COPREMESAL tube is composed of corrugated galvanised metal plates, mechanically curved to for the different prefabricated elements that are assembled at the construction site with high resistance fasteners.

Applications:
- Replacement of factory building
- Pedestrian underpasses
- Watercourse channelling
- Drains and main drains
- Protection for conveyor belts
- Storage silos
- Underground tanks
- Underpasses for animals...

Advantages:
- Ease of transport
- Speed and ease of assembly
- Structural flexibility
- Versatility of shape
- Adaptation to the surroundings
- Durability
- Minimum maintenance
- Economy...

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT
For decades now, corrugated steel tube has been the ideal solution for underpasses under roads or railway lines, both for pedestrians and vehicles, watercourse channelling. It is also used for general drainage, protection for conveyor belts, storage silos, underground tanks, animal underpasses...
Always linked to civil engineering, it elegantly solves economic, logistic and environmental problems in small or large-scale infrastructure work, replacing factory or concrete work.
The pipes are composed of corrugated galvanised steel prefabricated elements, curved mechanically to the required dimensions, are assembled on site with high resistance fasteners (specially made for the job).
These structure can measure from 0.4 to more than 7 m. span, which once assembled on site and correctly packed, are load bearing, the corrugated plate and the surrounding ground working together, meaning a considerable saving in materials. As well as the flexibility of this structure, it can also adapt to unfavourable conditions in the terrain, differential settling, seismic movements... which could cause cracking and subsequent collapse of rigid concrete structures.
Thus, its advantages, both in the design and construction phases can be summarised as follows:

EASE OF TRANSPORT:
These elements are lightweight (less than 300 Kg. per unit). They are stored and transported by fitting plates inside others, so that a single truck load is usually sufficient to transport them anywhere, even places with difficult access.

EASE OF ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION:
Assembly of the complete tube consists in joining the sections with fasteners, following the plans. This can be done by  a small workforce. Small structures can be fitted by hand, while larger ones will need a small crane.

FLEXIBILITY AND VERSATILITY OF THE PRODUCT:
The flexibility of the metal structure enables it to absorb seismic activity and differential settlement of terrain.
In addition, the great versatility of the product enables the creation of accesses, junctions, elbows, bevels, mitre joints… which are made in the workshop and fitted on site, the same as any other section.

ADAPTATION TO THE SURROUNDINGS:
In a well-designed project, the installation of these types of structures should have practically no impact on the surroundings, as they can be adapted perfectly to the embankments, enabling vegetation to grow up to its edge.
They are ever more frequently used for the passage of wild animals; a rough floor should be fitted so the animals do not touch the metal.

DURABILITY AND MINIMUM MAINTENANCE:
The life of the metal structures is guaranteed by the type of treatment it receives during the manufacturing process, corresponding to regulations defined in the Technical Specifications for road and bridge construction of the MOPU.
In conditions considered normal (PH between 5 and 11) this protection will be sufficient; in extreme cases, additional bituminous or epoxy resin coating or others of recognised performance will be applied.

ECONOMY
All these advantages make COPREMESAL corrugated galvanised steel tube more economic than traditional concrete construction.
Another point is that the structure can immediately be used when fitted, thus reducing delays.
Our Technical and Commercial Department will supply you with all the Technical information on the product, as well as Specifications tables and Installation Manuals, for installing correctly.
Transport, assembly and installation of the tube is rapid, organised and very simple operations that do not require specialised personnel. So that a small team, following the instructions and plans supplied, will be sufficient to correctly install the structure.
In addition, from the project to the delivery phases of the work, COPREMESAL will be there to guarantee the best results.

DESCRIPTION OF MATERIALS
The basic element used for manufacturing the tube is steel plate, fitted on-site with high resistance fasteners. The technical specification of these materials is defined in the General Technical specifications for Roadwork and Bridges of the MOPU.

STEEL SHEET
The quality of steel used to manufacture the sheet conforms to UNE -EN 10111 standards, in its different thicknesses (from 1.5 to 7 mm) and sizes. The plates are drilled and pressed to give them the necessary corrugation, mini corrugation (Fig. 1) or large corrugation (Fig. 2), as well as the desired curvature to configure the structure designed.
The thicknesses of metal available range from 1.5 to 7 mm.
This catalogue includes the tables with dimensions of the standard of tubes; for any variation of span, thickness… or other questions on installation, please contact our Technical Department.

GALVANISED
The system used to protect the steel is HOT GALVANISING, with minimum values of mass and thickness as specified in the Table (UNE-EN ISO 1461 standard).

FASTENERS
The plates of the structure are assembled with bolts; this system is called “FRICTION JOINING”.
By using high resistance bolts, the joint is calculated so that the high torque values that can be obtained will produce a strong friction of the joint, so that the shear forces are transmitted by friction between one surface and the other.
To adapt to the undulation of the metal, the heads of the bolts and nuts are rounded. The number of bolts per metre of joint, their location and dimensions, will depend on the type of corrugation and thickness of the metal and will condition the load-bearing capacity of the structure.
Values of:
8.4 Kg/m for M-12 (mini corrugation)
27 Kg/m for M-20 (large corrugation)
Will be torque values to follow, as:
- Excessive torque can damage the bolt or the hole in the metal.
- Insufficient torque will not provide the necessary friction and the joint will be subject to excessive shear forces.