Archive for April 2011
Submar X-Stream Concrete Armor Units, Articulated Concrete Block Mat, and North American Green Turf Reinforcement Mat Bank Stabilization
- X-Stream Concrete Armor Units place all along the toe of the bank
D2 Land & Water Resource was contacted early in 2010 to assist in the design of a bank stabilization project along Little Laughery Creek in Batesville, IN. Heavy rains over time had eroded the creek bank back toward the wastewater storage areas, and needed to be stabilized. The overflow spill way from the wastewater treatment plant had degraded over time, and also needed to be repaired as part of the project.
For the creek bank stabilization portion of the project, the most critical zone needing protection was the toe. Dissipation of the energy in high creek flow events was accomplished by using Submar’s X-Stream concrete armor units. X-Stream concrete armor units are “jack” shaped units that when stacked in a pyramidal formation knock the energy out of the flowing water. The X-Stream armor units also provide ample void space area for the deposit of sediment that can then be vegetated with deep rooting native plant species for additional bank stabilization.
Submar X-Stream Concrete Armor Units Pyramid Stacked
X-Stream concrete armor units are delivered to the job site palletized, and in two pieces that interlock. This interlocking installation process is easily done by hand, which makes the X-Stream concrete armoring system a viable option over other traditional types of concrete armoring. This becomes even more important when you are faced with a project that has very limited access to heavy equipment. Wells Excavating out of Batesville, IN had never worked with the X-Stream units before, and was able to place approximately 500’ of a 3 stack pyramid formation (1,820 total units) in 3 working days. As you can see in the picture, they created a geotextile lined trench that a leveling pad of stone was placed in to keep the X-Stream units on grade along the bank.
Soil in-filled Articulated Concrete Block Mats with trenched turf reinforcement mats
The overfill spillway from the wastewater plant was reinforced by using Submar’s Articulated Concrete Block Mat M4540. The articulated concrete blocks were also shipped to the site palletized and were hand placed utilizing Submar’s Place and Lace installation guidelines. The Place and Lace technique consists of laying the articulated blocks onto the prepared subgrade, and then running the cables through with washers and crimps to secure. This articulated concrete block mat installation technique is also preferred when limited access is a concern.
Turf Reinforcement Mats being anchored in the X-Stream Concrete Armor Unit Trench
Once the X-Stream concrete armor units and the Articulated Concrete Blocks were placed, the remainder of the bank stabilization was completed with native seeds and turf reinforcement mats. Well Excavating did an excellent job trenching the turf reinforcement mats against the X-Stream units and the articulated blocks to insure smooth transition points. The installation was completed in September 2010, and the last picture shows the site on November 4, 2010.
Fully vegetated bank stabilization with X-Stream in the toe and Turf Reinforcement Mats
Submar X-Stream Concrete Armor Units Pyramid Stacked
X-Stream concrete armor units are delivered to the job site palletized, and in two pieces that interlock. This interlocking installation process is easily done by hand, which makes the X-Stream concrete armoring system a viable option over other traditional types of concrete armoring. This becomes even more important when you are faced with a project that has very limited access to heavy equipment. Wells Excavating out of Batesville, IN had never worked with the X-Stream units before, and was able to place approximately 500’ of a 3 stack pyramid formation (1,820 total units) in 3 working days. As you can see in the picture, they created a geotextile lined trench that a leveling pad of stone was placed in to keep the X-Stream units on grade along the bank.
Soil in-filled Articulated Concrete Block Mats with trenched turf reinforcement mats
Soil in-filled Articulated Concrete Block Mats with trenched turf reinforcement mats
The overfill spillway from the wastewater plant was reinforced by using Submar’s Articulated Concrete Block Mat M4540. The articulated concrete blocks were also shipped to the site palletized and were hand placed utilizing Submar’s Place and Lace installation guidelines. The Place and Lace technique consists of laying the articulated blocks onto the prepared subgrade, and then running the cables through with washers and crimps to secure. This articulated concrete block mat installation technique is also preferred when limited access is a concern.
Turf Reinforcement Mats being anchored in the X-Stream Concrete Armor Unit Trench
Once the X-Stream concrete armor units and the Articulated Concrete Blocks were placed, the remainder of the bank stabilization was completed with native seeds and turf reinforcement mats. Well Excavating did an excellent job trenching the turf reinforcement mats against the X-Stream units and the articulated blocks to insure smooth transition points. The installation was completed in September 2010, and the last picture shows the site on November 4, 2010.
Fully vegetated bank stabilization with X-Stream in the toe and Turf Reinforcement Mats