Products & Solutions > Erosion Control > Permanent Erosion Control > Enkamat
Enkamat
Enkamat is a lightweight, flexible alternative to rigid concrete, asphalt and stone riprap systems for controlling erosion. It is designed to assist nature develop strong vegetation for long-term protection of slopes, rivers, banks, ditches, channels, spillways, landfills, shorelines, and other vulnerable erosion-prone areas.
Enkamat 7018 is a three-dimensional permanent erosion prevention mat. It is constructed of thick polyamide (nylon) filaments that are fused at the intersections. Over 90% of the volume of the mat is available for soil filling, which ensures positive integration and stabilization of slope surfaces, while promoting seed germination. Once a layer of vegetation is established, Enkamat provides root systems with permanent reinforcement, resulting in an effective erosion control system.
Enkamat's filament core structure reduces wind speed and percolating water, consequently preventing erosion and promoting sedimentation.
Functionality
Vegetation cover provides protection to subsoil against erosion by forming a composite soil/root mat at the surface with a higher erosion resistance than soil alone. This mat is anchored to the subsoil by the root structure and provides a ground cover as well as reducing erosive velocities.
In many circumstances vegetation alone does not have the strength to prevent strong erosive forces from removing soil from the embankment structure. Enkamat 7018 provides an artificial layer, which increases the strength of the interface between the vegetation and soil.
When combined with Enkamat, the vegetation roots entangle themselves around the polyamide filaments to form a dense continuous system of filaments, soil and roots. This provides the soil with adequate strength to withstand erosive shear forces. The root structure is also assisted in preventing particles from washing away. Once established, the filaments, soil and root system combine to form a permanent erosion resistive system, which is environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
Advantages of Enkamat
The advantages of using Enkamat are as follows:
i.) Protection of ground surface by vegetation is to be preferred from an environmental point of view. Aesthetically, reinforced grass is indistinguishable from plain vegetation cover so it blends in with the landscape.
ii.) Generally, vegetation reinforcement is cheaper than the more traditional construction using hard materials.
iii.) Under normal circumstances, vegetation reinforcement is easier to place than more traditional methods.
iv.) Technical advantages as compared to plain vegetation or vegetation with biodegradable mat:
• The soil is given extra strength to withstand loading, thus the information of local weak spots is retarded
• The root structure is given assistance in restraining soil particles from washing out
• Lateral continuity of plants is improved which results in a reduction in the risk of localised failure that may initiate more severe damage
v.) Permeability of the filament
vi.) Smooth flowing of the water
vii.) Rain water run off enhancing the vegetation
viii.) Reduces wind speed and percolating water
ix.) Preventing erosion and promoting sedimentation
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