CHAPTER 6
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EROSION PROTECTION
This chapter provides general guidance for the design of the erosion protection
component of riverbank stabilization work. The discussion in this chapter will also help in
understanding the basis for the approach to selecting the preferred stabilization method, which
was presented in Chapter 5.
The great variation in site conditions and project constraints, and the almost infinite
possible combinations of materials and design details of the alternative methods of erosion
protection, make a "cookbook" approach to design impractical. A committee of the
American Society of Civil Engineers reported in 1965 that "Because of the complex nature
of alluvial streams, design of channel stabilization works is based largely on experience" and
this is still the case. As Simons and Li (1982) state, "...handbook-type analyses and designs
[for river training and bank stabilization] usually lead to poor solutions of specific problems."
Hemphill and Bramley (1989) similarly state "...good design practice necessarily involves
judgement and experience, and [we] can only draw attention to the various aspects which
need to be taken into consideration or on which expert advice should be sought."
This chapter seeks to assist the designer's judgement by providing a synthesis of
experience. Additional information on specialized topics can be obtained from the references
cited in this text.
To present guidance in a structured fashion, the chapter is divided into the following
six sections:
Applied Geomorphology;
Toe Protection;
Surface Drainage;
Manufacturer's Recommendations; and
Safety Factor.
This list, along with environmental considerations (see 4.2 and 5.2) can be used as a
"checklist" to insure that the designer has not overlooked any major factors. For some
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