5 tips to choose geosynthetics in hydraulic control

Hydraulic management in rivers, lagoons, reservoirs and coastal areas requires resilient, stable and sustainable alternatives. For this reason, more and more projects are implementing solutions with geosynthetics for hydraulic controlThe project's main objectives are to mitigate erosion, rehabilitate banks, stabilize slopes and extend the useful life of the infrastructure.

Before selecting the ideal system, it is key to evaluate technical and operational variables on site. Here are 5 points that you cannot overlook.

1. Analyze the hydraulic behavior of the site.

The basis of design will always be the flow. In order to choose the right solution it is essential to know:

• Water velocity during floods and low water levels

• Hydraulic tension and level variability

• Presence of scour or turbulence

• Frequency and intensity of extreme events

The final solution must withstand dynamic stresses without loss of efficiency or structural deformation.

2. Evaluates the geotechnical conditions of the ground.

The performance of the geosynthetic depends on the soil where it acts. That is why they must be studied:

• Type of material (sands, silts, clays)

• Slope stability and soil cohesion

• Permeability and risk of saturation

• Available bearing capacity

A properly selected solution reduces displacement, controls seepage and prevents progressive erosion.

3. Consider the desired level of environmental impact

Whether your project seeks to integrate into the landscape or promote ecological restoration, the choice of the geosynthetic is decisive. The particular conditions of each solution are presented below.

• GEOCONTAINERS in impregnated geotextile. In this solution, the conformation soil is confined within the geocontainer, which provides erosion resistance. In order to achieve the establishment of vegetation, the liner is covered with erosion control blankets and covered with soil from the site.

• GEOESTERA hydromesh confined bedding mattresses and boxes. In this solution, the matting forms a porous medium that promotes the retention of soil particles that become a substrate for the establishment of vegetation, which occurs naturally. The GEOESTERA hydromesh lining provides a support medium to allow roots and stems to support themselves by stimulating the covering of the structures formed by the soil.

• Concrete revetment with the COLCHACRETO ARTICULADO textile formwork. Although they are placed in sites permanently subjected to the action of the current, their surface texture allows the retention of sediments in areas of low slope or low speed that become substrate for the establishment of vegetation.

4. Check logistics, availability and constructability.

The ideal solution must not only work technically, but also be feasible on site.

• Is heavy machinery required or are hand tools sufficient?

• Does the solution adapt to areas that are difficult to access?

• Can the material be easily transported to the point of installation?

• Is future maintenance simple and affordable?

Examples:

• GEOCONTAINERS filled in situ: allow the use of available land on site.

• GEOESTERA hydro-mesh with furling: fast installation and high hydraulic stability.

• ARTICULATED MATTRESS: suitable when flexibility and high scour resistance are required.

All alternatives allow for rapid intervention, localized repairs and subsequent extensions.

• For projects with access limitations, the HYDROBLOCK geocontainer solution is an ideal solution, as it only requires minor tools and personnel to be brought to the site. The HYDROBLOCK is durable to long-term weathering and has a sealing system that guarantees its watertightness, preventing the loss of fill soil in the long term, even when under water.

• GEOESTERA hydromesh confined bedding mattresses and boxes. Since it is used to form mattress or box-shaped rockfill containers to control the phenomenon of lateral erosion and scour in rivers, it is essential to have the availability of the rockfill, which is typically pebbles obtained from the alluvial bed itself.
• It is considered as an alternative for the conformation of flexible coatings, implemented in structures of hydraulic protection against the abrasive action of water and scour in the bed of rivers, lakes and seas, where it is not available in rockfill. In these cases, access must be available for the transport of material for the manufacture of concrete on site or access to ready-mixed concrete trucks.

5. Define the actual scope of protection of the project

• For shore rehabilitation → Geocontainers.

• For lateral erosion control → GEOESTERA with castling.

• For scour mitigation → GEOESTERA or COLCHACRETO.

• For environments with high hydraulic wear → ARTICULATED COLCHACRETOR.

• The selection always depends on the level of hydraulic threat.

In conclusion, selecting the appropriate alternative for the rehabilitation of banks in front of a body of water is a balance between hydraulic, geotechnical, sustainability, logistic conditions and the final scope of the project, where geosynthetic solutions for hydraulic control are consolidated as an efficient, durable and adaptable option for different scenarios.