Understanding Hydraulic Works

Hydraulic works refer to structures and systems designed to manage water movement within rivers, streams, canals, and reservoirs. These works help control flow velocities, prevent erosion, stabilize riverbanks, and protect critical infrastructure.

Maccaferri is globally recognized for its innovation and quality in gabion systems, designed to meet modern engineering requirements.

Channeling Works

Channeling works involve reshaping or confining a river within a defined channel to control water flow and maintain its alignment. This is particularly important in urban environments, near infrastructure, or along agricultural lands where uncontrolled water movement can cause severe damage.

Effective channel protection typically requires stabilizing both the riverbanks and channel bed to resist hydraulic shear forces and prevent erosion.

Maccaferri channel protection solutions include:

• Reno Mattress systems for flexible channel lining and bed protection
• Gabion walls for stabilizing channel banks and retaining soil
• MacMat® R erosion control mats for surface protection and rapid vegetation establishment
• MacTex® geotextiles for filtration and soil separation beneath protective layers

These systems work together to maintain channel stability while allowing permeability and vegetation growth.

Maccaferri solutions for riverbank protection include:

• Reno Mattress revetments
• MacMat® R system
• Gabion retaining structures
• Terramesh® System

Because these structures are permeable and flexible, they can accommodate ground movement and dissipate water pressure while integrating with natural environments.

Transverse Structures: Weirs and Drop Structures

Transverse hydraulic structures are constructed across a watercourse to control flow velocity and stabilize riverbed elevation.

Weirs and drop structures reduce the hydraulic gradient by dissipating energy as water flows downstream. This helps prevent bed erosion and sediment transport.

Maccaferri solutions for grade control structures include:

• Gabion weirs constructed from double-twist wire mesh units filled with rock
• Reno Mattress drop structures for energy dissipation and erosion protection

These flexible systems are particularly suitable for mountainous regions, flood control works, and areas with unstable foundations.

Culvert Protection and Flow Control

Culverts are essential hydraulic structures that allow water to pass beneath roads, railways, and embankments. However, they often create zones of intense hydraulic stress that can cause scour at the inlet and outlet.

To prevent structural damage, culvert protection systems must stabilize both the foundation and surrounding banks.

Typical Maccaferri solutions include:

• Reno Mattress aprons to prevent scour downstream of culverts
• Gabion or Terramesh® headwalls for structural support and flow guidance
• MacTex® geotextile filters to prevent soil migration beneath protective layers

These systems can be integrated with various culvert materials such as reinforced concrete or steel structures.

Dams, Dykes, and Flow Diversion Structures

Dams and Dykes

Used for water storage, flood control, and irrigation systems. Gabions and Reno Mattress systems can protect upstream and downstream faces from erosion.

Groynes

Structures extending from the riverbank that redirect water flow away from vulnerable areas, reducing bank erosion and influencing sediment deposition.

Maccaferri’s flexible rock-filled systems are commonly used in these structures because they can withstand dynamic hydraulic forces while maintaining structural integrity.

Bridge and Infrastructure Protection

Infrastructure that crosses rivers, such as bridge, is highly susceptible to scour, a process where flowing water erodes the riverbed around foundations.

To mitigate these risks, protective systems must stabilize the riverbed and prevent the loss of foundation material.

Maccaferri solutions include:

• Gabions and Reno Mattress systems for bed and bank protection
• Sack gabions for underwater installation where dry construction is not possible
• MacTex® geotextiles as filtration layers beneath scour protection

These systems provide durable, flexible protection that adapts to changing river conditions.

Waterproofing of Reservoirs, Lakes, and Channels

Impermeable membranes are often used to contain water within hydraulic works. To prevent the water from draining away, or cross-contaminating the ground water, a robust and reliable containment system is required.

Maccaferri waterproofing solutions combine geosynthetic materials such as:

• MacLine® geomembranes for impermeable water containment
• Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) for additional sealing performance
• MacDrain® geocomposites for drainage control
• MacTex® geotextiles for protection, filtration, and separation

These materials work together to create durable lining systems that maintain water containment and structural stability.

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