The Autocan trench fill product developed by Eurovia simplifies the laying and maintenance of buried utility lines, significantly reducing subsidence, noise pollution, and community disruption. This innovative technique utilizes a self-compacting slurry and buoyancy to efficiently fill trenches, enabling rapid re-trafficking and versatile applications while conserving materials. Autocan is also notable for its high impermeability and simplified maintenance, making it suitable for various underground utility networks.

1. AUTOCAN
TRENCH FILL
Fewer constraints and
superior performance

2. AUTOCAN
TRENCH FILL
The laying and maintenance of buried utility lines in urban areas generally cause disruption
to the surrounding community. Despite all the precautions taken when filling trenches with
conventional materials, there are frequent problems of trench subsidence as a result of
differences in compaction.
To avoid these problems, Eurovia has developed a high-performance trench fill product that is
laid by means of an innovative technique: Autocan. The process uses the fluidity of the material
and the Archimedes principle to simplify and accelerate pipelaying.
Key
Benefits
No compaction needed
Less subsidence after laying
Reduction in noise pollution
Less disruption for the surrounding
community
Rapid re-trafficking
Better environmental protection
Key
figures
Pedestrian traffic possible
2 to 3 hours
after filling
Patent filed
over 10 years ago
Materials savings of more
than 25%

3. IT DOES VIRTUALLY
ALL THE WORK!
Autocan is a trench fill process that uses a slurry and a
resourceful pipelaying technique.
The Autocan process consists in using buoyancy to
wedge the upper surface line of pipes against metal
chocks levelled from above. The process can be applied
to all types of pipes (with the exception of cast iron) and
all pipe diameters.
The special Autocan formula provides a self-placing,
self-compacting and incompressible product. The
slurry is used as pipe bedding and coating, trench fill
and in some cases pavement base courses. The laying
technique makes it possible to rapidly and safely work
on restricted area worksites while substantially reducing
disruption to the surrounding community.
A PROCESS WITH
multi-advantages
Autocan combines a large number of advantages:
presence of personnel in trenches limited to the
time needed to assemble the pipes, or eliminated
altogether when the pipes are assembled outside the
trench (PVC and HDPE pipes, for example),
narrower trenches,
small worksite footprint,
less spoil to be removed,
no on-site storage of materials,
guaranteed pipe slope,
no risk of pipe deformation during compaction.
The Autocan process facilitates complex geometry
works in sub-soils occupied by utility networks and in
urban areas. It avoids the risk of subsidence in filled
zones and the resulting deterioration of surface courses.
Autocan is a safe and clean process that conserves
materials and re-uses industrial by-products, thus
contributing to Eurovia’s environmental programme.
AND IT IS VERSATILE as well!
Autocan can serve as a pavement base course for roads with moderate traffic ( T3). It is also used to fill
former utility trenches and underground cavities (quarries, tunnels, cellars).
The process is recommended for all types of sewers and for the laying and maintenance of underground
utility networks. It is suitable for all types of non-metal pipes. Cast iron and steel pipes require prior
coating with resins or wrapping with sleeves.

4. TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
18, place de l’Europe - 92565 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex
Tel. : 33 (0)1 47 16 38 00 - Fax : 33 (0)1 47 16 38 01
www.eurovia.com
technique@eurovia.com
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Autocan slurry is a thixotropic and fluid product that
offers continuous and uniform coating of pipelines, as
well as good bonding to the trench walls.
The material rapidly achieves immediate buoyancy
characteristics. It can be opened to pedestrian traffic
two to three hours after filling and pavement surface
courses make rapid re-trafficking possible.
On-site bearing factor (EN 13286)
at 24 hours IPI ≤ 10
Resistance to penetration (Pandalightdynamicpenetrometer)
at 24 hours 2 MPa
simplified
maintenance
Autocan remains excavatable without special
equipment. It is easy to moderately easy
to excavate (CERTU Trench fill of June 1998),
facilitating subsequent maintenance.
high
impermeability
Autocan is an impermeable material that does not
release water during setting, adapts to all types of
surrounding terrain and exhibits extremely limited
hydraulic shrinkage.
All these characteristics are achieved thanks to
an innovative formulation devised by the Eurovia
laboratories: a mixture based on selected silicon-
aluminium flyash, hydraulic binder (cement),
organic fibres and water.
The Autocan slurry is produced ready to use
in a concrete plant or a stabilisation plant. It is
transported to the worksite in conventional mix
trucks. It is laid by simply pouring it into the trench,
spreading it through a chute
Formulations using incineration bottom ash are
also offered: the Scorcan®
process. Depending on
their nature, trench excavation materials can also
be used with the Recycan®
process.
The Autocan process has been patented.
-Février2014-500copies–Photos:Euroviaphotolibrary