Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-25-2025
Abstract
Nature-based (or “living”) solutions to shoreline restoration are attractive due to their positive contributions to ecosystem function and service provision in coastal and estuarine environments. However, non-biodegradable plastics are widely used in their implementation; for instance, plastic-based geotextile fabrics are used to stabilize soil and organic matter to prevent loss of sediment fill. Paradoxically, these polymer-based geotextiles intended to protect the estuarine environment are unintended sources of plastic pollution as they inevitably degrade over time. Consequently, there is significant interest in transitioning from synthetic polymer-based geotextiles to sustainable non-plastic alternatives. To begin addressing this compelling research opportunity, this project aims to quantify the long-term, in situ performance and degradation of coconut coir geotextile turf reinforcement mat installed in 2021 along an urban “living shoreline” in Columbia, South Carolina. Samples were destructively extracted from the installed mat at various locations throughout the site; subsequent mechanical testing and material analysis were performed to quantify mechanical property degradation and determine the underlying chemical and structural drivers of that degradation. The results of this study will be used to assess the suitability of natural-fiber alternatives for shoreline restoration applications, identify other potential use cases based on the geotextile’s projected integrity lifetime, and correlate the role of exposure variables (temperature fluctuation, moisture inundation, and solar irradiation) to the coir matting’s degradation.
Keywords
Natural-fiber geotextiles, Shoreline Stabilization, Tensile testing, Mechanical properties
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Environmental Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Textile Engineering
Sponsoring Agency
NOAA Sea Grant
eCommons Citation
Rothery, Kayden G. and Lowe, Bob L., "Long-Term Degradation of Natural-Fiber Coir Turf Reinforcement Mat Installed Along an Urban Stream in South Carolina" (2025). Proceedings of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025. 11.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/uhp_bsti_2025/11
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Mechanical Engineering Commons, Textile Engineering Commons
Comments
Thank you to the University of Dayton BAMS Lab, the Honors Program, NOAA Sea Grant, and the Berry Summer Thesis Institute. A special thanks to Evan Smyjunas, Loring Leitzel, and Dr. Bob Lowe for your endless support and assistance this summer.