Aluminium Multiplate Structures

CSP Pacific has been manufacturing and marketing Corrugated Steel Plate Structures for over 20 years. Aluminium structural plate structures use the same corrugation pattern as for steel (200mm x 55mm). The standard Kaiser profile is slightly larger than this, and CSP Pacific has carried out a comprehensive series of seam strength tests at Auckland University to ensure that the seam strength values recommended for design give similar safety factors as the Kaiser range, and similar to those normally applied for steel. The key features of aluminium plate structures are the durability of aluminium and particularly the durability in sea water, the lightness of the plate allowing easy handling, quick construction with minimal plant, and the use of aluminium bolts.

Proven Durability

Corrugated Aluminium Plate Structures are manufactured from a marine grade aluminium alloy, 5052-H34, which offers exceptional resistance to corrosion in both fresh and marine water environments. This is due to the very protective tenacious aluminium oxide present on the surface of aluminium, which is almost inert in most natural environments. When mechanically damaged the oxide coating reforms immediately.

Corrosion of aluminium can occur due to inherent minor imperfections in the protective oxide film. This results in localised pitting attack, which is generally quite sparse, and slows down with time due to a build-up of corrosion products in the pit (pit depth has been found to be approximately proportional to the inverse of time cubed).

Cost Benefits

A Corrugated Aluminium Multiplate Structure installation can provide many material and labour cost advantages:

• Fast economical job completion.
• Saves on design costs.
• Simple assembly. The project requires engineering supervision. Backfill requires skill and experience.
• Low equipment costs for assembly due to very lightweight of average plate, i.e. less than 50kg.
• Ability to pre-assemble further reducing installation time and hence inconvenience cost
• No structural or coating damage during transportation, handling and storage.

Ease of Installation

Installation techniques offer very real benefits to specifiers in both normal and difficult situations. The easily handled corrugated plate system can be erected on-site - an ideal solution for remote areas where access is difficult - or delivered to site fully assembled if access and transport regulations allow, where fast job completion is vital.

The assembly of Corrugated Aluminium Multiplate Structures is relatively simple. However the project will require engineering supervision.

It is extremely important that careful consideration is given to the design of the backfill and bedding. Either refer to AS /NZS 2041:1998 or consult with a knowledgeable design engineer.

Standards and Approvals

Manufacture

Corrugated Aluminium Plate Structures are manufactured in accordance with the following specifications:

AASHTO M219-82
Aluminium Alloy Structural Plate for Field Bolted Conduits
AS/NZS 2041-1998
Buried Corrugated Metal Structures
ASTM B-211
Aluminium Alloy Bar, Rod and Wire

Specification

Design specifications have been prepared by CSP Pacific and are available upon request. These specifications are based on the following standards:

AASHTO
Standard specifications for Highway bridges Section 12: 'Soil-Corrugated Metal Structure Interaction Systems'
AS/NZS 2041:1998
Buried Corrugated Metal Structures, Design and Installation

The range of structures in this document complies with the flexibility requirements of the above specifications. For larger structures, CSP Pacific can offer special designs utilising stiffening ribs.

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