ArmorWedge®
ArmorWedge is a concrete step overlay protection system for embankment dams and spillways that are subject to high tractive forces associated with overtopping flow. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Electric Power Research Institute obtained a patent on this block design after four years of research performed at Colorado State University. The research determined the hydraulic stability of the system and its ability to withstand seasonal conditions over several years with no discernable movement or damage. The essential design component of ArmorWedge is a stepped overlay system that combines the effect of impact flow to the step surfaces with the ability of the overlay to relieve uplift pressure. The practicality of ArmorWedge lies in the cost effective ease of installation. This is particularly true for projects where the use of large machinery is deemed impractical due to confined, hard to reach jobsites or environmental impact on the surrounding area. ArmorWedge is typically installed by hand over site-specific filter fabric and subsequent drainage medium on a well compacted surface.
