Technical Papers
Jan 24, 2023

Erosion Mitigation Using Grass, Riprap, Lime, and Enzymes

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 4

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research on soil erosion and its mitigation by different methods such as grass, riprap, lime, and enzymes. The goal was to evaluate these methods for their degree of efficacy using laboratory erosion testing. The paper begins with a review of existing knowledge on erosion mitigation methods. The erosion resistance of natural and improved soil was investigated in the erosion function apparatus (EFA), a laboratory device for measuring erosion resistance in the velocity range of 0.3 to 6.5  m/s. EFA testing was performed on grass-covered soils, riprap-covered soils, enzyme-treated soils, and lime-treated soils. The erodibility of the soils before and after treatment was compared. The results of the EFA tests were also compared with a few large-scale field tests available in the published literature. The advantages, limitations, and range of applications of each erosion mitigation method are provided.

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Data Availability Statement

Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by funds from the Buchanan Chair, the Soil Erosion Laboratory at Texas A&M University, fellowships from Texas A&M University, and by ASCE, Deep Foundation Institute (DFI), and International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC).

References

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Information & Authors

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Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 149Issue 4April 2023

History

Received: Dec 9, 2021
Accepted: Jul 14, 2022
Published online: Jan 24, 2023
Published in print: Apr 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jun 24, 2023

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Authors

Affiliations

Senior Staff Engineer, Terracon Consultants, 11133 I-45 South Building T, Conroe, TX 77302 (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5227-3911. Email: [email protected]
Jean-Louis Briaud, Dist.M.ASCE [email protected]
Distinguished Professor, Zachry Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843. Email: [email protected]

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