Anton Russel, Construck Systems

This session presents a performance-based, full-scale test method for multicomponent geosynthetic-facing reinforced slope protection systems evaluated as a complete “Slope Protection as a Product” kit. It addresses a key gap in current practice: most standards verify individual materials (such as sprayed concrete or geosynthetic cementitious composite mat sheets) and run separate erosion tests, but do not capture the coupled behaviour of the full system—soil, reinforcement, drainage, facing, and anchors—under realistic hydraulic and loading actions.

The proposed bench chamber protocol uses a repeatable, instrumented slope face approximately 4 m wide and 3 m high, constructed in compacted dune sand with representative crest bench and toe details. It enables installation and evaluation of complete slope protection kits at face angles from 50 to 85 degrees. The loading sequence integrates controlled crest infiltration and saturation with pore-water pressure monitoring, crest surcharge above the likely slip zone, rainfall on the face, and toe flooding at the base, while monitoring cracking, deformation/deflection, and anchor movement throughout the test.

A central contribution is a structured performance index set that supports objective comparison and specification of systems, including maximum stable face angle, drainage and pore-pressure response, filtration and fines transport, deflection, surcharge resistance, rainfall and toe-flood erosion resistance, crack severity, and anchor displacement. Standardized reporting outputs and acceptance-style metrics are also defined to support performance-based procurement, product development, and durable slope protection in harsh environments.