Securing the village of Korbous (Tunisia)


The village of Korbous on the shores of the bay of Tunis, wedged between the Mediterranean sea and the cliffs of Cap Bon, is famous for its hot springs and its landscapes. Blocks of rock have been known to fall from the sandstone cliffs that overlook the village, but the development of tourism convinced the provincial authority of the need to secure the site.
TERRASOL signed-off on studies (trajectometric studies, design of anchors, etc.) in order to optimise the project, and contributed to the follow-up of the works execution (anchors pull-out tests, conformity of works execution to the supplier’s specifications):

  • passive solutions (class 9 dynamic screens) in sectors where there is room to put them into effect, suspended grid;
  • active solutions (anchors, buttresses, plated meshes, wrapping, etc.) for cliff sectors directly overlooking buildings or streets, and for blocks exceeding the capacities of the dynamic screens.

The layout of the site (proximity of the cliff, variability of the issues at stake and of block volumes), the influence of broad splitting of fall trajectories and the occupancy of the site (rock shelters) have resulted in the selection of a wide diversity of technical solutions.

Terrasol’s achievements:


  • Project review
  • Risk analysis
  • Review of the detailed design
  • Follow-up of the protections implementation works
Characteristics
PERIOD :  2012 - 2014
Owner : Nabeul province (Tunisia)
Lead designer : 
BEATL
Terrasol
Client : Terrasol Tunisie
Main specifications :  

  • Securing 250 m cliffs overlooking the village
  • Passive solution: 300 m dynamic screens
  • Active solution: 60 large blocks stabilised by various methods