A stable platform resistant to aeolian blowout

[steven.armstrong]

Hi All,

We have a tower in the desert to support an instrument that looks down at light intensity reflected from the sand. This is used to calibrate satellite instruments. For local cultural reasons we can't use screw piles into the ground. Our problem is to make a stable platform resistant to aeolian blowout.

Here are some pictures of our current effort.






Note the success of the jute matting used under the trailer. This can be replaced with commercially available UV stable geofabric. There is a preference to move to a guyed tower in order to get rid of the large trailer. It is in the field of view of the instrument. This is undesirable.

My inquiry is, can an 1000kg IBC full of water on a pad of geofabric form a stable anchor point for guy ropes? The geofabric would extend beyond the IBC. The IBC could be on a metal sheet. I would envisage that after some time the IBC/pad would look like a pillar protruding form the eroded surface.



The investigation is to last 15 years. Any thoughts most welcome.

 

[LittleInch]

Gabion basket instead?

Fill it with sand ( there seems to be a lot about....)

That sort of sand looks like it will drift hugely over 15 years or even 15 months.

IBCs won't last 15 yrs in sunlight and the water will evaporate/ leak out.

Use rocks is my suggestion.

 

[steven.armstrong]

Gabion basket instead?

Fill it with sand ( there seems to be a lot about....)

That sort of sand looks like it will drift hugely over 15 years or even 15 months.

IBCs won't last 15 yrs in sunlight and the water will evaporate/ leak out.

Use rocks is my suggestion.

Thanks, hadn't thought of that. I'm an electronics person. I will investigate.

 

[HTURKAK]

My inquiry is, can an 1000kg IBC full of water on a pad of geofabric form a stable anchor point for guy ropes?

Why don't you consider precast concrete cube each 1000 kg? It should not be big issue to fabricate 3 precast cubes , transport and install with a excavation depth say 500 mm.

 

[Lomarandil]

I think the transport is the challenge there HTURKAK.... but maybe not, if not concrete they'd have to get the water or rocks out to site.

Agreed that the concept is viable from a structural and geotechnical perspective (we use concrete "deadman" blocks all the time).