is designed with a Variable Displacement Chamber (VDC) technology. One frame is fixed and is designed as a structural frame, while the frame where the rotor is connected to is mobile. By means of two powerful cylinders, the rotor can be lowered into the material to be mixed
Productivity (Cubic Yard/h)* 400-1200 450-1350 500-1500 Tractor HP 220 - 350 240 - 350 260 - 350 Working Depth (in) 12 - 20 12 - 20 12 - 20
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Variable Displacement Chamber (VDC) Technology Explaine
and/or scarified at the desired depth. The maximum working depth is 20 in. The MTH series can be operated with a standard agricultural tractor equipped with 4WD and creeper gears or varied transmission starting from 230 HP up to 360 HP or track mounted Prime Mover PT400/PT500. Water sprayers can also be added to the MTH as an option if necessary. Selection of Right Tool os Most Important The heart of the surface miner or the stabilizer is the cutting drum or the cutting tools system. The FAE research group has done extensive studies on cutting tool design and cutting drum system to meet a wide rage of requirement of the surface mining and
Type: F-001
Type: FR-002
further broaden the scope, it is proposed to include the nature of rock failure mode recognition in the model. A dichotomy exists between the two theories of rock failure tensile and shear. By turning off one of the criteria, the rock failure mode in pick cutting can be evaluated. The rock material will be modeled as elastic material before failure. This will greatly simplify the computation time of the model. The rock material will be defined by strengths, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio. A detailed description of the Surface Miners dominant in industries will be given. The rock fragmentation process and the cutting of rocks by point attack picks used in Surface Miners is studied in detail for a better understanding of the process of cutting. Some cuttability predictions from past works will be projected from which the actual model in the project may take counsel. Conclusion The implementation of Surface miners for blast-free mining needs to be explored by development of suitable cutting process in harder materials. The in-situ crushing by machines like MTH of FAE Italy has given the lead to the attempt of surface mining of harder materials. Much however, needs to be done in the areas of development of suitable configuration of the cutting system, depth control and leveling. The benefits of applications of MTH in mining and also in-situ crushing for stabilization in road rehabilitation should be explored further for haul road construction in mining. The advantages of proper haul road construction and maintenance is well known and suitability of application of MTH range of machines can lead to a great benefit to the mining industry.
Type: F-003
Type: FR-004
Numerical Modeling of The Cutting System In order to develop the possibility of the deployment of Surface Miners techno-economically feasible for harder rocks, an attempt should be made to study the parameters affecting the cutting of rocks and the cutting phenomenon. The objective of this work would be to simulate the Surface Miner cutting process using a numerical model. The numerical model will not only be able to calculate the cutting forces but will also be able to calculate the volume of material removed. The intention will be to implement a dynamic contact algorithm into the model and simulate the excavated material by eroding failed elements. To
VDA Cutting Drum System

Marque Innovation Pvt. Ltd.
500, 17th Cross, Ideal Home Township, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Bangalore - 560098. Ph: +91-80-28604527, Fax: +91-80-28604528, E-mail: subhash@rocksterindia.in Web: www.marqueinnovations.com
stabilization, from soft to hard rock. Over and above standard round picks with direct fitting into the tool holders, FAE has developed a number of other varieties of cutting tool systems suiting the requirement of different applications.
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Hyundai's '9 Series' now on Indian Soil

yundai Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. (HCEIPL), a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea, today launched its technologically advanced excavator series in India,'The 9 Series' at their plant in Chakan, near Pune. The products launched under the 9 Series excavators are 'Robex220' and 'Robex140'. The 9 Series excavators provides stability, greater digging and crowd force along with advanced hydraulics for improved controllability and smoother operation in arduous conditions like quarries and mines. One of the unique features of the 9 Series excavator is the Data Download that enables customers to monitor progress of the excavator at site. Unveiling the 9 Series excavator, Mr. Ki Young Kong, Managing Director said, I am delighted to offer the all new technologically advanced '9 Series' Excavators to our customers in India. We have been closely observing the Indian market since 2007which is an
emerging and important market for usgoing through an exciting phase. The '9 Series Excavators' caters to the growing need of the customers with higher technology adaptability. The new range of products has been launched in Europe and Australia and the response has been very encouraging there and we are hoping to see the same in India. Mr. Dheeraj Panda, Head Marketing and Key Account Management also added, As per our study of the market the 20-22 tonne class of excavators captures 80 percent of the total pie of the Indian market and the 14 tonne is amongst the fastest growing segment. Hence with the launch of the Robex220 and Robex140 we aim to provide a wider option to our customers in both the key segments of excavators. Other features of the new series are, wider visibility through ergonomically laid interiors, air conditioning system, LCD screen, wide cluster for one point operation and control,
improved sensor based monitoring and optional rear view camera. About Us: Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea, has revolutionized the Construction Equipment business in India with its cutting edge technology in Excavator market and aims to be the market leader in terms of customer delight and market share. It has grown to a position of strength in 3years since its inception in 2008 to an admirable and enviable player in the construction equipment industry. Set up over a 50 acre land at Chakan near Pune in Maharashtra in a lush green surrounding with an investment of ` 300 crore in 2007, the state of the art manufacturing facility boasts of best in class technology, churning out world class products. Hyundai (HCEIPL) is headquartered in Pune and has four Regional Offices at Delhi, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Mumbai managing sales& service through its strong 27 dealerships across every state in India. The dealerships are aptly supported by Sales and Service centers ensuring customer centric service and maximum uptime to customers. Each region has a Warehouse for its immediate requirement whereas the mother warehouse in Pune works as a feeder.

Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd.
Plot No. A-2. MIDC Chakan Phase - II, Village - Khalumbre, Pune- 410501. Ph: +91-2135-301700, Fax: +91-2135-301712, Web: www.hyundaiindia.net
9 Series Excavavtor
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Regional Conference of the Int'l network of Women Engineers & Scientists (INWISE)
Equipment Focus
Bobcat MX418 The 'Next Gen' Mini Excavator

hen you're faced with a medium to large construction job, you need something to move dirt and to move it quickly. Large excavators are useful for digging foundations and other huge projects, but many times you need a smaller excavator to handle more delicate jobs. When you've got a job that's too big for a shovel but too small for major land-
moving equipment, you need a Bobcat MX418 mini-excavator.With a front-end digging scoop, a Bobcat can get in places that larger machines just can't reach, and haul dirt away quickly and easily. Thanks to their maneuverability, Bobcat MX418 is the machine of choice for landscaping and other jobs where you need to work around existing plants, trees, and
Bobcat Mini Excavator MX418
buildings. What's more, the MX418 can move over nearly any terrain. No matter how well-tended the construction site, frequent and heavy traffic will turn any area into a slick muddy mess. Thankfully, the heavy traction base of the Bobcat MX418 combines with its proper weighting to ensure that the equipment will have no trouble navigating through any construction site, no matter how slick and no matter how hilly.With its versatile size and dependable construction, it's no wonder that Bobcat MX418 Mini Excavator is a standard piece of equipment for any construction company. Whether digging for pipes, small foundations, or landscaping, a Bobcat MX418 will get the job done. The 418 will be very useful for contractors working in excavation, plumbing, landscaping, grading, demolition, electrical, and cable applications. Bobcat introduces the MX418 compact excavator that has an operating weight of 1,167 kilograms (2,593 pounds) and a dig depth of 1.83 metres (six feet). Excavators in this class are often used in tight working areas, next to buildings or other property and areas where it is difficult to transport equipment. Keeping these concerns in mind, Bobcat has developed the 418 excavator with zero tail swing (ZTS) with tracks extended. Eliminating tail overhang on the machine allows the operator to optimize spoil placement and minimize machine contact with property or other nearby objects. MX 418 excavator would be helpful in the construction, rental, and utility markets. The 418 will be used by contractors working in excavation, plumbing, landscaping, grading, demolition, electrical, and cable applications.
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Equipment Focus
Pilot-operated joysticks control the 418 excavator. With these joysticks, the operator has consistent, smooth and fluid control of the machine, increasing work efficiency and further reducing the possibility of the excavator coming in contact with buildings or other nearby objects. The operator may also choose between ISO and standard pattern joystick operation through a control pattern selector valve. An additional feature of the control system is operator comfort. Bobcat has given operators more room by creating an exclusive two-position joystick consoles. The operator can position the joystick control console in an outward position for greater comfort and can lock the console in an inboard position for easier transport of the excavator through gates and doorways. In addition to the two-position joystick consoles, Bobcat has built other features into the 418 excavator that allow the machine to be moved into tight work areas. With a retracted track width of less than 28 inches wide, the ultra-compact MX418 can access jobsites where exhausting hand labor is your only other option. The Tip-Over Protective Structure (TOPS) folds down so that the excavator can travel through a standard-size doorway and work in interior jobsites. The TOPS should be redeployed after transport and before working with the excavator. Two travel speeds are available to operators of the 418 excavator with a range of 2.1 to 3.4 km/h (1.3 to 2.1 mph). The high-speed range provides nearly double the travel speed of the low range so that the excavator can move quickly around the jobsite.
Bobcat MX418
The design of the 418 excavator promotes uptime by protecting machine components. The hydraulic cylinder is mounted on top of the boom to prevent the cylinder from coming into contact with the trench, bucket or nearby obstacles which may damage the cylinder. The hoses on the 418 excavator have been routed through the inside of the work group to protect them from damage. Only Bobcat gives you the features to be more comfortable, go through narrower openings and to operate in tighter conditions with confidence. Bobcat Features include: Ideal for applications where larger machines cannot fit. Retractable undercarriage - retract for access through gates and door ways and blade for outstanding stability and easy site access. Powerful hydraulics for professional applications. Excellent durability for longer machine life. Compact dimensions and light weight for easy transportation. Hydraulic joystick control for smooth, fluid operation and increased efficiency. Exclusive, adjustable
joystick consolesso you can position the joysticks outward for comfort, or inward for access through narrow openings (gates, doorways, etc.). Zero tail swing optimizes spoil placement without damaging nearby objects. Fold-down Tip Over Protective Structure (TOPS) allows this compact machine to pass underneath branches, low openings and through doorways. Selectable control pattern: ISO or standard joystick controls. Two-speed travel for increased mobility around the jobsite. Top-mounted boom cylinder protects from impact in the trench and from jobsite surroundings. Protected workgroup hoses are routed through the inside of the workgroup for minimal wear and tear.
Bobcat-418

Doosan Infracore India Pvt. Ltd.
3rd Floor, TNPL Building, No.67. Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai-600032,India Ph: +91-44-42223940,
Fax: +91-44-42223905,
E-mail: rahul.n@doosan.com Web: www.doosan.com
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A Quality Product Range Backed by Latest Technology

easier for many contractors by reducing labour problems. Work which was earlier possible with 10-12 labourers is now accomplished with one JK Mini Crane and two labourers. The crane also uses 50% less energy than any other lifting machine as it uses the force of gravity to complete its downward journey, making it energy efficient and faster than any other lifting or winch machine in the category. The JK Mini crane can quite literally work anywhere. The crane features automatic mecha-nical brakes which stops the operation on power and/or on any drive failure. The 360 degree movement of the boom of the mini crane is controlled by an automatic locking system, so that when the mini crane is in operation, the boom cannot be rotated or moved by accident. With so many advantages it is not surprising that the JK Mini Crane is the preferred choice for high-rise building construction which otherwise needs a large workforce for moving bricks, cement, tiles, steel, and other building material. With the JK Mini Crane material can be lifted to every floor and makes
Jawahar Kapasi, MD,

Safari Construction Equipments Pvt. Ltd.
afari Construction Equipments Pvt Ltd is a company that has become synonymous with a quality products and excellence in service. The company , with over 15 years of manufacturing expertise offers a product range that includes mini crane, tough rider, concrete mixer machine, mini batching plant, tower hoist, rail trolley system, wheel barrow, vibratory screed, power trowel cum floater, vacuum pump, concrete groove cutter and other miscellaneous construction machinery and equipment. The company has carved a niche for itself with its range of concrete processing and material handling equipment, which have made rapid inroads into the market. The company's top management believes in investing in the latest technology and constant up gradation of the same for ensuring world-class products. The flagship product of the company is the JK Mini Crane, an in-house designed and developed mini crane for material handling, which has made life
Tough Rider Site Picture
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Vertical & Green Summit (Tavess)
JKMini 500 with 15 Ft Boom Length
high-rise construction a relatively easier process. However, its utility is not limited to high-rises, but it finds varied applications. For example, Gannon Dunkerely & Co Ltd is using the mini crane at their SEPCO Power Plant Project in Korba, while L & T is using it for their ongoing residential project at Adani House, Ahmedabad. The Jaypee Group is using the crane for construction of a thermal power plant, while Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd is using it for dam strengthening projects. Safari Equipments which has always been known for its strong R & D focus and its constant endeavour for product improvement has now developed
the latest JK Mini Crane 500 with 15 feet boom length. This mini crane has been specially designed and manufactured for building bridges. This latest mini crane model is currently playing a key role in projects in Rajasthan. Another material handling product from the company which has become immensely popular recently is the JK Tough Rider is an economical and reliable solution for construction sites. The heavy duty, four wheel drive site dumpers can work on tough terrains, carrying concrete and other building materials like sand, bricks, etc. The front end tipping Tough Rider enables
the driver to exactly unload material where it is required. With its stringent commitment to quality standards and incredible product ideas, the company is forging ahead in its journey towards attaining the industry leadership in this highly competitive field.

Safari Construction Equipments Pvt. Ltd.
Plot 132, Phase II, GIDC, Gujarat, Bharuch - 392015 Telefax: +91-2642-246740, E-mail: sales@safariequipments.co.in Web: www.safariequipments.co.in
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4th International Seminar on Forensic Geotechnical Engineering
'State of the Art Insulations' From Supreme Industries

Research and development are an integral element at Supreme Industries. At regular intervals, the company has invested in resources for developing breakthrough insulation products that help enhance energy efficiency. A systematic study of changing trends, shifting demands and new arrivals in technology have facilitated its pursuit of advanced solutions. Spearheaded by a team of highly qualified and vastly experienced professionals at the helm of its R&D activities have ensured continuous development in products that industry demands. In the recent past, high crude oil prices have caused mayhem in the global economy. The increasing need to curb energy consumption, which happens to be one of the major components of industry, has become a top priority. Energy is the single largest operating expense and accounts for more than a $100 billion in expenses for commercial buildings each year. With a view to improve efficiency and thereby enable conservation of energy, the Thermal Insulation Division of Supreme provides top-of-the-line insulation solutions with its 'INSU' range of products, declares Mr. Atul Khanna, General Manager, Thermal Insulation Division of Supreme Industries Ltd. Backed by a deep understanding of changing trends, new-age requirements as well as intensive research and state-of-the-art technology, the Thermal Insulation Division develops customized solutions for the insulation requirements of various industries. Each of the products offered are for the purpose of saving energy in different segments and for different market applications. In its endeavour to provide worldclass materials and continuously upgrade these to fulfill market requirements, Supreme Industries now offers Class 'O' fire rated material in FR, closed cell, chemically crosslinked polyethylene. The company is the first to successfully commission India's first extruded polystyrene plant at its Nagothane polystyrene complex. The plant uses state-of-the-art technology to produce 1,50,000 m3 of extruded polystyrene thermal insulation board using environment friendly CO2 as a blowing agent. The plant is capable of producing boards with various thicknesses from 25 mm to 100 mm & density ranging from 30 kg to 50 kg/m3. A methodical, systematic and stringent approach to quality has ensured all its products are not only world-class but also durable. Adhering to international manufacturing quality standards, the company has secured ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 certifications and a NABL Accreditation
Atul Khanna
GM-Insulation Division, The Supreme Industries Ltd.
ounded in 1942, Supreme Industries Ltd. has since become pioneers of many path-breaking solutions in plastic products for a variety of applications.
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20th ICI Annual Awards
which is a testimony to its quality centric approach. Some of the class leading Thermal Insulation products manufactured by Supreme Industries are; Supreme's Thermal Insulation Division offers solutions in the following areas: - Ducting Insulation in Hospitals, Shopping Malls, Airports, PEBs, IT/ BPO etc. - Pipe Insulation for Split AC Tubings, Chiller Piping, Drain Pipes, Chilled Water Lines etc. - Floor Insulation in Server Rooms, Data Centers, Medical & Diagnostic Centers, and Control Rooms for Petrochemicals. - Underdeck Insulation in PEBs, textile Units, Malls, Airports etc. - Overdeck and Wall Insulation in Commercial Buildings, Residential Buildings, Cold Storages etc. INSUflex INSUflex is a high vapour resistant insulator for air-conditioning applications. INSUflex, which has a high diffusion resistance factor to water vapour transmission > 7000, low thermal conductivity and excellent fire safe performance is suitable for a temperature range from 55 C to +105 C. The
product does not depend on any additional outer thick skin or coverage. But, is built-in with the insulation that extends through its full thickness. It provides a very efficient method of insulating to control condensation against both heat loss and heat gain. The material is particularly suitable for insulating pipe works for condensation control. It can be used on chilled water pipe lines, refrigerated pipe-works, hot & cold water services and sheets/rolls in air-conditioning ductwork. INSUflex products are resistant to corrosion fungal & mildew growth. Thus they are suitable for clean room applications. The low 'K' value also exhibits high energy saving potential & thermal performance. INSUflex is available in combination of various wall thicknesses and diameters to suit G.I., copper and PVC pipes. The product is applied to the surface using an adhesive compound. A protective layer of glass cloth, in two layers with an adhesive compound is then applied before providing a weather barrier, such as aluminium / G.I. cladding for outdoor application. INSUshield INSUshield is a non-fibrous, fire retardant ('Class O' in Fire Propagation
Underdeck Insulation
and 'Class 1' in Surface Spread of Flame), closed cell, tri dimensional chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam. An environment friendly insulation material, it is an ideal solution for insulation of ducts, roofs, pipes, vessels, etc. The advantages of INSUshield are ease of installation, low thermal conductivity and good moisture & vapour resistance preventing microbial growth and optimum condensation protection. INSUreflector INSUreflector is a radiant heat reflective insulation material made of polyethylene air bubble film (ABF) laminated with aluminum foil on one or both sides. It is a low e-reflective insulation material with a low mass to air ratio, which effectively blocks the radiant heat transfer. The bright surface of the aluminium foil, which encases the FR polyethylene air bubble material, reflects 96 per cent to 99 per cent infrared radiation received by the surface of the heated slated roof. INSUboard The extruded polystyrene INSUboard is an ideal solution for building insulation. It enhances the durability of the building structure and resists extreme ambient conditions, absorbs thermal shocks, mechanical loading and stresses without any deterioration in insulation properties of the product.

The Supreme Industries E-mail: insulation@supreme.co.in Web: www.supreme.co.in
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Effective Admixtures as Aid to Concrete Technology for Best Results

n today's Construction Scenario, cost effectiveness of admixtures is under close scanner due to high volumes of concrete involved. It can only be said, maximum benefit of using admixtures can only be realized, by using it in conjunction with correct Concrete Technology. Correct Concrete Technology can only be developed in conjunction with people of extensive expertise in concrete materials and mix designs, and various admixture technology providing Companies. MC offers value addition tools such as Mix Design Analysis, grading curves analysis to maximize benefits for concrete and increase durability (Tools represented). Admixtures like Zentrament FBV and the Muraplast FK range are especially designed for concretes requiring high early and final strengths. These are primarily high range water reducers, based on selected 2nd and latest generation polymers, are free of chlorides and can be adjusted for slightly extended workability time. The concretes so produced are free from bleeding,
Concrete
segregation, are pumpable and require minimum compaction. These are suitable for use in the prestressed and precast industry for manufacturing elements such as beams, columns, slabs, railway sleepers, concrete piles, rails, posts, electrical poles, concrete pipes, etc. The development of strength is
rapid enough to enable early stripping of moulds for rapid, economic construction on account of lesser formwork requirements. With the correct Concrete Technology and optimum use of Zentrament FBV and Muraplast FK range, about 15-20% cement savings may be achieved by maintaining the same slump and strength. MC-Bauchemie (India) Pvt. Ltd. Manufactures full range of concrete admixtures and Technical and Financial collaboration with MC-Bauchemie, Germany. To maintain high technical standards, we are one of the few companies to have a dedicated training Centre and Concrete Technology Lab, in Goa, to provide maximum service for our clients.

MC Bauchemie (India) Pvt. Ltd.
411, Arenja Corner, Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai-400703 Ph: +91-22-27892856/27880803 Fax: +91-22-27893870 E-mail: Info.india@mc-bauchemie.com Web: www.mc-bauchemieindia.com
MC-Bauchemie Lab
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Construction Concrete Equipment
Spartan Conducts First of its Kind Operators meet at Bengaluru

partan Engineering Industries Pvt Ltd is a Mumbai - based, construction equipment manufacturer that has carved a niche for itself in this highly competitive field. The ISO 9001 certified company, offers a wide range of products including, bar bending machines, bar cutting machines, rack & pinion man & material hoists, multi-functional material hoists, rope suspended platforms and tower cranes. The company has always taken pride in sharing a close relationship with its customers. As the company's Core Value states- Building Strong Relationship with Internal & External Customers, the company believes in developing relationship, through constantly getting in touch with them. Spartan has recently introduced Sparsh. Sparsh is an initiative, where Spartan extends its gratitude towards
Ribbon Cutting at the hands of Chief Guest
various segments of the industry by conducting various events thereby touching their lives developing close
Mr. Nandan Pradhan, VP- Sales & Marketing, Spartan Welcomes Chief Guest Mr. T. R. Mallikarjuna CEO- Prestige Group, Bengaluru.
relationship with them all. Very recently, Spartan conducted a highly successful, 'Sparsh Operators' Meet 2012' at Bengaluru on June 3rd, 2012. Approximately 100 operators participated in the event. The operators came from spectrum of successful companies in construction industry like Shapoorji Pallonji & Co., Sobha Developers-Bengaluru, K2K Infrastructure Pvt Ltd., B. L Kashyap & Sons Limited, B. G. Shirke Construction Tech. Pvt. Ltd., GMR Infrastructure Ltd and many more. The event consisted of several fun-filled activities including, running race, gunny bag race, rope pulling, DJ Musical Dance, and magic show etc. The Chief Guest for the event was Mr. T. R. Mallikarjuna- CEO, Prestige Group, Bengaluru. In his speech, Mr. Mallikarjuna was all praises for Spartan saying that this initiative was first of its kind he has ever attended in the industry in his 30 long
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Event Flag Hoisting
Guest Speaks
years of experience. With an extension to pats on back by Mr. Mallikarjun, he appealed Spartan to conduct training programs for Operators with focus on maintenance of machines & safety measures, which Mr. Nandan Pradhan readily acknowledged. The winners of various events received gifts from Mr. Nandan Pradhan. Spartan's management has thought to rejuvenate, entertain and be in touch with the users and customers. This is the first time in Indian construction
equipment industry, that any manufacturing company has conducted any event for the ultimate user of the machines, i.e. Equipment Operators. Taking this into consideration, Spartan has assured everyone that this is only the first touch of 'Sparsh', and they expect to take such events at every city of India. They have also invited the Industry to suggest various ways to reach them and bring in together such successful events.
Operators have been an integral part of our eco-system, and we are committed to give back to our eco-system at large.
- Mr. Nandan Pradhan

VP - Sales & Marketing

Spartan Engineering Industries Pvt. Ltd.
"Spartan House", 1, 111, New Tejpal Ind Estate, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sakinaka, Mumbai-400072 Ph: +91-22-40550000, E-mail: construction@spartanindia.com Web: www.spartanindia.com
Tokyo's awe-inspiring Sky Tree opens for Tourists

The world's tallest tower and Tokyo's biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Sky Tree, was opened to the public recently. Thousands of visitors took a ride on the high-speed elevators to reach the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower to mark its opening. It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower, beating out the Canton Tower in China, which is 600 meters (1,968 1/2 feet). The world's tallest structure is Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 meters (2,717 feet). That's in a different category because it's a skyscraper, not a tower. The Sky Tree will serve as a broadcast tower for television and radio, along with being a tourist attraction.
215
Event Curtain Raiser
16th Indian Plumbing Conference:
Focus on Sustainability
The Masterbuilder, Bureau Report
he 16th Indian Plumbing Conference (IPC) being held in Kochi on July 12 & 13, 2012 is among the most eagerly awaited events for the plumbing fraternity in India. The event is jointly organized by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) along with Akar InfoMedia Pvt Ltd (AIM). IPA, established in 1993, which is the apex body of plumbing professionals in the country and has successfully created a
T
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forum for exchange of ideas and dissemination of information amongst it's over 1700 members. The central theme for this year's event is Water Sustainability: Codes-EducationImplementation-Monitoring. The reason for the organizers of the event choosing the theme makes for interesting reading. The theme has been chosen because of the rather peculiar relation that exists between water and the venue of the
event, Kerala. While the 'God's Own Country' is blessed with abundant natural water bodies including, a long coastline, beautiful backwaters and freshwater lakes, along with receiving an annual rainfall of 3000 mm, the state still faces water scarcity. It is against this backdrop that the central theme for the conference has been chosen, in order to provide thoughtful insights into the issue, which is not only limited to Kerala,
Event Curtain Raiser
but the entire country in general. In fact, water conservation and recycling are expected to amongst the most deliberated topics during the event. The conference will see luminaries from the industry share their words of wisdom over four technical sessions and one panel discussion. These include, (1) Sustainable Plumbing Practices, (2) Education & Awareness, (3) Renew & Reuse, (4) Water Supply & Sanitation
Scenario in God's Own Country (Panel Discussion) and (5) Mandate & Monitor. The earlier fifteen national conventions have been instrumental in creating much needed awareness about better plumbing practices in India. One of the reasons why the relevance of the conference has grown in recent times has been because of the increased emphasis on sustainability off late. The national conventions, apart from their focus on the core subject of plumbing, have also been a platform where industry experts have shared their words of wisdom on various aspects related to sustainability. This time around too the conference would offer the right platform for delegates to listen to and deliberate with the distinguished speakers on a variety of topics, such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and adoption of green plumbing methods. The Chief Guest of the conference is Prof.V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai, Principal Secretary of Science & Technology Department and the Executive Vice President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE). Dr.A.Ramakrishna, former Deputy Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro Limited and Director of International Infrastructure Consultants Pvt Ltd, would be the keynote speaker during the conference. Some of the eminent speakers during the conference include, Mr.Sudhakaran Nair, President, IPA ,Ms.Susan Jacob, Technical Member, Kerala Water Authority (KWA), Ar.N.Mahesh, Principal Architect, Iyer & Mahesh, Trivandrum, Ms.Megan Lehtonen, Director, Business Development, IAPMO Group, USA, Mr.R.K.Somany, Chairman & Managing Director, HSIL Limited, Ms.Lily Hu, Regional Lead Engineer, Intertek APAC Building Product Stream, China, Mr. John Joseph, Managing Director, Principal Consultant, John Mech-El Technologies (P) Ltd., Mumbai, Mr.Sharat Rao, Vice Chairman, IPA Mumbai Chapter, Mr.V.Venugopal, Managing Partner, Modern Plumbing Systems and Services, Kochi, Mr.S.Vishwanath, Director, Biome Environmental Solutions, Bengaluru,
Mr.S.Haris, Executive Engineer (Training), Kerala Water Authority and Mr.P .Ramachandran, Chairman IPA Kerala Chapter. Another highlight during the conference would be the exhibition that will be organized simultaneously by the manufacturers and suppliers of sanitary wares, bathroom fittings, pipes & joints, pumps & valves, fire fighting systems, drainage solutions, etc. A number of leading names are expected to showcase their products at the exhibition. With IPC being the premier show for the industry, it is not surprising that several companies are coming together to join the show as partners. Some of these companies include, Lubrizol Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd, Mather & Platt Pumps, KiTEC Industries Ltd, Cera Sanitaryware Ltd, Astral Polytechnik Limited, The Supreme Industries Ltd, Schell GmbH & Co.KG, Cepex Valves, Kisan Mouldings Ltd, Rajco Metal Industries Pvt Ltd, Finolex Industries Ltd, and Star Pipes & Fittings Pvt Ltd. Several industry bodies including, the World Plumbing Council (WPC), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials India (IAPMOIndia), Indian Institute of Architects (IIA Kerala Chapter), Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Fire and Security Association of India (FSAI and the Confederation of Construction Products and Services (CCPS) are also supporting the event. The conference with a distinguished array of speakers, looks all set to emulate the success of the past 15 national conventions. It offers the perfect platform for interaction among varied professionals including, manufacturers, product specifiers, builders, consultants, bureaucrats, contractors, and end-users. With India's plumbing industry being one of the fastest growing in the world, the conference will offer an insight into the latest technologies in the field that have made an entry into the country and the future growth path of the industry. For more information on the conference visit www.ipaevents.com or write to akshat@aimcorp.in
E.Scape
A Stunning Landscape Garden Full of Paper Flowers

hen it comes to landscape design, often floral plants are the choice of designers. This one though takes the cake. A Swiss designer, Anouk Vogel, has created a white garden totally made up of delicate paper flowers in Nagasaki, Japan. The artist has painstakingly created the garden out of 1,000 paper flowers. The garden was in fact awarded a Silver Medal and Judges' Special Award at the Festival of Flowers and World Peace in Japan. The Origami garden has already become the talk of the town in Nagasaki and is attracting visitors by the horde.
A Treehouse Made Up of Reclaimed Materials

hile treehouses have become the favourite with those seeking adventure and with vacationers, this particular treehouse is also a model of sustainability initiatives. Designed by Lynne Knowlton from Canada, this treehouse is entirely made up of reclaimed materials. The house in Durham, Ontario, has become popular both with kids and adults. For the children it makes for a great playhouse, while for adults it is a welcome getaway, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The designer set up building the treehouse with the help of reclaimed barn and with several other things sourced from friends. For example the kitchenette counter is made up of an old tree , while the porcelain sink is from a neighbour's junk yard.
t looks like a jumbo that has accidentally landed right in the midst of a residential area in Oregon. Well, it is more of a passion of Oregonian Bruce Campbell that has brought this jetliner to the city. For Campbell the Boeing 727-200 is his home. It is in fact one house which has been designed with painstaking details by its owner. Campbell after buying the decommissioned plane, first took it apart and then reassembled it at the site, amidst natural settings. For anyone looking at the home for the first time, they would not realize that the entire air plane has been assembled on site, and would be left wondering as to how the plane reached the place in the first instance.
A 'Plane Home'
Springs Up in Oregon
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