Concrete Canvas USA with Nathan Ivy

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Key Points Discussed [00:00:00] - Introduction

• Host Ty introduces the topic and guest, Nathan Ivy.

• Quote (Ty): "We're going to be talking a whole lot of concrete, which I know is near and dear to my wife’s heart as a civil PE."

• Nathan shares the origin of Concrete Canvas and its initial use as rapidly deployable shelters for humanitarian aid.

[00:04:00] - What is Concrete Canvas?

• Concrete Canvas is a flexible, fabric-like material that hardens when hydrated.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "It’s a three-dimensional spacer fabric filled with concrete. You roll it out, anchor it, hydrate it, and in 24 hours, you have between 70 to 80 percent of the ultimate compressive strength."

[00:06:00] - How It Works

• GCCM (Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat) has three thicknesses for different applications.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "Type 1 is the thinnest, used for light erosion control. Type 3 is the thickest and strongest, used for the most extreme environments."

[00:10:00] - Applications & Case Studies

• Used in tank storage facilities, drainage channels, and industrial sites.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "We lined a drainage ditch for Chevron in Houston in just three hours, preventing further erosion and water loss."

• Also used for landfill protection and irrigation canal lining.

[00:16:00] - Installation Challenges & Lessons Learned

• Common installation mistakes: not using anchor trenches, improper surface preparation.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "If you're just going to peg it down, you might as well go to Walmart and buy a tarp because water will get underneath and wash it out."

[00:20:00] - Cost & Efficiency Compared to Traditional Methods

• Costs around $4-$6 per square foot installed, significantly cheaper and faster than shotcrete or poured concrete.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "We expect a lifespan of up to 120 years for slope protection applications."

[00:27:00] - Environmental Considerations & Water Flow

• Can be installed underwater and maintains structural integrity.

• Used to reduce seepage in irrigation canals, with one project in California showing a 96% reduction in water loss.

[00:33:00] - Global Uses & Future of Concrete Canvas

• Widely used in Japan for weed suppression around road signs.

• Expanding in U.S. markets like petrochemical containment, drainage, and erosion control.

[00:37:00] - Final Thoughts

• Nathan shares his contact info for technical questions.

• Ty wraps up, mentioning that his wife, a civil engineer, will love this episode.

Key Quotes

• "We expect a lifespan of up to 120 years for slope protection applications. Drainage applications can be more like 50 years, depending on water flow and environmental conditions." – Nathan Ivy

• "We lined a quarter-mile irrigation canal in California