FLUTSCHUTZ Load Filter

To secure dike sections that are at risk of breakage, structures made entirely of sandbags or sandbags in combination with fascines (cylindrical bundle of brushwood or similar material) or geotextiles are commonly used. The sandbags can be deployed either on the waterside or, most commonly, on the crest or on the landside dike slope. Extensive laminar seepage occurs especially on dikes with a narrow crest and a steep landside slope and when prolonged high-water levels have caused the seepage line in the dike to rise. Although minor seepages can generally be accepted, high flow velocities through the dike cause internal erosion leading to subsidence and slumping or slides of the landside slope and ultimately piping. When applying measures to prevent dike failure it has to be made sure not to increase buoyancy of the dike and to ensure that seepage water is allowed to escape. Filters with an imposed load ensure sufficient drainage and provide support to stabilize a sliding landside slope. For construction of a conventional sandbag load filter huge amounts of sandbags are needed. A sandbag load of three layers with an overall thickness of 0.3 m requires about 24 to 30 sandbags per square meter. Therefore, many hands as well as material and transports are needed to install and dismantle such a protection system.