A sand mattress, often referred to in the context of the provided reference as a TenCate Geotube® Sand Filled Mattress (SFM), is an engineered permeable fabric container filled with sand. It forms a stable, relatively flat structure primarily utilized for erosion protection in various aquatic and coastal environments.
Understanding the Geotube® Sand Filled Mattress (SFM)
At its core, a sand mattress is a specialized geotextile enclosure designed to be filled with readily available sand. Once filled, it transforms into a heavy, flexible mattress-like barrier that adapts to the contours of the ground. This innovative use of Geotube® technology enables the creation of durable and effective solutions for managing soil and sediment erosion in challenging conditions.
Key Applications and Benefits for Erosion Control
The fundamental purpose of a sand mattress is to provide robust and long-lasting erosion control. Its design allows it to be strategically deployed in areas highly susceptible to scour and degradation from water currents, wave action, and other environmental forces.
Practical applications for sand mattresses include:
- Riverbank Revetment: Used as a protective layer along the banks of rivers to prevent scour and sloughing caused by water flow.
- Channel Slope Stabilization: Applied to reinforce and line the slopes of drainage channels and canals, safeguarding against material loss.
- Waterway Sections: Deployed as revetment along various critical sections of waterways where erosion is a significant concern.
- Impoundment Slopes: Utilized to protect the slopes of reservoirs, ponds, and other impoundment areas from erosion due to wave run-up and fluctuations in water levels.
By creating a stable, weighty barrier, sand mattresses effectively absorb and dissipate the energy from water, thereby preventing the displacement of underlying soil and sediment.
Typical Characteristics of a Sand Mattress
The physical characteristics of a sand mattress are crucial for its performance. While specific dimensions can be customized for project needs, Geotube® sand filled mattresses commonly fall within a particular range for thickness, which is vital for their stability and protective capabilities.
| Characteristic | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.15m to 0.3m |
This standard thickness range ensures that the mattress provides sufficient mass and resilience for effective erosion control, while also maintaining enough flexibility to conform to the natural undulations of the terrain it is protecting.
