RAINCUT EROSION CONTROL OF TOPSOIL WITH GEOJUTE AND VEGETATION IN BANGLADESH

Prof. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan

Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET)

Major Md Masudur Rahman, psc, Engrs

Military Institute of Science & Technology (MIST)

Acknowledgement

Lieutenant Colonel Abu Syeed Md Masud, Engrs

Commanding Officer, 16 Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB), Bangladesh Army and Project Director, Chittagong Rangamati Road Development Project

Major S M Miraz Uddin, Engrs

Project Engineer, Chittagong Rangamati Road Development Project

Mr. Mahmudul Huq

Deputy Managing Director, Janata Jute Mills Limited

Mechanism of Top Soil Erosion

Two fold mechanisms may be involved with top soil erosion: i) Raindrop impact energy loosens the top soil Before failure

ii) Surface runoff carries it downwards

After failure

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Proposed Bio-engineering Solution Aided by Geojute

Geojute overlay Vegetation

Slope before failure

Geojute Sample
Pegs Root matrix
500 gsm 750 gsm Roll width: 1200 mm Opening area about 50% Moisture absorption about 4~5 times its dry weight Cost: BDT 1.60 per sft for 500 gsm Durability: 2 monsoon More than 6000 tons (12 million square meter) exported each year
jabbar@ce.buet.ac.bd 4

The Science Bit

Laid over exposed surface, Geojute takes away about 40% of the raindrop impact energy. Geojute reduces surface runoff to about 35% by absorbing 4 to 5 times water of its dry weight. The reduced runoff flows gently (spillway effect) over the Geojute covered surface due to miniature dam effect. Weft

Storage
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The Science Bit

Geojute absorbs water required for vegetation growth and acts as mulch on its biodegradation. This helps growth of vegetation in almost half the time required for same amount of growth without Geojute. As the Geojute degrades with time, grasses and trees grow up and take over the job of Geojute.

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Case Study 1 Road Side Slope Protection at Ranirhat Bridge Approach

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Usual Practice of Topsoil Erosion Control of Roadside Slopes

(2.0 m)

Using concrete blocks near bridge approach Cost: BDT 110-120 per SFT

Using clay cladding elsewhere along the road Cost: BDT 70-80 per SFT

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Roadside Slope Protection At Ranirhat Bridge Approach, Rangamati

Ranirhat bridge on the river Isamoti
Roadside slopes near the bridge approaches in Bangladesh are usually protected against raincut erosion with concrete blocks which cost about BDT 110 120 per sft. Elsewhere on the roadside slopes thick clay claddings of 1.0m to 2.0m are provided for the same purpose which cost about BDT 70-80 per sft. On the side slopes of Ranirhat bridge approach concrete blocks were supposed to be laid as per original contract. Later, 16 ECB patronized a research program undertaken by BUET and facilitated implementation of an alternative approach to raincut erosion control of roadside slopes using geojute and vegetation.
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Concrete blocks laid over the slopes as per original contract

Grain Size Distribution of Topsoil of the Roadside Slope

A stretch of mild sloped roadside selected for protection with geojute and vegetation
Sieve Analysis of Ranirhat Bridge Top Soil
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10
Coarse sand Medium sand Fine sand

% F in er

D60 = 0.25mm D10 = 0.15mm Cu = 1.67

1 Particle Size in mm

0.1

0.01

The topsoil is highly susceptible to raincut erosion.

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

Work started on: 15/07/08 (Middle of monsoon)
Patronized by: 16 Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB), Bangladesh Army

1) DRESSING AND LEVELLING OF THE SLOPE

2) SPREADING FERTILIZER

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

3) MAKING HOLES FOR PLANTATION

4) LAYING AND FIXING GEOJUTE

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

Length: 100m, Width: 2.5m, Surface area: 250 m2

5) INSERTING U-HOOK

6) FIXING OF GEOJUTE COMPLETED

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

7) PLANTATION

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

8) SUPPORT FOR PLANTS

9) GRASS SEEDING

Work finished within 3 days, i.e. on: 18/07/2008 Cost of the system: 3.50 BDT/sft 4.00 BDT/sft
jabbar@ce.buet.ac.bd 15

Performance Monitoring
10/08/08 (Middle of monsoon) (appx. 3 weeks after completion of the work)

Grass growing
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Performance Monitoring
10/08/08 (Middle of monsoon) (appx. 3 weeks after completion of the work)

Sign of distress in the unprotected area

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Performance Monitoring
22/08/08 (Middle of monsoon) (appx. 5 weeks after completion of the work)

22/08/08
Grass growing

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Performance Monitoring
22/08/08 (Middle of monsoon) (appx. 5 weeks after completion of the work)

Significant distress in the unprotected area

22/08/08

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Performance Monitoring
25/12/08 (Winter) (appx. 21 weeks after completion of the work)

Grass and plants grown. No distress in the protected area

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Performance Monitoring
25/12/08 (Winter) (appx. 21 weeks after completion of the work)

Grass and plants grown. No distress in the protected area

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Case Study - 2 Raincut Erosion Control of a Hill at Dangerous Curve, Rangamati

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Raincut Erosion Control of a Hill at Dangerous Curve, Rangamati

This site is located 10 km short of Rangamati Town. This is a land slide prone area and in every rainy season topsoil erosion of the hillock occurs. Since the hillock is located adjacent to the only regional road connecting Rangamati with rest of the country, therefore, due to land slide Rangamati remains cut-off for a considerable period of time till the debris are cleared by dozers or by other means. The work undertaken is a part of Chittagong Rangamati Road Development Project, funded by Roads and Highways Department and executed by 16 Engineer Construction Battalion of the Corps of Engineers of Bangladesh Army.
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Dangerous Curve
2203847.49N and 9200749.53E

Raincut Erosion Control of a Hill at Dangerous Curve, Rangamati

Site selected on: 08/05/08 (Start of monsoon)

Slope 600
The aim of the work is to stabilize the hill slope that slided only two months back and also to develop the slope so that it can be used for tourism purpose.

100 ft 75 ft 130 ft

Initially, a small retaining wall at the hill-foot and two stairs cum drain at both wings were constructed. Once the site was prepared, geojute and vegetation was used to stabilize the slope against raincut erosion.

Total area is 8625 ft2 or 822 m2

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Grain Size Distribution of Topsoil of the Dangerous Curve

100 90 80 70 % Finer 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 Particle Size (m m )

Sand: % Silt: % Clay: %

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

Work started on: 08/08/08 (Middle of monsoon)
Patronized by: 16 Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB), Bangladesh Army

1) DRESSING AND LEVELLING OF THE SLOPE

2) PREPARING TRENCH AT THE TOP FOR EMBEDDING THE JGT

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jabbar@ce.buet.ac.bd

Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

3) LAYING AND FIXING GEOJUTE

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

4) EMBEDDING GEOJUTE BOTH AT TOP AND BOTTOM

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

5) PLANTATION AND SUPPORT FOR PLANTS

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Implementation of the Proposed Erosion Control System

(Middle of monsoon)

Work finished within 3 days, i.e. on: 10/08/2008 Cost of the system: 3.50 BDT/sft 4.00 BDT/sft
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Performance Monitoring
22/08/08 (Middle of monsoon) (appx. 2 weeks after completion of the work)

Grass growing
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Performance Monitoring
19/09/08 (End of monsoon) (appx. 5 weeks after completion of the work)

More grass in growth

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Performance Monitoring
19/09/08 (End of monsoon) (appx. 5 weeks after completion of the work)

The slope sustained half of the monsoon. No sign of topsoil erosion is observed.
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Performance Monitoring
25/12/08 (Winter) (appx. 18 weeks after completion of the work)

Wild type of grass seed was applied, not aesthetic, but performance is satisfactory.
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Selection of Vegetation

Vetiver: The root system goes up to 14 ft deep in 6 to 8 months time Locally available similar type of grass/plants may be used instead
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Selection of Vegetation

Vetiver: The root system goes up to 14 ft deep in 6 to 8 months time

Source: Conservative Research Institute, 1996

Locally available similar type of grass/plants may be used instead

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Conclusion

Performance highly satisfactory. Geojute survived one monsoon and five months without biodegradation. Cost 1/20 th of concrete protection system and 1/5 th of clay cladding system. No special equipment or labour required. All the materials are locally available and eco- friendly. Robust solution may be achieved by proper selection of vegetation available in the zone.

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