For a copy of the abbreviated USACE report, click here.
For a copy of Standardized Testing Protocol For Evaluation Of Expedient Floodfight Structures, click here.
To Link directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site for related tests, click here.
For a copy of the complete report please contact:
Gary McNear: voice: 239.851.0111 e-mail: Gary@McNearTeam.com
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The Executive Summary of the USACE Engineering, Research, & Development Center report follows:
FLOODWALLS (TM) units are large cylindrical water filled tubes designed to be used as a rapidly installed barrier to flood waters. In the laboratory tests reported herein, a wall with a length of approximately 80 ft, was laid out ready to be filled in 41 min. by two men. total time including filling was 3 hrs 24 min, which could be reduced considerably with a larger intake line or pump.
The units tested were approximately 4 ft high with a maximum design working depth (H) of 31.5 in. during hydrostatic testing, seepage rates varied from about 0.04 gpm/ft at a pool depth of 1 ft to 0.17 gpm/ft at a pool depth of 0.95 H.
The units withstood hydrodynamic wave tests except for the final test of the largest waves at the greatest depth tested (10- to 12-in waves at 0.380 H) During the final test one end of one unit that was oriented parallel to the wave crests moved several feet until the unit was no longer aligned with the wave crests. Although the seepage rate increased to over 2.0 gpm/ft, the barrier did not fail nor were any units damaged. The units are designed such that they may be tied together with flaps at the ends of the units to prevent movement between units, but the units in this test were not tied together. In a repeat test of the units with the ends tied together, the units showed little movement.
The units were not damaged by the debris impact tests.
Disassembly required 1 hr and 43 min for two men including draining the units, rolling the units once to force more water out of the units, unrolling the units, and re-rolling the units for packing. The units were 100% re-usable with no obvious environmental concerns.
The units installed very quickly and appear to be an efficient and economical means of raising levees or otherwise providing protection agains rising flood water.
(See link above for full report)
