SOIL STABILIZATION

GEOWEB ®

channel
protection
OVERVIEW
THE GEOWEB® SYSTEM
The Presto Geosystems GEOWEB system provides
GEOWEB Infill Options

DESIGN OPTIONS
a wide variety of economical, flexible protection
treatments for open channels and hydraulic structures. GEOWEB channels may be designed with
The system delivers stability and protection of a variety of infill materials to meet aesthetic
channels exposed to erosive conditions ranging from requirements and to resist anticipated
low-to-high flows, either intermittent or continuous. hydraulic flows and associated stresses.

GEOWEB System Benefits 1 VEGETATED CHANNELS - SINGLE LAYER

• Confinement in the GEOWEB cellular structure

greatly improves the hydraulic performance of
conventional protection materials such as
topsoil/vegetation, aggregate, and concrete.
• Supports vegetation in intermittent flow channels.
• Local aggregates may be used in low-to-moderate
flow channels, instead of larger rip-rap.
• With concrete infill, creates a flexible, long-
lasting, and lower cost armored channel lining
system than reinforced or articulated concrete 2 VEGETATED CHANNELS: MULTI-LAYER
block systems.
• Provides protection to geomembrane-lined
channels and containment systems.

Typical Applications
• Swales and drainage ditches
• Stormwater diversion and containment
• Process water channels and
3 AGGREGATE CHANNELS
containment
• Spillways and down chutes
• Culvert outfalls and headwalls

4 HARD-ARMORED CONCRETE CHANNELS

DESIGN
OPTION
1 Vegetated Channels - Single-Layer GEOWEB cells
GREEN-ENGINEERED CHANNEL LINING SYSTEMS with vegetated
topsoil infill

GEOWEB® Vegetated Channels offer protection in

continuous low-flow channels, as well as high-flow
intermittent channels, allowing lower-maintenance,
aesthetically pleasing vegetation in place of rip-rap.

The 3D cellular network 30 ft/s

Hydraulic Force
creates check-dams that Resistance
(9 m/s)

protect the upper soil

ft/s (m/s)

layer from hydrological

erosive forces and 9 ft/s
(2.7 m/s)
resulting erosion that 4 ft/s
(1.2 m/s)
impacts unconfined soils.

With an overlying Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM), the vegetated

Typical GEOWEB GEOWEB
GEOWEB system can withstand velocities as high as 30 ft/s Vegetated Vegetated Vegetated
Channels System System w/TRM
(9 m/s) and 16 psf shear stresses. The GEOWEB channel
system doubles performance resistance to shear stress and
velocity for TRMs and Erosion Control Blankets (ECBs).

IDEAL APPLICATIONS: Drainage ditches,

swales and stormwater channels.
DESIGN
OPTION
2 Vegetated Channels - Multi-Layer
NATURAL ALTERNATIVE TO WIRE-FRAMED GABION BASKETS
Multi-layer
GEOWEB® Multi-Layered Channels can withstand GEOWEB side
slopes with
higher flows for short durations, allowing naturally vegetated infill

vegetated channels to be designed in place of hard

armoring (gabions or concrete). GEOWEB multi-
layered channels tolerate reasonable differential
settlement without loss of integrity so they perform
well in soft-soil environments. • Green and tan fascia panel options allow
natural blending with the environment.
• Under extreme flows, the system with
wrapped-coir fabric offers higher resistance
and reduces potential for soil loss.
• With concrete or grout infill (outer cells
only), provides greater resistance to highest
flows and shear stresses.

IDEAL APPLICATIONS:
Drainage ditches, swales
and stormwater channels.

GEOWEB
Channels
Compared
to Gabions
Aesthetics Infill Material Design Flexibility Handling/Equipment/Placement

GEOWEB Creates a natural living Backfill and infill Highly adaptable to No heavy equipment
green wall. Allows select materials can be sourced varying infill types, required. Lightweight
Vegetated
vegetation type. locally. Allows smaller, less landscape contours, curves sections easy to transport,
Multi-Layered
expensive rock in back cells and obstructions. deploy and install, even in
Channels and reinforced zone. difficult‑to‑access locations.

Will always be visible. Larger rip-rap must be used. Large stones with limited design Require large equipment to install.
Collects garbage, weeds, More expensive to source flexibility. Does not conform Setting baskets may require a
Gabions
debris. Wire becomes and transport. Hard to place. well to slopes and curves. crane. Placement challenging in
damaged; degrades over time. difficult-to-access locations.
DESIGN
OPTION
3 Aggregate Channels
AGGREGATE/RIP-RAP FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-FLOW CHANNELS

GEOWEB® Aggregate Channels are designed Top Width

for low-to-moderate flow conditions. Aggregate H

V Channel Depth of
Depth
confined in the GEOWEB 3D structure is far Flow
GEOWEB with
aggregate infill
more stable than when unconfined. Bottom Width

As a result, smaller, less expensive aggregate

can be used instead of large, difficult-to-place
rip-rap. GEOWEB confinement reduces the
rock size up to 10 times while still delivering
the same protection.

X
10

GEOWEB-Confined Unconfined
Aggregate Aggregate

Performance backed by Colorado State University

Testing. Presto incorporates research-based thresholds
in their design modeling and evaluation tools.

GEOWEB
Aggregate SAFETY
Channels
Compared
to RIP-RAP Aggregate Size Locally Available Rock Flow Resistance Equipment & Worker Safety

GEOWEB Confinement allows Allows lower-cost, locally Confined aggregate Smaller aggregate is
Aggregate less costly, smaller available aggregate. is more stable, faster, safer to place
aggregate (up to 10 times) Waste rock may also be used. allowing use in higher with small equipment.
Channels
for the same protection. velocity flow conditions.

Unconfined Larger rip-rap must be used, Rock size must be larger for the Unconfined rock has a lower Placement of large rock
Aggregate which is more expensive same protection. Larger rock is flow resistance, resulting in may require specialized
Channels and harder to place. not as readily available. the need for larger, more lifting equipment and is not
expensive rock. as safe for workers.
DESIGN
OPTION
4 Hard-Armored Concrete Channels
PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE FOR CHANNELS WITH HIGH HYDRAULIC STRESSES

GEOWEB® Concrete Channels are a poured-in-place, Top Width

hard-armored solution for channels exposed to severe H

V Channel Depth of
Depth
velocities and hydraulic stresses. The system becomes a Flow
GEOWEB
with concrete infill
flexible slab that conforms to minor subgrade movement Bottom Width

and is more economical than pre-formed concrete

systems or Articulated Concrete Blocks (ACBs). and shear stresses of 20.9 psf (1.0 kPa). The cellular
GEOWEB concrete channels are proven* to withstand confinement technology creates a flexible mat of
sustained flow velocities in excess of 36 ft/s (11 m/s) concrete reinforced by the GEOWEB interconnected
high density polyethylene structure. The GEOWEB
system acts as a construction form to allow even steep
slopes to be constructed using ordinary concrete slump.
The system regulates concrete depth, assuring consistent
adherence to design specifications. GEOWEB channels
can be designed to withstand higher velocities and
shear stresses with proper cell depth and anchorage.
*Results from research at Colorado State University.

DESIGN MODELS: Critical velocities, Manning’s “n” and

other hydraulic design parameters have been established
for GEOWEB channels and are incorporated in Presto’s
proprietary design modeling tools.

Concrete
Channel SAFETY
System
Comparisons Concrete Slump Forms & Reinforcement Uniform Concrete Depth Heavy Equipment & Worker Safety

Easier-to-pour higher slump No forms or The cell wall height No heavy-lifting

GEOWEB concrete can be used, even reinforcement assures defined, consistent equipment is required.
Channels on steeper channel embankments required. Installation is concrete depth. Allows a Installation is safe for workers.
due to confinement. fast, efficient and flexible. thinner cross section.

Reinforced Low slump required especially on Reinforcement Over pours and short No heavy-lifting
Concrete steeper channel embankments. required. pours are common. equipment required.

Articulated Concrete ACBs are Cable reinforcement ACB matresses are Heavy equipment is required.
Concrete manufactured offsite and required. Requires heavy- a consistent depth. Worker injury is more likely.
Block (ACB) transported after curing. lifting equipment to place.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Channel protection details are influenced by the embankment
and bed slope length and angle, flow depth and velocity and
shear stress. Presto’s free project evaluation service can help
determine suitable cell size and depth for your project.

KEY COMPONENTS
The complete GEOWEB® channel protection system may
include some or all of the following:

TYPICAL COMPONENTS OPTIONAL COMPONENTS

• GEOWEB sections • ATRA Anchors & Speed Stakes
• Cell infill materials • Polymeric tendons
• Geotextile separation layer • ATRA Tendon Clips
• ATRA Key connection device
®
• Geomembrane

INTEGRAL SYSTEM ACCESSORIES

The following accessories may be integrated to meet design requirements and to facilitate and expedite construction.

1 ATRA KEY CONNECTION DEVICE 3 TENDONS & ATRA TENDON CLIPS

For quick and Tendons and ATRA Tendon
easy connection of Clips work together to provide
GEOWEB sections, a load transfer and
exclusive ATRA® keys significantly suspension system over
reduce contractor installation the GEOWEB system.
time and provide a 3X stronger
connection of GEOWEB sections. TENDONS
Tendons in various tensile strengths are available
2 ATRA ANCHORS to meet design requirements:
ATRA Anchors may be part of the • Suspend GEOWEB material over geomembranes,
GEOWEB channel design solution for hard surfaces, or steep slopes without anchors.
internal and crest anchoring. • Provide additional stability against gravitational,
• Easier, faster to drive than J -hook stakes. hydraulic, and buoyancy forces.
• With tendons, provide additional • Are particularly effective for resisting high flows.
resistance to sliding and/or uplift forces. • Type and density are critical to the design strength.
REBAR

HDPE

• Corrosion-resistant HDPE ATRA

ATRA TENDON CLIPS
Speed Stakes.
ATRA Tendon Clips transfer the load from the
GEOWEB cell wall to tendons.
• 2X stronger than other load transfer devices.
• ‘Turn-and-lock’ design engages ATRA Tendon
Clips securely with the GEOWEB cell wall.
• Allows easier off‑slope preassembly.
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Presto Geosystems and its distributors/representatives offer the most-complete services in the industry to support
project design and installation requirements.

Free Project Evaluation Service: RESOURCES:

We analyze specific project needs and provide • Engineering analysis/technical overviews
recommended preliminary designs for each project. • SPECMaker ® specification development tool

Construction Services: • Technical resources binder/case studies

Qualified on-site field support specialists can be available • Detailed construction guides and videos
for construction training, and start-up installation supervision.

PRESTO GEOSYSTEMS COMMITMENT — To provide the highest quality products and solutions.

Presto Geosystems is committed to helping you apply the best UNSURPASSED QUALITY
solutions to your soil stabilization problems. Contact Presto Presto’s commitment to quality begins with
Geosystems or our worldwide network of knowledgeable manufacturing and continues through final installation.
distributors/representatives for assistance. • Quality management system certified to ISO
9001:2015 and CE Certification.
LEADING-EDGE INNOVATION
Presto is the original developer of the geocell technology and • Sections manufactured from high-quality polyethylene
leads the industry in research and development resulting in provide consistent and maximum seam weld strength.
meaningful product improvements, innovative features and • Materials engineered to established geosynthetic
accessories, advanced engineering methodologies, proven field industry guidelines.
results and ultimately long-term solutions to challenging problems.
• Sections backed by a 10-year limited warranty.

DISTRIBUTED BY:

670 N Perkins Street • Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

800-548-3424 or +1 920-738-1328
Email: [email protected] • www.prestogeo.com

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This information has been prepared for the benefit of customers interested in
© 2019 PRESTO GEOSYSTEMS® Presto Geosystems products. It was reviewed carefully prior to publication. Presto
GEOSYSTEMS®, GEOWEB®, GEOBLOCK®, GEOPAVE®, GEOTERRA®, assumes no liability for its accuracy or completeness. Final determination of
GEORUNNER®, PADLOC®, ATRA® and SPECMAKER® are registered the suitability of any information or material for the use contemplated, or for its MAR 2022
trademarks of Reynolds Presto Products, Inc. manner of use, is the sole responsibility of the user. AP-5045 R7