Exposure Visit to Tetrapod manufacturing unit

On 03rd February 2023 an “Exposure Visit to Tetrapod manufacturing unit” (the blocks to retain soil from seashore erosion) was organized by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of FXEC Tirunelveli, Institution’s Innovation Council in association with Civil Engineering Department. 95 civil engineering students (third year and second year) have been taken for the visit along with 6 faculty members from 10.00 a.m to 4.30 p.m. The exposure visit was coordinated by Mrs. P. Raja Priya, Assistant Professor, Department of civil engineering.

At the Tetrapod manufacturing unit, all the students were briefed by the engineers working in the plant about the manufacturing process and the materials required for the manufacture of tetrapod. The experts said that tetrapod is a form of wave-dissipating concrete block used to prevent erosion caused by weather and longshore drift, primarily to enforce coastal structures such as seawalls and breakwaters. Tetrapods are made of concrete and use a tetrahedral shape to dissipate the force of incoming waves by allowing water to flow around rather than against them, and to reduce displacement by interlocking. A single tetrapod block weighs 12 tons. The technical people of tetrapod manufacturing unit explained the technical details of tetrapod, cost of manufacture, formwork for tetrapod, additional requirements/arrangements of demoulding and the market rate of a single unit. Finally, an interaction session was arranged with the manufacturing unit in charge. From the beginning to the end of this field study, the students were very interested in learning everything from how to produce stone and how to sell it profitably. And all the questions of the students were answered by the technical people. Through this exposure visit students gained knowledge and the purpose of using the same.