The emergence of geosynthetic materials has brought about a noticeable change in civil engineering as they address the industry’s technical and economic challenges. Geogrids are the backbone of this industry. These materials serve not only as a protective shield but also reinforce weak soils for stability and increase load-bearing capacity.
In this blog post, we will discuss geogrid soil reinforcement, examine how geogrids can be used to strengthen the soil, as well as explain the working principle of geogrid-reinforced soils – and finally highlight some points that should be observed in the design and installation of geogrids to reinforced soils.
Geogrid soil reinforcement is an innovative engineering practice to improve soil strength and stability using different types of geogrids. This revolutionary approach has transformed the construction industry by offering several benefits compared to traditional methods. A geogrid is a grid-like polymeric structure available in uniaxial and biaxial forms made from high-density polyethylene [HDPE] or polypropylene to ensure its durability and resistance against different environmental factors. When installed in layers in the bulk of soil, the geogrid becomes intertwined with soil particles, creating a composite material with significantly enhanced properties. The main purpose for using geogrid-reinforced soil is during the construction of retaining walls.
Traditional retaining walls normally require deep excavation combined with concrete or masonry, which could be expensive and time-consuming. Thus, geogrid can be used to reinforce soil out of locally available soils, leading to reduced material costs and environmental footprint. The geogrid acts as a vital reinforcement that stops the soil from caving in, thereby enabling steeper and higher walls.
Geogrid-reinforced soils are also employed in other areas apart from retaining walls, namely roads, construction, embankments, or stabilisation of slopes. The load-bearing capacity of the soil can be enhanced by using this innovative solution.
The interaction between soil and geogrid is the basis of the reinforced soil structure arrangements. Many parameters influence this multifaceted interaction and play an important role in the overall performance of the constructed system. When a geogrid is embedded in the soil, the frictional resistance between the soil particles and the geogrid’s surface prevents the reinforcement from being pulled out. Following factors influence this frictional force:
Geogrid soil reinforcement is a method used for decades. It uses a hard, flexible plastic mesh to make soil stronger. To simplify, the soil provides compressive strength, and the geogrid gives the structure tensile strength to produce a compound material. First, the geogrid is embedded into the soil, allowing the soil to connect with the grid’s holes. This binding process is produced by joining the two main elements and creating a unit that cannot be broken into parts.
When the geogrid is under a load, it distributes stress evenly on a larger area, making this way of preventing local failure and ensuring not only local but also general stability. This magnified stability makes it a game-changer in many fields, such as road construction. A geogrid reinforcement is one of the most notable methods used in soil treatment, and one of the advantages is that less soil is needed. The technique of mixing sand, cement, gravel, and water with polyethylene geogrids is a brilliant one to lessen the number of soil layers, materials added, and project duration.
Geogrid has a unique performance that depends on different variables such as properties of the soil. The aperture size of geogrids used in this process is a very important consideration here. Due to the design and material of the geogrids, they provide high tensile strength which is their typical behaviour. The right solution and proper installation are the two factors in each geogrid design; these are the main requirements to gain the desired reinforcement properties.
Geogrid soil reinforcement is a critical part of many civil engineering projects designed to enhance soil’s stabilisation and capacity.
The careful consideration of the installation process is necessary to ensure the optimal performance.
The understanding of the project design is fundamental. These involve the geogrid type, dimensions, placement locations, and overlaps.
Geogrids are affected by the soil’s attributes, such as its type, strength, and moisture content. These properties are the main considerations that can affect the selection and installation of the geogrid.
The base of any land should be clean, even. If there is any existing vegetation or unsuitable formations, it should be removed.
The equipment required must be checked first for rollers, excavators, and spreading machines. Employees who are involved in the installation process need to be well informed.
It is important to make sure that the geogrid is installed smoothly and uniformly, without any wrinkles or creases. Geogrid sheets normally have overlaps. The overlap length should stick to the design of the sheet.
The installation should be carried out in the units of layers, which are the design structures of the individual sections. Each layer of the project is required to undergo the process of being fully compacted to achieve sufficient density.
There are times wherein a geogrid may not acquire protection through geometries and overlays from locations prone to construction damages. In circumstances such as this, geogrid protection necessitates a systemic approach that shields the aggregate surface from environmental action.
Proper drainage is vital for uncontrolled runoff that may lead to water collection and then to a decrease in the geogrid performance.
Perform regular checks on the geogrid to identify rips, folds, or the outright wrong alignment.
Carry out the resultant performance of the in-situ densitometer and density strength of the soil during a verification test.
Keep accurate records of the process of installation, such as the amount of materials used, the machinery used, and the names of the personnel who were a part of it.
Client: Department of Transportation, South Carolina
Location:
South Carolina, USA
Product used: StrataGridTM and StrataSlopeTM
Application: Construction of a steep soil slope
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) needed a new road next to a CSX railroad track. Strata’s engineering experts proposed the StrataSlope system.
The StrataSlope system suggested by Strata’s engineering specialists is the product that utilizes StrataGrid 200 geogrid for geosynthetic reinforcement and a special slope covering.
Determined to shield the slope while the concrete covering was barely maintained, a temporary erosion barrier was used. Immediately after the concrete was installed, grass was sown on the farthest part of the slope, kept with another layer of reinforcement and a protective material. By doing so, we made sure the slope remained stable and resisted floods even after construction. Strata’s solution astutely met the demand for a steep, stable slope. The design provided for both the concrete protection and the grass to grow together.
To conclude, geogrid soil reinforcement has indeed brought about a major change in the construction industry by presenting a strong and effective solution to soil reinforcement and load-bearing capacity problems. By tightly binding the soil’s compressive strength to the geogrids’ tensile strength, this method has become a leading technology in different areas, which include retaining walls, roads, and embankments and is nothing but a top-quality invention. It is the responsibility of soil-geogrid interaction to make sure that the operation will end up with the project’s completion, yet not always.
Contact Strata Geosystems for reliable geogrid reinforcement solutions that improve soil stability and load-bearing capacity. Our expert team is ready to assist you with your construction projects, ensuring effective results and quality materials. Reach out today to discuss your project needs!
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Director, President – Glen Raven Technical Fabrics
Strata/Glen Raven tenure: 10 years/28 years
Total industry experience: 35 years
MBA – Wake Forest University
Directs the strategic direction of Glen Raven’s automotive, protective apparel, military, geogrid, outdoor and logistic businesses.
Director, General Manager, Strata Inc.
Strata/Strata Inc. tenure: 3 years/14 years
Total industry experience: 25 years
MBA – Georgia State University
Led the integration of Strata Inc. business operations into the headquarters of GRTF and transition from USA based to India based manufacturing.
Director
Strata tenure: 17 years
Total industry experience: 47 years
CA – ICA
Played a key role in the establishment of Strata’s India operations. Provides vision for product innovation and leveraging new technology trends.
Global Technical Sales Director
Strata tenure: 7 years
Total industry experience: 32 years
Civil & Geotechnical Engineer (First class)
Provides highly technical and innovative civil engineering solutions in India and around the world. Responsible for the design and execution of large-scale geotechnical projects around the world including Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and South America.
CTO – Chief Technology Officer
Strata tenure: 9 years
Total industry experience: 48 years
BTech (Hons), MTech (Civil) Both IIT Bombay, DMS (Bombay University), FIE, FIGS, Chartered Engineer
Streamlines the designs of Geosynthetics and has brought innovation in geogrid and geocell design application.
COO – Projects and Sales
Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 24 years
MBA – University of Gujarat
Leads the monetization of products and solutions while ensuring highest execution quality and project profitability.
COO – Technical Textiles
Strata tenure: 13 years
Total industry experience: 33 years
BE (Mechanical) – Nagpur University
Drives excellence in process design, product features and cost effectiveness in production.
CFO – Chief Financial Officer
Strata tenure: 8 years
Total industry experience: 35 years
CA – ICA, ICWA – ICWAI
Leads the finance, accounting, taxation, commercial, legal and IT functions and assisting on all strategic and operational matters.
CDO – Chief Development Officer
Strata tenure: 10 years
Total industry experience: 13 years
MBA – ISB, Hyderabad
Leads diversification of the product portfolio, monetizing the new products and ensuring successful sustained financial growth of the company top line.
CEO – Chief Executive Officer
Strata tenure: 14 years
Total industry experience: 42 years
B Tech (Chemical) – IIT Delhi
Leads day-to-day business operations of the company with focus on capacity expansion, product and process improvement.
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