PRODUCT EVALUATION FOR ARMORFLEX AND ARMORFORM EROSION CONTROL SYSTEMS

ARMORFLEX is an erosion control system consisting of precast concrete blocks, interconnected by galvanized steel cables to form a flexible protective mattress. This system is designed to be used for both bank and shore protection. ARMORFLEX has been installed at seven (7) locations in Alaska. To this date, the ARMORFLEX product has performed successfully (i.e. the protective mattress has remained intact and there has not been any significant bank or shore erosion at any of the Alaska installations). However, some of the installations have suffered minor damage reflected by depressions and displacement of the mattress. These problems may be attributed to possible design and construction inadequacies including improper installation of the geotextile, insufficient anchorage on steep side slopes, using an improper geotextile as a filter system, and not extending the toe of the erosion protection system far enough. In low energy environments, ARMORFLEX appears to be an acceptable erosion control system if proven to be economical over riprap or other conventional erosion control systems. The system has not yet demonstrated its long term performance in the Alaskan environment. ARMORFORM is an erosion control system consisting of cast-in-place blocks which are interconnected by galvanized steel cables to form a flexible protective mattress. The forms for the blocks are synthetic fabric, woven into a matrix of rectangular compartments. The Noatak installation was the first time and to this date the only time that the ARMORFORM erosion control system had been used as bank protection in North America. There were several significant performance problems with the Noatak installation. Some of these problems can be corrected by implementing the suggested modifications tothe design and construction procedures contained in this report. The ARMORFORM erosion control system should still be considered experimental and should only be used when riprap and other proven erosion control systems are not feasible. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_85_32.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  Research Section, 2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701
• Authors:
  • Moses Jr, T L
  • Livingston, H
• Publication Date: 1985-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 73 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anchorages; Cables; Cast in place structures; Concrete blocks; Dislocation (Geology); Erosion control; Filters; Galvanized metals; Geotextiles; Mattresses (Foundations); Performance; Precast concrete; Slabs; Steel structures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Depressions (Indentations); Field performance
• Old TRIS Terms: Mattresses
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450917
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-85-32
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:04PM