PROCESS – DESIGN, PREFABRICATION, INSTALL

WWW.NILEX.COM/PRODUCTS/ARMORFLEX

PROCESS – DESIGN, PREFABRICATION, INSTALL.

ARMORFLEX®

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Features

With stringent ASTM validation and long-standing proven ACB design methods, ArmorFlex brings design certainty to projects. The Quality Assurance / Quality Control of a manufactured product brings additional predictability to projects.

ArmorFlex is a low-profile hard armor suitable for new construction and infrastructure retrofits. It’s also an alternative to rip-rap, gabions, structural concrete and other heavy-duty erosion protection systems. Due to the increasing cost and scarcity of local rock, its permanence (life-cycle costs) also provides significant savings for many project owners. The ease of installation of a connected matrix also helps reduce overall project costs.

ArmorFlex is also safer to install than rock alternatives. It removes the risk of pinch-points between the rocks, can be installed on site with stationary equipment and requires less on-site machinery overall.

Combining the best aspects of lightweight blankets with the strength and performance of rigid liners, ArmorFlex is:

• Stable

• Permeable

• Frostresistant

• Cost effective

• Easy to install

• Vegetation supportive

• Wave and high-scour resistant

• Suitable for underwaterinstallation

Form and Function

Total block surface area can be as high as 20% open, allowing ground water drainage and helping to eliminate hydrostatic pressure behind the mat. Combined with geotextile, ArmorFlex keeps soil on site and can be made to encourage vegetation.

Each interior block in an ArmorFlex mat is interlocked by six other blocks, giving the system excellent stability.


OPEN CELL BLOCK DESIGN ALLOWS FOR REVEGETATION

CLOSED CELL BLOCK DESIGN ALLOWS FOR HEAVY LOADING

BLOCK OPTIONS

BOTH BLOCKS READILY ADAPT TO COMPLEX SITE GEOMETRIES

Open-Cell Block

Closed-Cell Block

Tapered Open-Cell Block

ARMORFLEX® ARTICULATING CONCRETE BLOCKS

ARMORFLEX UNIT SPECIFICATIONBlock Class

Nominal Thickness

(in)

Length (in)

Width (in)

Gross Area (sf)

Minimum Weight

(lbs)

Open Area %

τc 0° slope*

(psf)

OPE

N

30-S 4.75 13.0 11.6 0.98 33 20 5.250-S 6.00 13.0 11.6 0.98 42 20 6.140 4.75 17.4 15.5 1.77 59 20 11.250 6.00 17.4 15.5 1.77 76 20 13.670 8.50 17.4 15.5 1.77 107 20 17.7

40-L 4.75 17.4 23.6 2.58 97 20 14.650-L 6.00 17.4 23.6 2.58 116 20 22.170-L 8.50 17.4 23.6 2.58 164 20 29.5

CLO

SED

45-S 4.75 13.0 11.6 0.98 39 10 6.255-S 6.00 13.0 11.6 0.98 50 10 7.345 4.75 17.4 15.5 1.77 71 10 13.555 6.00 17.4 15.5 1.77 91 10 16.385 8.50 17.4 15.5 1.77 126 10 21.1

45-L 4.75 17.4 23.6 2.58 109 10 21.955-L 6.00 17.4 23.6 2.58 138 10 26.385-L 8.50 17.4 23.6 2.58 195 10 35.1

HIGH VELOCITY APPLICATIONS

TAPE

RED 40-T 4.75 17.4 15.5 1.77 58 20 25.0

50-T 6.00 17.4 15.5 1.77 75 20 30.5

70-T 8.50 17.4 15.5 1.77 109 20 38.5

Block and a Half®

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* In accordance with ASTM D 7276 – Standard Guide for Analysis and Interpretation of Test Datafor ACB Revetment Systems in Open Channel Flow.


ARMORFLEX® DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

GEOTEXTILE

APPROVED SUBGRADE

FLOWARMORFLEX TAPERED SYSTEM

APPROVED SUBGRADE

FLOW

GEOGRID

4”- 6” DRAINAGE LAYERGEOTEXTILE

½”

(not to scale)

Standard Cross Section Tapered Series - Cross Section

TYPICAL CROSS SECTIONS

SIZING

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

12”

48”

24”

64”

Riprap size becoming

impractical. Multiple D30 maintenance

sections typically

constructed.

Riprap size impractical.

Grouted riprap,

multiple D30 maintenance sections, or

cast-in-place concrete are

other possible options.

99”

Riprap size impractical.

Grouted riprap or

cast-in-place concrete are

possible options.

169”

8.50” 8.50”4.75” 6.00” 8.50”

4.75” 6.00”

ArmorFlex® ACB vs Traditional Riprap*VELOCITY (FPS)

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USACE D30 Riprap (Maynord)ArmorFlex Non-Tapered ACB ArmorFlex Tapered ACB

10 fps 15 fps 19 fps 21 fps 25 fps 31 fps

REFERENCES AND STANDARDS• National Concrete Masonry Association (2010), "Design

Manual for Articulating Concrete Block (ACB) RevetmentSystems", NCMA Publication TR 220A

• ASTM D 7276 – Standard Guide for Analysis andInterpretation of Test Data for ACB Revetment Systems inOpen Channel Flow

• ASTM D 7277 – Standard Test Method for PerformanceTesting of ACB Revetment Systems for Hydraulic Stabilityin Open Channel Flow

• ASTM D 6684 – Standard Specification for Materials andManufacture of Articulating Concrete Block (ACB)Revetment Systems

• ASTM D 6884 – Standard Practice for Installation ofArticulating Concrete Block (ACB) Revetment Systems

• FHWA Hydraulic Engineering Circular NO. 23: Bridge Scourand Stream Instability Countermeasures: Experience,Selection and Design Guidance – Third Edition, Volume II,Design Guideline 8.

• USDOT Federal Highway Administration HydraulicEngineering Circular NO. 15, Third Edition (2005) "Design ofRoadside Channels with Flexible Linings" National HighwayInstitute.

• Julien, Pierre Y. (2010) "Erosion and Sedimentation", 2ndEdition, Cambridge University Press

* Assume 4H:1V sideslopes, 2% bedslope, 15ft. bed width, 3ft. flow depth, FS =1.5


ARMORFLEX® INSTALLATION

PROCESS

THE ARMORFLEX® HARD ARMOR ADVANTAGE

4. Finishing Details

Careful detailing is key to a successful ArmorFlex installation. Nilex works with the owner, designer or contractor to ensure proper finish detailing. Anchor trenches, side trenches, toe trenches, mat joints, transition to adjoining treatments, anchoring and backfill/overburden are all considered. Where ArmorFlex is to be vegetated, additional details are considered to ensure sustainable growth. Nilex can assist with all adjoining product and treatment details.

2. Delivery & Unloading

ArmorFlex arrives on site as a series of pre-assembled mats stacked on a flat-bed trailer. They are easily unloaded using a crane, forklift or hydraulic excavator. Staging at site is efficient and requires minimal laydown space. Project coordinators can get a lot of material to site in minimal time, especially compared to alternatives like rock rip-rap, which requires many truckloads and large staging piles. The elimination of haul trips means safer project delivery as well as a reduction in emissions-related environmental impacts.

3. Installation

A variety of lifting beams can be used to remove the ArmorFlex mats from the delivery truck and for placement on the ground. Nilex can arrange for a suitable device. Once the end loops of the mat wires are secured to the beam, the ground crew can easily lower the mats into place; many installations are completed in a single workday. The mats must be carefully placed to ensure they are properly abutting. Adjoining mats can also be connected using high compressive strength concrete.

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1. Site Preparation

It’s important to properly level installation sites to allow for the mats’ close contour. This preparation step is easily achieved with conventional construction equipment, keeping costs down.

Typical applications utilize nonwoven geotextile to hold soil fines in place. The geotextile can be applied directly on the ground or can be fastened to the underside of the blocks in the field, so both are installed in one step. Some applications require aggregate or a geocomposite for drainage. This should be laid prior to placing ArmorFlex.

Geotextile

* See ArmorFlex Installation Guide for additional information.

Documents

PROCESS – DESIGN, PREFABRICATION, INSTALL