Geotextiles soil erosion

Lekha, K.R., Field instrumentation and monitoring of soil erosion in coir geotextile stabilised slopes - A case study. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 22 (5) 399-413 (2004). 

Granular and/or geotextile filters can protect structures subjected to soil erosion when used in conjunction with revetment armor such as riprap, blocks and block mats, gabions and mattresses, asphalt or concrete slabs, or any other conventional armor material used for erosion control. 

Sediment resulting from water run-off on steep slopes can be detrimental to the free flow of waterways most commercial natural geotextiles target this problem. One commonly accepted method for measuring the effect of a geotextile on erosion control involves a modification to the above procedure. A 1.2 m X 1.2 m specimen of the geotextile is placed on a soil slope and a measured amount of artificial rain applied to the slope. Sediment and water run-off are then collected and measured. This test is best conducted in the field where site-specific conditions, such as inherent soil type, can be considered. 

Erosion control Geotextiles reduce soil erosion caused by rainfall impact and surface water runoff. For example, temporary geosynthetic blankets and permanent lightweight geosynthetic mats are placed over the otherwise exposed soil surface on slopes. Geotextile silt fences are used to remove suspended particles from sediment-laden runoff water. Some erosion control mats are manufactured using biodegradable wood fibers and related biomass. 

Slit-film also finds its way into many other applications. These include twine, woven fabrics for feed and fertilizer sacks, sand bags and bulk container bags, tarpaulins, mats, screens for erosion prevention, and geotextiles to stabilize soil beds. Fibrillated slit-film is used as a face yarn in outdoor carpets and mats. 

Depending on product functions, reclaimed fibres can be looked upon as conventional in technical textiles, particularly in nonwovens (mobility textiles which mainly serve to cover up surfaces or to insulate materials, agrotextiles, and geotextiles which are used to protect soil against erosion). In all these cases, reclaimed fibres are used because of low prices, or because they merely cover something up. However, reclaimed fibres are also applied in nonwovens to utihze highly valuable functional components. This concerns fibres which would not be available at a competitive price if made from primary materials, such as... 

This market received a boost in the early 1990s when the EPA issued the first federal standards for municipal solid waste landfills. The main objective was to prevent leakage and protect groundwater and soil near the landfills. Needle-punched fabrics are used as a geotextile cushion specifically where there is need for puncture protection, often on top of the liner, and as blankets in drainage systems inside the landfill, as a tarpaulin on the outside of the landfill, and underneath as a foundation for erosion control. 

Nonstructural erosion-control methods in coastal environments can be modeled after natural features such as coastal-dune environments or saltwater marshes to create buffers that absorb the enei of waves or storm suites. These approaches include limiting access for foot and vehicle traffic in areas vulnerable to erosion and revegetating wdth native plants. The plants trap wdnd-bome sediment and sand and anchor coastal soils wdth their root systems. Revegetation measures may include the use of geotextiles or mulches to protect the soil surface while the vegetation becomes established. 

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