CPD Specifier May 2015 issue January 2015 | Page 45

Outdoor Engineering

Flex MSE system
for enhanced
flood protection
As consultants and contractors
demand greater value and increased
dependability from their engineering
solutions, so they are starting to
pay more attention to sustainable
infrastructure principles. One example
of this is the continuous development
and innovation of geogrid and geotextile
technology and the impact this is having
on the use of traditional concrete. The
current use of geosystems has become
exceptionally diverse and now reaches
into many areas of the civil engineering
sector, with applications including
retaining walls, steeped slopes and
drainage as well as the construction of
earthworks, highways and pavements.
Vegetated wall systems use the same globally accepted principles of
mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) that builders rely on for making
massive retaining walls. With enhanced engineering stability, durability
and loading capabilities, geogrid technology allows the construction of
retained walls and embankments in a much more reliable, faster and
economic way and geobag walls have been built as high as 75ft tall with
great success.
When it comes to embankments, particularly those requiring erosion
control or stabilisation, or where near-vertical structures are needed,
vegetated retaining wall systems are ideal. They can flow over existing
foundations and adjust to site irregularities such as trees, roots or
unexpected bedrock, and allow contractors to create large, strong,
naturally resilient geomodular structures.
One specific area of growing concern for engineers and contractors, in
both the private and public sector, is flood protection. The severe storms
and floods of last year again highlighted the vulnerability of coastal and
low lying communities and it is increasingly recognised that the building
and maintenance of erosion prevention and protective embankments are
critical considerations.
Geotextile systems offer an eco-friendly flood defence and erosion control
solution. They are ideal for any application where land meets water,
for example on culvert headwalls, channels, unstable stream banks,
groins and weirs or flood protection schemes. With very high settlement
tolerance and rapid drainage, geotextile technology has the ability to
withstand strong water flow, and even complete submersion, without
breaking down.
Over the past couple of decades there has been an increase in new
products in this sector and one recent introduction into the UK market,
Flex MSE, simplifies the geomodular approach even further. Comprising
just two engineered components, soil-filled geotextile bags and spiked
interlocking plates, Flex MSE can typically be installed twice as quickly
as concrete wall systems and yet, with an anticipated lifespan of
120 years (ASTM System Life rating*), will last almost twice as long.
Savings in complex installation equipment, materials, skilled labour and
transportation also help to keep project overheads down with all-in costs
generally some 60% of comparative concrete block systems.

plate and provide inherent system strength. This process is repeated until
the wall’s desired height is reached.
When it comes to selecting a vegetated retaining wall or embankment
as part of eco-friendly civil engineering design, the extended lifespan
expectation, reduced carbon footprint, recycling of materials and greening
of urban spaces are all key environmental advantages.

On a typical retaining wall installation or river embankment, Flex MSE’s
geomodular bags will be laid tightly end to end with an interlocking plate
placed over every bag joint in a row. Successive layers are added in a
standard brick and mortar running band pattern to engage the interlocking

FLEX MSE

TEL: [phone]

WWW.FLEXMSE.CO.UK

READER ENQUIRY NO: 58

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