ASTM D8123-22

Standard Test Methods for Measuring the Opening Size of Geohazard Nettings

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Using a geohazard netting as a medium to retain rock particles necessitates compatibility between it and the adjacent rock. These test methods measure the opening size of a geohazard netting which may be used to estimate the largest size of rocks or other objects that may pass through the geohazard netting without transferring load to the wire mesh or wire net.  
5.2 These test methods may be applied to other components of the geohazard netting, such as regularly spaced reinforcement elements or secondary mesh openings.  
5.3 These test methods may also be used for quality control during the manufacturing process and quality assurance that materials supplied conform to project or material specifications.
Note 1: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods are index tests to measure the opening size of a geohazard netting, or its components, or both, as it has been manufactured. They can be used for estimating the largest size of rock or other object that may pass through an individual opening in the geohazard netting without transferring load to the wire mesh or wire net and may also be used for quality control purposes. These test methods are not used to determine the maximum size rock or other object that the geohazard netting may contain through mobilization of the netting’s strength. These test methods do not apply to the measurement of the opening size of a geosynthetic, such as a turf reinforcement mat or geotextile, that may be manufactured as a composite system with the geohazard netting.  
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.  
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.  
1.3.1 For purposes of comparing a measured or calculated value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal of significant digits in the specified limit.  
1.3.2 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in the standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objective; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2022
• ICS: 17.040.01 - Linear and angular measurements in general
• ICS: 19.120 - Particle size analysis. Sieving
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.25 - Erosion and Sediment Control Technology

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D3740-23 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D3740-19 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Refers: ASTM D653-14 - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2014
• Refers: ASTM D3740-12a - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-May-2012
• Refers: ASTM D3740-12 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2012
• Refers: ASTM D653-11 - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2011
• Refers: ASTM D3740-11 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2011
• Refers: ASTM D3740-10 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2010
• Refers: ASTM D653-09 - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2009
• Refers: ASTM D653-08a - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2008
• Refers: ASTM D653-08 - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2008
• Refers: ASTM D3740-08 - Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2008
• Refers: ASTM D653-07f - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2007
• Refers: ASTM D653-07e - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2007
• Refers: ASTM D653-07d - Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2007

Overview

ASTM D8123-22: Standard Test Methods for Measuring the Opening Size of Geohazard Nettings provides a set of index test methods for determining the opening size in geohazard netting products. Geohazard nettings play a vital role in retaining rock particles and mitigating natural hazards such as rockfall, slope instability, and debris flows. Accurate measurement of net opening size ensures the correct retention of rocks or objects without transferring loads to the mesh or net, which is critical for safety and function. This standard is primarily intended for use in manufacturing quality control, project material specification conformance, and assessment of netting compatibility with site conditions.

Key Topics

• Test Methods: The procedures described in ASTM D8123-22 outline how to measure the minimum clear distance between wires or wire ropes forming an individual mesh opening.
• Applicability: These methods are used for regular mesh openings, reinforcement elements, and secondary mesh openings within the netting, but do not apply to geosynthetics like turf reinforcement mats or geotextiles that might be part of composite systems.
• Use of SI Units: All measurements are made using SI units, with reporting in other units considered informative but not standard.
• Data Reporting and Quality Control:
  • Required to follow guidelines for significant digits and rounding as established in ASTM D6026.
  • Results depend on personnel skill, equipment calibration, and adherence to procedures.
• Definitions: ASTM D8123-22 lays out clear terminology, covering terms such as net opening, mesh, ring net, selvage, and wire mesh composite, ensuring consistency across the industry.

Applications

The practical applications of ASTM D8123-22 span a range of activities and industries:

• Geohazard Mitigation: Ensuring the mesh is appropriate for retaining rocks and preventing the passage of oversized debris that could pose risks in rockfall and slope stabilization projects.
• Manufacturing Quality Control: Used by manufacturers of geohazard nettings to monitor and ensure product consistency, conformance to specified opening sizes, and batch quality.
• Project Specification Compliance: Supports engineering teams and procurement in verifying that materials delivered to job sites meet the required specifications for opening size, which translates to project safety and performance.
• Material Assessment: Enables evaluation of netting for suitability in site-specific conditions based on expected rock or debris sizes and mitigates the risk of selecting underperforming products.

Related Standards

ASTM D8123-22 references several related standards to support comprehensive material testing and quality assurance, including:

• ASTM D653 - Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D3740 - Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock
• ASTM D6026 - Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Records in Geotechnical Data

Compliance with these interrelated standards further strengthens the reliability of geohazard netting testing, reporting, and implementation in engineering solutions.

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Keywords: geohazard netting, mesh opening size, net opening measurement, ASTM D8123-22, quality control, rockfall mitigation, slope stabilization, standard test methods, geotechnical engineering, wire mesh.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D8123 − 22
Standard Test Methods for
Measuring the Opening Size of Geohazard Nettings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8123; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 These test methods are index tests to measure the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
openingsizeofageohazardnetting,oritscomponents,orboth,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
as it has been manufactured. They can be used for estimating
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the largest size of rock or other object that may pass through an
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
individual opening in the geohazard netting without transfer-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ring load to the wire mesh or wire net and may also be used for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
quality control purposes. These test methods are not used to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
determine the maximum size rock or other object that the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
geohazard netting may contain through mobilization of the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
netting’s strength. These test methods do not apply to the
measurement of the opening size of a geosynthetic, such as a
2. Referenced Documents
turf reinforcement mat or geotextile, that may be manufactured
as a composite system with the geohazard netting. 2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
Fluids
as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
nonconformance with this standard.
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Re-
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
cords in Geotechnical Data
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Practice D6026.
3. Terminology
1.3.1 For purposes of comparing a measured or calculated
3.1 Definitions:
value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms used in this
value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal of significant
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
digits in the specified limit.
1.3.2 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
recorded or calculated in the standard are regarded as the 3.2.1 geohazard netting opening, n—in geohazard
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the mitigation, the minimum clear distance between the wires or
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce- wire ropes forming the mesh structure.
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
3.2.2 geohazard netting opening size, n—in geohazard
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
mitigation, the measurement of the minimum clear distance
ations for the user’s objective; and it is common practice to
between the wires or wire ropes forming the opposite sides of
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
the wire mesh or net opening.
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
3.3 Definitions:
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
3.3.1 geohazard netting, n—in geohazard mitigation, a ma-
methods for engineering design.
terial made typically from steel wire, or wire ropes, or both,
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.25 on Erosion and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Sediment Control Technology. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2022. Published January 2022. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D8123-22. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8123 − 22
interwoven or connected in such a manner to create a continu- being performed readable to 0.5 °C or better and having an
ous interlaced flexible structure usually used in rockfall, slope accuracy of at least 60.5 °C.
stabilization, avalanche and debris flow applications and in-
6.2 Caliper, shall be calibrated to traceable industry recog-
cludes ring nets, wire mesh, wire nets and wire mesh compos-
nized reference standards (for example, NIST), with an accu-
ites.
racy and readability of 1 mm. The caliper range should be
3.3.2 ring net, n—in geohazard mitigation, a geohazard
commensurate with the opening size of the netting and in
netting consisting of interlocking steel rings connected to
accordance with the manufacturer recommendation.
multiple adjoining rings.
6.3 Cutter—Cutting tools shall be able to cut the netting as
3.3.3 selvage, n—in geohazard mitigation, a secured junc-
per manufacturer’s recommendation.
tion or edge treatment produced on geohazard netting during
7. Sampling and Test Specimens
manufacture.
7.1 The laboratory sample should be free from imperfec-
3.3.4 wire mesh, n—in geohazard mitigation, a geohazard
tions or other areas not representative of the material sampled.
netting consisting of single steel wires forming a regular
pattern.
7.2 For the laboratory sample, take a full width swatch of
sufficient length along the selvage so that the test specimen
3.3.5 wire mesh composite, n—in geohazard mitigation,a
shall be larger than an area of 1.0 m by 1.0 m (3.28 ft by 3.28
geohazard netting consisting of a combination of wire mesh,
ft) and have a minimum of 25 total mesh or net openings.
wire nets, or ring nets.
7.3 The edge of the test specimen shall be cut in accordance
3.3.6 wire net, n—in geohazard mitigation, a geohazard
netting consisting of multiple steel wire ropes, or wire strands, withthemanufacturer’srecommendationsatleast one tenth the
specimen’s width from any selvage.
or both forming a regular pattern.
7.4 If the structure of the geohazard netting is such that the
4. Summary of Test Method
specified test specimen size is not representative of the
laboratory sample, a larger size test specimen shall be agreed
4.1 The geohazard netting opening size is determined by
upon between the laboratory, client, and supplier.
measuring the minimum clear distance between the wires or
wire ropes forming the opposite sides of the opening. Test
8. Conditioning
specimens of known dimensions are cut from equally spaced
8.1 Bring the atmosphere for testing geohazard nettings to a
dist
...