Propex Written

Written

Course Information
Rapid growth in the construction industry, the removal of natural vegetation and an increased demand on our waterways has caused the problem of erosion to become a major yet often-overlooked issue in the world. The removal of natural vegetation during construction along with increased conveyance has caused erosion rates to rapidly increase.

Therefore, engineered solutions to mitigate soil erosion have become more critical to the overall success of infrastructure. A practical and cost-effective solution to the problem of erosion is to use a High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat (HPTRM). HPTRMs are geosynthetic materials that reduce erosion by retaining and protecting the soil below when in an unvegetated state as well as reinforcing vegetation as it establishes, greatly increasing the hydraulic limits of natural vegetation.

In combination with vegetation, securing pins and a proven installation strategy, HPTRMs have been shown to add resilience to slopes, channels and levees. HPTRMs often can be used as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution in places where traditional hard-armoring solutions such as rip rap, articulated concrete blocks (ACBs) and concrete have been used in the past.

Author
Matt Patton, P.E.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this article, the reader should be able to understand:

• The differences between an HPTRM and an Engineered Earth Armoring System

• Historical and hydraulic benefits of an Engineered Earth Armoring System

• Applications and environments that will benefit from the addition of EEAs

• The process of testing HPTRMs and Engineered Earth Armoring Systems for shear resistance and soil loss