TRI/ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. A Texas Research International Company Erosion and Sediment Control Testing of Erosion Control Products at TRI/Environmental, Inc. (www.erosiontest.com) Index Testing for Quality Control Bench-Scale Indexed Performance Testing for Research & Development and Quality Assurance Full-Scale Performance Testing at TRI s Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF) Corporate Lab: 9063 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 78733 / 800-880-TEST / sallen@tri-env.com & jnelson@tri-env.com Southeast Office: 3101 Augusta St., Greenville, SC 29605 / 864-242-2220 / FAX 242-3107 / jsprague@tri-env.com Denver Downs Research Facility: 4915 Clemson Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621 / 864-201-2153 / cmassingill@tri-env.com
INTRODUCTION In 1994, the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC), an organization of rolled erosion control product (RECP), hydraulically applied erosion control product (HECP), and sediment retention fiber roll (SRFR) manufacturers commissioned TRI/Environmental to initiate a program to identify and establish a common terminology and to develop standardized index and performance tests for the characterization of RECPs. In January 1997, a manual of common terminology and recommended index testing standards (ECTC Technical Guidance Manual: TASC 00197) was issued to the industry. Then, in the late 1990s, ECTC once again commissioned TRI/Environmental to develop a new class of test the bench-scale performance test that focuses on testing the RECP/soil system under carefully controlled standard conditions. The project included the development of bench-scale (i.e. small-scale) laboratory tests for slope erosion, channel erosion, vegetation enhancement, and biodegradability. Subsequent to each of these development efforts, there have been coordinated efforts to work through the ASTM International to achieve consensus standardization of RECP test procedures. This work continues within ASTM Subcommittee D18.25, Erosion and Sediment Control Technology and Committee D35, Geosynthetics. Over the past decade, ASTM has released several new standard test methods for turf reinforcement mats (TRMs) and erosion control blankets (ECBs) that have been eagerly adopted by the RECP industry. And the work continues on tests for HECPs and SRFRs... INDEX TESTING AND EVALUATION OF RECPs o Mass per Unit Area o Thickness o Tensile Strength o Stiffness o Light Penetration o Compression & Resiliency o Ultraviolet Stability o Porosity & Open Volume per Unit Area o Water Absorption o Swell o Specific Gravity o Smolder Resistance o Ash Content o Organic Matter BENCH-SCALE PERFORMANCE TESTING Because currently available performance properties are generally derived from infrequent, single-specimen, non-standard large-scale tests, the results must be used cautiously. Variations in the mass per unit area, raw materials, manufacturing processes, and other product and production components make frequent testing imperative for accurate characterization of erosion control products (ECPs) and sediment retention devices (SRDs). Thus, the importance of the bench-scale performance test that focuses on testing the ECP/soil or SRD/soil system under carefully controlled standard conditions but on a scale that facilitates lower cost and quicker testing. Bench-scale tests have been developed for slope erosion, channel erosion, vegetation enhancement, and biodegradability for ECPs, and filtration efficiency and flow rate for SRDs. Page 2 of 6
Slope Erosion & Runoff Reduction ASTM D 7101 Slope Erosion Apparatus Permissible Shear and Channel Erosion ASTM D 7207 Runoff Collected Shear Erosion Apparatus Inside the Shear Apparatus Germination/Vegetation Growth ASTM D 7322 & Biodegradability No standard Germination Pots Grow Vegetation Inside Growth Chamber Biodegradation Testing Exposes RECP to Inoculant Inside Flasks Page 3 of 6
Filtration Efficiency and Flow Rate ASTM D 5141 Bench-scale Sediment Control Testing Apparatus (with Horizontal Box Extension) FULL-SCALE PERFORMANCE TESTING Close-up of Vertical SRD (above) and Horizontal SRD (below) In Place TRI s large-scale erosion and sediment control testing facility in the upstate of South Carolina at the Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF) expands on our industry-leading index and benchscale erosion and sediment control testing capabilities. ASTM D 6459: Determination of Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) Performance in Protecting Hillslopes from Rainfall-Induced Erosion; ASTM D 6460: Determination of Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) Performance in Protecting Earthen Channels from Stormwater-Induced Erosion; ASTM D 7208: Determination Of Temporary Ditch Check Performance In Protecting Earthen Channels From Stormwater-Induced Erosion. ASTM D 7351 Determination Of Sediment Retention Device Effectiveness In Sheet Flow Applications Aerial View of DDRF Test Area Slope Test Area with Raised Wind Screen Page 4 of 6
ASTM D 6459 ASTM D 6460 Rectangular flume ready for testing Close-up of RECP during testing Post-test condition of slope after RECP removal Flow introduced into rectangular flumes having 5% or 10% slopes Post-test condition of control slope Vegetated channel conditions are tested with a portable flume system Page 5 of 6
TRI s Erosion And Sediment Control Testing ASTM D 7351 The sediment retention device (SRD) setup simulates sheet flow for...... wattles and other SRDs. The sediment retention device (SRD) setup can also... testing of silt fence,... simulate curb & gutter flow for testing inlet protection. Testing Technical Oversight Joel Sprague, P.E., TRI s Senior Engineer provides technical oversight of all of TRI s erosion and sediment control testing and can be contacted at: Mr. C. Joel Sprague, Senior Engineer TRI/Environmental, Inc. PO Box 9192, Greenville, SC 29604 Ph: 864/242-2220; Fax 864/242-3107; jsprague@tri-env.com Operations Management Sam Allen, TRI s Division Vice President provides operational management of all TRI laboratories and can be contacted at: Mr. Sam Allen, Vice President & Program Manager TRI/Environmental, Inc. 9063 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 78733 Ph: 512/263-2101; Fax: 512/263-2558; sallen@tri-env.com Index & Bench-scale Laboratory Manager Jarrett Nelson, TRI s Special Projects Manager provides operational management of TRI s erosion and sediment control index and bench-scale testing efforts and can be contacted at: Mr. Jarrett Nelson, Special Projects Manager TRI/Environmental, Inc. 9063 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 78733 Ph: 512/263-2101; Fax: 512/263-2558; jnelson@tri-env.com DDRF On-Site Lab Manager Randy Massingill, TRI s Field Lab Manager provides direction to site technicians on site operations and testing protocol and can be contacted at: Mr. C. Randy Massingill, Field Lab Manager Denver Downs Research Farm, 4915 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, SC 29621 Ph: 864/201-2153; cmassingill@tri-env.com Page 6 of 6