Erosion

Contact Tensar International or your local distributor to receive further

literature covering Tensar products and applications.
Also available on request are product specifications, installation guides
and specification notes.
The complete range of Tensar literature consists of: Controlling erosion on
• Tensar Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering A guide to the products
and their applications soil and rock slopes
• Ground Stabilisation Reinforcing unbound layers
in roads and trafficked areas
• Tensar Structural Solutions Bridge Abutments - Retaining Walls -
Chalk highway cutting immediately after Tensar Steep Slopes
installation
• Foundations over Piles Constructing over weak ground
without settlement
• Basal Reinforcement Constructing embankments over
weak ground
• Railways Reinforcing ballast and sub-base layers under railway track
• Asphalt Pavements Reinforcing asphalt layers
in roads and trafficked areas
• Erosion Controlling erosion on soil and rock slopes

Your local distributor is:

Chalk highway cutting showing vegetation taking hold.

The grid controls the fall of rock fragments.

Controlling erosion on rock slopes

Weathering and freeze-thaw action can often lead to The fixing details including the length and spacing of Tensar International Limited Tel: +44 (0)1254 262431
fracturing and spalling on rock slopes, creating the hazard bolts is site specific and primarily governed by the nature New Wellington Street Fax: +44 (0)1254 266868
of falling rock fragments and ongoing erosion. These falls of the rock, slope geometry and the purpose of the Blackburn BB2 4PJ E-mail: info@tensar.co.uk
are particularly dangerous when close to public areas. protection. Adjacent grid rolls are overlapped and stitched United Kingdom www.tensar-international.com
with a high density polyethylene (HDPE) braid to form
TENSAR BIAXIAL GRIDS - THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION secure vertical joints. Typical installation details are
available on request.
Tensar biaxial grids can be draped over the face and
secured with rock anchors to act as a cladding to control Q 05288 EMS 86463
loose rock fragments and remove the hazard of bouncing BS EN ISO 9001:2000 BS EN ISO 14001:2004

projectiles. This can allow topsoil and scree to be retained ©Copyright Tensar International Limited
Printed April 2006 Issue 7, 79010013
and facilitates the subsequent development of vegetation
The information in this brochure is supplied by Tensar International free of charge. Tensar
which in turn improves stability of the surface. International do not assume any duty of care to you or any third party. No liability for negligence
(other than for death and personal injury) can arise from any use of or reliance on the information
in this brochure or use of any Tensar International product mentioned. Tensar International will
not be liable if this brochure contains any misrepresentation or misstatement. Determination of
the suitability for any project of the information and any Tensar International product mentioned in
it must be made by your engineer or other professional advisor who has full knowledge of the
project. You, together with any such engineer or advisor, must assume all risk of loss and damage
of any kind arising from use of the information or any product of Tensar International other than
the risk of death and personal injury. If you or any third party subsequently purchases a product
referred to in this brochure or any other Tensar International product the entire terms of the
contract of purchase and the entire obligation of Tensar International relating to the product or
arising from its use shall be as set out in Tensar International's Standard Conditions in force at the
time of purchase, a copy of which may be requested from Tensar International.

Tensar rolls are wide and light, aiding installation. Protecting a railway cutting.

Tensar Biaxial grids - the benefits

■ Cost-effective solution ■ High impact resistance ■ Easy to install, wide, lightweight rolls
■ Non-corrodible, durable ■ High resistance to weathering ■ High resistance to ultra-violet light
■ Aids establishment of vegetation ■ Environmentally safe

Once vegetation becomes established the
use Tensar Mat is inconspicuous.
Tensar Technology - proven
practical solutions and the
know-how to get them built
Based on the unique properties of Tensar geogrids,
Tensar Technology is widely adopted for ground
stabilisation and soil reinforcement problems.
For details of Tensar workshops visit www.tensar-international.com
Tensar Technology delivers real savings in cost and
time to your projects. We can help you apply Tensar
Technology to improve the bottom line on your
project.
Q 05288 EMS 86463
BS EN ISO 9001:2000 BS EN ISO 14001:2004
Unsurpassed experience
and reliability
Tensar International is the world leader in erosion and
geogrid technology and has over 20 years experience in
providing high performance ground stabilisation, erosion
and reinforced soil solutions.
Tensar offers a broad variety of cost-effective and efficient
options for construction projects to combat erosion,
which require retaining walls or slopes.
Tensar’s experienced civil engineers are available to
provide design and on-site construction support for your
erosion project - from concept to completion.
By combining our specialist knowledge of erosion,
materials, application technologies and geotechnical
design techniques, we are able to offer the complete
solution for structural integrity and long-term reliability.
Controlling erosion on grass slopes
Natural vegetation can provide good soil erosion
protection. However, this may not be adequate on steep
slopes (including those strengthened with soil
reinforcement, ground anchors or soil nails).
Areas prone to temporary water inundation, wave run-up
or intermittent high velocity flows, such as river banks,
shorelines, ditches, flood bunds and dam spillways, can
also suffer from soil erosion.
Tensar Mat - the permanent solution
The Tensar Mat range is used to control soil erosion. It
consists of a flexible three-dimensional polymer mat which
initially stabilises the surface whilst assisting vegetation to
establish. It then goes on to provide long-term, tenacious
reinforcement of the root system.
The mats have a flat, high tensile modulus base layer
bonded to an upper cuspated surface which provides an
array of pockets and traps for topsoil retention.
Tensar Mats are used to control erosion on the banks of
lakes and reservoirs.
Installing Tensar Mat on the slopes of a stilling pond.
In these cases, an additional permanent erosion
protection layer is needed to enhance the resistance of
the vegetation - but one which visually becomes part of
the slope.
■ Rivers ■ Lakes
■ Reservoirs ■ Drainage ditches
■ Flood bunds ■ Overspill ponds
Tensar grids and mats are often used as a facing to
soil-nailed slopes.
The thick, dimensionally-stable matrix of filaments presents
an ideal medium for anchorage and reinforcement of a
root system. Reinforced grass slopes have been shown to
have an erosion resistance able to withstand current
velocities in excess of 4m/sec.
Tensar Mats have unsurpassed drape qualities, which allows
them to closely conform to, and maintain intimate contact
with, the soil surface. This can be critical to prevent uplift of
a mat as well as to control soil erosion below. In addition,
roots will not be able to penetrate through to the soil
surface if voids exist underneath a mat.
Railway application of Tensar Mat
The problem: gully erosion of railway slope. Tensar Mat installed over the slope. The solution: Tensar Mat fully vegetated.
Highway application of Tensar Mat
Tensar Mat
Pegs Shoulder
Trench
The top of the mat is buried in an anchor trench. Mats are unrolled down the face of the slope. Typical section showing Tensar Mat on a highway slope.
Railways and highways Installing Tensar Mat on
Tensar Mats are manufactured from polyethylene - a grass slopes
polymer that is chemically inert and therefore non-
corrodible. Polyethylene is not susceptible to water 1 Prepare the slope to be treated by trimming the profile.
absorption and deterioration and non-polluting to its
2 Place 50-70mm of topsoil on the prepared slope (this is
installed environment. It is also microbiologically inert and
optional depending on the soil type and uniformity of
therefore not attacked by bacteria and provides no
nutrient for animals. the prepared slope).
3 Unroll the mat down the face of the slope flat side
There are two standard grades of Tensar Mat: Tensar Mat
down, lapping adjacent strips by a minimum of 100mm.
200 for routine erosion control applications and Tensar
Mat 400 for the more critical applications such as very 4 Fixings (either Tensar Pegs or approved mild steel pins)
steep slopes/high flow forces. should be at around 1m centres (depending on the
slope angle) along the laps.
Tensar Mat - the benefits 5 Bury the top and bottom ends of each strip at the
shoulder and the toe, respectively, in shallow trenches
typically 450mm wide by 250mm deep.
■ Cost-effective long-term solution for erosion control
■ Easy, quick and economic to install 6 Sow grass seed into the mat.
■ Natural, attractive appearance
7 Brush friable soil into the full depth of the mat.
■ Environmentally safe
8 Re-sow the slope and apply (optional) fertiliser.
■ May replace some obtrusive and expensive traditional
revetments
9 Lightly tamp the soil surface.
■ Maintains close contact with the soil profile for
maximum root anchorage Omit steps 6 to 9 for planted slopes. The soil-filled mats
■ Aids establishment of initial vegetation growth can be slit longitudinally to accommodate planting.
■ Avoids topsoil creep on slopes
■ Protects against ‘bald spots’ on grass slopes subject to
high wear
■ May be used with hydraseeding and soil nails