ACEFormer™

Applications

ACEFormer™ geotextile concrete mattresses are suited for hydraulic and coastal engineering applications where conventional rigid lining is impractical. As a fabric formed concrete system, ACEFormer™ delivers reliable erosion protection and scour resistance across a wide range of site conditions, including: 

• Riverbank & channel lining — embankments and canal slopes subject to high-velocity flow, bed scour, and hydraulic erosion 

• Coastal & shoreline protection — wave attack mitigation, wave run-up reduction, and shoreline profile stabilization in exposed coastal environments 

• Underwater & submerged structures — pipeline protection, outfall structures, and seabed scour protection where dewatering is not feasible 

• Reservoir & dam slopes — flexible revetment lining on steep gradients with fluctuating water levels and cyclic hydraulic loading 

• Vegetated slope stabilization — V Type mattresses enabling revegetation while maintaining structural erosion control cover 
 

High Utility with Cost-Effective Solutions

ACEFormer™ geotextile mattresses are an advanced fabric-formed concrete lining system, utilizing innovative technology and design to deliver superior erosion protection and structural stability. Customized design and production of ACEFormer™ geotextile mattresses are available for different designed functionalities. ACEFormer™ is available in six primary configurations, each developed for specific hydraulic and structural applications. All offering more efficient and economical solutions than traditional methods such as reinforced concrete, gabions, and rip rap. ACEFormer™ panels are fabricated and filled on-site, allowing for efficient laying and installation that adapts to complex terrains and project requirements.
 

1. Filter Point Type (FP Type)

The ACEFormer™ FP Type geotextile mattresses are double-layer woven fabrics with many small permeable areas from 25 to 65cm² to form a single-layer fabric called a “Filter Point”. The Filter Point can release the water pressure beneath the ACEFormer™ geotextile mattresses to increase the stability of the structure. Filled ACEFormer™ with an undulating surface can reduce the energy of wave or river flow to lower the flow velocity and wave run-up. 

2. Vegetation Type (V Type)

The ACEFormer™ V Type geotextile mattresses are derived from the FP Type. They have a well-distributed filter area made of permeable fabric with 900cm² areas, which is larger than the FP Type; these can also be removed for planting or vegetating purposes. Once the planting is complete, the roots of the plants can firmly grip the soil to stabilize the slope, and the vegetation increases the coefficient of hydraulic friction to resist water erosion as well. 

3. L Type

The ACEFormer™ L Type geotextile mattresses are designed to create a discontinuous, four-square block with about 2,500cm² areas of L-shape filter fabrics. Adjacent blocks are merely jointed by multitudinous narrow joints. The aim of this innovative product is to prevent progressive failure from unpredictable and serious disasters. The blocks will become independent as long as the joints fracture. 

4. T Type

Considering the need for a bigger and heavier independent block for extreme project conditions, the ACEFormer™ T Type geotextile mattresses may be an appropriate solution for engineers. The properties, application fields, and advantages are equivalent to the L Type but with a bigger block area of 5000cm². ACEFormer™ T Type are formed by couples of symmetrical T-shape filter fabrics and will form a rectangular block once filled. 

5. Pipe Type

The ACEFormer™ Pipe Type geotextile mattresses are a variation of the FP type, formed of numerous stripe-type filters to divide the mattress into longitudinal blocks. With these longitudinal blocks and larger filters, the geotextile mattresses can reduce the flow velocity and hydrostatic uplift pressure. 

6. Uniform Section Type

The ACEFormer™ Uniform Section Type geotextile mattresses provide a continuous protective layer with a uniform thickness in the range of 20 to 50cm; it can prevent leaching and provide more resistance to wave attack or river flow erosion than other types. 

Why Choose ACEFormer™?

Conforms to actual site geometry before curing 

ACEFormer™ panels are pump-filled on site after placement, allowing the geotextile fabric to conform to existing ground surfaces — including irregular contours and uneven seabed profiles — before the grout sets. This eliminates extensive surface preparation and ensures full substrate contact that pre-cast concrete or rigid revetment systems cannot achieve. The result is consistent erosion and scour protection delivered to the actual shape of the problem. 

Type selection aligned to hydraulic and structural requirements 

The six ACEFormer™ types are not interchangeable variants — each addresses a specific engineering condition. Filter area size, block independence, surface geometry, and concrete mattress fill thickness vary meaningfully between types. Engineers can specify the appropriate fabric formed concrete configuration based on hydrostatic uplift conditions, design flow velocity, slope gradient, and maintenance access requirements. 

Hydrostatic pressure relief is integral to the system 

All ACEFormer™ geotextile mattress types incorporate filter areas that allow excess pore water pressure to dissipate through the fabric formed structure. This is a structural function, not an optional feature — it directly affects stability under fluctuating hydraulic loading and prevents the uplift-driven failure modes common in impermeable concrete slope lining systems. 

Underwater installation without dewatering 

ACEFormer™ supports full underwater installation, removing the requirement for cofferdams in tidal, riverine, and submerged project environments. This reduces both programme duration and temporary works cost in conditions where conventional in-situ concrete or rip rap placement would be technically constrained or cost-prohibitive. 

Reduced material handling in remote or access-constrained sites 

Panels are fabricated and pump-filled on site using locally batched grout. Compared to pre-cast concrete units, rip rap, or gabion systems, the volume and weight of materials transported to site is substantially lower — a practical advantage in remote locations or where logistics costs form a significant part of the erosion control project budget. 

The benefits of using ACEFormer™ are summarized as below:

• Simple and quick installation to reduce construction time and costs
• Reduce the usage of costly materials to save money
• Many types and filled thickness to suit diverse project needs
• Highly mechanical performance to avoid damage during construction