Geogrid is used in a variety of civil engineering, construction, and environmental applications. From building pavement to improving rail trackbeds, let`s review a few major geogrid applications.
RETAINING WALLS
Geogrids are utilized in retaining wall construction to increase soil backfill stability. By reinforcing the soil, geogrids increase a retaining wall`s structural integrity and help distribute loads more evenly. This solves common problems often caused by soft backfill or sloping ground. By acting as a single mass, the geogrids will make the entire retaining wall unit behave as one.
PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION
Geogrids can be used during pavement construction in order to improve the subgrade and reinforce the pavement base. If the subgrade is too soft, geogrid can help solidify and strengthen it. This is extremely important when bearing loads. When used for base reinforcement, geogrid provides adequate stiffening that helps in reducing thickness and construction time. It can also help in increasing the life of the pavement.
SLOPE STABILIZATION
Perhaps one of the most significant geogrid applications is soil stabilization. Geogrid influences slope deformation and stability while providing a natural and economical alternative to conventional concrete retaining walls. Slopes stabilized with geogrids can be built at almost any angle to provide the most economical use of space. This makes constructing embankments, bridge approach fills, dikes, and causeways over soft or sloped surfaces less time-consuming and more cost-effective.
RAIL TRACKBED IMPROVEMENT
Geogrids can not only increase rail trackbed stiffness, but they can also reduce variability, minimize track settlement, and help with ballast degradation. They allow railtrack construction to be completed faster, safer, and more economically. Thanks to the interlocking nature of geogrids, they seamlessly confine with the aggregate and limit any movement of particles under rail traffic load. This effectively reduces deformations and maintains a stabilized, stiff, and strong layer.
WORKING PLATFORMS
When it comes to using heavy machinery such as cranes, rigs, and large vehicles over weak, unstable soil, safety is critical. Geogrids can be used to stabilize working platforms to ensure the safety of workers and equipment. By incorporating geogrid in the granular materials, you are able to increase bearing capacity, limiting surface deformation, and settlements. Geogrid can also reduce working platform thickness, the volume of required fill, costs, time, and emissions.
FOUNDATION AND EMBANKMENT SUPPORT
The final geogrid applications we will be covering are foundation systems and embankment stabilization. Geogrids allow for enhanced structure integrity, shorter construction schedules, and lower project costs. Excavation and replacement can be especially costly when faced with weak soils. Fortunately, geogrid helps to create stiffer platforms that can easier distribute loads over weak soils. They can also increase effective bearing capacity while decreasing differential settlement.
