Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013

and Reinforcement

Geosynthetics for
Erosion Control and
Reinforcement

Stan Boyle, Ph.D., P.E.

Shannon & Wilson, Inc.

December 5, 2013

What are Geosynthetics?

Geosynthetics are (generally) polymeric

products used in civil engineering applications.
Including: erosion control products,
geotextiles, geogrids, geonets,
geomembranes,
b geosynthetic
th ti clay
l li
liners,
geocells, geocomposites, and geofoam.

What are Geosynthetics?

Geosynthetics are (generally) polymeric

products used in civil engineering applications.
Including: erosion control products,
geotextiles, geogrids, geonets,
geomembranes,
b geosynthetic
th ti clay
l li
liners,
geocells, geocomposites, and geofoam.

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Erosion Control

Nonwoven Geotextiles

• Filter Fabrics
• Separation Fabrics
• Drainage
• Root barriers

Woven Geotextiles

• Separation Fabrics
• Silt Fence
• Root barriers
• Reinforcement

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Geogrids

• Reinforcement

Geocells

• Erosion control
• Reinforcement
• Soil confinement
• Planting cells

Erosion Control

• Temporary – (straw and coir mats)

• Moderate Term – Net and natural fiber
• Long Term – all polymer, 3-D

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
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Erosion Control

Erosion Control

• Temporary – (straw and coir mats)

• Moderate Term – Net and natural fiber
• Long Term – all polymer, 3-D

Erosion Control

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Erosion Control

Erosion Control

• Temporary – straw and coir mats

• Moderate Term – Net and natural fiber
• Long Term – all polymer, 3-D

Erosion Control

High velocity flow – channels, steep slopes, pond spillways

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Silt Fence
•Woven Geotextile

Root Barrier

•Woven or Nonwoven Geotextile

•Horizontal or vertical
•Water flow through

Root Barrier

Needlepunched
Nonwoven
Geotextile

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Geocell Erosion Control

Steep slopes, water quality ponds, paths

Geocell Erosion Control

Geocell Erosion Control

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Geocell Erosion Control

Reinforced Slopes and Walls

•Horizontal layers of geosynthetic reinforcement

•Geotextile or Geogrid
•Face stabilization crucial
• Vegetation
• E
Erosion
i control
t l geosynthetics
th ti
• Wire-basket – vegetation, rock-filled
• Rockery

Vegetated Reinforced Slopes

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Wrapped Face Vegetated RSS

1.5H to 1.2H:1.0V

Vegetated Reinforced Slopes

0.75H:1.0V

Stacked, 4-inch thick x 18 inch deep turf

Vegetated Reinforced Slopes

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Vegetated Reinforced Slopes

1.2H:1.0V

Vegetated Reinforced Slopes

1.2H:1.0V
3 years later

Erosion control mat visible

where vegetation not
established

Reinforced Slopes - Geogrid

1.5H:1.0V

Used Erosion control mat

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Reinforced Slopes – Geogrid

(10 yrs later)

Geogrid visible where

concentrated runoff
eroded surface

Wire-basket Face Reinforced Walls

>0.5H:1V

Rockery-faced Reinforced Wall

~0.5H – 0.75H:1.0V

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Rockery-faced Reinforced Wall

Reinforced Soil Slope Challenges

1.2H:1.0V

Heavy runoff before vegetation established.

Vegetated RSS Challenges

1.0H:1.0V

Did not irrigate and maintain until plants established.

Seeds mixed into soil? Sufficient organic material?

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Vegetated RSS Challenges

Vegetated RSS Challenges

1.0H:1.0V

Slope too steep – should have used a

wrapped face or wire basket face.
Topsoil spread on steep surface.

Vegetated Reinforced Wall Challenges

Looks OK from angle. Not full coverage looking straight on.

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Vegetated Reinforced Wall Challenges

10 years later

Did not mix seed into soil. Insufficient organic material. Shaded. North facing.

Geocell Reinforced Slopes and Walls

Available in Black, Tan, Green

Geocell Wall

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Reinforced Slopes – Geocell Faced

CROSS SECTION B-B'

B B
Northwest Southeast
100 100
CLEANOUT
FINISHED GRADE
80 80
Elevation in Feet

Elevation in Feet
18 INCH SD
60 60
EMBANKMENT FILL

ORDINARY
40 HIGH WATER 40
EXISTING GRADE
MARK

SUBGRADE DRAIN
20 20

RIPRAP
0 0
0+00 1+00 2+00 3+00

Geocell Reinforced and Faced Slope

Geocell soil
reinforcement
f
Planting Benches

Geogrid Reinforced Geocell Slope

Planting Pockets

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
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Reinforced Slopes - Geocell

Geogrid-Reinforced Geocell Slope

Grade
Place
Geocell

Geogrid REPEAT

Geogrid Reinforced Geocell Faced Slope

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
and Reinforcement

Geogrid Reinforced Geocell Faced Slope

Contour slope face

Place around existing features

Summary

•Erosion Control •Reinforcement

• Natural • Geotextile
• Temporary • Geogrid
• Permanent • Geocell
• 3D •Facing
• Geocell
• Vegetation
•Silt Fence • Vegetated wrapped face
•Root Barrier • Vegetated wire basket
• Nonwoven Geotextiles • Rock-filled Basket
• Woven Geotextiles • Rockery
• Geocell

International Erosion Control

Association – Geosynthetics 2015
Portland, Oregon

The North American Geosynthetics Society

Manufacturer, Supplier, Contractor Exhibits

• Technical sessions, lectures
• Networking
Feb. 15-18, 2015
Portland, Oregon

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Boyle - Geosynthetics for Erosion Control December 5, 2013
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Resources

QUESTIONS?
Thanks to:

Propex propexglobal.com
ACF West acfwest.com
TenCate/Mirafi tencate.com

Stan Boyle, Ph.D., P.E.

Shannon & Wilson, Inc.
December 5, 2013

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