Aging of rolled erosion control products for channel erosion control

摘要

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the aging effects of environmentalnfactors on rolled erosion control products (RECPs). Seven RECPs made of natural, synthetic orncomposite materials were evaluated. Used (installed in channels of a field laboratory for 3 years)nand unused (stored in a limited climate-controlled laboratory for 3 years) samples of each productnwere tested to determine 10 physical properties, including mass per unit area, thickness, tensilenstrength, stiffness, light penetration, resilience, water absorption, swell, specific gravity and smoldernresistance. The results indicate that all materials exhibited a significant loss of tensile strength aftern3 years of use. Used materials of the natural type showed a 68% strength loss whereas thencomposite and synthetic types had smaller strength losses in the range of 37–61%. Other propertyntesting results showed less conclusive or inconsistent trends, which implies that tensile strength is ancritical and reliable property for use to evaluate the aging effects on RECPs.