FIELD TESTING LARGE SAND-FILLED GEOTEXTILE CONTAINERS USED AS A TEMPORARY FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM

Steven Harms, James Blatz, Shawn Clark

In the proceedings of: GeoQuébec 2015: 68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

Session: Barriers and Geosynthetics / Barrières et géosynthétiques

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of temporary flood protection is highly variable depending on the location, application, and the nature of flood events. This paper evaluates sand-filled interconnected geotextile containers used as flood protection products within a framework of standardized tests. Two single-layer configurations and two stacked configurations were tested under a variety of flood conditions while seepage rates and product displacements were measured during each test. Researchers implemented a modified version of the US Army Corps of Engineers Standardized Testing Protocol for the Evaluation of Expedient Floodfight structures at an outdoor test facility constructed at the University of Manitoba. Each product configuration was evaluated under hydrostatic loading, wave-induced hydrodynamic loading, overtopping and debris impact conditions. This allowed for informed decisions to be made regarding appropriate applications for each temporary flood protection product configuration, and identifies areas for product improvement and development.

RÉSUMÉ: L™efficacité des protections temporaires contre les inondations est très variable selon le lieu, l™application, et la nature de l™inondation. Cet article évalue l™efficacité de sacs interconnectés en géotextile remplis de sable en suivant un protocole d™essai normalisé. Deux configurations en couche simple et deux configurations en empilement sont testées sous diverses conditions d™inondation. Durant chaque essai, les vitesses d™écoulement, ainsi que les déplacements des sacs sont mesurés. Une équipe de recherche a élaboré une version modifiée du protocole établi par le Corps des ingénieurs de l™armée américaine, le « Standardized Testing Protocol for the Evaluation of Expedient Floodfight Structures ». Ce protocole modifié a fait l™objet d™une analyse sur le site expérimental extérieur de l™université du Manitoba. Chaque configuration a été testée sous les conditions suivantes : chargement hydrostatique, chargement hydrodynamique induit par des vagues, basculement et impact de débris. Cette étude a permis, d™une part, de formuler des recommandations concernant les applications appropriées à chaque configuration, et d™autre part, d™identifier les améliorations qui pourraient être apportées à ce produit.

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Cite this article:
Steven Harms; James Blatz; Shawn Clark (2015) FIELD TESTING LARGE SAND-FILLED GEOTEXTILE CONTAINERS USED AS A TEMPORARY FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM in GEO2015. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{280,author = Steven Harms; James Blatz; Shawn Clark,title = FIELD TESTING LARGE SAND-FILLED GEOTEXTILE CONTAINERS USED AS A TEMPORARY FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM,year = 2015}