HYDRAULIC TEST T

DESIGN CRil 1
, kEUSE OF RENO

Prepared by

Civil Enilneerlni Department - EngineerinitesaareliCenter

Colorado State Uiversitf Fort Collins Colorado
D A R Y L B. S I M O N S - Y U N G HAI C H E N - L A W R E N C E J . S W E N S O N

and

S I M O N S , Ll & A S S O C I A T E S , INC.
P.O. B O X 1816, F O R T C O L L I N S , C O L O R A D O

Prepared for

MACCAFERRI
STEEL WIRE PRODUCTS LTD.
130 MItner Avenue
Aglncourt, Ontario, Canada

March, 1984
 HYDRAUUC TEST
TO DEVELOP
DESIGN CRITERIA FOR
- THE USE OF
RENO MATTRESSES

HYDRAULIC T E S T TO D E V E L O P
DESIGN CRITERIA F O R
T H E U S E O F RENO M A T T R E S S E S

ERRATA

P a g e 4.30 F i g u r e 4.21
Vertical axis s h o u l d read " A z / d m "

PageAS, Lines 6 &7

Read a s ' T m = 0.75 V DS"

Page A6 Paragraph 'b'

Read as " F r o m Figure 4 . 2 1 .

A m d t # 1 , Jan.85

W i l l i a m s p o r t , MD

March, 1984
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES iv

LIST OF TABLES vi

FORWARD >/1i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY viii

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Problem 1.1

1.2 Objectives . 1.1
1.3 O r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e Report 1.2

II. GABIONS AND MATTRESSES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 2.1

2.2 Applications 2.2

2.3 Behavior and Design 2.6

III. MATTRESS TEST PROGRAM

3.1 Introduction 3.1

3.2 Scale-Model M a t t r e s s T e s t Program 3.1
3 . 2 . 1 Test F a c i l i t i e s and T e s t Scales 3.1
3.2.2 Instrumentation 3.13
3.2.3 Test Procedure 3.16
3 . 2 . 4 Test C o n d i t i o n s and Data C o l l e c t e d i n the 8-Foot
Flume 3.20
3.2.5 Test C o n d i t i o n s and Data C o l l e c t e d i n t h e 4 - F o o t
Flume 3.28

3.3 F u l l - S i z e M a t t r e s s T e s t Program 3.28

3.3.1 Test F a c i l i t i e s 3.28

3.3.2 Instrumentation 3.35
3.3.3 Test C o n d i t i o n s 3.37
3.3.4 Problems P e r t a i n i n g t o F u l l - S c a l e M a t t r e s s Tests . . . 3.37

IV. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

4.1 Introduction 4.1

4.2 H y d r a u l i c " F M a t t r e s s Channels 4.1

4.2.1 Roughness C o e f f i c i e n t s 4.1

4.2.2 Velocity Distribution 4.2
4.2.3 R e l a t i o n Between Shear S t r e s s and V e l o c i t i e s 4.6
4.2.4 V e l o c i t y a t t h e M a t t r e s s and F i l t e r I n t e r f a c e and
a t t h e F i l t e r and S o i l I n t e r f a c e 4.9
4.2.5 Pressure V a r i a t i o n 4.10

i i
 TABLE OF CONTENTS ( c o n t i n u e d )

Page

4.3 I n c i p i e n t Motion C o n d i t i o n s 4.12

4.4 Deformation o f t h e M a t t r e s s 4.21

V. DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN CRITERIA

5.1 Development Approach 5.1

5.2 Determination of Hydraulic Conditions 5.1
5.3 D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f M a t t r e s s Requirement Based on I n c i p i e n t
Motion C r i t e r i a 5.2
5.4 D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f V e l o c i t y at the M a t t r e s s / F i l t e r ( o r
Base S o i l ) I n t e r f a c e 5.3
5.5 D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f F i l t e r Requirement 5.4
5.6 D e t e r m i n a t i o n of P o t e n t i a l Deformation 5.6

VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 6.1

VII. REFERENCES 7.1

APPENDIX - DE'SIGN EXAMPLES

iii
 LIST OF FIGURES ( c o n t i n u e d )

Page

Figure 4 . 6 . Comparison between t h e measured and computed v e l o c i t y

i n t h e m a t t r e s s and f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e 4.11

Figure 4.7. V a r i a t i o n of s p e c i f i c head immediately below t h e full-

s c a l e mattresses 4.13

Figure 4 . 8 . V a r i a t i o n of s p e c i f i c head immediately below the

f u l l - s c a l e mattresses 4.14

Figure 4.9. Critical velocity that i n i t i a t e s rock movement as a

f u n c t i o n o f rock s i z e 4.16

Figure 4.10. C r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y t h a t i n i t i a t e s rock movement as a

f u n c t i o n of m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s 4.17

Figure 4 . 1 1 . C r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s versus rock s i z e s f o r t h e w i t h

and w i t h o u t m a t t r e s s cases 4.19

Figure 4.12. S h i e l d s parameter as a f u n c t i o n o f the shear Reynolds

number f o r w i t h and w i t h o u t m a t t r e s s cases 4.20

Figure 4.13. Critical shear s t r e s s versus m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s 4.22

Figure 4.14. General p a t t e r n o f rock movement w i t h i n a m a t t r e s s

compartment 4.23
Figure 4,15. Comparison o f d e f o r m a t i o n o f 6 - i n c h and 9 - i n c h f u l l -
s c a l e m a t t r e s s u n i t s f o r a v e l o c i t y of 12 f p s 4,25

Figure 4.16. Comparison of d e f o r m a t i o n o f 6 - i n c h and 9 - i n c h full-

s c a l e m a t t r e s s u n i t s f o r a v e l o c i t y of 20 f p s 4.26

Figure 4.17. Deformation o f mattresses ( 9 " ) due t o rock movement

( l o o k i n g downstream). V = 16.4 fps 4.27

Figure 4.18. Deformation o f m a t t r e s s e s ( 9 " ) due t o rock movement

( l o o k i n g downstream). V = 17.6 f p s 4.27

Figure 4.19. 4.28

Figure 4.20. 4.29

Figure 4 . 2 1 . R e l a t i o n s h i p between the d e f o r m a t i o n f a c t o r and

e f f e c t i v e S h i e l d s parameter 4.30
Figure 5 . 1 . P e r m i s s i b l e u n i t t r a c t i v e f o r c e f o r canals i n cohesive
m a t e r i a l as c o n v e r t e d from the U.S.S.R. data on
permissible v e l o c i t i e s 5.5

V
 LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 3 . 1 . Scale-model experiment setup 3.2

Figure 3.2. Plan view o f s c a l e model m a t t r e s s c o n f i g u r a t i o n 3.5

Figure 3.3. Plan view o f scale-model m a t t r e s s c o n f i g u r a t i o n in

t h e 4 - f o o t flume 3.6

Figure 3.4. Overview o f 8 - f o o t t i l t i n g flume t e s t setup 3.9

Figure 3.5. Overview o f t h e 4 - f o o t t i l t i n g flume t e s t setup 3.10

Figure 3.6. 3.12

Figure 3.7. Pressure t r a n s d u c e r c a l i b r a t i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p 3.15

Figure 3.8. C o n f i g u r a t i o n o f pressure i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n 3.17

Figure 3.9. A view o f 4 - f o o t flume run f o r Q = 50 c f s 3.18

F i g u r e 3.10 3.19

Figure 3 . 1 1 . 3.27

Figure 3.12. Experimental setup f o r p r o t o t y p e M a c c a f e r r i

Mattress t e s t s 3.34
Figure 3.13. Pressure tap l o c a t i o n diagram f o r the 9 - i n c h full-
scale mattress t e s t s 3.36

Figure 3.14. O v e r a l l view o f outdoor f1ume s e t u p . Q = 80 c f s 3.41

Figure 3.15. View of flume i n v i c i n i t y below nozzle f o r Q = 56 c f s . . . 3.42

Figure 4 . 1 . Comparison between t h e measured and computed

Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t 4.3

Figure 4 . 2 . V e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r selected model-scale

m a t t r e s s t e s t s i n t h e 4 - f o o t flume 4.4

Figure 4 . 3 . Average v e l o c i t y f o r s e l e c t e d m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s
t e s t s i n the 4 - f o o t flume 4.5

Figure 4 . 4 . R e l a t i o n s h i p between shear s t r e s s , v e l o c i t y and

hydraulic radius 4.7
d.Q
Figure 4.5. = v s . Froude number ( f r o m F i u z a t , e t a l . 1982) . . . . 4.8

iv
 LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 2 . 1 . Thickness o f Reno M a t t r e s s R e l a t e d t o Water V e l o c i t y . . . 2.10

Table 3 . 1 . Model-to-Prototype Scaling Ratios 3.3

Table 3 . 2 . Dimensions o f Model-Scale and F u l l - S c a l e Mattresses

Tested 3.4

Table 3 . 3 . Scale-Model M a t t r e s s T e s t Data i n t h e 8 - F o o t Flume . . . . 3.21

Table 3 . 4 . Manning's Roughness C o e f f i c i e n t f o r t h e Model-Scale

M a t t r e s s e s Tests Conducted i n t h e 8 - F o o t Flume 3.26

Table 3 . 5 a . Run Sequence f o r T e s t A 6 - I n c h M a t t r e s s 3.2

Table 3 . 5 b . Run Sequence f o r T e s t B 9 - I n c h M a t t r e s s 3.30

Table 3 . 5 c . Run Sequence f o r T e s t C 1 2 - I n c h M a t t r e s s 3.31

Table 3 . 5 d . Run Sequence f o r T e s t D 1 8 - I n c h M a t t r e s s 3.32

Table 3 . 5 e . Run Sequence f o r T e s t E 6 - I n c h M a t t r e s s With M a s t i c . . . . 3.33

Table 3 . 6 . T e s t Run Sequence - D i s c h a r g e , D e p t h , V e l o c i t y

Measurements f o r t h e 9 - I n c h F u l l - S c a l e M a t t r e s s Tests . . .3.38
Table 3 . 7 . D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f 9 - I n c h M a t t r e s s P r o p e r t i e s , Roughness
C o e f f i c i e n t , n^^ - Bed Shear S t r e s s , -v^ 3.39
Table 3 . 8 . D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f 9 - I n c h M a t t r e s s P r o p e r t i e s , Roughness
C o e f f i c i e n t , n^ - Bed Shear S t r e s s , 3.40

vi
 FOREWARD

T h i s study was performed under a c o n t r a c t e n t i t l e d " H y d r a u l i c Tests to

Develop Design C r i t e r i a f o r the Use o f M a t t r e s s e s . " The t e s t s were conducted
a t t h e H y d r a u l i c s L a b o r a t o r y , E n g i n e e r i n g Research C e n t e r , Colorado S t a t e
University. T h i s r e p o r t i n c l u d e s the a n a l y s i s o f data c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g the
study and t h e c o n c l u s i o n s drawn a c c o r d i n g l y . The i n v e s t i g a t i o n was conducted
by D r . Daryl B. Simons, P r o f e s s o r o f C i v i l E n g i n e e r i n g , Colorado S t a t e
U n i v e r s i t y , D r . Yung Hai Chen, A s s o c i a t e P r i n c i p a l E n g i n e e r , and Mr. Lawrence
J . Swenson, H y d r a u l i c Engineer o f Simons, L i & A s s o c i a t e s , I n c . (SLA). Dr.
Ruh-Ming L i , P r i n c i p a l H y d r a u l i c Engineer o f SLA, was the Technical Reviewer
t o review the t e s t program and r e s u l t s .
Mr. Alan D. Crowhurst, Dr. Eng. R. A g o s t i n i and Mr. E. A l l e n Dye o f
M a c c a f e r r i Gabions, I n c . served as the c o n t r a c t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , technical
c o n s u l t a n t and l i a i s o n between SLA and the M a c c a f e r r i Steel Wire P r o d u c t s ,
Ltd. D r . Rebecca M. Summer, Mr. Mark R. P e t e r s o n , Mr. James E. Goodman, Mr.
Steven R. Townsley and Mr. Michael Mussetter a s s i s t e d i n c o n d u c t i n g the s t u d y .
The study p e r i o d was from May 1982 t o May 1983.

vi i
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Objectives
V a r i o u s p r o t e c t i o n measures have been developed t o i n s u r e the c o n t i n u e d
f l o w o f w a t e r along a p r e s e l e c t e d path and t o s t a b i l i z e channels and s o i l
slopes. Gabions and reno m a t t r e s s e s are p r o t e c t i v e devices t h a t have been
s u c c e s s f u l l y u t i l i z e d t o meet these needs. G u i d e l i n e s or methodologies con-
c e r n i n g gabion and reno m a t t r e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s have been e s t a b l i s h e d p r i m a r i l y
t h r o u g h f i e l d experience and e m p i r i c a l a n a l y s i s , aided i n some i n s t a n c e s by
h y d r a u l i c model s t u d i e s . F u r t h e r research i s necessary t o generate the
r e q u i r e d data base from which t o develop design c r i t e r i a f o r reno m a t t r e s s
applications.
The p r e s e n t study was aimed a t e v a l u a t i n g t h e performance o f M a c c a f e r r i
m a t t r e s s p r o d u c t s when used as r i v e r and canal bank and bed r e v e t m e n t . A
h y d r a u l i c t e s t i n g program was developed and undertaken t o p r o v i d e e x p e r i m e n t a l
data p e r t a i n i n g t o the performance o f reno m a t t r e s s e s . T e s t data were u t i -
l i z e d t o develop r e l i a b l e design c r i t e r i a f o r M a c c a f e r r i reno m a t t r e s s e s .
Major t a s k s include:

1. To review t h e e x i s t i n g design methodologies and f i e l d application

e x p e r i e n c e p e r t a i n i n g t o gabions and m a t t r e s s e s .

2. To determine the roughness o f r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s .

3. To e v a l u a t e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f u n d e r l y i n g g r a n u l a r f i l t e r s or f i l t e r cloth
layers.

4. To e v a l u a t e the s t a b i l i t y o f mattresses s u b j e c t e d t o v a r i o u s flow

conditions.

5. To analyze t e s t r e s u l t s and develop design c r i t e r i a a p p l i c a b l e t o

mattress protection designs.

L i t e r a t u r e Review
Gabion and mattresses are r o c k - f i l l e d w i r e devices which have been used
f o r c o n t r o l l i n g e r o s i o n and s t a b i l i z i n g s o i l s f o r c e n t u r i e s . Gabions o r w i r e -
bound rock sausages were i n t r o d u c e d by M a c c a f e r r i i n 1894 t o r e p a i r t h e breach
o f t h e R i v e r Reno a t C a s a l e c c h i o . The use o f gabions and mattresses has a
number o f advantages. The s t r e n g t h and f l e x i b i l i t y o f t h e s t e e l w i r e mesh
a l l o w s t h e r o c k - f i l l e d basket t o change shape w i t h o u t f a i l u r e due t o u n s t a b l e
ground o r scour from moving w a t e r . Gabions and mattresses are permeable and

viii
t h e r e f o r e e l i m i n a t e the problems due t o the h y d r a u l i c l i f t forces. Also, they
p e r m i t p l a n t growth f o r added s t a b i l i t y and t r a p p i n g e f f i c i e n c y . C l i m a t e has
no measureable e f f e c t on the performance and l o n g e v i t y o f gabions and
mattresses. F i n a l l y , gabions and m a t t r e s s e s are economical t o implement and
p r o v i d e a c o s t - e f f e c t i v e means o f s t a b i l i z a t i o n and e r o s i o n c o n t r o l .
M a j o r a p p l i c a t i o n s of gabions and m a t t r e s s e s i n c l u d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g :
revetments t o p r o t e c t r i v e r embankments a g a i n s t e r o s i o n ; s t a b i l i z a t i o n of
b r i d g e abutments; g r o i n s t o d e f l e c t and " t r a i n " r i v e r c u r r e n t s ; irrigation and
s h i p canal l i n i n g s ; check dam, w e i r s and drop s t r u c t u r e s ; c u l v e r t protection;
p r o t e c t i v e works t o d i s s i p a t e wave a c t i o n a l o n g c o a s t a l and l a k e s h o r e s ; road
stabilization; s e d i m e n t a t i o n ponds; stream r e h a b i l i t a t i o n ; retaining walls;
and boat l a u n c h i n g ramps.
Design c h a r t s f o r p l a c i n g gabion w e i r s on s l o p i n g and h o r i z o n t a l surfaces
were developed by Stephenson ( 1 9 8 0 ) . The c h a r t s and e q u a t i o n s were verified
e x p e r i m e n t a l l y t o determine s t r u c t u r a l stability a g a i n s t s l i d i n g and o v e r -
turning. Oswald and Maynard (1978) conducted a s e r i e s o f t e s t s t o e v a l u a t e
t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f several schemes u s i n g gabions f o r bank p r o t e c t i o n . No
r e s u l t s were s p e c i f i e d . Brown (1979) i n v e s t i g a t e d v a r i o u s t h e o r e t i c a l , experi-
mental and p r o t o t y p e aspects of t h e use o f g a b i o n - t y p e r e v e t m e n t s . Many o t h e r
r e s e a r c h e r s conducted s i t e - s p e c i f i c model s t u d i e s of the use o f gabions for
bank p r o t e c t i o n o r f o r breakwater. Oswalt, e t a l . (1975) conducted a
h y d r a u l i c model study a t t h e H y d r a u l i c L a b o r a t o r y o f t h e U.S. Army Engineer
Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n t o e v a l u a t e bank p r o t e c t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r the
F o u r m i l e Run l o c a l flood-control project. Both the r i p r a p and m a t t r e s s e s were
t e s t e d i n t h e model. I t was found t h a t i n s e v e r a l reaches i n t h e c h a n n e l , the
f l o w c o n d i t i o n s r e s u l t e d i n f a i l u r e of the 36-inch r i p r a p w h i l e the
12 X 3 X 1 - f o o t mattresses w i t h proper t o e p r o t e c t i o n would p r o v i d e necessary
protection. The r e s u l t s of t h e i r study a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t the r e q u i r e d
m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s i s no more than o n e - t h i r d t h e r e q u i r e d r i p r a p thickness.
A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i (1978) recommended t h i c k n e s s o f Reno M a t t r e s s r e l a t e d t o
f l o w v e l o c i t i e s and proposed t h e canal s i d e slopes a c c o r d i n g t o s o i l type.
They found t h a t compared w i t h the use of r i p r a p a savings of 25 t o 30 p e r c e n t
c o u l d be o b t a i n e d by u s i n g the m a t t r e s s e s .

C o n s i d e r i n g the a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n , i t i s c l e a r t h a t very 1 i m i t e d
i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e r e g a r d i n g t h e performance o f mattresses under h i g h
flow conditions. Additional study i s r e q u i r e d t o answer the f o l l o w i n g
questions:

ix
1. What are the p e r m i s s i b l e design f l o w c o n d i t i o n s f o r v a r i o u s types o f
mattresses?

2. What w i l l be the change i n m a t t r e s s performance when the f l o w conditions

are h i g h e r than the c r i t i c a l ( i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n ) c o n d i t i o n s ?

3. What i s the r e q u i r e m e n t o f f i l t e r under h i g h f l o w conditions?

The study r e s u l t s presented i n t h i s r e p o r t w i l l address these q u e s t i o n s .

T e s t Program
To e v a l u a t e m a t t r e s s performance over a range o f c o n d i t i o n s , a two-
s e c t i o n t e s t scheme i n v o l v i n g f u l l - s c a l e t e s t s complemented by scale-model
t e s t s was conducted. H y d r a u l i c t e s t s o f scale-model m a t t r e s s e s were conducted
u s i n g the e i g h t - f o o t wide flume l o c a t e d i n t h e H y d r a u l i c s L a b o r a t o r y a t t h e
Colorado S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E n g i n e e r i n g Research C e n t e r . T h i s flume i s eight
f e e t w i d e , f o u r f e e t deep and 200 f e e t l o n g and can be r a i s e d o r lowered t o
produce slopes r a n g i n g from zero t o about two p e r c e n t . A maximum f l o w r a t e o f
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 100 c f s can be a c h i e v e d .
Two s e r i e s o f scale-model m a t t r e s s t e s t s were conducted: one u t i l i z e d
the o r i g i n a l e i g h t - f o o t flume and the o t h e r u t i l i z e d the f o u r - f o o t flume which
was e s t a b l i s h e d by i n s t a l l i n g a 1 0 0 - f o o t l o n g p a r t i t i o n w a l l a t the c e n t e r of
the e i g h t - f o o t flume. The m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d i n the f o u r - f o o t flume included
6 - i n c h , 9 - i n c h , 1 2 - i n c h and 1 8 - i n c h t h i c k rock m a t t r e s s e s and 6 - i n c h thick
g r o u t e d m a t t r e s s e s which were c o n v e r t e d t o m o d e l - s c a l e u s i n g a m o d e l - t o -
p r o t o t y p e l e n g t h r a t i o o f 1:3. Because a v a i l a b l e mesh screen f o r making
scale-model mattresses was l i m i t e d , i t was d i f f i c u l t t o achieve dynamic simi-
l a r i t y between the model mesh and p r o t o t y p e mesh. A t e n s i l e t e s t conducted by
M a c c a f e r r i Gabions i n d i c a t e d t h a t the m o d e l - s c a l e mesh u t i l i z e d f o r t h e model
t e s t s i n the f o u r - f o o t flume was more f l e x i b l e compared t o f u l l - s c a l e ones.
The r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from these model t e s t s would guarantee a s a f e t y coef-
ficent. However, comparison between model and p r o t o t y p e t e s t s r e s u l t s indi-
c a t e s t h a t t h e i r r e s u l t s are comparable. The c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f scale-model
m a t t r e s s e s are presented i n Table 3 . 2 . Only the 9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s which were
c o n v e r t e d t o model s c a l e were t e s t e d i n the e i g h t - f o o t flume.
S i x - i n c h and n i n e - i n c h t h i c k f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s were t e s t e d i n a
s e v e n - f o o t w i d e , 7 5 - f o o t l o n g and f o u r - f o o t high outdoor flume w i t h a slope o f
13 p e r c e n t . The maximum d i s c h a r g e c a p a c i t y i s 100 c f s . Table 3.2 g i v e s the
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f these m a t t r e s s e s .

x
 In o r d e r t o determine the f l o w c o n d i t i o n s t h a t i n i t i a t e t h e movement o f
filling rocks w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s e s , t h e t e s t c o n d i t i o n s were always started
a t r e l a t i v e l y low v e l o c i t y and l a r g e d e p t h . These t e s t v e l o c i t i e s were
i n c r e a s e d step by step t o determine the i n c i p i e n t f l o w c o n d i t i o n s . Tables
3 . 3 , 3.5 and 3.6 p r e s e n t the t e s t c o n d i t i o n s conducted i n the eight-foot
i n d o o r f l u m e , t h e f o u r - f o o t i n d o o r flume and t h e s e v e n - f o o t o u t d o o r flume,
respectively. The maximum v e l o c i t i e s o b t a i n e d from these t h r e e flumes were
about 10, 12, and 21 f p s . The former two v a l u e s correspond t o p r o t o t y p e velo-
c i t i e s o f about 17 and 21 f p s , respectively.
Data c o l l e c t e d f o r each run i n c l u d e d d i s c h a r g e , v e l o c i t y , stage, mattress
bed e l e v a t i o n , and p r e s s u r e f l u c t u a t i o n s a t thee measuring s t a t i o n s . Attempts
were made t o measure v e l o c i t y and pressure a t t h e r o c k / f i l t e r and filter/soil
i n t e r f a c e s because these v e l o c i t i e s would be c o n t r o l factors affecting stabi-
lity o f base s o i l . Some measured i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t i e s a l t h o u g h n o t very
c o n c l u s i v e were analyzed and p r e s e n t e d .

Analysis of Results
The data c o l l e c t e d i n the m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s and f u l l - s c a l e mattress
t e s t s were analyzed t o d e t e r m i n e :

1. H y d r a u l i c s o f channels p r o t e c t e d by m a t t r e s s e s .

2. I n c i p i e n t motion c o n d i t i o n s o f f i l 1 i n g rocks w i t h i n m a t t r e s s e s ,

3. Deformation o f m a t t r e s s e s under h i g h f l o w conditions.

The h y d r a u l i c v a r i a b l e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s i n c l u d e : roughness
c o e f f i c i e n t s , v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n s , r e l a t i o n between shear s t r e s s and v e l o -
c i t i e s , v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s and f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e and a t the f i l t e r and
soil i n t e r f a c e , and pressure v a r i a t i o n . I t was found t h a t the bed roughness
o f t h e m a t t r e s s s u r f a c e c o u l d be determined from the Meyer-Peter and M u l l e r ' s
roughness e q u a t i o n f o r g r a v e l , and the v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n c o u l d be a p p r o x i -
mated by a l o g - v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n . This i n d i c a t e s t h a t hydraulic con-
d i t i o n s i n a m a t t r e s s channel are s i m i l a r t o t h e c o n d i t i o n i n a g r a v e l bed
channel and t h e m a t t r e s s mesh w i l l not s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t channel
roughness.

xi
 A n a l y s i s o f h y d r a u l i c data a l s o i n d i c a t e s t h a t f o r the same v e l o c i t y ,
shear s t r e s s i n c r e a s e s w i t h decrease i n h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s o r d e p t h . Because
shear s t r e s s i s t h e major f a c t o r t h a t c o n t r o l s t h e s t a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s and
r i p r a p , f o r a g i v e n v e l o c i t y , as depth i s i n c r e a s e d , s t a b i l i t y w i l l be
i n c r e a s e d due t o the r e d u c t i o n i n shear s t r e s s . A s i m i l a r c o n c l u s i o n was
o b t a i n e d based on the a n a l y s i s o f p r e s s u r e data c o l l e c t e d i n t h i s study an^
based on t h e r i p r a p t e s t s conducted by F i u z a t , e t a l . (1982). The study o f
F i u z a t , e t a l . i n d i c a t e s t h a t the s t a b l e s i z e o f rock i s i n v e r s e l y propor-
1/2 3
tional to D while i t is proportional to V .
Based on the m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s i n t h e f o u r - f o o t f l u m e , i t was
found t h a t the v e l o c i t y immediately underneath the m a t t r e s s e s remained
somewhat unchanged r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f l o w c o n d i t i o n s the m a t t r e s s e s were sub-
j e c t e d t o and the t h i c k n e s s o f m a t t r e s s e s . T h i s s i t u a t i o n i s o n l y t r u e when
t h e major f l o w d i r e c t i o n i s p a r a l l e l t o the m a t t r e s s s u r f a c e . The v e l o c i t y at
t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e c o u l d be a p p r o x i m a t e l y determined u s i n g a
Manning's e q u a t i o n by assuming t h a t t h e h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s approximately
e q u a l l e d o n e - h a l f o f the median rock s i z e and assuming a Manning's n o f 0 . 0 2 .
A c c o r d i n g t o the f u l l - s c a l e 9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s t e s t s , the v e l o c i t y underneath the
filter f a b r i c a t the f i l t e r and s o i l i n t e r f a c e would be about o n e - f o u r t h to
o n e - h a l f o f the v e l o c i t y immediately above t h e f i l t e r fabric. This velocity
c o u l d be s u f f i c i e n t l y l a r g e t o move base m a t e r i a l even though t h e m a t t r e s s
s t r u c t u r e remained s t a b l e . In t h i s c a s e , a g r a v e l filter l a y e r t h a t can
e f f e c t i v e l y reduce v e l o c i t y may be a b e t t e r way t o p r o t e c t the base m a t e r i a l .
The a b i l i t y o f the m a t t r e s s t o r e s i s t movement by the c u r r e n t r e l i e s on
i t s m o n o l i t h i c c o n t i n u i t y t o r e s i s t d i s p l a c e m e n t and not i t s mass. The rocks
i n s i d e t h e m a t t r e s s are r e t a i n e d by t h e w i r e n e t t i n g . In g e n e r a l , when t h e
v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s reach a c r i t i c a l m a g n i t u d e , the rocks i n s i d e the
m a t t r e s s s t a r t t o move i n the main f l o w d i r e c t i o n . The m a t t r e s s t e s t results
clearly i n d i c a t e t h a t m a t t r e s s mesh improves the s t a b i l i t y o f f i l l i n g rocks by
d o u b l i n g the c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s compared t o t h a t f o r the r i p r a p a l o n e . The
S h i e l d s parameter 0,10 f o r the mattress w h i l e = 0.047 for the
riprap. These r e s u l t s show t h a t t h e m a t t r e s s i s more s t a b l e than riprap
structures of greater thickness i f the m a t t r e s s s t r u c t u r e i s properly
designed and i n s t a l l e d .
 With f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e i n f l o w v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s beyond t h e criti-
c a l v a l u e s , a s i g n i f i c a n t amount o f rocks would move from t h e upstream p o r t i o n
o f a m a t t r e s s compartment t o i t s downstream p o r t i o n . T h i s r e s u l t e d i n reduc-
t i o n s I n t h i c k n e s s o f rock i n t h e upper p o r t i o n o f a m a t t r e s s compartment and
I n c r e a s e i n t h i c k n e s s o f rock i n t h e lower p o r t i o n o f t h e compartment. A
d e f o r m a t i o n f a c t o r i s t h e r e f o r e d e f i n e d as t h e r a t i o o f the h e i g h t difference
between t h e l o w e s t and h i g h e s t rock s u r f a c e w i t h i n a m a t t r e s s compartment t o
t h e median s i z e o f t h e f i l l i n g rock. T h i s r a t i o was r e l a t e d t o the effective
S h i e l d s parameter. T h i s r e l a t i o n can be u t i l i z e d t o determine the m a t t r e s s
d e f o r m a t i o n as a f u n c t i o n o f h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s and m a t t r e s s strength.
Based on t h e f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s , t h e m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n would
.not s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t t h e s p e c i f i c head v a r i a t i o n underneath t h e m a t t r e s s
u n l e s s t h e e x t e n t o f rock movement w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s was such t h a t t h e
f i l t e r o r base m a t e r i a l s were exposed. T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e m a t t r e s s even
a f t e r d e f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d a s i m i l a r degree o f p r o t e c t i o n t o t h a t p r o v i d e d by
an undeformed m a t t r e s s i f t h e reduced rock t h i c k n e s s s e c t i o n was more than one
median s i z e t h i c k . N i n e - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s were found t o be e f f e c t i v e i n p r o -
t e c t i n g s o i l s I n a m i l d slope channel bed under a v e l o c i t y up t o 20 f p s .
However, g r a v e l f i l t e r s o r a combined g e o t e x t i l e / g r a v e l filter should be u t i l -
i z e d t o reduce the water v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f 1 1 t e r i n t e r f a c e that
a t t a c k s t h e base m a t e r i a l s , i f t h i s I n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y i s s u f f i c i e n t l y high to
a f f e c t t h e s t a b i l i t y o f base s o i l . Additional s t u d i e s s h o u l d be conducted t o
e v a l u a t e the e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f v a r i o u s f i l t e r designs t o improve the a b l l I t y of
m a t t r e s s e s t o s t a b i l i z e channels under e x t r e m e l y h i g h f l o w c o n d i t i o n s .

Development o f Design C r i t e r i a
The f o l l o w i n g steps are proposed t o design t h e m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n w o r k s :

1. Determine the h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n the m a t t r e s s channel f o r a g i v e n

design discharge.

2. Determine t h e m a t t r e s s r e q u i r e m e n t based on i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n c r i t e r i a .

3. Determine the v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r ( o r base s o i l s ) interface.

4. Determine f i l t e r r e q u i r e m e n t t o s a f e l y p r o t e c t base m a t e r i a l .

5. Determine p o t e n t i a l d e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s when f l o w d i s c h a r g e i s larger

than the design d i s c h a r g e .

xiii
 D e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n s o f each major design step are presented i n Chapter
V. Design examples are g i v e n i n the Appendix. I t should be noted t h a t all
t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t s were conducted on flume beds. The developed c r i t e r i a for
p r o t e c t i n g banks were based on t h e o r i e s and some e m p i r i c a l e q u a t i o n s and
s h o u l d be v e r i f i e d whenever p o s s i b l e .

xiv
 1.1

I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Problem
V a r i o u s p r o t e c t i o n measures have been developed t o i n s u r e the c o n t i n u e d
f l o w o f water along a p r e s e l e c t e d path and t o s t a b i l i z e channels and s o i l
slopes. In c a n a l s o r c h a n n e l i z e d w a t e r courses p r o t e c t i o n measures typically
embody some type o f channel l i n i n g . A channel l i n i n g p e r m i t s d e s i g n i n g f o r a
l a r g e r p e r m i s s i b l e v e l o c i t y o r t r a c i v e f o r c e , w i t h o u t channel scour o r e r o -
s i o n , than would be p o s s i b l e i n an u n l i n e d c h a n n e l . Additionally, l i n i n g s can
be used t o reduce or e l i m i n a t e seepage problems i n c h a n n e l s . Gabions and
reno m a t t r e s s e s are p r o t e c t i v e d e v i c e s t h a t have been s u c c e s s f u l l y utilized
t o meet these needs.
G u i d e l i n e s o r methodologies c o n c e r n i n g gabion and reno m a t t r e s s applica-
t i o n s have been e s t a b l i s h e d p r i m a r i l y t h r o u g h f i e l d e x p e r i e n c e and e m p i r i c a l
a n a l y s i s , aided i n some I n s t a n c e s by h y d r a u l i c model s t u d i e s . Further
r e s e a r c h i s necessary t o generate t h e r e q u i r e d data base from which t o develop
d e s i g n c r i t e r i a f o r reno m a t t r e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s . Such c r i t e r i a are required
t o ensure adequate performance o f reno m a t t r e s s e s under s p e c i f i c hydraulic
and geometric conditions.
To address these needs, Simons, L i ^< A s s o c i a t e s , I n c . (SLA) was awarded a
r e s e a r c h c o n t r a c t by M a c c a f e r r i S t e e l Wire P r o d u c t s , L t d . t o conduct hydraulic
t e s t s o f M a c c a f e r r i Heavy Duty Reno M a t t r e s s e s , and t o develop design cri-
t e r i a g o v e r n i n g u t i l i z a t i o n o f these d e v i c e s f o r channel stabilization.

1.2 Objectives
The p r e s e n t study was aimed a t e v a l u a t i n g the performance o f M a c c a f e r r i
m a t t r e s s p r o d u c t s when used as r i v e r and canal bank and bed r e v e t m e n t . A
h y d r a u l i c t e s t i n g program was developed and undertaken t o p r o v i d e e x p e r i m e n t a l
d a t a p e r t a i n i n g t o the performance o f reno m a t t r e s s e s . T e s t data were uti-
l i z e d t o develop r e l i a b l e design c r i t e r i a f o r Maccaferri reno m a t t r e s s e s .
Major t a s k s d e f i n e d i n the study program a r e :

1 To review t h e e x i s t i n g design methodologies and f i e l d application

e x p e r i e n c e s p e r t a i n i n g t o gabions and m a t t r e s s e s .

2. To determine the roughness o f r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s .

3. To e v a l u a t e requirements o f u n d e r l y i n g g r a n u l a r f i l t e r s o r f i l t e r cloth
1ayers.
 1.2

4. To e v a l u a t e the s t a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s e s s u b j e c t e d t o v a r i o u s flow
conditions.

5. To analyze t e s t r e s u l t s and develop design c r i t e r i a a p p l i c a b l e to

mattress protection designs.

1.3 O r g a n i z a t i o n o f the Report

Chapter I I p r e s e n t s a 1 i t e r a t u r e review o f gabion and m a t t r e s s appl1ca-
t l o n s and d i s c u s s t h e i r a p p l i c a b i l I t i e s . Chapter I I I d e s c r i b e s the l a b o r a t o r y
f a c i l i t i e s , procedures and t e s t c o n d i t i o n s t h a t were a p p l l e d t o e v a l u a t e the
performance o f m a t t r e s s e s . Chapter IV p r e s e n t s t h e a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s . A
d e s i g n method was developed based on t h e a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s and h y d r a u l i c
theories. Chapter V p r e s e n t s t h i s d e s i g n method. Chapter VI summarizes t h e
s t u d y program, p r e s e n t s the c o n c l u s i o n s and recommends a d d i t i o n a l studies.
Two examples o f a p p l y i n g t h e developed design procedures t o design m a t t r e s s
p r o t e c t i o n works are p r e s e n t e d i n t h e Appendix.
 2.1

II. GABIONS AND MATTRESSES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
Gabions and m a t t r e s s e s are r o c k - f i l l e d w i r e devices which have been used
f o r c o n t r o l l i n g e r o s i o n and s t a b i l i z i n g s o i l s f o r c e n t u r i e s . Gabions o r w i r e -
bound rock sausages were I n t r o d u c e d by M a c c a f e r r i I n 1894 t o r e p a i r t h e breach
o f t h e R i v e r Reno a t C a s a l e c c h i o . Keutner (1935) presented t h e r e s u l t s o f an
e x h a u s t i v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s o f gabions I n Germany and
Austria. The N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s used gabion training
w a l l s as e a r l y as 1935 ( P a r k e r and K i t t r e d g e , 1935) t o c o u n t e r a c t streambed
e r o s i o n and t h e Highway Commission i n C a l i f o r n i a (1922) employed gabions as a
stream bank p r o t e c t i o n measure. Modernized v e r s i o n s o f gabions and mattresses
c o n s i s t o f r e c t a n g u l a r compartmented c o n t a i n e r s made o f t h i c k s t e e l w i r e mesh,
woven w i t h a t r i p l e t w i s t a t i n t e r s e c t i o n s . Heavy w i r e i s sometimes added or
woven i n t o t h e mesh b e f o r e or a f t e r f i l l i n g t o i n c r e a s e i t s s t a b i l i t y and
durability. The w i r e mesh can be g a l v a n i z e d and coated w i t h PVC i f used under
highly corrosive conditions. The w i r e baskets can be c o n s t r u c t e d i n t o various
g e o m e t r i c shapes. For example, a hexagonal c o n f i g u r a t i o n 1s designed t o con-
form f i r m l y t o uneven s u r f a c e s y e t s t i l l maintain I t s I n t e g r i t y structurally.

The use o f gabions and m a t t r e s s e s as n a t u r a l b u i l d i n g b l o c k s and e r o s i o n

control has a number o f advantages. The s t r e n g t h and f l e x i b i l i t y of the steel
w i r e mesh a l l o w s the r o c k - f i l l e d basket t o change shape w i t h o u t f a i l u r e due t o
u n s t a b l e ground o r scour from moving w a t e r . Gabions and m a t t r e s s e s are p e r -
meable and t h e r e f o r e e l i m i n a t e t h e problems due t o t h e h y d r a u l i c l i f t forces.
Al so t h e y p e r m i t p l a n t growth f o r added s t a b i l i t y and t r a p p i n g e f f i c i e n c y .
C l i m a t e has no measureable e f f e c t on t h e performance and l o n g e v i t y o f gabions
and m a t t r e s s e s . F i n a l l y , gabions and m a t t r e s s e s are economical t o implement
and p r o v i d e a c o s t e f f e c t i v e means o f s t a b i 1 i z a t i o n and e r o s i o n c o n t r o l .
Gabions and m a t t r e s s e s are s u p p l l e d t o t h e j o b s i t e as f o l d e d mesh and
t i e d in pairs. They are u n f o l d e d , placed i n p o s i t i o n l i k e b r i c k , tied
t o g e t h e r , and f i l l e d w i t h d u r a b l e r o c k . The mesh c o n t a i n e r s can a l s o be
f i l l e d f i r s t and placed by hand o r by a crane t o areas d i f f i c u l t t o access,
eg., underwater.
M a j o r a p p l i c a t i o n s o f gabions and m a t t r e s s e s i n c l u d e t h e following:
revetments t o p r o t e c t r i v e r embankments a g a i n s t e r o s i o n ; s t a b i l i z a t i o n of
b r i d g e abutments; g r o i n s t o d e f l e c t and " t r a i n " r i v e r c u r r e n t s ; i r r i g a t i o n and
s h i p canal 1 i n i n g s ; check dams, w e i r s , and drop s t r u c t u r e s ; c u l v e r t protec-
 2.2

tion; p r o t e c t i v e works t o d i s s i p a t e wave a c t i o n along c o a s t a l and l a k e shores

and b o a t l a u n c h i n g ramps. Gabions are a l s o u t i l i z e d f o r constructing
r e t a i n i n g w a l l s on steep u n s t a b l e s l o p e s , check dams, w e i r s and drop
structures.
Due t o t h e v a r i e t y o f gabion a p p l i c a t i o n s , s t u d i e s o f gabion performance
have n e c e s s a r i l y encompassed many a r e a s . General a p p l i c a t i o n s and s p e c i f i s
uses are discussed below t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e v e r s a t i l i t y of t h i s structure.
F o l l o w i n g t h i s , r e s u l t s o f experiments and t e s t s f o c u s i n g on d i f f e r e n t aspects
o f gabion b e h a v i o r are g i v e n . Data are i n c l u d e d where a v a i l a b l e .

2.2 Appl1 c a t i o n s
Gabions have been s t u d i e d and used t o serve a v a r i e t y o f purposes i n t h e
past. Many p r o j e c t s and s t u d i e s have been done which d e s c r i b e t h e i r applica-
t i o n s and u t i l i t y as discussed below.
F i r s t , Roth ( 1 9 7 7 ) , V e l u t e t a l . , ( 1 9 7 7 ) , Schuster ( 1 9 7 4 ) , Stephenson
( 1 9 7 9 ) , F o r e s t S e r v i c e ( 1 9 7 9 ) , and Burroughs (1979) reviewed a p p l i c a t i o n s ,
g e n e r a l d e s i g n s , general i m p l e m e n t a t i o n and case s t u d i e s o f gabion structures.
Stephenson emphasized t h a t t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s are s u i t a b l e i n energy dissipation
works p a r t i c u l a r l y in hydraulic engineering. The F o r e s t S e r v i c e (1979) has
p u b l i s h e d a r e p o r t based on a workshop which i n c l u d e d general geotechnical
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of gabions.
S e c o n d l y , gabions are used t o s t a b i l i z e low volume economical roads
( T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Research Board, 1 9 7 9 ) . D e t a i l s o f a method f o r u s i n g gabions
on low w a t e r c r o s s i n g s f o r p r i m i t i v e o r secondary f o r e s t roads are g i v e n by
Leydecker (1973) and discussed i n t h e next s e c t i o n .
Gabions have been i n c l u d e d i n t h e development o f an i n n o v a t i v e substruc-
tural system f o r s h o r t span highway b r i d g e s . GangaRao (1978) found t h a t
gabions were one o f t h e s t r u c t u r e s b e s t s u i t e d f o r s u b s t r u c t u r e s on t h e b r i d g e
d e s i g n from the i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o n s t r u c t i o n v i e w p o i n t . Ten d i f f e r e n t systems
were analyzed i n d e t a i l w i t h a view toward ease o f e r e c t i o n , economy, m a i n -
tenance, l o n g e v i t y , e f f i c i e n c y , v e r s a t i l i t y , e t c . Reinforced e a r t h , gabions,
segmental p l a n k , e e l l u l a r box, s t e e l b e n t , d r i v e n s t e e l p i l e b e n t , concrete
b e n t , s t u b system, c o n c r e t e and t i m b e r c r i b b i n g were c o n s i d e r e d t o be reaso-
nable s t r u c t u r e s f o r s h o r t - s p a n b r i d g e abutments. Depending upon t h e m e r i t s
and d e m e r i t s , g a b i o n s , c o n c r e t e b e n t , c e l l u l a r box, segmental plank and t i m b e r
c r i b b i n g appeared t o be b e s t s u i t e d from t h e I n d u s t r i a l i z e d construction
viewpoint.
 2.3

Webster and Watkins (1977) I n v e s t i g a t e d t h e f e a s i b i l i t y o f commercial

w i r e g a b i o n s , among o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s , f o r c o n s t r u c t i n g b r i d g e approach roads
across s o f t ground. The t e s t s e c t i o n was on a s o f t - c l a y subgrade and t r a f f i c
loads were on 5 - t o n t r u c k s . The 1 - f o o t gabions were f i l l e d w i t h 3 t o 7 i n c h
rock and covered w i t h 2 inches o f crushed s t o n e . The performance o f this
s t r u c t u r e was c o n s i d e r e d t o be e x t r e m e l y good.
One o f the approaches t o s o l v i n g highway l a n d s l i d e problems i n Tennessee
was t o use g a b i o n s . Royster (1975) discusses v a r i o u s geotechniques used i n
c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h gabions t o m i t i g a t e s t a b i l i t y problems i n t h e Smokey
Mountains. The steel-mesh w i r e baskets f i l l e d w i t h heavy rock are t h e key
elements i n r e p a i r i n g massive s l i d e s and are used i n place o f sheet piling,
masonry c o n s t r u c t i o n or c o n c r e t e c r i b b i n g .
Streambank s t a b i l i z a t i o n and r i v e r t r a i n i n g are some o f the more common
a p p l i c a t i o n s o f gabions and m a t t r e s s e s , e . g . , Gotz (1978) i n Germany, Keown e t
al., (1977) i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , P e r n i e r (1977) and Michel (1977) i n F r a n c e ,
and a study i n Columbia ("Checking R i v e r E r o s i o n i n C o l u m b i a , " 1 9 7 3 ) . In
addition, i t i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be a n a t u r a l and r e l a t i v e l y u n o b t r u s i v e t e c h -
nique f o r s t a b i l i z i n g streambeds i n new town developments (Holeman and Sauer,
1969).
Gabions and m a t t r e s s e s have a l s o been used e x t e n s i v e l y f o r reveting
c a n a l s and c a n a l i s e d water c o u r s e s , e . g . , i r r i g a t i o n . Oswalt, et a l . (1975)
compared the e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f u t i l i z i n g r i p r a p and m a t t r e s s e s f o r bank protec-
t i o n o f t h e F o u r m i l e Run l o c a l flood-control project. A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i
(1978) d e s c r i b e d the dimensions o f t r a p e z o i d a l channel s e c t i o n s and a p p l i e d
l i n i n g s formed w i t h gabions and m a t t r e s s e s .
The use o f gabions as sediment d e t e n t i o n devices has been s t u d i e d by Tan
and T h i r u m u r t h i (1978) i n Canada and by Poche and Sherwood ( 1 9 7 6 ) . These s t u -
d i e s i n d i c a t e t h a t the f i l t e r i n g c a p a c i t y o f gabions I s l i m i t e d t o bedload
material. Poche and Sherwood determined the sediment t r a p p i n g e f f i c i e n c y of
straw f i l t e r b a r r i e r s and g a b i o n s . A flume was designed and b u i l t f o r the
l a b o r a t o r y p o r t i o n o f the study and 21 bales were t e s t e d . Trapping e f f i c i e n -
c i e s v a r i e d from 46 t o 88 p e r c e n t ; t h e o v e r a l l average was 68 p e r c e n t . No
s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s were noted i n t h e e f f i c i e n c i e s o f straw and hay, and
t h e b u l k d e n s i t y and p o r o s i t y o f the bales c o r r e l a t e d p o o r l y w i t h the trapping
efficiencies. F i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s o f c o n t r a c t o r - p l a c e d b a l e b a r r i e r s showed a
h i g h percentage o f f a i l u r e s . Most f a i l u r e s were due t o u n d e r c u t t i n g , end
 2.4

f l o w , and washouts. Experimental f i e l d b a r r i e r s w i t h numbers and p o s i t i o n s

based on t h e u n i v e r s a l s o i l l o s s e q u a t i o n were i n s t a l l e d i n p l a c e o f t h e unmo-
dified barriers. To m i n i m i z e b a r r i e r f a i l u r e s , l o o s e straw was wedged under
and between t h e bales making up t h e b a r r i e r ; t h e b a r r i e r l e n g t h was extended
so t h a t t h e bottoms o f the end b a l e s were h i g h e r than t h e top o f t h e l o w e s t
m i d d l e b a l e ; and loose straw was s c a t t e r e d behind each b a r r i e r . Trapping
e f f i c i e n c i e s a p p r o x i m a t i n g l a b o r a t o r y e f f i c i e n c i e s were o b t a i n e d w i t h t h e
experimental b a r r i e r s . Gabions f i l l e d w i t h crushed stone y i e l d e d signifi-
c a n t l y lower t r a p p i n g e f f i c i e n c i e s than t h a t o f straw and hay b a l e s . However,
a l a y e r o f straw a t t h e bottom o f t h e gabion i n c r e a s e d the e f f i c i e n c y to
l e v e l s comparable t o those o f straw b a l e s .
Coastal e n g i n e e r i n g has u t i l i z e d gabions and m a t t r e s s e s i n designs o f
shore p r o t e c t i o n s t r u c t u r e s . An a n n o t a t e d b i b l i o g r a p h y o f the development o f
g r o y n e s , i n c l u d i n g gabion c o n s t r u c t i o n i s g i v e n i n Bal s i l l i e and Bruno ( 1 9 7 2 ) .
Chishom (1976) d e s c r i b e d the use o f gabions as secondary p r o t e c t i o n along t h e
sea c o a s t o f New Zealand.
A s i m i l a r a p p l i c a t i o n was implemented on t h e Lake Huron shore (Quigley,
e t a l . , 1974). A system o f t h r e e gabion groynes were s e t up t o p r o t e c t a
122 m l o n g s e c t i o n o f c o a s t a l r e a d y s u b j e c t t o severe e a r t h movements. In the
absence of adequate design i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e design was based on p r e l i m i n a r y
w i n d data and f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s o f beach c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , sand a v a i l a b i l i t y
and p r o b a b l e wave h e i g h t s . The groynes were spaced about 36 m a p a r t and
extended o f f - s h o r e from t h e c l i f f t o e f o r a d i s t a n c e o f about 18 m. The ends
o f t h e g r o i n e s , t h e r e f o r e , extended t o t h e plunge p o i n t o f 1.2 m h i g h waves
g e n e r a t e d by s t r o n g t r a d e winds and about 6 p e r c e n t o f t h e d i s t a n c e t o t h e
e s t i m a t e d l o c a t i o n o f t h e plunge p o i n t o f severe s t o r m s . The beach h e i g h t a t
the c l i f f t o e has b u i l t i t s e l f up t o 1.8 m above p r e s e n t water l e v e l s and p r o -
v i d e s a beach berm j u s t adequate t o s t a b i l i z e t h e l o w e r p o r t i o n s o f the
f a i l i n g c l i f f behind i t d u r i n g t h e wet s p r i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f 1974. The
i n s t a l l a t i o n has been very s u c c e s s f u l , and t h e g r o i n e s have r a p i d l y filled
w i t h sand and g r a v e l .
Another p r a c t i c a l use o f gabions and m a t t r e s s e s i s f o r s t a b i l i z i n g lake
shores and storm water catchments i n urban a r e a s . A p r o j e c t described i n
Ground E n g i n e e r i n g Magazine (1976) regarded t h a t i n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom, banks
o f a l a k e were s t a b i l i z e d by the use o f gabions p l a c e d over 0.5 mm t h i c k
Fibertex f i l t e r sheet (a non-woven m a t e r i a l o f 95 p e r c e n t p o l y p r o p y l e n e ) . A
one meter square gabion was sunk onto t h e bottom o f the l a k e t o form a
 2.5

b u t t r e s s from behind which F i b e r t e x was anchored. The F i b e r t e x was then

r o l l e d up onto t h e p r o f i l e o f t h e bank and covered w i t h a 170 m deep gabion
m a t t r e s s f i l l e d w i t h 50-102 mm l i m e s t o n e r u b b l e .
Gabion i n s t a l l a t i o n s have been used i n experiments t o improve, enhance,
and m o d i f y stream f i s h e r i e s and r e h a b i l i t a t e c h a n n e l i z e d s t r e a m s . Their rela-
t i v e e f f e c t i v e n e s s and impact on t h e b i o l o g y and c h e m i s t r y o f a stream has
been v a r i a b l e a c c o r d i n g t o s t u d i e s by Maughan and Nelson ( 1 9 8 0 ) , Cooper and
Wesche (1976) B r a d t and Wieland '(1978) and B a r t o n and Winger ( 1 9 7 3 ) . An
example o f an e f f e c t i v e use which p r o v i d e d a means o f p r e v e n t i n g young salmon
f r o m m i g r a t i n g t o t h e sea was d e s c r i b e d by McSwain and Schmidt ( 1 9 7 6 ) . The
gabions which were made o f heavy t r i p l e t w i s t e d w i r e were shipped f l a t , filled
w i t h 6" minimum s i z e c o b b l e s , and t i e d on t h e j o b s i t e . In a d d i t i o n t o the
g a b i o n s , a p e r f o r a t e d s t e e l p i p e , a metal s l i d e gate w i t h c o n c r e t e h e a d w a l l ,
an emergency f l o w w e i r box, and n a t u r a l stream g r a v e l and cobbles were used t o
develop 6 d i f f e r e n t d i v e r s i o n s t r u c t u r e s . Their construction is described
below.
A gabion dam I s c o n s t r u c t e d as near t h e canal head as i s practical.
P e r f o r a t e d p i p e ( 3 6 " ) encased o r surrounded by r i v e r run g r a v e l is placed
t h r o u g h t h e dam and extended upstream i n t h e r i v e r bed a t an e l e v a t i o n where
i t can be covered w i t h about 7" o f g r a v e l . Thus a l 1 t h e water t o the canal
comes t h r o u g h t h e g r a v e l p i p e p e r f o r a t i o n s and t h e gabion dam. As an
emergency w a t e r supply f e a t u r e , a w e i r box w i t h removable f l a s h boards is
i n s t a l l e d i n t h e dam so t h a t t h e g r a v e l , p e r f o r a t i o n s o r dam i n t e r s t i c e s do
not clog. A few f e e t downstream, a metal s l i d e gate on a c o n c r e t e headwal1 i s
provided for p o s i t i v e flow r e g u l a t i o n .

Gabion s t r u c t u r e s were I n c l u d e d i n a study o f b a r r i e r s which reduce noise

levels. Harmelink and Hajek (1973) conducted f i e l d e v a l u a t i o n o f f i v e barrier
types: e a r t h embankment, normal d e n s i t y and 1 i g h t w e i g h t p r e - c a s t c o n c r e t e
panal w a l l s , aluminum w a l l s , plywood w a l l s and a gabion w a l l . Results Indi-
c a t e d t h a t they are r e l a t i v e l y I n e f f e c t i v e i n r e d u c i n g freeway t r a f f i c sound
levels. For example, t h e b a r r i e r s , l o c a t e d midway between t h e houses and t h e
pavement o r a t t h e highway s h o u l d e r , 60 f t . - 140 f t . (18m-43m) from t h e
n e a r e s t houses, p r o v i d e d o n l y 2-6 dba r e d u c t i o n a t t h e f i r s t row o f houses, 4
ft. (1.2m) above ground. Immediately behind t h e b a r r i e r s , where the reduc-
t i o n s are o f 1 i t t l e r e a l b e n e f i t , r e d u c t i o n s o f 8 dba - 14 dba were a c h i e v e d .
 2.6

2.3 Behavior and Design

A v a r i e t y o f s t u d i e s have been conducted t o t e s t t h e b e h a v i o r o f gabion
s t r u c t u r e s and develop design methods. Several e x p e r i m e n t a l s t u d i e s and
d e s i g n procedures are reviewed below.
Lavagnino (1974) d e s c r i b e d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f m o d i f i e d revetment o f
monol i t h i c gabions which proved t o be an e f f e c t i v e s o l u t i o n t o bank e r o s i o n a t
a r i v e r I n n o r t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a which was f r e q u e n t l y washed o u t by f l o o d s . The
$1 m i l 1 i o n f e d e r a l l y funded emergency r e p a i r program m i n i m i z e d e r o s i o n on an
e c o n o m i c a l l y I m p o r t a n t f o r e s t lumber r o a d . Eleven-gauge g a l v a n i z e d s t e e l wire
mesh baskets were c o n s t r u c t e d and design elements I n c l u d e d k e y i n g bottom
gabion baskets I n t o rock o r s u i t a b l e f o u n d a t i o n t o m i n i m i z e s c o u r i n g below t h e
bottom b a s k e t . A problem encountered was s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n t i a l s e t t l i n g of
gabions due t o r e s t r i c t e d d r a i n a g e i n t h e b a c k f i l l . Free d r a i n i n g backfill
and t h e use o f c o u n t e r f o r t s t o add s t r u c t u r a l s t a b i l i t y were recomnended t o
remedy t h i s s i t u a t i o n . Leydecker (1973) d e v i s e d a method u s i n g gabions on low
w a t e r c r o s s i n g s f o r secondary roads which proved t o be both economical and
aesthetic. B a s i c a l l y , t h e road a t t h e w a t e r c r o s s i n g i s designed t o g i v e good
1 i n e and grade t h r o u g h t h e s t r e a m . The f i n a l e l e v a t i o n o f t h e low p o i n t o f
t h e p a r a b o l i c grade l i n e i s u s u a l l y 6" t o 12" above t h e stream bed e l e v a t i o n
a t t h e downstream edge o f t h e r o a d . Gabions 6 ' - 6 " x 3 ' - 3 " are p l a c e d a t t h e
final grade 1Ine w i t h the upstream edge o f t h e gabion a l o n g s i d e t h e downstream
edge o f t h e r o a d . The gabions are b a c k f i l l e d and stream g r a v e l i s pushed up
b e h i n d t h e gabions t o form t h e r u n n i n g s u r f a c e . Essentially, t h e gabions form
a 6" t o 12" h i g h porous dam which r e t a i n s t h e stream g r a v e l .

Stephenson (1980) devised c h a r t s f o r p l a c i n g gabion w e i r s on s l o p i n g and

horizontal surfaces. The c h a r t s and e q u a t i o n s were v e r i f i e d e x p e r i m e n t a l l y to
determine s t r u c t u r a l s t a b i l i t y a g a n i s t s l I d i n g and o v e r t u r n i n g .
G e r o d e t t i (1981) reviewed h y d r a u l i c s t u d i e s which were conducted f o r a
proposed r o c k f i l l c o f f e r d a m f o r t h e El Cajon h y d r o e l e c t r i c p r o j e c t In
Honduras. The c o f f e r d a m had a s t e e l s h e e t p l l e seal i n g w a l l and I t s downstream
s u r f a c e was p r o t e c t e d w i t h armoured g a b i o n s .
Oswalt, et a l . (1975) conducted a 1:30 h y d r a u l i c model i n v e s t i g a t i o n to
e v a l u a t e bank p r o t e c t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t f o r t h e F o u r m i l e Run l o c a l flood-control
project. They found t h a t i n s e v e r a l reaches o f t h e c h a n n e l , t h e f l o w c o n -
d i t i o n s r e s u l t e d i n f a i l u r e of the 36-Inch r i p r a p , w h i l e the mattresses with
p r o p e r t o e p r o t e c t i o n reduced t h e scour c o n s i d e r a b l y and p r o v i d e d t h e
 2.7

necessary p r o t e c t i o n . M a t t r e s s e s r a n g i n g from one f o o t t o t h r e e f e e t thick

were i n v e s t i g a t e d i n t h e model. A l t h o u g h no p r e c i s e design r u l e s were
e s t a b l i s h e d f o r determining thickness of mattresses required f o r stability
a g a i n s t f l o w , t h e r e were s e v e r a l areas i n the model i n which 3 6 - i n c h t h i c k
r i p r a p and 1 2 - i n c h t h i c k m a t t r e s s e s were s t a b l e . This i n d i c a t e d t h a t the
r e q u i r e d m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s i s no more than o n e - t h i r d t h e r e q u i r e d r i p r a p
thickness.
Oswald and Maynord (1978) conducted a s e r i e s o f t e s t s a t t h e U.S. Army
Engineer Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n (WES) t o e v a l u a t e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of
several schemes u s i n g gabions f o r bank p r o t e c t i o n . S p e c i f i c a l l y , e f f o r t s were
d i r e c t e d a t e v a l u a t i n g t h e use o f gabions f o r hard p o i n t s o r t o e protection
s i m i l a r t o t h e way r i p r a p i s used f o r hard p o i n t s o r t o e p r o t e c t i o n a t several
p r o t o t y p e s i t e s i n the Vicksburg D i s t r i c t . No r e s u l t s were s p e c i f i e d .
Brown (1979) I n v e s t i g a t e d v a r i o u s t h e o r e t i c a l , e x p e r i m e n t a l and
p r o t o t y p e aspects o f t h e use o f g a b i o n - t y p e r e v e t m e n t s . His theoretical
a n a l y s i s c o n s i d e r s the momentum f l u x o f t h e i m p a c t i n g wave j e t and t h e d e s t a -
b i l I z i n g e f f e c t s o f t h i s upon an element o f t h e r e v e t m e n t . L a b o r a t o r y wave
t e s t s were made f o r slopes o f 1:4 t o 1 : 1 - 1 / 2 f o r a v a r i e t y o f waves.
D i f f e r e n t modes o f f a i l u r e were e n c o u n t e r e d , i n c l u d i n g downslope s l i d i n g p r e -
d o m i n a n t l y on steep slopes and u p l i f t / b u c k l i n g on f l a t t e r s l o p e s . Thin
m a t t r e s s e s showed a pronounced tendency t o b u c k l e . Two e x p e r i m e n t a l panels
were c o n s t r u c t e d t o assess m a t e r i a l b e h a v i o r and t o e s t a b i l i t y . Two p r o t o t y p e
revetments were designed and c o n s t r u c t e d i n accordance w i t h the proposed
design r u l e s .
M o d e l i n g s t u d i e s i n c l u d e work by Posey (1957, 1 9 6 9 ) . Tests o f erosion
p r o t e c t i o n I n model channels were conducted i n an apparatus designed t o p e r m i t
comparisons under severe e r o s i o n exposure. Comparison w i t h f i e l d instal-
l a t i o n s shows t h a t successive l a y e r s meeting t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r reverse
f i l t e r s w i l 1 g i v e complete p r o t e c t i o n t o t h e f i n e s t , most e r o d i b l e soils
(Posey, 1 9 6 9 ) . A c c o r d i n g t o Posey, a c c u r a t e p r e d i c t i o n o f the s i z e s necessary
t o p r e v e n t t h e topmost l a y e r from b e i n g washed away cannot be made, and t h i s
must be determined by t r i a l . I f l a r g e enough stones are n o t a v a i l a b l e ,
s m a l l e r stones w i l l a l s o r e s i s t e r o s i o n bound w i t h mesh t u b i n g .

Posey (1957) a l s o recommended t h e use o f " r o c k sausages" o r gabions when

d e s i g n i n g and c o n s t r u c t i n g highway f i l l s . The s i z e o f t h e sausages r e q u i r e d
f o r v a r i o u s exposures was not d e t e r m i n e d , b u t f u l l - s c a l e t e s t s showed t h a t a
 2.8

minimum p r a c t i c a b l e s i z e would be ample t o p r o t e c t highway f i l l s under t h e

most severe c o n d i t i o n s ( h i g h v e l o c i t y f l o w s ) 1 i k e l y t o be e n c o u n t e r e d .
S i x d i f f e r e n t o u t l e t m o d i f i c a t i o n designs f o r overbank c o n t r o l structures
were e v a l u a t e d by Copeland ( 1 9 7 8 ) . Model t e s t s were conducted on f i v e o f the
designs and design v a r i a t i o n s . A 1:24 s c a l e s e c t i o n model was used t o simu-
l a t e d i s c h a r g e s up t o 550,000 c f s . Type 5 o u t l e t m o d i f i c a t i o n d e s i g n , uti-
l i z i n g gabions placed p a r a l l e i t o t h e f l o w on a IV on lOH s l o p e , was deemed
t h e b e s t o f t h e s i x designs t e s t e d .
D u r i n g t h e process o f r e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e requirements o f a r e v e t m e n t /
b r e a k w a t e r l a y e r on a c o a s t i n A u s t r a l i a , a s p e c i f i c a t i o n f o r a s t r u c t u r a l l y
f l e x i b l e , c o h e s i v e , massive and porous ' b l a n k e t ' was e v o l v e d by Brown ( 1 9 7 8 ) .
T h i s s p e c i f i c a t i o n f i n d s an obvious e x p r e s s i o n i n Reno M a t t r e s s e s , and a
s e r i e s o f model t e s t s were c a r r i e d o u t u s i n g stone f i l l e d mesh bags t o r e p r e -
sent the mattresses.
Saunders and Grace (1981) d e s c r i b e d model t e s t s o f channel structures
c o n s t r u c t e d o f c o n c r e t e and g a b i o n s . Tests were conducted a t an u n d i s t o r t e d
s c a l e r a t i o o f 1:12 t o determine t h e d i s c h a r g e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e struc-
t u r e s , s i z e and e x t e n t o f r i p r a p r e q u i r e d t o p r e v e n t scour downstream o f the
s t r u c t u r e s , e f f e c t s o f i c e f l o w i n g over t h e s t r u c t u r e s , and s t a b i l I t y o f the
gabion s t r u c t u r e s .
S h o r e l i n e s are commonly p r o t e c t e d by stone r e v e t m e n t s , r u b b l e mound
groins or breakwaters. When t h e e r o s i v e f o r c e s o f waves are l a r g e r , large
stones o r c o n c r e t e b l o c k s o f s p e c i a l i n t e r l o c k i n g shapes are p l a c e d on t h e
s u r f a c e over u n d e r l a y e r s o f stones o f s m a l l e r s i z e . Pillai and Verma (1978)
t e s t e d i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y p r o t e c t i v e s u r f a c e s o f stones enclosed I n nets
u n d e r l a i n by a g r a v e l f i l t e r . The s i z e o f stones needed w i t h i n the e n c l o s i n g
n e t was r e l a t i v e l y smal 1 and t h e volume o f stones was reduced c o n s i d e r a b l y as
compared t o t h a t i n t h e case o f l o o s e s t o n e s . They concluded t h a t t h e d e v e l -
opment o f s t r o n g and d u r a b l e s y n t h e t i c f i b e r s p r o v i d e s f o r e f f e c t i v e use o f
stones enclosed i n n e t s t o p r o t e c t t h e h i g h e r p a r t o f beaches.

Nasser and McCorquodale (1974) s t u d i e d unsteady non-Darcy f l o w i n rec-

tangular r o c k - f i l l embankments w i t h i m p e r v i o u s cores by s u b j e c t i n g t h e embank-
ments t o n o n l i n e a r , shallow w a t e r waves. Crushed rock and q u a r t z were
utilized, i n s i z e s r a n g i n g from 0.7 cm t o 4 . 4 cm, t o b u i l d e x p e r i m e n t a l
embankments o f v a r i o u s w i d t h s . The waves i n a l l experiments were n o n b r e a k i n g .
The embankments were t e s t e d f o r several wave c o n d i t i o n s . Empirical formulas
 2.9

are p r e s e n t e d f o r t r a n s m i s s i o n , r e f l e c t i o n , r u n u p , and rushdown, and a l l give

good c o r r e l a t i o n s . An upward s h i f t o f the mean w a t e r l e v e l i n the embankments
was d e t e c t e d d u r i n g t h e e x p e r i m e n t s . I t was found t h a t t r a n s m i s s i o n decreased
w i t h d e c r e a s i n g c o n d u c t i v i t y and i n c r e a s i n g wave steepness and embankment
w i d t h , and t h a t r e f l e c t i o n decreased w i t h i n c r e a s i n g c o n d u c t i v i t y and w i d t h of
embankment.
Experimental work on m o n i t o r i n g s t r u c t u r a l d e f o r m a t i o n o f gabion w a l l s
has been done by Veress and Hatzopoulos ( 1 9 7 9 ) . D u r i n g the course o f the
p r o j e c t (Veress, e t a l . , 1977), p r a c t i c a l t e s t s o f the t h e o r e t i c a l develop-
ments were done on an i n - p l a c e gabion w a l l . The m o n i t o r i n g c o n s i s t e d o f pho-
t o g r a p h i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e from t h r e e camera s t a t i o n s . The camera was m o d i f i e d
t o a p l a t e camera t o p r o v i d e t h e maximum a c c u r a c y . The methodology c o n s i s t e d
o f the g e o d e t i c d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e camera l o c a t i o n and t h e o r i e n t a t i o n and
photogrammetric d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t a r g e t s ( n a t u r a l and a r t i f i c i a l ) on t h e
structure. D u r i n g t h e course o f t h i s p r o j e c t more than 100 t a r g e t locations
were determined by t h r e e dimensional c o o r d i n a t e s . The maximum e r r o r was found
t o be p l u s 3/4 i n c h ; the average, 1/2 inch. This represents a r e l a t i v e
accuracy o f 1/58,000 t o 1/120,000 o f t h e p h o t o g r a p h i c d i s t a n c e . Using t h e
a c t u a l c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e f o r research p e r m i t t e d Immediate i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . The
i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n as w e l l as the methodology along w i t h the computer program was
t r a n s m i t t e d t o t h e Washington S t a t e Highway Department and t h e i r
Photogrammetric Branch was a s s i s t e d i n t h e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n .

A f t e r review o f t h e a v a i l a b l e 1 i t e r a t u r e , i t was found t h a t very little

i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e design o f m a t t r e s s e s f o r p r o t e c t i n g r i v e r channels
and c a n a l s e x i s t e d . Most o f t h e model s t u d i e s f o r d e s i g n i n g mattresses was
f o r p r o t e c t i n g t h e c o a s t a l o r shoal 1ine a g a i n s t wave a t t a c k i n g and was q u i t e
site specific. A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i (1978) recommended a t h i c k n e s s o f Reno
M a t t r e s s r e l a t e d t o f l o w v e l o c i t i e s (see Table 2 . 1 ) and presented h y d r a u l i c
t a b l e s f o r v a r i o u s roughness c o e f f i c e n t s and channel g e o m e t r i e s . They found
by comparing t h e use o f m a t t r e s s e s w i t h t h e use o f r i p r a p t h a t a s a v i n g o f 25
t o 30 p e r c e n t c o u l d be o b t a i n e d by u s i n g t h e m a t t r e s s e s . Additionally, a
s a v i n g s o f a t l e a s t 50 p e r c e n t i n reduced wastage c o u l d be o b t a i n e d by u s i n g
m a t t r e s s e s f o r underwater i n s t a l l a t i o n as compared t o u s i n g the r i p r a p under
water.
 2.10

Table 2 . 1 . Thickness o f Reno M a t t r e s s R e l a t e d t o Water Velocity.

Water V e l o c i t y Mattress Thickness

m/sec m

0 . 9 - 1.8 0.15

1.8 - 3.6 0.15 - 0.25

3.6 - 4.5 0.25 - 0.30

4 . 5 - 5.4 0.30 - 0.50 and g r e a t e r

 2.11

Considering the a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n , i t i s c l e a r t h a t very limited

i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e r e g a r d i n g t h e performance o f m a t t r e s s e s under h i g h
flow conditions. A d d i t i o n a l study i s r e q u i r e d t o answer the f o l l o w i n g
questions:

1. What are t h e p e r m i s s i b l e design f l o w c o n d i t i o n s f o r v a r i o u s types o f

mattresses?

2. What w i l l be t h e changes i n m a t t r e s s performance when t h e f l o w c o n d i t i o n s

are h i g h e r than t h e c r i t i c a l ( i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n ) c o n d i t i o n s ?

3. What i s t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f f i l t e r under h i g h f l o w c o n d i t i o n s ?

The study r e s u l t s presented i n t h i s r e p o r t w i l l address these q u e s t i o n s .

 3.1

III. MATTRESS TEST PROGRAM

3.1 Introduction
T e s t i n g o f r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s under a range o f h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s repre-
s e n t a t i v e o f a c t u a l f i e l d c o n d i t i o n s would r e q u i r e d i s c h a r g e s i n excess o f
those a v a i l a b l e i n most l a b o r a t o r i e s . F u r t h e r m o r e , the c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
such t e s t s would be p r o h i b i t i v e l y high. To adequately e v a l u a t e m a t t r e s s per-
formance over a range o f c o n d i t i o n s , a t w o - s e c t i o n t e s t scheme i n v o l v i n g full-
s c a l e t e s t s complemented by scale-model t e s t s was developed. In developing
t h e t e s t methodology, v e l o c i t y was assumed t o be t h e major f a c t o r c o n t r o l 1 i n g
mattress s t a b i l i t y . Data o b t a i n e d from f u l 1 - s c a l e t e s t i n g a t t h e required
v e l o c i t y b u t reduced d e p t h , were supplemented w i t h scale-model t e s t i n g in
o r d e r t o determine t h e e f f e c t o f depth on m a t t r e s s stability.

3.2 Scale-Model M a t t r e s s T e s t Program

3.2.1 T e s t F a c i l i t i e s and T e s t Scales
H y d r a u l i c t e s t s o f scale-model m a t t r e s s e s were conducted u s i n g t h e e i g h t -
f o o t wide i n d o o r flume l o c a t e d i n t h e H y d r a u l i c s L a b o r a t o r y a t the Colorado
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y E n g i n e e r i n g Research C e n t e r . T h i s flume I s e i g h t f e e t w i d e ,
f o u r f e e t deep and two hundred f e e t l o n g , and can be r a i s e d o r lowered t o p r o -
duce s l o p e s r a n g i n g from zero t o about two p e r c e n t . A maximum f l o w r a t e o f
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 100 c f s can be a c h i e v e d . Valves and o r i f i c e s are u t i l i z e d t o
r e s p e c t i v e l y c o n t r o l and measure d i s c h a r g e s . F i g u r e 3.1 shows the experimen-
tal setup f o r scale-model t e s t i n g I n t h e e i g h t - f o o t 1ndoor f l u m e .
Two s e r i e s o f scale-model m a t t r e s s t e s t s were conducted: one u t i l i z e d
t h e o r i g i n a l e i g h t - f o o t flume and t h e o t h e r u t i l i z e d t h e reduced f o u r - f o o t
flume which was f a b r i c a t e d by i n s t a l l i n g a 1 0 0 - f o o t l o n g p a r t i t i o n w a l l a t the
center of the e i g h t - f o o t indoor flume. The main reason f o r t h i s w i d t h reduc-
t i o n was t o t e s t scale-model m a t t r e s s e s under Increased u n i t - w i d t h d i s c h a r g e ,
v e l o c i t y and depth c o n d i t i o n s .
I n d o o r t e s t i n g e n t a i l e d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f scale-model w i r e mesh m a t t r e s s e s
g e o m e t r i c a l l y s i m i l a r t o t h e p r o t o t y p e M a c c a f e r r i m a t t r e s s e s reduced by a
scale r a t i o of 1:3. Table 3.1 p r o v i d e s m o d e l - t o - p r o t o t y p e s c a l i n g r a t i o s for
various hydraulic variables. Table 3.2 shows t h e dimensions o f m o d e l - s c a l e
m a t t r e s s e s made o f c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e hexagonal mesh s c r e e n i n g . The
m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d i n t h e study i n c l u d e 6 - I n c h , 9 - I n c h , 1 2 - i n c h and 1 8 - i n c h
thick mattresses. Because a v a i l a b l e mesh screen f o r making m o d e l - s c a l e
 / /
30 20
Flow Development S e c t i o n Transition Test
Section
Head
Box Diffuser Gate
^ Wave Suppressor

^ L T u c i ^ n X S - i ^ h Z ^ r N n r - N n ^^"resses Mode! s c a h , I to 3 '^'^^^

Rocks 3 Thick S a n d Concrete F i l t e r Blanket Raised

F l u m e Floor

Orifice
r

Figure 3 . 1 . Scale-model e x p e r i m e n t a l setup.

 3.3

Table 3 . 1 . Model-to-Prototype Scaling Ratios.

Model-to-Prototype
Variable Scaling Ratios

Length 1:3

Rock Size 1:3

Velocity 1:/T

Discharge 1:3*^*^

Shear S t r e s s 1:3

Pressure 1:3

Force 1:3^
 Table 3 . 2 . Dimensions of Model-Scale and F u l l - S c a l e Mattresses T e s t e d .

Prototype Model
Mesh Wire Filling Mesh Wire Filling
Thickness Type Dia. Rock Thickness Type Dia. Rock
Test (inches) (cm) (mm) (inches) (inches) (inches) (mm) (inches)

F o u r - F o o t Flume

A 6 6 X 8 2 - 2.2 3 - 6 2 3/4 X 5/4 0.6 - 0.7 1-2

B 9 6 X 8 2 - 2.2 3 - 6 3 3/4 X 5/4 0.6 - 0.7 1-2

C 12 6 X 8 2 - 2.2 4 - 6 4 3/4 X 5/4 0.6 - 0.7 1.5 - 2

oo
D 18 8 X 10 2.4--2.7 4 - 8 6 1 X 3/2 0.8 - 0.9 1.5 - 2.5

E 6 6 X 8 2 - 2.2 3 - 6 2 3/4 X 5/4 0.6 - 0.7 1 - 2

(grouted)

E i g h t - F o o t Flume 9 8 X 10 2.4-2.7 3 - 6 3 1 X 3/2 0.8 - 0.9 1.5 - 2

Outdoor P r o t o t y p e

6" 6 6 X 8 2 3 - 6 -

9" 9 6 X 8 2 3 - 6 _ __^
 3.5

m a t t r e s s e s was l i m i t e d , i t was d i f f i c u l t t o achieve dynamic s i m i l a r i t y between

t h e model mesh and p r o t o t y p e mesh. Tensile t e s t s conducted'by Maccaferri
Gabions and by the Colorado T e s t Center i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e m o d e l - s c a l e mesh
u t i l i z e d f o r t h e model t e s t s i n the f o u r - f o o t flume was more f l e x i b l e compared
t o f u l l - s c a l e ones. The r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from these model t e s t s would guaran-
tee a safety c o e f f i c i e n t . However, comparison between model and p r o t o t y p e
t e s t r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e i r r e s u l t s are c o n v e r t a b l e as w i l l be discussed
i n the next chapter.
The c o n s t r u c t i o n procedures used t o make t h e model m a t t r e s s e s were s i m i -
l a r t o t h e procedures s e t f o r t h i n M a c c a f e r r i l i t e r a t u r e c o v e r i n g construction
o f reno m a t t r e s s e s . The base, s i d e s and ends o f each m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n were
made from a s i n g l e panel o f w i r e mesh. Seventeen-gage salvage w i r e s were
woven i n t o t h e e x t e r n a l edges t o help s t i f f e n and s t r e n g t h e n t h e m a t t r e s s sec-
tion. Each f i v e - f o o t m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n was then d i v i d e d i n t o compartments by
adding diaphragm s e c t i o n s a t o n e - f o o t i n t e r v a l s . Diaphragms were secured t o
b o t h t h e sides and base w i t h 19-gage w i r e . F o l l o w i n g assembly o f the i n d i v i -
dual s e c t i o n s , t h e 16 m a t t r e s s u n i t s were placed i n p o s i t i o n i n t h e flume and
l a c e d t o g e t h e r t o form a s i n g l e m o n o l i t h i c revetment l a y e r e i g h t f e e t wide and
20 f e e t l o n g . A schematic view o f t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t s e c t i o n i n t h e 8-foot
flume i s shown i n F i g u r e 3 . 2 . For t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t i n g i n the 4 - f o o t f l u m e ,
e i g h t m a t t r e s s u n i t s were placed i n p o s i t i o n as shown i n F i g u r e 3 . 3 . All
a d j o i n i n g edges were t i e d t o g e t h e r u s i n g 19-gage w i r e which was passed through
each mesh opening i n t u r n u s i n g a double t u r n o f w i r e a t a l t e r n a t e mesh
openings.

Fill m a t e r i a l s were o b t a i n e d from an aggregate s u p p l i e r and c o n t a i n e d

g r a v e l and crushed rocks t h a t had been screened t o s i z e s o f 1 t o 1-1/2 inches,
1-1/2 t o 2 i n c h e s , and 2 t o 2 - 1 / 2 i n c h e s . These d i f f e r e n t s i z e s o f rocks were
u t i l i z e d to f i l l d i f f e r e n t types o f m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s as g i v e n i n Table
3 . 2 , a c c o r d i n g t o a 1:3 s e a l i n g r a t i o o f t h e s p e c i f i e d rock ranges r e q u i r e d
f o r the f u l l - s c a l e mattresses.
F o l l o w i n g f i l l i n g o f t h e m a t t r e s s u n i t s , 1 i d s were w i r e d down t o the top
edges o f a l l s i d e s as w e l l as t o the i n t e r n a l diaphragms. The w i r e lacing
method used t o a t t a c h t h e 1 i d s was as p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d w i t h a double t u r n
o f w i r e made a t every second mesh.
 /Ay yj^jEj

8' r/LT/A/G nU/^BT

Figure 3.2. Plan view o f s c a l e model m a t t r e s s configuration.

 TAIH-^ATER. CONTROL.
CEMt<trl>

NOT TO SCAUS-

MATTRESS MODEL SETUP

IN THE:

4' TILTING, FLUME

F i g u r G 3.3. Plan view o f scale-model mattress c o n f i g u r a t i o n i n the 4-foot flume.

 3.8

The reno m a t t r e s s e s were placed over a s a n d / f i l t e r c l o t h base l a y e r . The

base l a y e r c o n s i s t e d o f a 0.5 mm sand l a y e r o v e r l a i n by DuPont Typar S t y l e
3401 nonwoven f i l t e r fabric. T h i s f a b r i c have the f o l l o w i n g specifications:
2
w e i g h t = 4 . 0 o z / y d ; t h i c k n e s s = 15 m i l s ; p e r m e a b i l i t y = 0.03 cm/sec; and
e q u i v a l e n t opening s i z e = 70 t o 100 U.S. S t d . S i e v e . The base sand was w e t t e d
and compacted w i t h a r o l l e r p r i o r t o i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h e f i l t e r f a b r i c . Edges
o f the f a b r i c were secured t o n a i l i n g s t r i p s on the flume s i d e w a l l s . I f a seam
was r e q u i r e d , t h i s seam was made by o v e r l a p p i n g the upstream p i e c e of fabric
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1.5 f e e t on the lower p i e c e . Cement was used t o bond the
o v e r l a p p e d f a b r i c pieces together.
To p r o v i d e some i n d i c a t i o n o f rock movement wi t h i n m a t t r e s s diaphragms,
t h e s u r f a c e l a y e r of rock i n a l t e r n a t i v e m a t t r e s s diaphragm s e c t i o n s were
p a i n t e d w i t h red spray p a i n t (see F i g u r e s 3.4 and 3 . 5 ) . T h i s procedure p r o -
v i d e d a means whereby rock s t a b i l i t y c o u l d be i n s p e c t e d and q u a l i t a t i v e l y
assessed p r i o r t o and f o l l o w i n g t e s t r u n s . A 35 mm camera f i t t e d w i t h a w i d e -
angle l e n s was u t i l i z e d t o take photographs o f t h e e n t i r e m a t t r e s s following
t e s t s where rock movement was v i s i b l e .
As i n d i c a t e d i n Table 3 . 2 , Test E conducted i n the f o u r - f o o t flume was
designed f o r e v a l u a t i n g the e f f e c t s o f sand a s p h a l t mastic g r o u t i n g on s t a b i -
1 i t y o f reno m a t t r e s s e s . Because o f the scale r e d u c t i o n , i t was necessary to
p r e p a r e a s u i t a b l e mix of the sand a s p h a l t m a s t i c t o g r o u t the reno m a t t r e s s
models d i f f e r e n t from t h a t used f o r those i n f u l l scale. T h i s s p e c i a l mix
was s a i d t o have c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o those o b t a i n e d i n f u l l scale
b o t h as r e g a r d t o the p u r a b i l i t y and c o n s o l i d a t i o n . The m i x t u r e s f o r the
models and f o r t h e p r o t o t y p e were:
Model Prototype

Sand 50% 66-73%

Filler 29% 12-16%

Bi tumen 21% 15-18%

The f o l l o w i n g l a b o r a t o r y analyses were conducted t o e v a l u a t e t h e p r o p e r -

t i e s o f the sand a s p h a l t m a s t i c m i x t u r e :

A. Sand s i e v e analysis:

ASTM Sieve No. Percent Finer

10 (2 mm) 100
40 ( 0 . 4 2 mm) 86
 3.9

Figure 3 . 4 . Overview o f 8 - f o o t t i l t i n g flume

t e s t setup.
 3.10

Figure 3.5. Overview o f the 4 - f o o t t i l t i n g flume t e s t setup.

 3.11

80 (0.177 mm) 6

200 (0.074 mm) 1

B. F i l l e r Sieve a n a l y s i s :

ASTM Sieve No. Percent Finer

80 (0.177 mm) 100

200 (0.074 mm) 96

C. Flow s t a b i l i t y on 1:3 i n c l i n e d p l a n e :
A f t e r f o u r hours a t 30C, down f l o w 3 mm.
A f t e r f o u r hours a t 4 0 " C , down f l ow 4 mm.

D. Flow s t a b i l i t y on 1:15 i n c l i n e d p l a n e :
A f t e r one hour a t 70"C5 down f l o w 43 mm.
A f t e r t h r e e hours a t 70"C, down f l o w 100 mm.

E. Bitumen p e n e t r a t i o n t e s t :
The Dow p e n e t r a t i o n a t 25"C was 82 pen.

F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e m a s t i c g r o u t e d gabions and reno

m a t t r e s s e s can be o b t a i n e d from M a c c a f e r r i Gabions (see r e f e r e n c e s ) .
For T e s t E, t h e M o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s were prepared and i n s t a l l e d u s i n g
t h e procedures d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r . The mix o f t h e sand a s p h a l t mastic was
poured a t a temperature o f 175"C i n such a q u a n t i t y as t o f i l 1 70 p e r c e n t o f
t h e v o i d s o f the m a t t r e s s . The v o i d s were 40 t o 45 p e r c e n t o f t h e total
m a t t r e s s volume. T h i s o p e r a t i o n was r e f e r r e d t o as " s u r f a c e grouting."
F i g u r e 3.6 shows t h e m o d e l - s c a l e reno m a t t r e s s e s g r o u t e d w i t h t h e sand a s p h a l t
mastic mixture. Another t y p e o f g r o u t i n g was c a l l e d "complete p e n e t r a t i o n "
w h i c h needs a q u a n t i t y of m a s t i c t o f i l l t h e v o i d s t o about one t o two cm
above r o c k surface.
To p r o v i d e a smooth t r a n s i t i o n o f f l o w t o and from t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t sec-
tion, s t a b i l i z e d s e c t i o n s were c o n s t r u c t e d both upstream and downstream o f the
test section. T r a n s i t i o n s e c t i o n s were c o n s t r u c t e d by g r o u t i n g g r a v e l and
rock i n p l a c e . These s t a b i l i z e d s e c t i o n s extended f o r a d i s t a n c e o f a p p r o x i -
m a t e l y 30 f e e t above and below t h e model t e s t s e c t i o n (see F i g u r e 3 . 1 ) .
A n c h o r i n g o f t h e upstream edge o f the model m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n s was accomplished
s e c u r i n g a 1/4 x 3 i n c h s t e e l p l a t e t o t h e f l o o r p e r p e n d i c u a r t o the a x i s o f
the flume. The upstream edge of t h e f i r s t m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n s were then wi r e d
to this plate.
 3.12

Figure 3 . 6 . Model - s c a l e reno m a t t r e s s e s g r o u t e d w i t h t h e sand

asphalt mastic.
 3.13

3.2.2 Instrumentation
A d j u s t m e n t and Measurement o f Discharge
The t h r e e a v a i l a b l e pumps were used e i t h e r s i n g l y o r i n c o m b i n a t i o n t o
produce t h e r e q u i r e d f l o w r a t e f o r each t e s t c o n d i t i o n . Rates o f f l o w p r o -
v i d e d by each pump t o t h e flume headbox were e v a l u a t e d from d e r i v e d r e l a -
t i o n s h i p s f o r d i s c h a r g e as a f u n c t i o n o f head d i f f e r e n t i a l , Ah, across ori-
f i c e p l a t e s l o c a t e d i n t h e supply l i n e s on a l l pumps. Manometers were u t i -
l i z e d t o determine t h e head d i f f e r e n t i a l s , which were then I n p u t t o t h e
f o l l o w i n g discharge relationships:

Pump #1 Q = 18.0 (Ah)^/^ (3.1)

Pump #2 Q = 12.8 (Ah)^'^^

1/2
Pump #3 W = 5.17 (Ah) '
where Ah Is in f e e t of water. Pump d i s c h a r g e r a t e s were r e g u l a t e d by
a d j u s t i n g 1n-l1rie b u t t e r f l y v a l v e s u n t i l the desired t o t a l f l o w r a t e was
achieved.

R e g u l a t i o n o f Depth and Measurement o f E l e v a t i o n and V e l o c i t y

Depth o f f l o w under s u b c r i t i c a l f l o w c o n d i t i o n (F < 1) was a d j u s t e d by
means o f a s l u i c e gate l o c a t e d a t t h e downstream end o f t h e f l u m e . For
supercritical f l o w c o n d i t i o n s (F > 1) depth o f f l o w was determined by t h e
d i s c h a r g e , s l o p e , and bed roughness, t h e downstream s l u i c e gate being used t o
r e g u l a t e f l o w i n t o t h e flume t a i l box.
A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f each t e s t r u n , t h e t a i l w a t e r gate was o p e r a t e d i n a
manner t h a t produced a depth o f f l o w w e l l above t h e u n i f o r m f l o w depth f o r the
given c o n d i t i o n s . By a d j u s t i n g t h e t a i l w a t e r g a t e , depth was then reduced t o
t h e p o i n t where the d e s i r e d u n i f o r m f l o w depth o c c u r r e d w i t h i n the t e s t sec-
tion. T h i s o p e r a t i o n I n s u r e d t h a t no rock movement would be p r e c i p i t a t e d by
nonuniform flow c o n d i t i o n s during s t a r t u p .
A p o i n t gage was u t i l i z e d t o measure w a t e r and bed s u r f a c e e l e v a t i o n s .
V e l o c i t y was measured u s i n g an O t t p r o p e l l e r - t y p e v e l o c i t y meter.
 3.14

Pressure Instrumentation
Measurement o f v e r t i c a l pressure f l u c t u a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t u r b u l e n c e
i n a moving f l u i d can be a c c u r a t e l y determined u s i n g p r e s s u r e transducers.
For t e s t i n g o f scale-model r e v e t m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n s , a d i f f e r e n t i a l pressure
t r a n s d u c e r w i t h a 1.0 p s i diaphragm was used. A Pace model CD-25 s i g n a l con-
d i t i o n e r and a Thermo Time Systems ( T S I ) model 1076 t r u e root-mean square
(RMS) v o l t m e t e r comprised t h e readout d e v i c e .
C a l i b r a t i o n o f t h e p r e s s u r e t r a n s d u c e r was accomplished w i t h a d i f f e r e n -
tial manometer. The c a l i b r a t i o n procedure c o n s i s t e d o f a p p l y i n g varying
amounts o f d i f f e r e n t i a l head. Ah, t o the t r a n s d u c e r and then r e c o r d i n g t h e
v o l t a g e produced by t h e d e f l e c t e d diaphragm. A curve f i t using the least
squares t e c h n i q u e on a programmable c a l c u l a t o r p r o v i d e d a l i n e a r equation
relating Ah t o v o l t a g e i n t h e form

V = A (Ah)

where V i s t h e v o l t a g e produced by t h e d e f l e c t e d t r a n s d u c e r diaphragm. Ah

i s t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l head c a u s i n g t h e d e f l e c t i o n , and A i s the c a l i b r a t i o n
constant. F i g u r e 3.7 g i v e s the c a l i b r a t i o n curve f o r the 1.0 p s i transducer
diaphragm.
A f t e r t h e pressure t r a n s d u c e r c a l i b r a t i o n had been c o m p l e t e d , i t was
mounted on t h e flume w a l l and s e t up t o measure t h e pressure fluctuations
w i t h i n t h e gabion m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n . One s i d e o f the t r a n s d u c e r was connected
v i a a v a l v e m a n i f o l d t o t h r e e l e n g t h s o f 0.25 inch diameter copper tubing.
These l e n g t h s o f t u b i n g were p l a c e d a l o n g t h e c e n t e r 1 i n e o f the m a t t r e s s sec-
t i o n and w i r e d down when t h e m a t t r e s s l i d s were i n s t a l l e d d u r i n g m a t t r e s s
construction. P r i o r t o i n s t a l l a t i o n , t h e end o f each piece o f t u b i n g was
s e a l e d and numerous holes were d r i l l e d through the t u b i n g s i d e w a l I s . This
o p e r a t i o n was necessary so t h e t u b i n g would t r a n s m i t a p r e s s u r e intensity
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h f l u c t u a t i o n s i n t h e s t a t i c head, e x c l u d i n g s t a g n a t i o n pressure
i n t e n s i t y associated w i t h the flow v e l o c i t y . The t u b i n g was t e r m i n a t e d a t
f i v e - f o o t i n t e r v a l s , making i t p o s s i b l e t o o b t a i n pressure r e a d i n g s a t the
m i d p o i n t o f the m a t t r e s s s e c t i o n and a t p o i n t s f i v e f e e t from the upstream and
downstream ends.
The o t h e r s i d e o f the pressure t r a n s d u c e r was c o n n e c t e d , again v i a a
v a l v e m a n i f o l d n e t w o r k , t o t h r e e pressure t a p s d r i l l e d i n t h e p l e x i g l a s s flume
sidewalls. L o c a t i o n s o f the sidewal1 taps corresponded t o t e r m i n u s locations
o f t h e copper t u b i n g w i t h i n the f l u m e . A s t i l 1 i n g wel 1 was placed i n 1Ine
8 r

O I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DIFFERENTIAL HEAD, A h (inches)

Figure 3 . 7 . Pressure t r a n s d u c e r c a l i b r a t i o n relationship.

 3.16

w i t h t h e copper t u b i n g from t h e s i d e w a l ! t a p s t o damp o u t any f l u c t u a t i n g com-

ponent o f p r e s s u r e . I n t h i s manner, t h e t r a n s d u c e r p r o v i d e d an i n d i c a t i o n o f
t h e t u r b u l e n c e r e l a t i v e t o t h e mean depth o f f l o w . F i g u r e 3.8 i s a schematic
view o f the v a l v e m a n i f o l d network f o r c o n n e c t i n g t h e transducer.

3.2.3 T e s t Procedure
Tasks a s s o c i a t e d w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n f o r each t e s t run c o n s i s t e d o f setting
t h e s l o p e o f the f l u m e , b a l a n c i n g o r z e r o i n g I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n , d e f i n i n g pre-run
c o n d i t i o n s t h r o u g h o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d / o r p h o t o g r a p h s , and e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e
desired flow conditions i n the flume. F i g u r e 3.9 shows a view o f t h e 4 - f o o t
flume run f o r Q=50 c f s and F i g u r e 3.10 shows a view o f t h e e i g h t - f o o t flume
run f o r Q=95 c f s .
Once t h e d e s i r e d f l o w c o n d i t i o n s o r terms o f d i s c h a r g e , depth and v e l o -
c i t y had been e s t a b ! i s h e d , data c o l l e c t i o n was u n d e r t a k e n . Depth and v e l o c i t y
data were c o l l e c t e d a t t h r e e c r o s s s e c t i o n s I n t h e scale-model m a t t r e s s test
section. The l o c a t i o n o f these c r o s s s e c t i o n s corresponded w i t h t h e positions
o f t h e pressure t a p s . Depth o f f l o w was determined u s i n g a s t e e l p o i n t gage.
T h i s q u a n t i t y ( d e p t h ) was then used t o e s t a b ! I s h v e r t i c a l placement o f the
c u r r e n t meter i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n an average f l o w v e l o c i t y . For depths o f f l o w
g r e a t e r than one f o o t , v e l o c i t y r e a d i n g s were taken a t 0.2 and 0.8 t i m e s t h e
depth w i t h an O t t p r o p e l l e r - t y p e c u r r e n t m e t e r . V e l o c i t y measurements were
taken a t 0.6 times t h e depth when t o t a l depth was one f o o t o r l e s s . A t each
c r o s s s e c t i o n v e l o c i t y was measured a t t h e c e n t e r ! I n e .

C o l l e c t i o n o f pressure data c o n s i s t e d o f a d j u s t i n g t h e m a n i f o l d network

t o I s o l a t e t h e pressure tap a t one c r o s s s e c t i o n , and then r e c o r d i n g t h e RMS
voltage signal r e s u l t i n g from d e f l e c t i o n o f t h e t r a n s d u c e r diaphragm.
A f t e r c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e data c o l l e c t i o n , the pumps were s h u t down and the
flume was a l l o w e d t o d r a i n . M a t t r e s s s e c t i o n s were s c r u t i n i z e d t o identify
any s i g n i f i c a n t rock movement. Photographs were taken t o document t h e o c c u r -
rence o f any a p p r e c i a b l e s h i f t i n g o f rock w i t h i n the model m a t t r e s s e s .
I n summary, s e q u e n t i a l steps o c c u r r i n g p r i o r t o , d u r i n g , and a f t e r a t e s t
run i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g :

Pre-Run

1. Set flume slope

2. E s t a b ! i s h pre-run c o n d i t i o n s v i a observations and/or photographs.

Ll-Z
 3.18

Figure 3 . 9 . A view o f 4 - f o o t flume run

f o r Q = 50 c f s .
 3.19

Figure 3.10. A view o f 8 - f o o t flume r u n .

 3.20

3. Balance pressure t r a n s d u c e r , zero c h a r t recorder.

Run

1. A t t a i n d e s i r e d f l o w c o n d i t i o n s , d i s c h a r g e and d e p t h , through a d j u s t m e n t
o f pumps.

a. Determine t o t a l d i c h a r g e from d i f f e r e n t i a l manometer r e a d i n g s u s i n g

known pump d i s c h a r g e r e l a t i o n s h i p s .

b. Measure w a t e r - s u r f a c e e l e v a t i o n s on t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t s e c t i o n u s i n g
a p o i n t gage t o determine w a t e r - s u r f a c e s l o p e , water depth and u n i -
f o r m i t y of flow c o n d i t i o n s .

2. Measure average v e l o c i t y u s i n g a O t t c u r r e n t meter a t t h e flume c e n t e r -

1 i n e . Take measurements a t t h r e e c r o s s s e c t i o n s l o c a t e d f i v e f e e t from
t h e upstream and downstream ends, and i n t h e c e n t e r o f the m a t t r e s s t e s t
section.

3. Col 1ect t r a n s d u c e r DC v o l t a g e s i g n a l data.

4. Measure t r a n s d u c e r RMS v o l t a g e s i g n a l u s i n g TSI t r u e RMS m e t e r .

5. P l o t transducer voltage signal output using single-channel chart

recorder.

Post-Run

1. Shut down pump system and d r a i n f l u m e .

2. S c r u t i n i z e m a t t r e s s e s f o r rock movement, d e f o r m a t i o n o f w i r e b a s k e t s , o r
any o t h e r changes r e s u l t i n g from t h e completed t e s t r u n .

3. Take photographs t o document any s i g n i f i c a n t changes observed i n t h e

model r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s .

4. Prepare f o r n e x t r u n .

3.2.4 T e s t C o n d i t i o n s and Data C o l l e c t e d i n t h e 8 - F o o t Flume

T a b l e 3.3 i n d i c a t e s the range o f h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e 8 - f o o t flume
t o which s c a l e model r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s were s u b j e c t e d . Only t h e s c a l e d 9 - i n c h
m a t t r e s s e s were t e s t e d i n t h e 8 - f o o t f l u m e . The c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f these
m a t t r e s s u n i t s are d e s c r i b e d i n Table 3 . 2 . S t a t i o n numbers i n Table 3.3 indi-
c a t e t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n w i t h i n the m a t t r e s s t e s t s e c t i o n where data
were c o l l e c t e d . S t a t i o n 1 was l o c a t e d f i v e f e e t above the downstream end o f
t h e t e s t s e c t i o n . S t a t i o n 2 c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e m i d p o i n t , and S t a t i o n 3 was
l o c a t e d f i v e f e e t from t h e upstream end. These l o c a t i o n s c o i n c i d e d w i t h loca-
t i o n s o f pressure taps p l a c e d w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s rock fill.
 3.21

Table 3 . 3 . Scale-Model M a t t r e s s Test Data

i n t h e 8 - F o o t Flume.

RMS
Pressure
Flow
Run Rate Depth Flume Velocity Froude
No. Station (cfs) (ft) Slope (fps) Number (psf)

1 1 20.8 0.86 3.30 0.62

2 20.8 0.70 0.0172 3.65 0.77 1.53
3 20.8 0.49 5.28 1.33

2 1 1.20 4.10 0.66

2 37.8 1.15 0.0069 4.24 0.70 1.06
3 1.11 4.29 0.72

3 1 1.58 4.45 0.62

2 56.7 1.59 0.0040 4.43 0.62 1 e 35
3 1.60 4.35 0.61

4 1 2.19 4.77 0.57

2 75.4 2.23 0.0015 4.74 0.56 3.03
3 2.26 4.76 0.56

5 1 2.17 5.80 0.69

2 91.0 2.24 0.0040 5.68 0.67 4.37
3 2.26 5.62 0.66

6 1 1.78 5.59 0.74

2 68.3 1.83 0.0059 5.52 0.72 4.02
3 1.82 5.61 0.73

7 1 1.12 5.34 0.89

2 46.5 1,09 0.0102 5.58 0.94 2.88
3 1.00 6.23 1.10

8 1 0.60 5.15 1.17

2 27.6 0.60 0.0201 5.38 1.22 2.55
3 0.62 5.80 1.30

9 1 1.82 6.31 0.82

2 80.1 1.83 0.0079 6.47 0.84 2.90
3 1.83 6.71 0.87

10 1 1.04 6.83 1.18

2 53.2 0.99 0.0135 7.22 1.28 2.65
3 1.01 7.27 1.27
 3.22

Table 3 . 3 . continued

RMS
Pressure
Flow ^
Run Rate Depth Flume Velocity Froude /p"^
No. Station (cfs) (ft) Slope (fps) Number (psf)

11 1 1.60 8.05 1.12

2 93.1 1.52 0.0118 8.50 1.21 3.18
3 1.56 8.63 1.22

12 1 1.14 9.13 1.51

2 65.2 1.14 0.0203 9.00 1.49 4.07
3 1.16 8.95 1.46

13 1 1.45 8.54 1.25

2 94.1 1.46 0.0159 8.67 1.26 5.76
3 1.46 8.77 1.28

14 1 1.39 9.86 1.47

2 94.6 1.39 0.0199 9.73 1.45 5.97
3 1.41 9.86 1.46
 3.23

The a n a l y s i s o f data was performed u t i l i z i n g the f o l l o w i n g e q u a t i o n s and

methods. Froude number i s c a l c u l a t e d from Equation 3.2 Introduced previously.

F = (3.2)
/gD

where V i s the mean v e l o c i t y , D i s the depth and g i s the g r a v i t a t i o n a l

acceleration. Computed values o f the Froude number are I n c l u d e d i n Table 3.3.
The Manning e q u a t i o n i s a commonly used r e l a t i o n s h i p t o approximate the
average v e l o c i t y i n open c h a n n e l s . In E n g l i s h u n i t s the e q u a t i o n is

, - R2/3 13.3)

where V i s the average v e l o c i t y , R i s the hydraulic r a d i u s , S is the

s l o p e , and n i s d e f i n e d as the Manning roughness c o e f f i c i e n t w i t h the dimen-
sion \}^^ . To c a l c u l a t e Manning's roughness f a c t o r , n, the d i f f e r e n c e be-
tween t h e smooth' flume w a l l s and the rough bed should be c o n s i d e r e d . The
f o l l o w i n g e v a l u a t i o n o f r e s i s t a n c e t o f l o w i n t h e e i g h t - f o o t t i l t i n g flume a t
CSU i s o b t a i n e d from F i u z a t , Chen and Simons (1982). The f l o w cross-sectional
area i n t h i s case i s d i v i d e d i n t o two p a r t s , and where r e s i s t a n c e t o
f l o w i s caused by the bed and the w a l l s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . I t i s assumed t h a t the
mean v e l o c i t y and energy g r a d i e n t are t h e same f o r A^^ and A^ and Manning's
e q u a t i o n can be a p p l i e d t o each p a r t o f the cross s e c t i o n as w e l l as t o the
whole, i.e.,

vi (Mi R2/3)2 , 1 ^ ^^2/3)2 ^ | M i R^2/3)' ,3.4,

b w

where t h e s u b s c r i p t s b and w stand f o r bed and w a l l , r e s p e c t i v e l y . Equa-

t i o n 3.4 can be s i m p l i f i e d to

R "^b '^w
(3.5)

Using R = A/P, where A i s area and P denotes w e t t e d p e r i m e t e r , Equation

3.5 becomes

b _ w
(3.6)
b b w w

or
 3.24

\ ' " w ' ' ' "J - \, ( " b ' ^ ' Pb> (3.7)

It i s known t h a t A = A^^ + A^, or = A - A^, so

* Pw' - \ Pw> = \ Pb'

Equations 3.6 i n d i c a t e that

n 3/2p
w w ^ , 3/2 p (3.9)
^w

S u b s t i t u t i n g Equation 3.9 i n t o Equation 3 . 8 ,

" - ^ ^ - b ^ ' ^ Pb '3-10)

I n Equation 3 . 1 0 , n and P are t h e o v e r a l l Manning's n and w e t t e d p e r i -

meter o f t h e f l u m e , t h a t r e p r e s e n t t h e combined e f f e c t of both the w a l l s and
t h e bed. For a flume w i d t h W and f l o w depth D,
P = W + 2D (3.11)

" = ^ 'wfjD'''' '3-12)

and

P^^ = 2D (3.13)

Pb = W (3.14)

Knowing t h a t t h e flume i s b u i l t o u t o f smooth p a i n t e d metal and P l e x i g l a s ,

(Chow, 1959, pp. 110-111)

= 0.012 (3.15)
 3.25

The flume w i d t h i s 8.0 f t . S u b s t i t u t i n g these v a l u e s and u s i n g Equations 3.13

and 3 . 1 4 , i n Equation 3.10

n^/2 P = ( 0 . 0 1 2 ) ^ / 2 (2D) + n^''^ (8)

and s o l v i n g f o r n^

where n and P are determined by Equations 3.11 and 3 . 1 2 , o r

P = 8 + 2D (3.17)

" ^ '3.18,

Using average values o f v e l o c i t y , d e p t h , and slope f o r each t e s t r u n . Equation

3 . 1 8 was used t o compute o v e r a l l Manning roughness c o e f f i c i e n t , n, values.
Computed values are shown i n Table 3 . 4 . The average v a l u e o f n for all the
t e s t runs i s 0 . 0 2 2 . Equation 3.16 was then used t o c a l c u l a t e Manning r o u g h -
ness f a c t o r s , n^, f o r t h e model m a t t r e s s s u r f a c e . These values are a l s o
i n c l u d e d i n Table 3 . 4 . The average v a l u e o f n^ i s 0.025.
Turbulence pressure data o b t a i n e d from t h e pressure taps s i t u a t e d w i t h i n
t h e r e v e t m a t t r e s s l a y e r were used t o compute the degree o r i n t e n s i t y o f tur-
bulence pressure d e f i n e d as

1 ^ (3.19)
P

where t h e numerator i s t h e root-mean-square (RMS) pressure I n t e n s i t y from

Table 3 . 3 . RMS i s a measure o f the magnitude o f t u r b u l e n c e p r e s s u r e . The
quantity P I s the mean p r e s s u r e i n t e n s i t y r e l a t e d t o the depth o f flow.
Computed values f o r t h e t u r b u l e n t pressure i n t e n s i t y are i n c l u d e d i n Table
3.4. F i g u r e 3.11 shows t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e degree o f turbulence
p r e s s u r e and Froude number.
 3.26

Table 3 . 4 . Manning's Roughness C o e f f i c i e n t f o r t h e Model-Scale

M a t t r e s s e s T e s t s Conducted i n t h e 8 - F o o t Flume.

Manning's Roughness
Coefficients
Overall Bed
Run n
"b F

1 0.021 0.023 0.032

2 0.021 0.024 0.013
3 0.023 0.025 0.013
4 0.015 0.027 0.021
5 0.021 0.027 0.030
6 0.024 0.026 0,033
7 0.023 0.024 0.038
8 0.025 0.023 0.056
9 0.024 0.026 0.024
10 0.021 0.024 0.037
11 0.021 0.025 0.030
12 0.022 0.024 0.051
13 0.023 0.025 0.058
14 0.022 0.025 0.063
= 0.022 jj = 0.025
Figure 3 . 1 1 . T u r b u l e n t Pressure I n t e n s i t y versus Froude Number.
 3.28

3.2.5 T e s t C o n d i t i o n s and Data C o l l e c t e d i n t h e 4 - F o o t Flume

T a b l e 3.5 i n d i c a t e s t h e range o f h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e 4 - f o o t flume
t o which s c a l e model r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s were s u b j e c t e d . The c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of
t h e v a r i o u s m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d are d e s c r i b e d i n Table 3 . 2 . In Table 3 . 5 , the
shear s t r e s s T i s computed by

T = YRJJS (3.20)

where y i s the u n i t w e i g h t o f w a t e r , R^^ I s the hydraul i c r a d i u s due t o bed

roughness determined u s i n g Equation 3.5 and S i s t h e f r i c t i o n slope which i s
assumed equal t o t h e flume s l o p e . The S h i e l d s parameter i s computed by

where i s the u n i t w e i g h t o f rocks and d^ i s the median s i z e o f rocks

g1 ven i n Table 3 . 2 . The bed roughness c o e f f i c i e n t n^ i s computed u s i n g the
same method d e s c r i b e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n except t h a t t h e top w i d t h
W=4 f t . The r e s u l t i n g e q u a t i o n f o r computing n^^ is then

n, = [ " ' ^ ' P-(0.012)^/^ (2D)j2/3 (3.22)

where P = 4 + 2D.

3.3 F u l l - s i z e M a t t r e s s T e s t Program
3.3.1 Test F a c i l i t i e s
F i g u r e 3.12 shows t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l setup used t o t e s t prototype
mattresses. The t e s t f a c i l i t i e s c o n s i s t o f a flume seven f e e t w i d e , f o u r feet
h i g h , and 75 f e e t l o n g s i t u a t e d on a 13 p e r c e n t s l o p e . T h i s flume was reduced
t o s i x - f e e t wide f o r t e s t i n g t h e n i n e - i n c h t h i c k m a t t r e s s e s . Water is
s u p p l i e d t o the flume from H o r s e t o o t h R e s e r v o i r v i a a 3 6 - i n c h diameter p i p e .
The d i s c h a r g e c a p a c i t y i s about 100 c f s . A nozzle was designed and f a b r i c a t e d
t o d i s c h a r g e water t o t h e flume d i r e c t l y from t h e 3 6 - i n c h supply p i p e . The
bottom edge o f the nozzle c o i n c i d e s w i t h t h e upper edge o f a c o n c r e t e tran-
sition section. This t e s t i n g system c o u l d generate v e l o c i t i e s i n excess o f 20
fps w i t h i n the t e s t s e c t i o n . R e g u l a t i o n o f t h e d i s c h a r g e was accomplished
t h r o u g h o p e r a t i o n o f a v a l v e l o c a t e d a t t h e head o f t h e f l u m e . A annubar
l o c a t e d i n the supply l i n e i s u t i l i z e d t o measure t h e f l o w r a t e . Two-way
r a d i o s help c o o r d i n a t e f l o w r e g u l a t i o n and data c o l l e c t i o n e f f o r t s .
 3.29

Table 3 . 5 a . Run Sequence f o r T e s t A

6-Inch Mattress.

Total Flume Shear Shields Froude Bed

Discharge Depth Slope Velocity Stress Parameter Number Roughness
Q, cfs D.ft S, f t / f t V, f p s T , psf F n.

53 2.15 0.004 7.10 0.532 0.044 0.86 --

70 2.59 0.004 7.37 0.646 0.053 0.81

55* 1.82 0.01 8.67 1.136 0.094 1.13 0.0199

72 2.10 0.01 9.02 1.310 0.108 1.10 0.0208

85 2.43 0.01 9.72 1.516 0.125 1.10 0,0205

71 i.ae 0.02 10.84 2.321 0.192 1.40 0.0243

91 2.14 0.02 11.49 2.671 0.221 1.38 0.0247

* F l o w c o n d i t i o n a t which movement o f f i l l i n g r o c k s was f i r s t o b s e r v e d .

 3.30

Table 3 . 5 b . Run Sequence f o r Test B

9-Inch Mattress.

Total Flume Shear Shields Froude Bed

Discharge Depth Slope Velocity Stress Parameter Number Roughness
Q, cfs D,ft S, f t / f t V, f p s T, psf F
%

50 2.06 0.004 6.27 0.514 0.042 0.77

70 2.61 0.004 7.51 0.651 0.054 0.82

56* 1.89 0.01 8.58 1.179 0.097 1.10 0.0204

71 2.18 0.01 8.82 1,360 0.112 1.05 0.0215

82 2.29 0.01 9.58 1.429 0.118 1.12 0.0200

86 2.16 0.015 10.65 2.022 0.167 1.28 0.0219

74 1.86 0.02 11.66 2.321 0.192 1.51 0.0226

92 2.18 0.02 11.75 2.721 0.225 1.40 0.0235

*Flow c o n d i t i o n a t which movement o f f i l l i n g rocks was f i r s t observed.

 3.31

Table 3 . 5 c . Run Sequence f o r T e s t C

12-Inch Mattress.

Total Flume Shear Shields Froude Bed

Dlscharge Depth Slope Velocity Stress Parameter Number Roughness
Q, c f s D.ft S, f t / f t V. f p s T, psf c* F
%

50 2.1 0.004 5.92 0.524 0.035 0.72

67 2.6 0.004 8.1 0.65 0.044 0.89

51 1.75 0.01 7.9 1.09 0.074 1.05 0.0218

62 2.0 0.01 8,5 1.25 0.084 1.06 0.0217

81* 2.3 0.01 9.9 1.50 0.101 1.13 0.0205

20 0.85 0.02 7.3 1.06 0.072 1.40 0.0234

66 1.9 0.02 11.3 2,25 0.152 1.48 0.0227

92 2.15 0.02 12.4 2.75 0.186 1.47 0.0223

* F l o w c o n d i t i o n a t which movement o f f i l l i n g rocks was f i r s t observed.

 3.32

Table 3.5cl. Run Sequence f o r T e s t 0

18-Inch Mattress.

Total Fl ume Shear Shields Froude Bed

Discharge Depth Slope Velocity Stress Parameter Number Roughness
Q, c f s D,ft S, f t / f t V, f p s T, psf F
%

72 2.65 0,004 7.12 0.661 0.041 0.77 --

56 1.94 0.01 7.77 1.21 0,075 0.98 0.0227

84* 2.35 0.01 9,56 1.466 0.091 1.10 0.0206

88 2.19 0.015 10.88 2.050 1,27 1.30 0.0215

93 2.10 0.02 11.99 2.621 0.163 1.46 0.0226

* F l o w c o n d i t i o n a t which movement o f f i l l i n g rocks was f i r s t observed.

 3.33

Table 3 . 5 e . Run Sequence f o r T e s t E 6 - I n c h

M a t t r e s s With M a s t i c .

Total Flume Shear Shields Froude Bed

Di scharge Depth Slope Velocity Stress Parameter Number Roughness
Q. cfs D,ft S, f t / f t V, f p s T, psf F
%

55 2.16 0.004 6.71 0.539 0.045 0.80

85 2.36 0.01 9.23 1.473 0.122 1.06 0.0215

93 2.21 0.02 11.80 2.758 0.228 1.40 0.0239

NOTE: No movement o f rocks w i t h i n t h e g r o u t e d m a t t r e s s e s was observed.

 ! r r
1/ I 1 I 1 i
L. 1

It

CO
-Pi

Figure 3.12. Experimental setup f o r p r o t o t y p e M a c c a f e r r i m a t t r e s s tests.

 3.35

Prototype mattress t e s t i n g e n t a i l e d c o n s t r u c t i o n of f u l l - s c a l e wire

m a t t r e s s e s s u p p l i e d by M a c c a f e r r i Gabion. C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f the 6 - i n c h and
9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s which were t e s t e d i n t h e flume are g i v e n i n Table 3 . 2 .
These m a t t r e s s e s were c o n s t r u c t e d by SLA crews u t i l i z i n g normal p r o c e -
d u r e s , as o u t l i n e d i n M a c c a f e r r i 1 i t e r a t u r e c o v e r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n practices
f o r Reno M a t t r e s s e s . F o l l o w i n g assembly o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l u n i t s , mattresses
were p l a c e d t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h o f the outdoor flume (75 f t ) and a l l adjoining
edges were a t t a c h e d as s p e c i f i e d .
Fill m a t e r i a l was s u p p l i e d by a l o c a l q u a r r y . This f i l l rock was com-
posed o f a c o m b i n a t i o n o f l i m e s t o n e and d o l o m i t e . Rock was a n g u l a r to
semiangular i n shape and s p e c i f i e d by t h e s u p p l i e r as t h r e e t o s i x inches
( 7 . 6 - 1 5 . 2 cm) i n d i a m e t e r . Upon f i l l i n g t h e m a t t r e s s e s , however, i t was noted
t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 15 p e r c e n t of t h e rock was o f a s i z e which f e l l below t h i s
t h r e e i n c h diameter minimum. The SLA crew made a t t e m p t s t o p l a c e t h i s smaller
rock i n t h e 1ower p o r t i o n s o f t h e m a t t r e s s and f i l l t h e r e m a i n i n g area w i t h
larger rock. The f i l l i n g o f the m a t t r e s s e s was accomplished w i t h t h e a i d o f a
crane which p l a c e d rock w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s e s . The SLA crew then hand-placed
t h i s rock as noted p r e v i o u s l y t o t h e M a c c a f e r r i s p e c i f i c a t i o n s o f one t o two
inches ( 2 . 5 - 5 . 1 cm) above t h e average m a t t r e s s h e i g h t . This s l i g h t over-
f i l l i n g a l l o w s t h e m a t t r e s s 1 i d s (which are f a b r i c a t e d s l i g h t l y l o n g e r than
the mattress length) to f i t p r o p e r l y and m a t t r e s s m a t e r i a l t o be more tightly
packed. Upon placement o f the f i l l m a t e r i a l , t h e l i d s were s e c u r e l y w i r e d as
specified. The r e v e t mattresses were p l a c e d over a s a n d / f i l t e r base l a y e r .
The base l a y e r was i n s t a l l e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e procedure p r e v i o u s l y described.

3.3.2 Instrumentation
The i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n f o r f u l 1 - s c a l e r e v e t m a t t r e s s t e s t i n g was s e t up so
t h a t s i m i l a r i t y between p r o t o t y p e data and model data would be m a i n t a i n e d
1 n s o f a r as p o s s i b l e . T h i s procedure would f a c i l i t a t e e x t r a p o l a t i o n o f the
scale-model t e s t r e s u l t s t o p r o t o t y p e m a t t r e s s b e h a v i o r . F i g u r e 3.13 shows
t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f pressure probes f o r measuring pressure head p l u s velocity
head d u r i n g t h e 9 - I n c h m a t t r e s s t e s t i n g . T h i r t e e n pressure l i n e s were ini-
tially placed i n t h e r e v e t mattresses and t h e sand l a y e r as i n d i c a t e d . These
1ines were connected t o p i e z o m e t r i c tubes which were backed by s c a l a r paper.
Figure 3.13. Pressure t a p l o c a t i o n diagram f o r t h e 9 - i n c h full-scale
mattress t e s t s .
 3.37

A p i t o t tube was u t i l i z e d t o measure v e l o c i t y i n the outdoor prototype

flume. A differential mercury manometer connected t o t h e p i t o t tube was used
2
t o measure t h e v e l o c i t y head, V /2g, from which f l o w v e l o c i t y was d e t e r -
mined. Discharge was measured u s i n g a c a l i b r a t e d o r i f i c e . Stage and bed e l e -
v a t i o n were measured by u s i n g p o i n t gages. Velocities immediately above and
below m a t t r e s s e s were determined from t h e p i e z o m e t r i c tube readings l e s s t h e
hydrostatic pressures.

3.3.3 Test Conditions

M a t t r e s s e s were p l a c e d over a s a n d / f i l t e r c l o t h base l a y e r . The 6 - i n c h
l a y e r o f sand base was o v e r l a i n by a woven p o l y p r o p l y l e n e f i l t e r fabric. The
base sand was w e t t e d and compacted p r i o r t o t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f the fabric,
which was then a t t a c h e d t o n a i l i n g s t r i p s on t h e flume s i d e w a l l s . Tabel 3.6
shows t h e t e s t c o n d i t i o n s over t h e s i x - i n c h t h i c k m a t t r e s s e s . Tables 3.7 and
3.8 show t h e t e s t sequence f o r t e s t i n g o f t h e 9 - i n c h u n i t s and t h e subsequent
f l o w depths and v e l o c i t i e s r e s u l t i n g from each t e s t d i s c h a r g e . The d i s c h a r g e
w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s was computed by assuming t h a t v e l o c i t y through rock v o i d s
was t w o - t h i r d s t h e v e l o c i t y immediately below t h e m a t t r e s s , and t h a t t h e poro-
s i t y o f t h e rock was 0 . 4 5 . F i g u r e 3.14 shows an o v e r a l l view o f the outdoor
flume d u r i n g a t e s t r u n .

3.3.4 Problems P e r t a i n i n g t o F u l l - S c a l e M a t t r e s s Tests

Because o f extreme h i g h v e l o c i t y and t u r b u l e n c e ( e . g . , see F i g u r e 3 . 1 5 ) ,
s e v e r a l problems were encountered d u r i n g t h e f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s tests:

1. Flow e n t e r i n g t h e flume through the n o z z l e e x e r t e d c o n s i d e r a b l e impact

f o r c e s on t h e r o c k . T h i s caused a s h i f t o f f i l l i n g rock and exposed the
u n d e r l y i n g f i l t e r f a b r i c o f t h e m a t t r e s s u n i t immediately downstream of
t h e nozzle a t a v e l o c i t y o f about 20 f p s . T h i s impact f o r c e i s c o n -
s i d e r a b l y l a r g e r than shear f o r c e t o which m a t t r e s s e s are n o r m a l l y sub-
jected. S p e c i a l design c o n s i d e r a t i o n s should be given when t h e impact
f o r c e i s s i g n i f i c a n t t o a l l e v i a t e the problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e
impact zone below t h e n o z z l e .

2*. The c o m b i n a t i o n o f h i g h v e l o c i t y and r e l a t i v e l y steep slope (13%) caused

p i p i n g o f sand underneath t h e f i l t e r f a b r i c even though the p r o t e c t i v e
m a t t r e s s e s remained s t a b l e . A s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n may be encountered i n
the f i e l d .

3. Because o f t h e extreme t u r b u l e n c e f l o w , t h e water depth i n the flume

c o u l d o n l y be approximated and checked u s i n g a c o n t i n u i t y e q u a t i o n . The
measuring e r r o r c o u l d be on the o r d e r o f 10 p e r c e n t o f a c t u a l v a l u e s .
 3.38

Table 3 . 6 . Test Run Sequence - D i s c h a r g e ,

D e p t h , V e l o c i t y Measurements
f o r the 6 - I n c h F u l l - S c a l e
Mattress Tests.

Total
Discharge V e l o c i t y Depth V e l o c i t y Depth
QJ, cfs V^, f p s D^, f t Vg, f p s Dg. f t

18 7.1 0.30 7.1 0.30

56 15.2 0.47 12.0 0.57

92 19.2 0.60 14.6 0.87

96 20.0 0.60 14.9 0.90

 3.39

Table 3 . 7 . T e s t Run Sequence - D i s c h a r g e , D e p t h , V e l o c i t y

Measurements f o r the 9 - I n c h F u l l - S c a l e
Mattress Tests.

Discharge
Total
Discharge Velocity Depth Velocity Depth M!
QJ, cfs V^, f p s 0^, ft Vg. f p s Dg, f t cfs cfs

18 6.8 0.33 6.8 0.33 13.5 4.5

30 10.8 0,38 10,1 0.43 26.0 4,0

40 12.4 0.42 10.6 0.56 35.6 4.4

60 16.4 0.50 14.2 0.65 55.4 H.D

80 17.4 0.57 13.4 0.94 75.6 4.4

90 19.4 0.57 14.6 0.98 85.8 4.2

 3.40

Table 3 . 8 . Determination of 9 - I n c h Mattress P r o p e r t i e s , Roughness

C o e f f i c i e n t , n^ - Bed Shear S t r e s s , T .
b b

Bed Bed
Total Discharge HydrauIIc Shear
Discharge Average Average Hydraulic Total Bed Radius S t r e s s
Above Velocity Depth Radius Roughness Roughness R. T.
"^Total Mattress D R Coeff. Coeff.
cfs cfs fps ft ft n ft psf
"b

30 26 10.5 0.41 0.361 0.026 0.028 0.403 3.27

40 35.6 11.5 0.52 0.421 0.026 0.028 0.471 3.82

60 55.4 15.3 0.60 0.486 0.022 0.024 0.554 4.49

80 75.6 15.4 0.82 0.606 0.025 0.028 0.719 5.83

90 85.8 17.0 0.84 0.615 0.023 0.026 0.739 5.99

 3.41

Figure 3.14. O v e r a l l view o f outdoor flume

s e t u p . Q = 80 c f s .
 3.42

Figure 3.13. View o f flume i n v i c i n i t y below

n o z z l e f o r Q = 56 c f s .
 4.1

IV. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

4.1 Introduction
The data c o l l e c t e d I n t h e m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s and f u l l - s c a l e mattress
t e s t s were analyzed t o d e t e r m i n e :

1. H y d r a u l i c s o f channels p r o t e c t e d by m a t t r e s s e s .

2. I n c i p i e n t motion c o n d i t i o n s .

3. D e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s e s under h i g h f l o w c o n d i t i o n .

Whenever a p p r o p r i a t e , model and p r o t o t y p e t e s t i n g data were p l o t t e d together

t o e v a l u a t e t h e s i m i l a r i t y o f model and p r o t o t y p e r e s u l t s . I t should be
p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s o f m a t t r e s s t e s t s are l i m i t e d to
n e a r l y normal f l o w over m a t t r e s s beds. Additional t e s t s s h o u l d be conducted
f o r m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n over banks w i t h bend e f f e c t s . The r e s u l t s o f these
additional t e s t s can then be combined w i t h t h e p r e s e n t study t o f o r m u l a t e a
more t h o r o u g h design c r i t e r i a .

4.2 H y d r a u l i c o f M a t t r e s s Channels

The h y d r a u l i c v a r i a b l e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s include:

1. Roughness c o e f f i c i e n t s

2. Velocity distribution

3. R e l a t i o n between shear s t r e s s and v e l o c i t i e s

4. V e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s and f i l t e r Interface.

5. V e l o c i t y a t t h e f i l t e r and s o i l Interface.

6. Pressure variation

4.2.1 Roughness C o e f f i c i e n t s
Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t s were computed f o r a l l the t e s t con-
d i t i o n s u s i n g Equations 3.3 and 3.16 and were t a b u l a t e d i n Tables 3 . 4 , 3.5 and
3.8. A c c o r d i n g t o Meyer-Peter and M u l l e r , t h e s u r f a c e roughness o f a sand-
g r a v e l bed can be r e l a t e d t o a p a r t i c u l a r s i z e o f which 90 p e r c e n t o f par-
ticles i s f i n e r by w e i g h t , dg^ ( i n m e t e r s ) , i.e.,
A 1/6
 4.2

F i g u r e 4 . 1 shows t h e comparison between t h e measured data and the computed

v a l u e s from Equation 4 . 1 . The good agreement i n d i c a t e s t h a t Equation 4 . 1 can
be u t i l i z e d t o compute Manning's n f o r t h e m a t t r e s s .
For t h e 3 - t o 6 - i n c h f i l l i n g rock u t i l i z e d i n t h e 6 - i n c h and 9 - i n c h
mattresses, Dg^ - 5.5 i n c h e s . Then a c c o r d i n g t o Equation 4 . 1 , n = 0 . 0 2 7 5 .
T h i s agrees wel 1 w i t h t h e measured d a t a . For t h e 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s , the
f i l 1 i n g rocks would be 4 - t o 8 - i n c h s i z e w i t h a Dg^ =< 7.5 i n c h e s . The
c o r r e s p o n d i n g Manning's n computed from E q u a t i o n 4 . 1 would be 0 . 0 2 9 2 .
W i t h t h e i n c r e a s e i n f l o w v e l o c i t i e s , r o c k s w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s e s would
be moved downstream t o cause a bed wave f o r m a t i o n . T h i s would s l i g h t l y
i n c r e a s e Manning's n . For example, i f t h e bed e l e v a t i o n d i f f e r e n c e between
t h e h i g h e s t and l o w e s t p o i n t s w i t h i n a diaphragm o f a m a t t r e s s u n i t was equal
t o t h e median s i z e o f t h e f i l l i n g r o c k , t h e Manning's n would be i n c r e a s e d by
about 5 p e r c e n t .

4.2.2 Velocity Distribution

The measured v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r model s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s agree
r e a s o n a b l y w e l l w i t h the l o g v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n . According to Einstein
(Simons and S e n t u r k , 1 9 7 7 ) , f o r h y d r a u l i c rough boundary, t h e v e r t i c a l velo-
c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n can be determined by

^ = 5.75 l o g (12.25 f - ) (4.2)

where u i s t h e t i m e - a v e r a g e d v e l o c i t y a t a depth d, V^ i s t h e shear v e l o -

c i t y o b t a i n e d by / T ^ T P , i s the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e bed roughness approximated

by t h e median s i z e o f f i l 1 i n g r o c k . F i g u r e 4.2 shows the comparison o f some

measured v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h t h a t computed from Equation 4 . 2 .
For average v e l o c i t y ,

J- = 5.75 l o g ( 1 2 . 2 5 ^ ) (4.3)

F i g u r e 4 . 3 compares the measured average v e l o c i t y f o r model s c a l e m a t t r e s s

t e s t s w i t h the values computed from Equation 4 . 3 . The agreement i s r e a s o n -
able. The r e s u l t s o f t h e Manning's n and v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n analyses indi-
c a t e t h a t h y d r a u l i c t h e o r i e s f o r g r a v e l bed open channels are a p p l i c a b l e for
the mattress channels.
 PARTICLE S I Z E , dgo, m

Figure 4 . 1 . Comparison betv^een t h e measured and computed Manning's roughness

coefficient.
 4.4

Figure 4 . 2 . V e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r s e l e c t e d model-
scale mattress t e s t s i n the 4 - f o o t flume.
Figure 4 . 3 . Average v e l o c i t y f o r s e l e c t e d m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s in
the 4 - f o o t flume.
 4.6

4.2.3 R e l a t i o n Between Shear S t r e s s and V e l o c i t i e s

A p p l y i n g Manning's e q u a t i o n , a r e l a t i o n between t h e bed s h e a r , velocity
and h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s can be developed:

^"b V^

'^b

F i g u r e 4 . 4 shows some r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from t h e m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s in

t h e 4 - f o o t f l u m e . The 1ine shown on t h e f i g u r e was determined by assuming
n^ = 0 . 0 2 5 . A good agreement I n d i c a t e s t h e a p p l I c a b i l i t y o f Equation 4 . 4 .
T h i s e q u a t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h a t f o r t h e same v e l o c i t y , shear s t r e s s Increases
w i t h decrease i n h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s o r d e p t h . A l s o shear s t r e s s s t r o n g l y depen-
d e n t on v e l o c i t y and weakly dependent on d e p t h . Because shear s t r e s s i s the
m a j o r f a c t o r t h a t c o n t r o l s t h e s t a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s and r i p r a p , f o r a g i v e n
v e l o c i t y , as depth i s I n c r e a s e d , s t a b i l i t y w i l l be i n c r e a s e d due t o t h e r e d u c -
t i o n i n shear s t r e s s .
A s i m i l a r c o n c l u s i o n was o b t a i n e d based on r i p r a p t e s t s conducted by
Fiuzat, et a l . (1982). F i g u r e 4.5 shows a d e r i v e d r e l a t i o n s h i p between the
median rock s i z e ( d g ^ ) , f l o w depth (D) and t h e Froude Number F f o r Incipient
motion runs. The b e s t - f i t e q u a t i o n t o dg^/D and F^ i s :

= 0.222F- (4.5)

which i s t h e e q u a t i o n o f the 1 i n e i n F i g u r e 4 . 4 . Equation 4 . 5 can be r e w r i t -

ten as:

dgo = 0.222 ^ (4.6)

E q u a t i o n 4.6 shows t h a t f o r a g i v e n v e l o c i t y , as depth i s d e c r e a s e d , mean rock

s i z e must Increase f o r s t a b i l i t y t o be m a i n t a i n e d . Conversely, increasing
depth o f f l o w a l l o w s s m a l l e r rock t o be u t i l i z e d w h i l e s t i l 1 m a i n t a i n i n g s t a -
1/2
b 1 1 1 t y . The s t a b l e ssii z e o f rock i s i n v e r s e l y p r o p o r t i o n a l t o D ' while i t
,3
is proportional to V
O v e r a l l , t h e research o f F i u z a t , Chen and Simons (1982) i n d i c a t e s that
f o r a g i v e n f l o w v e l o c i t y , r i p r a p s t a b i l i t y Increases w i t h i n c r e a s i n g depth
and decreases w i t h d e c r e a s i n g d e p t h . A l s o , v e l o c i t y was found t o be a major
c o n t r o l 1 i n g f a c t o r r e l a t e d t o r i p r a p s t a b i l i t y w h i l e depth was found t o have a
 4.7

Figure 4 . 4 . R e l a t i o n s h i p between shear s t r e s s , velocity

and h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s .
 4.8

Froude Number, F

F i g u r e 4.5. - v s . F r o u d e number (from

F i u z a t , e t a l . 1982).
 4.9

lesser influence. Assuming t h a t m a t t r e s s s t a b i l i t y fol1ows t h e same general

p a t t e r n , t e s t i n g o f p r o t o t y p e r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s under c o n d i t i o n s o f h i g h v e l o -
c i t y and r e l a t i v e l y s h a l l o w depth would c r e a t e a more c r i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n than
would t e s t i n g a t g r e a t e r d e p t h s . A d d i t i o n a l d i s c u s s i o n on s t a b i l i t y of
m a t t r e s s e s w l l 1 be presented i n t h e s e c t i o n on " I n c i p i e n t Motion C o n d i t i o n s , "

4,2,4 V e l o c i t y a t t h e M a t t r e s s and F i l t e r I n t e r f a c e and a t t h e Filter

and S o i l I n t e r f a c e
I n r i p r a p and Reno m a t t r e s s 1 i n i n g s , the t h i c k n e s s and rock s i z e s are
d i c t a t e d by two f a c t o r s , t h e a b i l i t y t o p r e v e n t e r o s i o n o f the base m a t e r i a l s
and t h e a b i l i t y t o r e s i s t movement by t h e c u r r e n t .
The f o r m e r . I n e f f e c t , r e q u i r e s t h e v e l o c i t y o f t h e w a t e r passing through
t h e rock l a y e r t o be n i l (or s u f f i c i e n t l y low t o a v o i d moving s o i l particles)
a t the r o c k / s o i l interface, A t h i n l a y e r can achieve t h i s i f t h e rocks and
t h e r e f o r e t h e v o i d s between them are s m a l l , and i f t h e channel s l o p e i s s m a l l .
W i t h l a r g e r o c k s , t h e v o i d s are l a r g e , and t o o b t a i n t h e necessary reduction
i n water v e l o c i t y , t h e l a y e r must be p r o p o r t i o n a l l y t h i c k e r . However, f o r a
r e l a t i v e l y steep c h a n n e l , t h e water v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r interface
would be m a i n l y dependent on t h e channel s l o p e and opening s i z e o f t h e Inter-
f a c e , because t h e v o i d s between m a t t r e s s r o c k s are s u f f i c i e n t l y l a r g e t o a l l o w
s i g n i f i c a n t f l o w passing t h r o u g h .
Based on t h e m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s i n t h e 4 - f o o t f l u m e , i t was found
t h a t t h e v e l o c i t y immediately underneath t h e m a t t r e s s e s remained somewhat
unchanged r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f l o w c o n d i t i o n s above t h e m a t t r e s s e s and t h e
thickness of mattresses. T h i s s i t u a t i o n i s o n l y t r u e when t h e major f l o w
direction is parallel to the mattress s u r f a c e . T h e r e f o r e , i t was assumed t h a t
Manning's e q u a t i o n was a p p l i c a b l e t o determine t h e v e l o c i t y i n t h e m a t t r e s s
filter interface:

= 1 ^ (4.7)

where Vj^ i s the v e l o c i t y i n the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e , n^ 1s t h e

averaged Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t , and d^^ i s t h e median s i z e o f
f i l l i n g rocks. I t was assumed t h a t t h e h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s approximately
e q u a l l e d o n e - h a l f o f t h e median rock size.
 4.10

Assuming t h a t n^ = 0 . 0 2 , t h e computed r e s u l t s were p l o t t e d on F i g u r e

4 . 6 , comparing w i t h measured data from m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s . The
r e a s o n a b l e agreement i n d i c a t e s t h a t Equation 4.7 i s a p p l i c a b l e t o determine
t h e f l o w v e l o c i t y i n the m a t t r e s s and f i l t e r interface for a parallel flow
condition. However, i f the major f l o w d i r e c t i o n approached t h e m a t t r e s s sur-
f a c e w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t a n g l e , then t h e v a l u e o f Vj^ would be l a r g e r than
t h a t computed from Equation 4.7 because o f a d d i t i o n a l dynamic f l o w force
a c t i n g on t h e m a t t r e s s . T h i s a d d i t i o n a l f o r c e may s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t the
s t a b i l i t y o f base m a t e r i a l underneath t h e f i l t e r fabric.
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e f u l l - s c a l e 9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s t e s t s , the v e l o c i t y under-
neath t h e f i l t e r f a b r i c a t t h e f i l t e r and s o i l interface, V^, depends upon
t h e v e l o c i t y i n m e d i a t e l y above t h e Typar f i l t e r f a b r i c i n an o r d e r of about
1/4 - 1/2 o f V^. For o t h e r f i l t e r f a b r i c s commonly u t i l i z e d f o r channel sta-
b i l i z a t i o n , t h i s v e l o c i t y range i s a l s o about r i g h t . Our e a r l i e r study (Chen,
et al. 1981) r e g a r d i n g performance o f v a r i o u s f i l t e r fabrics indicates that
p e r m e a b i l i t i e s o f these f i l t e r s are n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y d i f f e r e n t t o a f f e c t velo-
c i t y through f i l t e r s unless they are c l o g g e d . For steep c h a n n e l s , could
be on t h e o r d e r o f 4 f p s . Then, c o u l d be on t h e o r d e r o f 2 f p s . This
v e l o c i t y c o u l d be s u f f i c i e n t l y l a r g e t o move base m a t e r i a l even though t h e
m a t t r e s s s t r u c t u r e s remained s t a b l e . In t h i s case, a gravel filter layer that
can e f f e c t i v e l y damp v e l o c i t y may be a b e t t e r way t o p r o t e c t t h e base
material.

4.2.5 Pressure V a r i a t i o n
R e s u l t s from measurement o f t u r b u l e n c e pressure p l o t t e d i n F i g u r e 3.11 for
T~ _
a l l o f t h e t e s t runs i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e value o f /P' / P ( E q u a t i o n 3.19)
never exceeds 0 . 0 8 . In o t h e r words, t u r b u l e n c e pressure r e p r e s e n t e d by the
RMS v a l u e i s never g r e a t e r than e i g h t p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l static pressure
intensity (F). T h i s r e v e a l s t h a t pressures a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t u r b u l e n c e p r o -
b a b l y d i d not have s i g n i f i c a n t d e s t a b i l i z i n g e f f e c t s w i t h i n t h e scale-model
m a t t r e s s e s f o r t h e range of h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s t e s t e d . In a d d i t i o n . Figure
3.11 shows t h a t the t u r b u l e n t pressure i n t e n s i t y decreases w i t h a decrease in
Froude number. T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t f o r the same v e l o c i t y the t u r b u l e n t
p r e s s u r e i n t e n s i t y decreases w i t h i n c r e a s e i n d e p t h , and t h e r e f o r e the
m a t t r e s s i s more s t a b l e w i t h g r e a t e r d e p t h . In general the v e l o c i t y gradient
 4.11

Figure 4 . 6 . Comparison between t h e measured and

computed v e l o c i t y i n t h e m a t t r e s s
and f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e .
 4.12

near t h e bottom i s l a r g e r f o r s h a l l o w d e p t h . Because shear s t r e s s i s propor-

tional t o the v e l o c i t y g r a d i e n t , f l o w drag a c t i n g on t h e m a t t r e s s i s larger
f o r s h a l l o w e r depth w i t h t h e same average v e l o c i t y . It is therefore concluded
t h a t f o r a given flow v e l o c i t y , mattress s t a b i l i t y increases w i t h increasing
depth and decreases w i t h d e c r e a s i n g d e p t h . A l s o v e l o c i t y i s a major
c o n t r o l l i n g f a c t o r r e l a t e d t o m a t t r e s s s t a b i l i t y w h i l e depth has a l e s s e r
influence. Based on F i u z a t , Chen and Simons ( 1 9 8 2 ) , t h e e f f e c t o f v e l o c i t y on
t h e r i p r a p s t a b i l i t y t o t h a t o f depth i s on t h e o r d e r o f s i x t o one.
For t h e f u l 1 - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s , t h e sum o f h y d r o s t a t i c p r e s s u r e head
and v e l o c i t y head was measured a t l o c a t i o n s shown on F i g u r e 3 . 1 3 . F i g u r e s 4.7
and 4 . 8 show these s p e c i f i c heads v a r y i n g w i t h d i s c h a r g e . I t was found t h a t
s p e c i f i c heads under a s e v e r e l y deformed m a t t r e s s remained f a i r l y constant.
If t h i s was t r u e , t h e deformed 9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s w i t h the t h i c k n e s s e s o f rock
1ayer reduced from 9 t o 10 inches t o 6 inches would remain u s e f u l f o r pro-
t e c t i n g t h e base m a t e r i a l s from being eroded by f l o w due t o p r e s s u r e differ-
ences. I t should be p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e sand base m a t e r i a l was washed o u t a t
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f the t e s t . The m a t t r e s s and t h e pressure 1ines were then
p l a c e d d i r e c t l y on the r i g i d flume bed. T h i s c o u l d i n t e r f e r e w i t h the a c t u a l
pressure d i s t r i b u t i o n during deformation of mattresses. Further tests with
more s t a b l e underneath base m a t e r i a l s are r e q u i red t o e v a l u a t e the e f f e c t s of
m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n on base m a t e r i a l protection.

4.3 I n c i p i e n t Motion C o n d i t i o n s
The u s e f u l n e s s o f r i p r a p and Reno m a t t r e s s e s f o r channel protection
depends on the a b i l i t y o f r i p r a p / m a t t r e s s t o p r e v e n t e r o s i o n o f the s o i l and
t h e a b i l i t y t o r e s i s t movement by t h e c u r r e n t . As s t a t e d e a r l i e r , t h e v e l o -
c i t y o f t h e water a t the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r ( o r s o i l ) i n t e r f a c e i s dependent on
rock v o i d s , t h e channel slope and t h e spacing s i z e o f the i n t e r f a c e . For t h e
u n g r o u t e d m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d i n t h i s study which had l a r g e v o i d s , t h e latter
two f a c t o r s were found t o be predominant f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g t h e v e l o c i t y a t t h e
interface. If t h i s v e l o c i t y ( o r channel bed s l o p e ) i s s m a l l , a g e o t e x t i l e
filter i s recommended because i t is easier to i n s t a l 1 . However, i f the inter-
f a c e v e l o c i t y i s h i g h due t o steep channel slope or o b i i q u e f l o w d i r e c t i o n s , a
gravel f i l t e r w i t h s u f f i c i e n t t h i c k n e s s i s recommended because i t i s more
e f f i c i e n t t o d i s s i p a t e the v e l o c i t y .
 4.13

2 A

3
4 B

Z<P -i^ <5b /oo

^4.
% J
1
1
;
1 . 1
1 , 1
<9 \ @f r-

. ' f o .
S/y^y3

////\\\K

F i g u r e 4.7. V a r i a t i o n of s p e c i f i c head i m m e d i a t e l y above t h e full-scale

mattresses.
 4 .14

7-/OA/ - ^

7 O
8

o _ _ _ _ _
o z o ^ 4.0

^/

TA/=^ /.o^ Y-/a/K/ z > / x A < g ^ ^ x M

F i g u r e 4.8. V a r i a t i o n o f s p e c i f i c head immediately below t h e f u l l - s e a l

mattresses.
 4.15

The a b i l i t y of t h e m a t t r e s s t o r e s i s t movement by t h e c u r r e n t r e l i e s on
i t s m o n o l i t h i c c o n t i n u i t y t o r e s i s t displacement and not i t s mass. The rocks
i n s i d e t h e m a t t r e s s are r e t a i n e d by t h e w i r e n e t t i n g . I n g e n e r a l , when the
v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s reach a c r i t i c a l magnitude, t h e rocks i n s i d e the
m a t t r e s s s t a r t t o move i n t h e main d i r e c t i o n o f f l o w . To determine t h i s cri-
tical v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s which i n i t i a t e t h e rock movement, t h e t e s t s of
a m a t t r e s s u n i t began w i t h low f l o w r a t e s and progressed t o h i g h e r v a l u e s .
The c o n d i t i o n s which i n i t i a t e t h e movement o f rocks w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s were
determined.
F i g u r e s 4 . 9 and 4.10 show t h e c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y versus median p a r t i c l e
s i z e and versus m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The c r i t i c a l velocities for
median p a r t i c l e s i z e l a r g e r than s i x inches and m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s l a r g e r than
18 inches are e x t r a p o l a t e d v a l u e s . Further v e r i f i c a t i o n is required. All the
m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s data t e s t e d i n t h e 4 - f o o t flume had a Froude number l e s s
than 1.5 and t h e f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t e d i n t h e o u t d o o r steep flume had a
Froude number l a r g e r than 3 . 0 . As d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r f o r the same v e l o c i t y ,
t h e s i z e o f m a t t r e s s e s should be i n c r e a s e d f o r a s h a l l o w e r depth c o n d i t i o n to
o b t a i n t h e same degree o f s t a b i l i t y i n a deeper c h a n n e l . F i g u r e 4.10 shows
t h a t an 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s u n i t s h o u l d be u t i l i z e d f o r a n i g h l y supercritical
f l o w (F > 3) t o o b t a i n t h e same degree o f s t a b i l i t y as a 9 - i n c h m a t t r e s s f o r a
nearly c r i t i c a l or s u b c r i t i c a l flow (F<1.5). Critical velocity for incipient
m o t i o n o f r i p r a p which was determined based on C.^ = 0.047 was a l s o p l o t t e d on
Figure 4.9. T h i s f i g u r e i n d i c a t e s t h a t m a t t r e s s mesh improves t h e stability
o f f i l l i n g rocks by t i g h t e n i n g rocks as a u n i t . F i g u r e 4 . 9 shows t h a t 4 - i n c h
r o c k s t i g h t e n e d i n m a t t r e s s meshes can s u s t a i n 12 t o 14 f p s v e l o c i t y , while
t h e same v e l o c i t y can cause movement o f 6 - t o 8 - i n c h r o c k s .

The c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t i e s f o r v a r i o u s m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s e s determined from

t h i s study were compared w i t h t h e v e l o c i t i e s suggested by A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i
(1978) as f o l l o w s :
Figure 4 . 9 . Critical velocity that initiates rock movement as a f u n c t i o n
o f rock s i z e .
F i g u r e 4.10-. C r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y t h a t i n i t i a t e s rock movement as a f u n c t i o n
of mattress thickness.
 4.18

Mattress C r i t i c a l V e l o c i t y Determined V e l o c i t y Suggested by

Thickness From T h i s Study A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i
(inches) (fps) (fps)

F < 1.5 F > 3

6 14.5 12.1 5.9

9 15.4 13.0 11.8
12 16.4 13.8 14.8
18 18.3 15.6 17.7

I t was found t h a t t h e p e r m i s s i b l e v e l o c i t i e s suggested by A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i

were a l l lower than t h e c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t i e s determined from t h i s study for
F < 1.5, p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r 6 - i n c h and 9 - i n c h t h i c k m a t t r e s s e s . This indicated
t h a t m a t t r e s s l i n i n g s designed by u s i n g A g o s t i n i and P a p e t t i ' s c r i t e r i a were
t h i c k e r than t h a t a c t u a l l y r e q u i r e d . S i g n i f i c a n t savings can be o b t a i n e d by
u s i n g t h e new c r i t e r i a o b t a i n e d from t h i s study.
Critical shear s t r e s s which i n i t i a t e d t h e movement o f t e s t e d m a t t r e s s e s
was p l o t t e d a g a i n s t the f i l 1 i n g rock s i z e s and m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s e s . Figure
4 . 1 1 shows t h e measured c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s versus rock s i z e s w i t h i n and
without mattress. T h i s f i g u r e shows t h a t t h e c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s converted
f r o m t h e m o d e l - s c a l e and t h a t measured from t h e f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s are com-
parable. A l s o m a t t r e s s mesh would enhance s t a b i l i t y o f f i l l i n g rock by
doubling the c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s comparing t o t h a t f o r t h e r i p r a p a l o n g .
F i g u r e 4.12 shows t h e S h i e l d parameter Co, versus t h e shear Reynolds number
R^. T h i s f i g u r e shows t h a t C* = 0.10 f o r the m a t t r e s s w h i l e C^ = 0.047 for
the riprap.
The t h i c k n e s s o f a r i p r a p p r o t e c t i o n s t r u c t u r a l can be determined u s i n g
the f o l l o w i n g steps:

1. Determine t h e median s i z e o f r i p r a p t o p r o t e c t channel bed a g a i n s t a

shear s t r e s s T .

2. Determine t h e t h i c k n e s s o f r i p r a p , which i s about Zd^.

The f o l l o w i n g t a b l e p r e s e n t s a comparison between t h e r e q u i r e d t h i c k n e s s of
r i p r a p and t h a t o f m a t t r e s s e s f o r several v a l u e s o f shear s t r e s s :
 A Model Scale Mattres

O Riprop Only

I I 1 1
6 7 8 9 10

PROTOTYPE PARTICLE SIZE, Inchee

Figure 4 . 1 1 . C r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s versus rock s i z e s f o r t h e w i t h and

w i t h o u t m a t t r e s s cases.
.20 T T ! 1I I I 1 1TT

9 Prototype mattresses
| : 3 Scale model mattresses
Riprap data (Fiuzat, et. a l . , 1 9 8 2 )

.10
.09
.08
.07

.06

.05

.04
=0.047 (Gessler)
.03

.02

.01 I I I I I I I L
1,000 10,000 100,000

V dm
R* =

Figure 4.12. S h i e l d s parameter as a f u n c t i o n o f t h e shear Reynolds number

f o r w i t h and w i t h o u t m a t t r e s s cases.
 4.21

Shear S t r e s s Thickness (inches)

(Ibs/ftn Mattress Riprap

3.5 6 17

4.0 9 20

4.6 12 23

5.5 18 28

The r e q u i r e d m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s g i v e n above was determined from t h e l a b o r a t o r y

t e s t s and i s shown i n F i g u r e 4 . 1 3 . T h i s comparison shows t h a t i n practical
f l o w r a n g e , t h e r e q u i r e d t h i c k n e s s o f r i p r a p c o u l d be 1.5 t o t h r e e times o f
mattress thickness.
I t s h o u l d be p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d i n t h e
e i g h t - f o o t flume were made o f s t r o n g e r w i r e mesh than t h e m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d in
the f o u r - f o o t flume. No s i g n i f i c a n t movement was observed when t h e c o n v e r t e d
p r o t o t y p e v e l o c i t y reached 17 f p s , w h i l e t h e r e was s i g n i f i c a n t rock movement
f o r m a t t r e s s e s made o f t h i n n e r wi re under t h e same v e l o c i t y . This indicates
t h a t t h e w i r e mesh s t r e n g t h i s a major f a c t o r c o n t r o l 1 i n g s t a b i l i t y of
mattresses. For m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t E which was g r o u t e d by m a s t i c
a s p h a l t , t h e r e was not observed movement o f rock w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s e s when
s u b j e c t e d t o v e l o c i t y up t o 20 f p s . This i n d i c a t e s t h a t g r o u t i n g of
m a t t r e s s e s u s i n g sand a s p h a l t m a s t i c can s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e the stability
of mattresses.

4.4 Deformation of the Mattress

W i t h f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e i n f l o w v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s beyond t h e criti-
c a l v a l u e s , a s i g n i f i c a n t amount o f rocks would move from the upstream p o r -
t i o n s o f a m a t t r e s s compartment t o t h e downstream p o r t i o n o f the compartment.
F i g u r e 4 . 1 4 shows t h e t y p i c a l sequence o f rock movement and r e s u l t a n t defor-
m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s compartments o b s e r v e d . I t s h o u l d be noted t h a t f o r each
f l o w v e l o c i t y , t h e reno m a t t r e s s e s appeared t o reach a c o n d i t i o n o f relative
stability fairly rapidly. In other words, although increasing the flow v e l o -
c i t y resulted in additional rock movement w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s , movement d i d
n o t occur t h r o u g h o u t the t e s t . As a r e s u l t , t h e f l o w d u r a t i o n f o r a g i v e n
v e l o c i t y appeared t o have o n l y a minor i n f l u e n c e on rock movement w i t h i n t h e
mattress.
 0 9 " Prototype
Model

12 18 24

Figure 4 . 1 3 . Critical shear s t r e s s versus m a t t r e s s thickness.

 4.23

F i g u r e 4.14. G e n e r a l p a t t e r n o f r o c k movement
w i t h i n a m a t t r e s s compartment.
 4.24

I t was observed t h a t t h e s u r f a c e d e f o r m a t i o n conformed t o t h e same

g e n e r a l shape and movement was propagated i n t h e same manner as f o r model-
s c a l e and f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s . F i g u r e 4.15 and 4.16 i l l u s t r a t e these com-
p a r i s o n s f o r f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s under s i m i l a r f l o w v e l o c i t i e s . Evidence o f
t h e r i p p l i n g e f f e c t o f the d e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s compartment i s presented i n
F i g u r e s 4.17 and 4.18 f o r n i n e - i n c h f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s . F i g u r e 4.19 for
s i x - i n c h f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s , and F i g u r e 4.20 f o r model s c a l e 1 2 - i n c h
mattresses.
As p r e v i o u s l y s t a t e d , t h e m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n would not significantly
a f f e c t t h e s p e c i f i c head v a r i a t i o n underneath t h e m a t t r e s s u n l e s s t h e e x t e n t
o f rock movement w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s was such t h a t t h e f i 1 t e r o r base
m a t e r i a l s were exposed. T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e m a t t r e s s even a f t e r defor-
m a t i o n p r o v i d e d a s i m i l a r degree o f p r o t e c t i o n t o t h a t p r o v i d e d by an unde-
formed m a t t r e s s i f the reduced rock t h i c k n e s s s e c t i o n was more than one median
size t h i c k . B o t h . t h e m o d e l - s c a l e and f u l 1 - s c a l e m a t t r e s s t e s t s show s i m i l a r
phenomena.
To e v a l u a t e t h e degree o f d e f o r m a t i o n , a parameter Az/d^^ was u t i l i z e d ,
where AZ i s t h e h e i g h t d i f f e r e n c e between t h e l o w e s t and h i g h e s t rock sur-
f a c e w i t h i n a m a t t r e s s compartment and d^^ i s t h e median s i z e o f the filling
rock. The maximum values o f Az/d^ were p l o t t e d a g a i n s t t h e e f f e c t i v e

S h i e l d s parameter, = -j TT- i n Figure 4 . 2 1 . An i n c r e a s e in

r e s u l t e d i n an i n c r e a s e i n Az/d^^. Based on t h e o b s e r v a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s defor-

m a t i o n , t h e r e d u c t i o n i n the f i l l i n g rock t h i c k n e s s was about AZ/2.
T h e r e f o r e , t o i n s u r e t h a t t h e s o i l p r o t e c t e d by m a t t r e s s e s would not be
exposed, t h e v a l u e o f Az/d^ s h o u l d be l e s s than 2 ( t / d ^ ^ - 1) where t is the
t h i c k n e s s of the m a t t r e s s . Based on t h i s r e l a t i o n and F i g u r e 4 . 2 1 , s o i l pro-
t e c t e d by mattresses w i t h a t h i c k n e s s l a r g e r than o r equal t o nine inches and
a compartment l e n g t h o f t h r e e f e e t would n o t be exposed t o d i r e c t f l o w a t t a c k
under a v e l o c i t y up t o 20 f p s .
I n summary, mattresses would m a i n t a i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s t o p r o t e c t base
m a t e r i a l s even s u b j e c t e d t o f l o w c u r r e n t s t r o n g e r than t h e i n c i p i e n t motion
condition. M a t t r e s s e s w i t h a t h i c k n e s s equal t o o r l a r g e r than nine inches
would s t i l l be e f f e c t i v e i n p r o t e c t i n g base m a t e r i a l s i n a m i l d slope channel
bed under a v e l o c i t y up t o 20 f p s . However, g r a v e l f i l t e r s o r a combined
F i g u r e 4.15. Comparison of deformation o f 6 - i n c h and 9-inch f u l l - s c a l e mattress u n i t s f o r a v e l o c i t y o f 12 f p s .
 I i :I
i

i I 1 i I V
fel

\b ,3.0
I
imi
rs3
CTl

! M I ! i i
7777^

1 ;1 1
4
F i g u r e 4.16. Comparison o f deformation o f 6 - i n c h and 9 - i n c h f u l l - s c a l e mattrss u n i t s f o r a v e l o c i t y o f 20 f p s .
 4.27

Figure 4.18. Deformation o f m a t t r e s s e s ( 9 " ) due t o rock movement

( l o o k i n g downstream). V = 17.6 f p s .
 4.28

Figure 4.19. Deformation o f 6" f u l l - s c a l e mattresses due t o rock

movement. V = 19.2 f p s .
 4.29

Figure 4.20. Deformation o f 6" m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s ( c o r r e s p o n d i n g

t o 18" f u l l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s ) . Vm = 12.0 f p s
( c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o Vp = 20.8 f p s ) .
Figure 4 . 2 1 . R e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e d e f o n n a t i o n f a c t o r and
e f f e c t i v e S h i e l d s parameter.
 4.31

geotextile/gravel f i l t e r should be u t i l i z e d t o reduce t h e water v e l o c i t y at

t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r I n t e r f a c e t h a t a t t a c k s t h e base m a t e r i a l s . Another alter-
n a t i v e would be t o g r o u t t h e m a t t r e s s e s u s i n g sand m a s t i c a s p h a l t . T h i s would
c o n s o l i d a t e t h e m a t t r e s s e s and e s s e n t i a l l y e l i m i n a t e v e l o c i t y t h a t a t t a c k s the
base m a t e r i a l s . Additional s t u d i e s s h o u l d be conducted t o e v a l u a t e the e f f e c -
t i v e n e s s o f v a r i o u s f i l t e r designs t o Improve t h e a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s s t o s t a -
b i l i z e channels under e x t r e m e l y h i g h f l o w c o n d i t i o n s .
 5.1

V. DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN CRITERIA

5.1 Development Approach
As d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r , t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n works is
i n d i c a t e d by two f a c t o r s ; t h e a b i l i t y t o p r e v e n t e r o s i o n o f t h e base m a t e r i a l s
and t h e a b i l i t y t o r e s i s t movement by t h e c u r r e n t . The f o l l o w i n g s t e p s are
proposed t o design t h e m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n w o r k s :

1. Determine t h e h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e m a t t r e s s channel f o r a g i v e n
design discharge.

2. Determine t h e m a t t r e s s r e q u i r e m e n t based on i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n c r i t e r i a .

3. Determine t h e v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r ( o r base s o i l s ) interface.

4. Determine f i l t e r r e q u i r e m e n t t o s a f e l y p r o t e c t base m a t e r i a l s .

5. Determine p o t e n t i a l d e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s when f l o w d i s c h a r g e i s larger

t h a n t h e design d i s c h a r g e .

D e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n s o f each major d e s i g n step are p r e s e n t e d i n t h e following

sections. Design examples are g i v e n i n t h e Appendix. I t s h o u l d be noted t h a t
all t h e m a t t r e s s t e s t s were conducted on flume beds. The developed c r i t e r i a
f o r p r o t e c t i n g banks were based on t h e o r i e s and some e m p i r i c a l e q u a t i o n s and
s h o u l d be v e r i f i e d whenever p o s s i b l e . No bend e f f e c t s were e v a l u a t e d d u r i n g
the study. A l s o t h e recommendation on f i l t e r r e q u i r e m e n t was based p r i n -
c i p a l l y on e n g i n e e r i n g j u d g m e n t . A d d i t i o n a l study o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f
f i l t e r t o enhance s t r u c t u r e s t a b i l i t y s h o u l d be c o n d u c t e d .

5.2 Determination of Hydraulic Conditions

The major h y d r a u l i c v a r i a b l e s t o be determined i n a channel t o be p r o -
t e c t e d by r e v e t m a t t r e s s e s i n c l u d e : roughness c o e f f i c i e n t , v e l o c i t y , depth
and shear s t r e s s . The Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t can be d e t e r m i n e d from
Equation 5.1:

n,b (5.1)

where dgg i s i n meters. The normal v e l o c i t y , depth and h y d r a u l i c r a d i u s can

t h e n be d e t e r m i n e d f r o m Manning's e q u a t i o n f o r g i v e n d i s c h a r g e s . The
c o r r e s p o n d i n g bed shear s t r e s s can be d e t e r m i n e d f r o m :

T = YDS (5.2)
 5.2

where y i s the u n i t weight, D i s the water depth, and S i s the friction

s l o p e which can be approximated by t h e average channel bed s l o p e .

5.3 D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f M a t t r e s s Requirement Based on I n c i p i e n t M o t i o n

r i t e r T a
The f l o w c o n d i t i o n t h a t causes t h e i n c i p i e n t motion o f t h e f i l l i n g rock
w i t h i n m a t t r e s s e s on channel bed can be determined by F i g u r e s 4 . 9 through
4.13, o r by t h e f o l l o w i n g relation:

The proposed steps include:

1. From F i g u r e 4 . 1 0 o r 4 . 1 3 , d e t e r m i n e t h e r e q u i r e d t h i c k n e s s o f m a t t r e s s e s
and t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g f i l l i n g rock s i z e s f o r t h e g i v e n d e s i g n bed shear
stress.

2. Assuming t h a t E q u a t i o n 5 . 3 can be a l s o a p p l i e d t o banks, d e t e r m i n e t h e

p e r m i s s i b l e shear s t r e s s on t h e bank, T , based on E q u a t i o n 5 . 3 and
t r a c t i v e force theory from t h e f o l l o w i n g equation:

2,
T. = / l T s i n - 9 (5.4)

where 9 i s t h e bank s l o p e , < j i s t h e angle o f repose o f f i l l i n g r o c k s

equal t o about 41 degrees f o r t h e Reno m a t t r e s s e s , and x 1s t h e c r i t i -
c a l shear s t r e s s f o r t h e bed computed from E q u a t i o n 5 . 3 .

3. Determine t h e maximum shear s t r e s s a c t i n g on t h e bank, T f o r the given

design c o n d i t i o n . For a t r a p e z o i d a l channel s e c t i o n :

= 0 . 7 5 YDS (5.5)

where D i s t h e w a t e r d e p t h and S i s t h e bed s l o p e .

4. Compare T with x . I f the x i s l a r g e r t h e n t h e d e s i g n m a t t r e s s 1s

a d e q u a t e . I f t h e x ^ i s l a r g e r B u t n o t more than 20 p e r c e n t l a r g e r ,
t h e n t h e r e may be some d e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s e s on banks. However, t h e
m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n w i l l remain e f f e c t i v e i f t h e f i l t e r d e s i g n i s
adequate.

5. I n case o f v e r y h i g h v e l o c i t y ( 1 5 t o 25 f p s ) , i t may be d e s i r a b l e t o
g r o u t t h e reno m a t t r e s s w i t h sand a s p h a l t m a s t i c t h a n t o use a 1 a r g e r
reno m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s . T h i s has been v e r i f l e d by o u r e x p e r i m e n t s and
p r a c t i c a l experiences.
 5.3

The steps d e s c r i b e d above f o r bank p r o t e c t i o n , were based on the tractive

f o r c e t h e o r y which may o r may n o t be a p p l i c a b l e t o m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n w o r k s .
Additional data should be o b t a i n e d t o v e r i f y the a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f the tractive
f o r c e t h e o r y t o design m a t t r e s s e s .

5.4 D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f V e l o c i t y a t t h e M a t t r e s s / F i l t e r ( o r Base S o i l ) Interface

The v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e can be determined by:

. 1 ^ 1^)2/3 s l / 2 ,5.6)

i n which n^ - 0 . 0 2 . Equation 5.6 has been v e r i f i e d u s i n g m o d e l - s c a l e

mattress t e s t data. The v e l o c i t y immediately underneath the f i l t e r f a b r i c was
found t o be about 1/4 t o 1/2 o f Vj,. T h i s v e l o c i t y s t r o n g l y a f f e c t s the s t a -
b i l i t y o f base s o i l s . The magnitude o f V^^ can be s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduced by
p r o p e r l y g r o u t i n g and i n s t a l l i n g t h e m a t t r e s s e s .
I f a gravel filter i s u t i l i z e d , then Vj^ can a l s o be determined from
E q u a t i o n 5.6 by assuming t h a t n^ 0.025. The v e l o c i t y a t the i n t e r f a c e o f
g r a v e l f 1 1 t e r and base s o i l decreases w i t h i n c r e a s e i n the g r a v e l filter
thickness. No r e l a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e t o determine t h i s i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y . It
i s assumed t h a t t h e v e l o c i t y drop t h r o u g h t h e g r a v e l filter layer is propor-
tional t o t h e head l o s s o f f l o w through t h e gravel v o i d s , namely:

2 2 2
L ^b ^b ^f
^^f = ^ ^ 7 g = ^ - I g ^5-7)

where f i s Darcy-Weisbach f r i c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t , assumed equal t o 0 . 0 5 , L is

the thickness of gravel filter, d^ i s t h e e q u i v a l e n t d i a m t e r o f v o i d s which
i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y equal t o 1/5 o f median g r a v e l s i z e , and V^ i s the v e l o c i t y
a t t h e f i l t e r and s o i l interface. T h e r e f o r e , the t h i c k n e s s o f g r a v e l required
t o reduce the i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y from V^^ a t the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e to
V^ a t the f i l t e r / s o i l i n t e r f a c e can be determined f r o m :

d V
L =/ [1 - iJ-)^] (5.8)
^ ^b

Additional study i s r e q u i r e d t o e v a l u a t e t h e e f f e c t s o f the f i l t e r on the s t a -

b i 1 i t y o f base s o i l , p a r t i c u l a r l y under t h e h i g h f l o w c u r r e n t and impact f o r c e
condition.
 5.4

5.5 Determination of F i l t e r Requirement

Because g e o t e x t i l e f i l t e r i s easy t o i n s t a l l and has been proven t o be
e f f e c t i v e as an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f p r o t e c t i o n w o r k , t h i s t y p e o f f i l t e r is
recommended when t h e i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y i s s m a l l . Otherwise, a gravel filter
i s recommended. Proposed d e s i g n s t e p s f o l l o w :

1. Compute t h e v e l o c i t y Vj^ a t the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e using Equation

5.6.

2. Determine = 0.5 V. .
f b
3. Compare w i t h the erosion v e l o c i t y t h a t causes e r o s i o n o f base
soil. ^

F o r noncohesive soil,

Vg = 1.67 d ^ / ^ (5.9)

where d i s p a r t i c l e s i z e i n mm. E q u a t i o n 5.9 i s developed u s i n g

S h i e l d s parameter equal t o 0 . 0 5 , s p e c i f i c g r a v i t y o f p a r t i c l e equal to
2.65 and Daccy-Weisbach f r i c t i o n f a c t o r equal t o 0 . 0 2 5 .

F o r cohesive soil,

V g W | - (5.10)

where x can be determined from F i g u r e 5 . 1 , p i s t h e - d e n s i t y of water,

and f i s t h e Darcy-Weisbach f r i c t i o n f a c t o r . In general, f varies
f r o m 0.02 t o 0.05 depending on s u r f a c e roughness, channel s l o p e and
Reynolds number (Chow, 1 9 5 9 ) . For E q u a t i o n 5 . 1 0 , f = 0.025 i s suggested.

4. If V^ < Vg, then use t h e g e o t e x t i l e filter.

5. If V^ > Vg, then d e s i g n g r a v e l f i l t e r u s i n g t h e method suggested below:

den ( F i l t e r )
<4n
dgQ (Base)

d.c (Filter)
5<T;g(Base) (5.11)

^15 ( F i l t e r ) . ^
dgg (Base) ^

Thickness t s h o u l d n o t be l e s s than s i x t o n i n e i n c h e s .

6. L e t Vf = Ve and compute t h e d e s i r e d f i l t e r t h i c k n e s s L from E q u a t i o n

5.8.
 5.5

Figure 5.1. Permissible unit tractive force

for canals i n cohesive material
a s c o n v e r t e d from t h e U.S.S.R.
d a t a on p e r m i s s i b l e v e l o c i t i e s .
 5.6

7. Compare t and L and u t i l i z e a l a r g e r v a l u e .

It i s p o s s i b l e t o combine g e o t e x t i l e f i l t e r and g r a v e l f i l t e r t o achieve

a s t a b l e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r / b a s e s o i l s system under very h i g h velocity.

5.6 Determination of Potential Deformation

The m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n s t r u c t u r e can p r o t e c t t h e channel a g a i n s t f l o w
c o n d i t i o n s more severe than design f l o w c o n d i t i o n s based on i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n .
Test r e s u l t s described i n Section 4.4 c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e t h i s . Combining
mattresses w i t h s u i t a b l e f i l t e r system can p r o t e c t t h e channel a g a i n s t very
high flow c u r r e n t s . F i g u r e 4 . 2 1 p r o v i d e s a r e l a t i o n t o determine t h e magni-
tude o f m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n .
 6.1

VI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

M o d e l - s c a l e mattresses w i t h a l e n g t h s c a l e r a t i o o f 1:3 were t e s t e d i n an
8 - f o o t flume and i n a 4 - f o o t f l u m e . Types o f m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s tested
i n c l u d e d 6 - i n c h , 9 - i n c h , 1 2 - i n c h and 1 8 - i n c h mattresses and 6 - i n c h grouted
mattresses. The l a r g e s t v e l o c i t y these mattresses were s u b j e c t e d t o was about
12 f p s which c o n v e r t e d t o a p r o t o t y p e v e l o c i t y o f about 20 f p s . Also, 6-inch
and 9-1nch mattresses were t e s t e d i n an outdoor flume w i t h a 13 p e r c e n t slope
capable o f p r o v i d i n g a v e l o c i t y o f 21 f p s . These t e s t s were analyzed t o
d e t e r m i n e i n c i p i e n t motion o f m a t t r e s s e s , h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n m a t t r e s s
c h a n n e l , v e l o c i t i e s a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e and a t t h e filter/soil
I n t e r f a c e , pressure v a r i a t i o n s and e x t e n t o f m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n when sub-
j e c t e d t o very h i g h f l o w c u r r e n t . The a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s were u t i l i z e d t o de-
v e l o p design c r i t e r i a .

The major f i n d i n g s o f t h i s m a t t r e s s t e s t program I n c l u d e :

1. The h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s i n a m a t t r e s s channel are t h e same as those i n a

gravel channel.

2. The roughness o f m a t t r e s s e s i s m a i n l y caused by f i l 1 i n g r o c k s . The mesh

has i n s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t on m a t t r e s s roughness. S t r i c k l e r ' s e q u a t i o n can
be u t i l i z e d t o determine Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t .

3. The s t a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s and r i p r a p s t r u c t u r e s are h i g h l y dependent on

f l o w v e l o c i t y and weakly dependent on f l o w d e p t h . The r e l a t i v e e f f e c t of
v e l o c i t y and depth on m a t t r e s s and r i p r a p s t r u c t u r e s t a b i l i t y i s about
s i x t o one.

4. Flow v e l o c i t y and shear s t r e s s t h a t cause i n c i p i e n t motion o f f i l l i n g

r o c k w i t h i n m a t t r e s s compartment are about t w i c e h i g h e r than t h e same
s i z e o f unbound r o c k s . The c o r r e s p o n d i n g S h i e l d s parameter i s about 0 . 1
f o r mattresses comparing t o a v a l u e o f 0.047 f o r r i p r a p . M a t t r e s s mesh
g r e a t l y enhances t h e s t a b i l i t y o f f i l l i n g r o c k s . T e s t r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e
t h a t s t a b i l i t y o f m a t t r e s s s t r u c t u r e i s h i g h e r than t h e s t a b i l i t y o f
r i p r a p s t r u c t u r e o f the same t h i c k n e s s . To achieve the same degree o f
s t a b i l i t y , t h e rock s i z e o f r i p r a p s t r u c t u r e has t o be about t w i c e l a r g e r
t h a n t h e f i l l i n g rock w i t h i n t h e m a t t r e s s and t h e r i p r a p s t r u c t u r e has t o
be t h i c k e r . This i n d i c a t e s t h a t the m a t t r e s s e s s t r u c t u r e w i l l be more
economic than r i p r a p . A comparison w i t h t h e suggested t h i c k n e s s o f
r i p r a p shows a savings o f 50 t o 200 p e r c e n t f o r f l o w v e l o c i t y up t o about
20 f p s .

5. When mattresses were s u b j e c t e d t o very high f l o w c u r r e n t , rocks w i t h i n

m a t t r e s s compartments w i l l propagate downstream and cause r i p p l i n g d e f o r -
m a t i o n s u r f a c e . However, i f t h e reduced t h i c k n e s s o f rocks i s l a r g e r
t h a n median rock s i z e then m a t t r e s s e s are s t i l l e f f e c t i v e i n channel p r o -
tection. T h i s phenomenon was based on o b s e r v i n g the s p e c i f i c head
v a r i a t i o n a t the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e which showed t h a t t h e s p e c i f i c
head remained f a i r l y c o n s t a n t d i s r e g a r d t h e m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n .
 6.2

A d d i t i o n a l t e s t s are r e q u i r e d t o c o n f i r m t h i s f i n d i n g . The d e f o r m a t i o n
h e i g h t can be e s t i m a t e d from F i g u r e 4 . 1 9 .

6. The v e l o c i t y a t the m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e was found t o be q u i t e

s i g n i f i c a n t f o r steep channel f l o w . T h i s i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y i s h i g h l y
dependent on the m a t t r e s s s l o p e and i n t e r f a c e s p a c i n g , and can be d e t e r -
mined by Manning's e q u a t i o n . The v e l o c i t y i m m e d i a t e l y underneath the
f i l t e r f a b r i c i s about 1/4 t o 1/2 o f t h i s i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y . T h i s v e l o -
c i t y range i s about t h e same f o r v a r i o u s f i l t e r f a b r i c s t h a t are commonly
u t i l i z e d f o r channel s t a b i l i z a t i o n . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t even i f
m a t t r e s s e s remain s t a b l e , t h e r e i s a p o s s i b i l i t y o f f a i l u r e due t o h i g h
u n d e r l y i n g v e l o c i t y t h a t erodes t h e base m a t e r i a l s . A s u i t a b l e f i 1 t e r
can be u t i l i z e d t o m i t i g a t e t h i s problem. For low i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t i e s ,
a f i l t e r f a b r i c i s recommended because i t i s e f f e c t i v e and easy t o
i n s t a l 1. For l a r g e i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t i e s , a g r a v e l f i l t e r o r a combined
g e o t e x t i l e / g r a v e l f i l t e r can be u t i l i z e d t o a s s i s t i n s t a b i l i z i n g base
s o i l s even under very h i g h f l o w c u r r e n t s f a r beyond the i n c i p i e n t con-
ditions.

7. G r o u t i n g o f the m a t t r e s s e s u s i n g s a n d - a s p h a l t m a s t i c can s i g n i f i c a n t l y
c o n s o l i d a t e t h e m a t t r e s s e s and reduce i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y . Experiments and
p r a c t i c a l experiences showed t h a t a t a v e l o c i t y o f 2 f p s , t h e c r i t i c a l
v e l o c i t y was not reached. T h e r e f o r e , i n case o f h i g h v e l o c i t y (15-25
f p s ) , i t may be a d v i s a b l e t o g r o u t t h e reno m a t t r e s s e s w i t h s a n d - a s p h a l t
m a s t i c than t o use a l a r g e r reno m a t t r e s s t h i c k n e s s t o g e t h e r w i t h a
g r e a t e r size of f i l l i n g stone.

8. A design procedure has been developed. T h i s procedure i s based on t e s t

r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d from t h i s study and t h e o r i e s r e g a r d i n g t h e m a t t r e s s bank
p r o t e c t i o n and f i 1 t e r e f f e c t s . A d d i t i o n a l s t u d i e s are r e q u i r e d t o con-
f i r m o r improve the design c r i t e r i a f o r d e s i g n i n g bank p r o t e c t i o n s i n
s t r a i g h t channel reaches o r around bends u s i n g m a t t r e s s and f o r d e s i g n i n g
f i l t e r under e x t r e m e l y high f l o w c o n d i t i o n s .

9. A l l t h e m a t t r e s s e s t e s t e d had a compartment l e n g t h o f t h r e e f e e t . This

length is a s i g n i f i c i a n t f a c t o r a f f e c t i n g mattress s t a b i l i t y . I t w i l l be
b e n e f i c i a l t o a t l e a s t t e s t m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s w i t h d i f f e r e n t com-
partment lengths to evaluate t h e i r e f f e c t .

T h e r e f o r e , t o improve design c r i t e r i a and t o i n c r e a s e our knowledge o f

performance o f m a t t r e s s p r o t e c t i o n s t r u c t u r e s , t h e f o l l o w i n g a d d i t i o n a l
s t u d i e s are proposed:

1. Conduct t e s t s o f m o d e l - s c a l e m a t t r e s s e s o f d i f f e r e n t compartment l e n g t h s
t o e v a l u a t e t h e i r e f f e c t on i n c i p i e n t m o t i o n , d e f o r m a t i o n and s t a b i l i t y
of mattress.

2. Conduct m a t t r e s s t e s t s on stream banks and around bends t o improve design

c r i t e r i a f o r bank p r o t e c t i o n .

3. Conduct study o f performance o f g e o t e x t i l e f i l t e r and g r a v e l f i l t e r under

e x t r e m e l y h i g h f l o w t o e v a l u a t e t h e i r performance and t o develop design
methods t h a t can adequately i n t e g r a t e t h e f i l t e r i n t o m a t t r e s s and r i p r a p
 6.3

p r o t e c t i o n works t o improve o v e r a l l stability o f p r o t e c t i o n works and t o

a v o i d unnecessary o v e r d e s i g n .

4. B e t t e r evaluate the strength of mattresses to r e s i s t deformation. This

w i l 1 p r o v i d e u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n t o r e l a t e t h e m a t t r e s s d e f o r m a t i o n t o the
h y d r a u l i c c o n d i t i o n s and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f m a t t r e s s e s and thereby t o
develop u l t i m a t e m a t t r e s s design c r i t e r i a f o r more e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n
of mattresses.
 7.1

VII. REFERENCES

A g o s t i n i R., A. P a p e t t i , 1978. F l e x i b l e l i n i n g s f o r c a n a l s and c a n a l i s e d

w a t e r c o u r s e s . T a b u l a t e d dimensions f o r t r a p e z o i d a l channel s e c t i o n s .
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GangRao, H. V. S . , 1978a. The development o f s t a n d a r d s h o r t - s p a n b r i d g e

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b r i d g e s . ASCE J . o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g , V. 104, No. 1 .

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9, p. 62-63.

G e r o d e t t i , M . , 1 9 8 1 . Model s t u d i e s o f an overtopped r o c k f i l l dam. Water

Power Dam C o n s t r . , 33, p p . 2 5 - 3 1 .

Goodwin, W. A . , 1975. Other uses o f 1imestone and d o l o m i t e . Limestone,

V o l . 1 2 , No. 94, 7 pp. (Tenn. D e p t . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n ) .

G o t z , W., 1978. S t a b i l i z a t i o n o f r i v e r banks i n s e m i - a r i d regions.

W a s s e r w i r t s c h , V o l . 68, No. 5 , p p . 147-154.

H a r m e l i n k , M= D=, and J . J . H a j e k , 1973. Performance t e s t i n g o f freeway n o i s e

b a r r i e r s . ASCE J . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g V. 99, No. T E I . , p p . 123-138.

Holeman, J . N . , and E. F. Sauer, 1969. C o n s e r v a t i o n i n a new t o w n . Soil

C o n s e r v a t i o n , V o l . 35, No. 2 , p . 3 5 - 3 8 .

K e u t h e r , C . , 1935. Die verwendung von D r a h t n e t z k o r p e r n i n Wasserbau.

Research I n s t , f o r R i v e r Control^, M u n i c h , Germany.

Keown, M. P . , E. Dardeau, N. R. O s w a l t , E. B. P e r r y , 1977. L i t e r a t u r e survey

and p r e l i m i n a r y e v a l u a t i o n o f streambank p r o t e c t i o n methods. U.S. Army Engr.
Waterways Exp. S t n . , V i c k s b u r g .

L a v a g n i n o , S . , 1974. Gabions guard r i v e r banks a g a i n s t 50,000 c f s f l o w . ASCE

C i v i l E n g i n e e r i n g , V. 4 4 , No. 5 , p p . 8 8 - 8 9 .

L e j e c h e r , T . R., and A. D. L e y d e c k e r , 1973. F i e l d n o t e s . D e p t . A g r . , Forest

S e r v i c e , Washington, D . C , F i e l d n o t e s . V o l . 5 , No. 5 - 6 , 16 p.

L e y d e c k e r , A. D . , 1973. Use o f gabions f o r low w a t e r c r o s s i n g s on p r i m i t i v e

o r secondary f o r e s t r o a d s . U . S . F o r e s t S e r v i c e , F i e l d N o t e s , V. 5 , No. 5 - 6 ,
) p . 1 3 - 6 , a l s o i n Low-Cost Water Crossings Compendium. Transportation
Research B o a r d , ~ P u b . , Washington, D.C.

L u e d t k e , R. J . , F. J . W a t t s , M. A. B r u s v e n , and T. E. R o b e r t s , 1973. Physical

and b i o l o g i c a l r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f a stream i n h y d r a u l i c e n g i n e e r i n g and t h e
e n v i r o n m e n t . Proceedings o f t h e 2 1 s t Annual H y d r a u l i c D i v i s i o n S p e c i a l t y
C o n f e r e n c e , M t . S t a t e U n i v . , Bozeman.

M a c c a f e r r i Gabions, "Notes on M a s t i c Grouted Gabions and Reno M a t t r e s s e s . "

M a c c a f e r r i Research and Development Department, " C o n s i s t e n c y and V i s c o s i t y o f

t h e H y d r a u l i c Sand A s p h a l t M a s t i c and F u n c t i o n o f T e m p e r a t u r e , " B i t u m i n o u s
P r o d u c t s Research Department, Geneva.
 7.3

M a c c a f e r r i Research and Development Department, "Sand A s p h a l t Mastic Grouted

Reno M a t t r e s s e s Revetment, Tests and C o n t r o l s o n t he Hot Purable H y d r a u l i c
Sand A s p h a l t M a s t i c , " Bituminous Products Research Department, Genova.

McSwain, K. R., and R. E. S c h m i d t , 1976. Gabions, p e r f o r a t e d pipe and g r a v e l

serve as f i s h s c r e e n s . ASCE, C i v i l E n g i n e e r i n g , V. 4 6 , No. 5 , 73 p.

Maughan, 0 . E . , K. L. N e l s o n , and J . J . Ney, 1978. E v a l u a t i o n o f stream

improvement p r a c t i c e s i n s o u t h e a s t e r n t r o u t s t r e a m s . O k l a . Coop. F i s h e r i e s
Research U n i t , Water Resources Research C e n t e r , B u l l . 115, S t i l l w a t e r .

Michel, G . , 1977. Experience gained a t the S e r v i c e de n a v i g a t i o n du nord

related t o bank p r o t e c t i o n , i n "La defense des b e r g e s , des canaux e t r i v i e r e s ,
Tenaud, R. ( e d ) . P a r i s , Ecole N a t . Ponts Chausses, Assoc. Amical I n g .
Anciens El e v e s , p p . 5 7 - 6 5 .

Nasser, M. S . , and J . A. McCorquodale, 1974. Experimental study o f wave

t r a n s m i s s i o n . J . o f the Waterways, H a r b o r s , and Coastal E n g i n e e r i n g D i v i s i o n ,
Proceedings o f the Am. Soc. C i v i l E n g i n e e r s , V. 100, No. WW4.

Oswald, N. R., J . F. George, and G. A. P i c k e r i n g , 1975, F o u r m i l e Run Local

F l o o d - C o n t r o l P r o j e c t , A l e x a n d r i a and A r l i n g t o n County, V i r g i n i a , U. S. Army
Engineer Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n , Technical R e p o r t , H-7.5-19, December.

Oswald, N. R., S. T. Maynord, 1978. Bank p r o t e c t i o n t e c h n i q u e s u s i n g g a b i o n s ,

i n Streambank e r o s i o n c o n t r o l e v a l u a t i o n and d e m o n s t r a t i o n , work u n i t 3 ,
S e c t i o n 32 Program; H y d r a u l i c Research; V i c k s b u r g , MS, U.S. Army Engineer
Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n , Res. Rep. 3, 9 p.

P a r k e r , T . C , F. A. K i t t r e d g e , 1935. Wire-bound rock t r a i n i n g w a l l s solve

Z i o n Park Flood problem. Eng.-News Record.

P e r n i e r , M . , 1977. C o m p a r i t i v e study o f d i f f e r e n t types o f bank p r o t e c t i o n ,

i n "La defense des b e r g e s , des canaux e t r i v i e r e s , Tenaud, R. (ed) P a r i s ,
Ecole N a t . Ponts Chausses, Assoc. Amicale I n g . Anciens E l e v e s , pp. 1 3 - 2 5 .

P i l l a i , N. N . , D. V. S. Verma, 1978. Shore p r o t e c t i o n u s i n g stones enclosed

i n n e t s . Coastal E n g i n e e r i n g , 1 , 4 , p p . 349-358.

Poche, D. J . and W. C. Sherwood, 1976. Sediment t r a p p i n g e f f i c i e n c y o f straw

and hay b a l e b a r r i e r s and g a b i o n s . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Research Board P u b . ,
T r a n s p . Res. Record, N594, pp. 1 0 - 1 4 .

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Assoc. f o r Hydr. Res. V. 2 , pp. 211-219.

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 7.4

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C o n t r a c t o r , V o l . 5 2 , No. 8 , p p . 1 7 - 2 4 .

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FHWA-WA-80-38-1; PB80-192925, 115 p.
 APPENDIX

DESIGN EXAMPLES
 A.l

A.l Example 1 : P r o t e c t i o n o f a Channel on a M i l d Slope

Problem
A necessary p a r t o f an improvement scheme f o r a n a t u r a l water course is
t o use a d r a i n a g e channel whose c r o s s s e c t i o n i s shown on F i g u r e A . l . The
longitudinal bed slope i s S = 0.001. The s o i l t h r o u g h which the canal passes
i s sandy c l a y s o i l . Determine t h e p r o t e c t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t u s i n g m a t t r e s s e s .

S o l u t i o n Procedure

1. A 6 - i n c h Reno m a t t r e s s i s s e l e c t e d f o r p r o t e c t i n g t h e drainage c h a n n e l .
The f i l l i n g rocks range from 3 t o 6 inches w i t h a median s i z e o f 4 . 5
inches and a dg^ o f 5.4 i n c h e s .

2. The water v e l o c i t y , d i s c h a r g e c a p a c i t y , bed shear s t r e s s and Froude number

o f f l o w i n the channel are determined as f o l l o w s :

a. The area o f t h e water c r o s s s e c t i o n . A, t h e w e t t e d p e r i m e t e r , P,

the hydraulic radius, R, and t h e t o p w i d t h , T, are:

A = (B + ZD)D = (40 + 2 X 10) X 10 = 600 ft^

P = B + 2d / + ? = 40 + 2 X 10 X = 84.7 ft

, - . ^ , ^ ^ - . , . 0 S ft

T = B + 2Zd = 40 + 2 X 2 X 10 = 80 ft

b. The Manning's roughness c o e f f i c i e n t ( E q u a t i o n 5.1)

1/6 1/6

c. The v e l o c i t y , V; d i s c h a r g e , Q, shear s t r e s s , x; and Froude

number, F, are determined from Manning's e q u a t i o n :

V = i486 ,2/3 31/2^ , 3,

Q = AV = 600 X 6.30 = 3,780 cfs

x^ = YS = 62.4 X 10 X 0.001 = 0.624 psf

F = - ~ - = 0.405

3. Based on F i g u r e 4 . 1 0 , t h e d e s i g n v e l o c i t y computed above i s l o w e r than

t h e c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y (Vc = 14.5 f p s ) f o r t h e 6 - i n c h m a t t r e s s .
liigure A . l . Cross-sectional shape.
 A.3

T h e r e f o r e , t h e 6 - i n c h m a t t r e s s i s adequate t o p r o t e c t the channel bed

based on t h e i n c i p i e n t motion c r i t e r i a .

N e x t , the 6 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s are e v a l u a t e d t o determine t h e i r adequacy for

bank p r o t e c t i o n as f o l l o w s :

a. For p r o t e c t i n g t h e channel banks, t h e p e r m i s s i b l e c r i t i c a l s t r e s s on

banks p r o t e c t e d by m a t t r e s s e s i s ( E q u a t i o n 5 . 4 ) :

where e = 26.6, (f. = 4 1 and

"^c = ^^s"^^^

= 0.1 X (165-62.4) X 4 . 5 / 1 2 = 3.85 psf

Then

= 0.731 X 3.85 = 2.81 psf

b. The maximum shear s t r e s s a c t i n g on t h e bank

1^ = 0 . 7 5 YOS = 0 . 7 5 X 6 2 . 4 X 10 x 0.001 = 0.468 psf

c. The p e r m i s s i b l e c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s xs i s l a r g e r than the f l o w

shear s t r e s s x^. Therefore, a 6 - i n c h mattress i s s u i t a b l e f o r pro-
t e c t i n g t h e bank.

4. Determine t h e f i l t e r requirement using the f o l l o w i n g steps:

a. Try a f i l t e r fabric.

b. The v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e i s computed based on

Equation 5 . 6 :

1.486 ,^mv2/3cl/2

- ^ (0^^5)2/3 (0.001)1/2 0.769 fps

c. The v e l o c i t y a t t h e f i l t e r / s o i l interface:

= 0.5V^ = 0.385 fps

d. For sandy c l a y s o i l , t h e c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s i s found from F i g u r e

5.1 t o be 0 . 0 5 p s f . The c o r r e s p o n d i n g c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y based on
Equation 5 . 1 0 i s :
 A.4

V = ^ = / X 0.05 ^ Q. .
'^fp 0.025 X 1.94 '^'^^

e. The c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y o f s o i l , Vg, i s l a r g e r than the f l o w v e l o -

c i t y a t the f i l t e r / s o i l i n t e r f a c e , V f . T h e r e f o r e , a g e o t e x t i l e
f i l t e r f a b r i c i s adequate f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n .

A.2 Example 2 : P r o t e c t i o n o f a Channel on a Steep Slope

Problem
The design c o n d i t i o n i s the same as Example 1 e x c e p t t h a t the l o n g i t u d i -
nal bed slope i s S = 0.01 and s o i l i s sandy w i t h a d^Q = 0.5 mm. Determine
the p r o t e c t i o n requirement f o r using mattresses.

S o l u t i o n Procedure

1. A 6 - i n c h Reno m a t t r e s s i s f i r s t t r i e d f o r p r o t e c t i n g the c h a n n e l . The

f i l 1 i n g r o c k s range from 3 t o 6 inches w i t h a median s i z e o f 4 . 5 inches
and a dgo b f 5.4 i n c h e s .

The w a t e r v e l o c i t y , d i s c h a r g e c a p a c i t y , bed shear s t r e s s and Froude

number are determined as f o l l o w s :

V = 1-486 ^ 2 / 3 3 I / 2

= ^^5 ( 7 . 0 8 ) 2 / ^ ( 0 . 0 1 ) 1 / 2 = 19.9 f p s

Q = AV = 600 X 19.9 = 11,940 c f s

= YDS = 62.4 X 10 X 0 . 0 1 = 6.24 psf

F = = = 1.28
vWT / 3 2 . 2 X 6/8
Based on F i g u r e 4 . 1 0 , t h e design v e l o c i t y computed above i s s l i g h t l y
1 a r g e r than the c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y f o r 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s . Therefore,
1 8 - i n c h mattresses w i t h f i l l i n g r o c k s r a n g i n g 4 t o 8 inches are then
tried. These f i l l i n g rocks have a median s i z e d^ = 6 inches and a
dgo = 7.6 i n c h e s . The c o r r e s p o n d i n g Manning's n = 0 . 0 2 9 2 . Therefore,
t h e design f l o w v e l o c i t y i s 18.7 f p s . For t h i s design f l o w v e l o c i t y ,
1 8 - i n c h mattresses should be s u f f i c i e n t f o r p r o t e c t i n g t h e channel bed.
F i g u r e 4 . 1 3 , u s i n g t h e bed shear s t r e s s as the parameter, shows the same
requirement.

N e x t , adequacy o f u s i n g 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s f o r bank p r o t e c t i o n is
evaluated:
 A.B

a. The p e r m i s s i b l e c r i t i c a l s t r e s s on banks p r o t e c t e d by mattresses is:

T = 0.731

s c

= 0.731 X 0 . 1 X (165 - 6 2 . 4 ) x 6/12

= 3.75 psf

b. The maximum f l o w shear s t r e s s a c t i n g on t h e bank

= 0.75 YRS
= 0.75 X 62.4 X 7.08 x 0 . 0 1 = 4.68 psf

c. The p e r m i s s i b l e c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s , T , i s l e s s than t h e f l o w

shear s t r e s s , T , by about 20 p e r c e n t . I t i s expected t h a t
1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s w i l 1 be s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o t e c t banks. However,
some d e f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t r e s s e s may o c c u r .

Determine the f i l t e r requirement using the f o l l o w i n g steps:

a. Try a f i l t e r fabric.

b. The v e l o c i t y a t t h e m a t t r e s s / f i l t e r i n t e r f a c e i s computed based on

Equation 5 . 6 :

V - 1.486 , V 2 / 3 ,,1/2
b n^ 4 ' ^

= l ^ f 4 ? / 3 (o,oil/2 . 2 . 9 5 fps

c. The v e l o c i t y a t t h e f i l t e r / s o i l interface,

0.5 = 1.48 fps

d. For sandy s o i l , the c r i t i c a l shear s t r e s s i s found from Equation

5.9:

Ve = 1-67 d--

= 1.67 ( 0 . 5 ) 1 / 2 , 1.18

e. The c r i t i c a l v e l o c i t y o f s o i l , Ve, i s l e s s than t h e f l o w v e l o c i t y

a t the f i l t e r / s o i l i n t e r f a c e , Vf. T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t even though
t h e m a t t r e s s e s are s t a b l e , t h e i n t e r f a c e v e l o c i t y i s capable of
moving t h e base s o i l t o be p r o t e c t e d by t h e m a t t r e s s e s and f i l t e r
fabric. E i t h e r a t h i n l a y e r (about 2 t o 3 i n c h e s ) o f f i n e g r a v e l
can be placed between t h e base s o i l and t h e f i l t e r f a b r i c or a
g r a v e l f i I t e r designed based on Equation 5.11 can be u t i l i z e d t o
 A.6

a s s i s t i n s t a b i l i z i n g t h e base soil.

Determine t h e d e f o r m a t i o n o f the 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s based on t h e

following steps:

a. Compute t h e ratio,

^*=Tv7]d;
For t h e bed

r' - 6.24 - 5.13 _ .

^ * " (165 - 6 2 . 4 ) X 0.5 ~ ^ ' ^ ^ ^

For t h e bank
C* =
(165 4.68
- 6 2 -. 4 )3.75
X 0.5

From F i g u r e 4 . 1 9 , f o r C^^ = 0.018 - 0 . 0 2 2 , t h e d e f o r m a t i o n r a t i o

AZ/dpi = 1 . 2 . Then AZ = 6 x 1.2 = 7.2 i n c h e s . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t
t h e t h i c k n e s s o f the upper p o r t i o n o f the 1 8 - i n c h m a t t r e s s e s would
be reduced by A Z / 2 = 3.6 inches t o a t h i c k n e s s o f about 14 i n c h e s .
T h i s t h i c k n e s s i s s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o t e c t t h e base m a t e r i a l s .