Bank Protection
Water is the source of life, but also can be a very destructive force to unprotected earthen embankments. Protecting these embankments with various concrete and cement-based materials resists water’s ability to erode banks and extends their lifespan.
Cement can be employed in bank protection in a number of ways: through conventional concrete structures, roller-compacted concrete, soil-cement, concrete pavers and grout-filled mats. These stabilizing materials have been applied in numerous scenarios with proven success: dikes, levees, channels, coastal shorelines, highway and railroad embankments, and embankments for reservoirs.
Two common methods for bank protection employ soil-cement and roller compacted concrete. Soil-cement has been use as a strong, durable and economical material for erosion control. Applications include upstream slope protection, streambank stabilization, and grade control structures. It has also been used as a low-permeable liner for reservoirs and waste containment ponds. By using on-site or locally available soils, soil-cement provides an economical and environmentally sound solution for a variety of water resource applications.
Roller compacted concrete (RCC) is a no-slump concrete that contains the same ingredients as conventional concrete: cement, aggregate and water. However, it is typically placed using bulldozers and compacted with vibratory steel drum rollers. The economic savings, long-term performance and speed of construction makes RCC an ideal material for protecting embankments and other water resource applications.