How Geocell Improves Soil Stability and Strengthens Weak Subgrade Soils
Geocell improves soil stability and supports loads on weak subgrade soils by creating a three-dimensional network honeycomb structure in the soil. It is available in perforated and non-perforated strips that are welded together on site.
The new standards cover a wide range of geocell applications, reinforcement geosynthetics, and 3D confinement system design factors, as well as emphasize the impact of geocell material attributes on long-term durability.
Erosion Control
The honeycomb cellular confinement system in the Geocell helps stabilize and improve soil, making it ideal for slopes prone to erosion or for road construction. The cells prevent the material from shifting sideways under heavy or repetitive traffic, reducing weather erosion. The rhomboidal indentation texture (1.5+/-0.1mm) also keeps the fill in place and creates friction to reduce movement of the materials within the cell, so they can settle into the correct position.
This enables the Geocell to significantly reduce Geocell soil loss by limiting the amount of material that can fall off the slope. It also allows engineers to reduce the cost and increase the weight-bearing capacity of projects by using in-situ soil instead of importing aggregates.
Another way the Geocell improves soil is by strengthening its structure, which can be useful in areas like railroads that see a lot of traffic and need to withstand a great deal of wear. The structural reinforcement in the Geocell prevents it from eroding and becoming damaged easily, which can make trains and other equipment less likely to function properly.
The Geocell is made of high-density polyethylene that is shaped into a grid of interconnecting cells for added strength and support. The cells can be filled with soil, sand, gravel, rock or concrete to provide a solid foundation for outdoor projects. It can be perforated or non-perforated, depending on the project’s needs.
Structural Reinforcement
Unlike other methods of stabilizing slopes, Geocell allows the use of local materials like gravel and soil. This reduces project costs by eliminating the need to transport heavy aggregate, which in turn cuts down on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It also makes it possible to minimize the amount of excavation required for a project, which saves time and money on construction projects.
Using Geocells to stabilize steep slopes helps prevent erosion by creating a textured surface that resists movement and holds the soil together. This helps prevent landslides and other hazardous conditions. Moreover, it can save money by reducing the need for expensive piling and other costly construction techniques.
A large number of studies on the utility of geosynthetic materials in road layers have investigated their potential to improve load support and provide structural reinforcement. However, few of these investigations have focused on the use of a geocell mat system.
In the present study, the settlement of a geocell-reinforced section with different aperture and height dimensions was examined under gradual stress increments. It was found that the geocell-reinforced section with a smaller aperture and height dimension (440 mm-660 mm) showed a lower settlement value than that of the unreinforced section at the same level of stress. In addition, the model results indicate that the aperture and height dimensions of a geocell have an impact on its confinement behavior.
Slope Protection
Using geocells to stabilize sloped surfaces helps prevent erosion and landslides. They are an environmentally friendly solution that can provide strength to roads, highways, railways, airport runways, and more. They can also help keep structures like bridges, water dams, and landfills safe from damage due to landslides or earthquakes.
The cell structure of a geocell provides significant stability to the ground by reducing lateral movement of soil particles, while enhancing vertical load distribution. When filled with soil, they can further stabilize and improve the mechanical strength of slopes.
Before laying a geocell, contractors must make sure the site is clear of debris and vegetation. It is important to lay the cells in the correct direction and at the proper depth.
Contractors must also consider the drainage requirements of the slope. Choose a geocell that has the right permeability to allow water to flow naturally. Once the geocell is in place, contractors can plant grass, shrubs, or trees on the surface. The roots of these plants will further stabilize the soil and reduce the risk of a future landslide or erosion event. The partnering of engineers and construction crews, environmental professionals, regulatory agencies, the bridge owner, and stakeholders played a critical role in the successful completion of this project. The resulting geocell-faced, reinforced soil slopes have performed well during the two years since construction.
Road Construction
About 80% of the world’s roads are built on unpaved gravel access routes, and these roadways often disintegrate without proper technology in place, threatening the safety, solidity and longevity of the highways. With their rigidity and creep resistance, geocells provide the stiffness needed to stabilize road construction. They prevent clay soil from shrinking and hdpe geomembrane suppliers cracking, mitigate lateral dispersion and strain on sandy soils, and strengthen subgrades in all soft soils.
Another primary function of geocell is to reduce the amount of fill material required for road construction by confining and improving the performance of the existing subgrade. This also allows for a thinner pavement layer and decreases overall construction costs.
In addition to their cost-reducing benefits, cellular confinement systems offer superior stability for roadways by evenly distributing the load across a larger area. This minimizes rutting, settlement and other pavement distresses and increases the service life of the roadway.
BaseLok Geocell can be filled with a variety of materials, including aggregates, vegetated soil or concrete, depending on the nature of the slope and the loads being applied. It can be installed on slopes up to 60 degrees and flow velocities up to 25 ft/s (7.6 m/s). It is also available in perforated versions, providing improved root zones for vegetated applications and increased strength and durability for heavy traffic areas.
