Abstract
Erosion and sediment controls on construction sites minimize environmental impacts from sediment-laden stormwater runoff. Sediment is contained on project sites by installing sediment barriers. However, there is little performance-based testing data for the various designs, configurations, and materials for sediment barriers. To better understand sediment barrier performance, researchers at the Auburn University-Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility (AU-ESCTF) developed a full-scale testing apparatus to conduct performance testing on sediment barriers. Using this apparatus, researchers have evaluated five sediment barrier options to compare performance and identify possible shortcomings using standardized full-scale testing methods. This performance testing subjected sediment barrier practices to simulated field conditions typically experienced on-site without the variability of testing in nonstandard field locations or the limitations imposed by small-scale testing. Through testing, the researchers measured sediment barrier performance in the following areas: improvement in water quality by measuring turbidity, sediment retention, and structural integrity. The sediment barriers were installed using the same tools and techniques used for construction site installation. The full-scale testing apparatus exposed the evaluated sediment barriers to water and sediment loads expected to be encountered as the result of a 2-year, 24-h storm for central Alabama. Two nonwoven, wire-backed silt fence installations were evaluated with which the standard trenched method proved to capture a greater amount of sediment compared to the sliced-method of installation, which experienced significant undermining. The best performing practice was the ALDOT Sediment Retention Barrier that captured over 90% of sediment introduced without undermining. The worst performing practice was a wheat straw wattle that undermined so significantly, it was deemed to be a failing practice, resulting in the premature stoppage of each test.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is based on a study sponsored by ALDOT and the Auburn University Highway Research Center. The authors gratefully acknowledge this financial support. The findings, opinions, and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the sponsors.
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Bugg, A., Donald, W., Zech, W. (2020). Performance Evaluation of Five Sediment Barriers Using a Full-Scale Testing Apparatus. In: Scott, L., Dastbaz, M., Gorse, C. (eds) Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44381-8_35
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