Channel wall erosion is similar to steep slope erosion except that channel walls tend to be shorter in height, the water flows are parallel to the slope, and the water velocities are usually much higher.

GeoProducts cellular confinement systems offer a large array of methods for solving difficult situations with channel bottoms and slopes where minimal to severe erosive forces are at work, with either intermittent or continuous flows. Cellular confinement allows the use of various types of infills, including vegetation, aggregate, concrete or combinations thereof, for unique and aesthetic applications.

Confined vegetation through reinforcing root zones and directing flows over the top cells; thereby increasing the shear resistance of the fill and providing a finished site that is aesthetically superior when compared to conventional methods. Aggregate performs well, allowing the use of different sizes for variances in flow velocities encountered from site to site. This provides an aesthetically pleasing and cost effective alternative to traditionally installed concrete lined channels.

The flexible nature of the concrete filled cellular confinement system permits conformance with subgrade movement without the potential cracking and undermining associated with poured-in-place concrete slabs. Installation costs are dramatically reduced through elimination of costly forms and other construction techniques typically related to concrete channel lining. In areas with limited easements, stacked cellular confinement wall slopes along channels allow the use of vegetative, granular or concrete fills in the outer cells in order to steepen slopes and to increase resistance to higher flow rate.

Typically, engineers specify large rip rap to control erosion of channel walls. This method has all of the drawbacks associated with large rip rap. Geocell provides two major benefits for channel wall erosion protection. In channels where water velocities are under 6 ft./sec. geocell allows the choice of using small rock and all the benefits associated with this erosion control material. In situations where velocities exceed 6 ft./sec., geocell filled with concrete is the ideal solution to channel wall erosion. The cells act as a flexible form that holds the concrete on steep channel slopes.