Application:

Evaluation of ShearForce™ 10 for replacing rock riprap in high flow areas

Site Description:

• Standard annual/perennial grass and legume mix
• Silty Clay Loam soil
• Approximate 4 ft wide channel bottom
• Stream channel gradient bottom gradient approx. 4%
• Sideslope gradients 5:1 and less
• Drainage over 25 acre, over-burdened cap
• Over 8 inches of rainfall from Sept 10 through Nov 29

Objective

Test application for the InstaTurf ShearForce™ 10 ECTRM at protecting the highly erodible channel soils and evaluate effectiveness as a rock rip rap replacement.

Overview

We installed the InstaTurf ShearForce™ 10 at a coal mine in Indiana in September 2019 to demonstrate the erosion armoring capabilities of the product compared to rock riprap. It was installed over cool season grass mix.

Tim Lancaster revisited the site on multiple occasions to see how the ShearForce™ 10 product, unprotected control sections, and rock check dams held up through the winter months. 

Results

By spring 2020, severe erosion and scour had occurred in adjacent and downstream areas not protected with ShearForce™ 10. 

The ShearForce 10 test section remained solid after a long, very wet winter, whereas the unprotected control sections and riprap structures had failed.

By late May 2020, the ShearForce 10 had become fully vegetated, and now acts to permanently reinforce the grasses against future storm flow events.