Strata Global

Geogrid.com

T blocks

What are T blocks?

One of the most important materials in construction is concrete blocks. Civil engineers use concrete block in construction primarily in walls and fences. There are several types of concrete blocks based on their properties but we will be learning about T blocks in this article.

T blocks have derived their name because of their construction like “T-shaped blocks”. They are precast concrete blocks used excessively in coastal and shoreline areas. Their unique shape interlock and offer stability in difficult locations including riverbanks, sea walls, and breakwaters. T blocks absorb wave energy and minimise the shoreline displacement. The design and manufacturing of T blocks ensure long-term strength and stability for coastal structures.

Let us learn about T block construction, its advantages, and applications in detail.

What are the common T block applications in civil engineering?

Civil Engineering projects that involve the construction of marine and coastal structures widely use T blocks. T-shaped blocks offer numerous advantages and thus are used in the following mainly:

  • Coastal protection: T block installations stabilise the structure and foundations of ports, harbors, and coasts ensuring the safety of all coastal operations.
  • Riverbank stabilisation: Concrete T blocks are deployed to prevent erosion that results due to the fast movement of water. It provides stability to the riverbanks from flood damage.
  • Breakwaters: T- T-shaped blocks protect from the forces of waves and thus are used in the formation of the structure of breakwater barriers for coastlines and harbors.
  • Retaining walls: T blocks are also known as retaining wall blocks because of their ability to control erosion and protect the land from being washed away.
  • Erosion control: T blocks are effective in wave energy dissipation by reducing its force before reaching the shore. The placement is done in such a way as to prevent erosion by displacing energy for the prevention of erosion.
Retaining walls constructed using precast concrete T blocks
Retaining walls constructed using precast concrete T blocks

What are the advantages and uses of T block?

Solid wastes can be classified into different categories to understand what exactly falls where and how they can be treated effectively. The most common types are the following:

  • Municipal solid waste: These are the everyday item wastes that are generated from households, working places, and common public spaces like discarded goods, and food waste.
  • Industrial waste: The word “industrial waste” refers to unprocessed wastes that are disposed of by manufacturing and other sorts of businesses. These leftovers include chemicals, machine parts, and metal scraps.
  • Construction & demolition waste: Waste generated in the form of cement, debris, concrete, etc during civil engineering activities is called C&D waste.
  • Agricultural waste: This is the kind of waste usually generated due to farming and agricultural activities. It includes agro-products and livestock wastes.
  • Hazardous waste: Due to rapid industrialisation and the growth of health sectors, toxic and chemical substances are getting dumped in the open which are considered hazardous wastes.

What are the different ways of solid waste management?

The nature of blocks allows them to interlock and hence T block advantages are numerous in terms of protecting coasts such as:

  • Stability and durability: T blocks are made from reinforced concrete and are heavy. They ensure that there is no need for frequent repairs and can withstand extreme weather conditions, typically designed to meet ASTM standards.
  • Ease of installation: The interlocking of T blocks makes them versatile and offers a very adaptive solution for all coastal structures. It can be rearranged and adjusted easily due to its design and suitability for different types of projects. The interlocking of these blocks also aid in rapid deployment and adjustments on-site.
  • Flexibility: Civil engineer blocks need to be versatile like T blocks. Because of its properties, T blocks can be adapted in combination with different projects to provide a robust framework.
  • Environmental benefit: T blocks help in preserving the natural ecosystem by providing measures for coastal erosion. The effects of man-made structures are minimised and necessary protection is offered to beaches and wetlands habitating the marine life which can also minimise negative impact.
  • Cost-effectiveness: Because of their shape, they offer long protection with minimal to no supervision. So the cost involved in its maintenance is cheap and budget-friendly benefiting long term savings.

What are the best practices for using T Blocks in civil engineering?

For the successful effectiveness of T block installation, several key considerations are taken into account such as:

  • Proper site assessment: A thorough site assessment is crucial for the effective installation of T blocks. This involves studying soil stability, wave patterns, erosion, and climate conditions. Employing tools such as soil testing kits and hydrodynamic modeling software can provide valuable insights into the site conditions.
  • Quality control in manufacturing: Ensuring high standards in the manufacturing of T blocks is essential for their performance. Adhering to industry standards, such as ASTM specifications, can help guarantee the quality and durability of the concrete used in T block production.
  • Strategic placement: The effectiveness of T blocks relies heavily on their strategic placement. Utilizing methodologies such as slope stability analysis and hydrodynamic simulations can optimize the arrangement of T blocks to maximize their ability to withstand wave forces and erosion.
  • Regular maintenance: Conducting regular maintenance is vital for the longevity of T block installations. Inspections should focus on assessing the integrity of the blocks, checking for any signs of displacement or damage, and addressing any minor repairs promptly to prevent further deterioration.
  • Environmental consideration: Integrating sustainable practices into T block construction is crucial for minimizing environmental impact. Using eco-friendly materials and construction methods can help preserve marine habitats and reduce unintended erosion, ensuring that coastal projects are environmentally responsible.

Rising sea levels are always a major concern for civil engineers these days. The effect that rising sea level has on marine structures can be solved with the usage of T block. T block proper implementation can prove to be an effective solution for all coastal civil engineering projects due to its high performance and low maintenance.

Back to Glossary Index Page

Need a consultation? We’re at your service.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you’re looking for, and our experts will get back to you with a perfect solution!

Harold W. Hill, Jr

Director, President – Glen Raven Technical Fabrics

Strata/Glen Raven tenure: 10 years/28 years
Total industry experience: 35 years


MBA – Wake Forest University

 

Directs the strategic direction of Glen Raven’s automotive, protective apparel, military, geogrid, outdoor and logistic businesses.

J. Craig Bell

Director, General Manager, Strata Inc.

Strata/Strata Inc. tenure: 3 years/14 years
Total industry experience: 25 years


MBA – Georgia State University

 

Led the integration of Strata Inc. business operations into the headquarters of GRTF and transition from USA based to India based manufacturing.

Ashok Bhawnani

Director

Strata tenure: 17 years
Total industry experience: 47 years

CA – ICA

 

Played a key role in the establishment of Strata’s India operations. Provides vision for product innovation and leveraging new technology trends.

Phil McGoldrick

Global Technical Sales Director

Strata tenure: 7 years
Total industry experience: 32 years


Civil & Geotechnical Engineer (First class)


Provides highly technical and innovative civil engineering solutions in India and around the world. Responsible for the design and execution of large-scale geotechnical projects around the world including Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and South America.

Shahrokh Bagli

CTO – Chief Technology Officer

Strata tenure: 9 years
Total industry experience: 48 years


BTech (Hons), MTech (Civil) Both IIT Bombay, DMS (Bombay University), FIE, FIGS, Chartered Engineer

 

Streamlines the designs of Geosynthetics and has brought innovation in geogrid and geocell design application.

Mujib Katrawala

COO – Projects and Sales

Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 24 years


MBA – University of Gujarat

 

Leads the monetization of products and solutions while ensuring highest execution quality and project profitability.

Chandrashekhar Kanade

COO – Technical Textiles

Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 33 years


BE (Mechanical) – Nagpur University

 

Drives excellence in process design, product features and cost effectiveness in production.

Govind Keswani

CFO – Chief Financial Officer

Strata tenure: 8 years
Total industry experience: 35 years


CA – ICA, ICWA – ICWAI

 

Leads the finance, accounting, taxation, commercial, legal and IT functions and assisting on all strategic and operational matters.

Gautam Dalmia

CDO – Chief Development Officer

Strata tenure: 10 years
Total industry experience: 13 years


MBA – ISB, Hyderabad

 

Leads diversification of the product portfolio, monetizing the new products and ensuring successful sustained financial growth of the company top line.

Narendra Dalmia

CEO – Chief Executive Officer

Strata tenure: 14 years
Total industry experience: 42 years


B Tech (Chemical) – IIT Delhi

 

Leads day-to-day business operations of the company with focus on capacity expansion, product and process improvement.

Need a consultation? We’re at your service.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you’re looking for, and our experts will get back to you with a perfect solution!


Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class "ALInfo" not found in /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-content/plugins/airlift/buffer/cache.php:254 Stack trace: #0 [internal function]: ALCache->optimizePageAndSaveCache() #1 /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/functions.php(5464): ob_end_flush() #2 /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/class-wp-hook.php(324): wp_ob_end_flush_all() #3 /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/class-wp-hook.php(348): WP_Hook->apply_filters() #4 /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/plugin.php(517): WP_Hook->do_action() #5 /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-includes/load.php(1279): do_action() #6 [internal function]: shutdown_action_hook() #7 {main} thrown in /var/www/vhosts/strataglobal.com/httpdocs/wp-content/plugins/airlift/buffer/cache.php on line 254