In an exemplary embodiment, a system for forming a flexible mat having an open mesh embedded in and interconnecting a plurality of blocks of a hardened paste includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof that receive a hardenable paste; a sheet of the open mesh that is fed over the mold cavities so that the mesh is embedded in the hardenable paste deposited in the mold cavities; and a flexible sheet that is placed against the outer periphery of the drum over the mold cavities containing the hardenable paste and the sheet of open mesh of the rotating drum to retain the hardenable paste within the mold cavities and retain the open mesh embedded in the hardenable paste as the hardenable paste solidifies to form the flexible mat.

Sediment-control fences designed to withstand hydrostatic forces associated with elevated backwater against the fence are disclosed. The fences are made of anisotropic fabric having different mechanical properties such as strength and stiffness in the machine direction versus the transverse direction. The anisotropic fabric may include fibrillated yarns in one direction and monofilaments in another direction. The sediment-control fences may be used without the necessity of wire or chain-link backed supports that are conventionally used to resist structural failure due to hydraulic overtopping of the fences.

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

A geomaterial web includes a first organic structural material and a second structural material that is different from the first structural material, which is bonded together with the first structural material to form a sheet-like composite material web extending in two mutually perpendicular directions. The first structural material and the second structural material are organic materials, where the first structural material has a first biodegradability and the second structural material has a second biodegradability that is different from the first biodegradability. The second biodegradability may be less than the first biodegradability.

A reticular structure includes first elements distanced from each other and having an elongated conformation according to a first prevalent development trajectory, and second elements distanced from each other and having an elongated conformation according to a second prevalent development trajectory orthogonal, to the first prevalent development trajectory of the first elements. The first and second elements intersect at nodes to form meshes. The first elements have at a mid-portion defined between two consecutive nodes and orthogonally to the first prevalent development trajectory and a substantially T-shaped section including a base and a protuberance emerging orthogonally from the base. The second elements have, at a mid-portion defined between two immediately consecutive nodes and orthogonally to the second prevalent development path, a respective elongated base joined in a single piece to the base of the first elements to define a bottom surface of the reticular structure opposed to the protuberance of the first elements.

The present invention provides a slope repair method. The method includes pretreating a slope, so that an average roughness of the pretreated slope is not greater than ±8 cm to ±12 cm per linear meter; (2) hanging a hard protective mesh on the pretreated slope, where the distance between the hard protective mesh and the slope is 3-4 cm, and the hard protective mesh has an aperture size of 4-6 cm; and (3) spraying a loam-like matrix on the slope with the hard protective mesh hanged, where the loam-like matrix includes not less than 0.04/m.sup.2 of plant seeds; the plant seeds include tree seeds, shrub seeds and herb seeds with a mass ratio of (2.5-3.5):(4-6):(1.5-2.5). The method provided by the present invention effectively restores the mountain vegetation, and only needs 1-2 years of artificial maintenance after the restoration to form a cyclically stable ecosystem.

Aspects of a geogrid system for improving substrate interactions within a geotechnical environment is disclosed. In one aspect features of a geogrid system aid in trapping and restraining aggregate and soil. In one aspect a geotechnical environment is configured with a horizontal multilayer mechanically stabilizing geogrid. In said aspect the geogrid is extruded with a polymeric material and a compressible cellular layer. In said aspect, the horizontal multilayer mechanically stabilizing geogrid is comprised of either a cap or a core of polymeric material or is further comprised of at least one compressible cellular layer configured to the polymeric material. Further, the horizontal multilayer mechanically stabilizing geogrid is configured with a triangle or triaxial geometry with patterned discontinuities and a plurality of strong axes. Said configuration increases soil and aggregate trapping while reducing polymeric use.

Processes for making weather resistant, slow-decaying, durable natural fiber/coir geotextiles produce geotextiles having flexibility, permeability, light weight and cost-effective characteristics. In this process an in situ chemical grafting using a mixture of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid and aminoalkyl trialkoxysilanes with cellulose was done followed by curing in presence of sunlight, UV light or heat. The developed product showed durability and strength more than that of natural fiber/fabric and retaining natural fiber/fabric/geotextiles characteristics. The geotextiles have delayed bio-deterioration having wider long-term end use/applications. This process of making durable geotextiles is eco-friendly and retains the desired characteristic.

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of woven silt fences including integrally woven pockets for support posts. In exemplary embodiments, a woven silt fence fabric includes one or more integrated pockets integrally woven within the woven silt fence fabric. The one or more integrated pockets are configured for receiving one or more support posts therein. In exemplary embodiments, a woven silt fence comprises the woven silt fence fabric and one or more support posts configured to be received within corresponding ones of the one or more integrated pockets integrally woven within the woven silt fence fabric. The one or more support posts may be configured to be positioned within corresponding ones of the one or more integrated pockets and driven into the ground for supporting the woven silt fence without requiring any fasteners for attachment of the one or more support posts to the woven silt fence fabric.