Overview
Armoring will increase resiliency against severe wave overtopping caused by hurricane storm surges greater than a 100-year storm event. The structural features of armoring can be in the form of natural or artificial material that is placed on or around a levee or floodwall. Armoring will help reduce scour and protect the integrity of the flood defense structure when confronted with severe wave overtopping from greater than 100-year storm surges.
Critical Areas Requiring Armoring
- Levee Protected Side Slopes - particularly the inflection point at the toe
- Transition Points between levees & structures
- Solutions will vary with location and will be determined by the overtopping flow rates and velocities
Armoring Types Investigated
- Grass**
- Soil Cement Treatments**
- Erosion Control Blankets
- Turn Reinforcement Mat**
- Rock Riprap
- Gabions
- Concrete Slope Paving
- Open Stone Asphalt
- Fabric Formed Concrete
- Geogrds
- Articulated Concrete Block (ACB)**
**USACE commissioned tests of these materials at Colorado State University
Turf Reinforcement Mat
Articulated Concrete Block