Project: MLMMI 01-01-03
Objective
To investigate innovative design procedures for reinforced concrete manure storage tanks using Fiber Reinforce Polymers.
Performer
Dr. Aftab A. Mufti
University of Manitoba
Details
Status: Completed
Started: 2001-04-01
Completed: 2002-07-29
Funding Partners: who have contributed to MLMMI in support of this project:
Manitoba Pork Council and industry groups - $27,000
Amount Funded: $27,000.00
Performer Funded: $95,000.00
Total Cost: $122,000.00
Activity
First Interim Report received June 7/01.
Second Progress Report received Sept. 7/01.
Third Progress Report received Feb. 5/02.
Final report due June 1, 2002.
Request for extension to June 30/02 granted.
Final Report received July 29/02.
Summary
Environmental concerns about the integrity of manure storage facilities have been raised in many regions across the country. Often concerns regarding potential leakage have motivated the public to resist the development of large-scale agricultural facilities. A recent survey performed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Quebec reported that of the 28 concrete tanks that have been inspected, 23 tanks show serious deterioration of the walls (i.e., vertical and horizontal cracks).
Hog manure storage is a major constraint on confined animal production systems. Expanding levels of production, particularly in the hog industry, are making the problem more severe. In the past, liquid manure has commonly been stored in earth lagoons. Increasing environmental concerns related to ground seepage have led to the requirement that more impervious structures be designed and built. This has augmented the use of steel-reinforced concrete for hog-manure storage tanks above ground. The challenge of reinforced concrete is its long-term stability, which controls the so-called durability or service life of concrete structures. Due to the hostile service environment associated with manure storage, corrosion rates of the steel reinforcement are potentially high. These deterioration rates could lead to a significant mechanical weakening and finally to a relatively short service life of the tanks.
To map out the various mechanisms through which the strength of conventional reinforced concrete currently used for manure storage tanks may be improved, thereby to increase the safe service life of the tanks, this research program, entitled the Innovative Design for Manure Storage Facilities Project, has been initiated by the Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence on Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structure (ISIS Canada). This project was developed in collaboration with Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI), the Manitoba Triple S Hog Manure Management Initiative and Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative (MLMMI).