Road Reinforcement Geocell
Road reinforcement geocell is a three-dimensional honeycomb polymeric confinement system used to improve the load-bearing capacity of soft soils. It also helps to reduce construction time and costs.
The influence of infill materials on geocell-reinforced performance is not always fully understood. However, it is well known that geocells primarily enhance bearing capacity by restricting lateral displacement.
Strengthening of Weak Subgrade
Many paved and unpaved roads suffer from premature failure due to the low shear strength of their subbase. In order to reduce the construction cost and maintenance costs of such structures, researchers are constantly searching for alternative materials that can improve their structural stability. The cellular confinement system of Geocell is one such material that has been proven to enhance the shear strength of road base and sub base. The material can be used in various types of projects ranging from roads and parking areas to drainage channels and embankments.
The 3D grid that the cells create helps to distribute the load over a larger area, which reduces Road reinforcement geocell the local stress and prevents pavement failure. It also allows the use of lower quality sand in road construction, which results in significant savings on road construction costs. In addition, the confined material acts like a semi-rigid slab, which reduces contact pressures and minimizes deformations and settlements.
Geocells also have the added benefit of allowing water to flow freely through the structure. This prevents any blockage, which can be a serious problem in wet and muddy conditions. Non-perforated geocells have smooth walls that stave off the penetration of water, while perforated ones enable it to pass through, preventing any buildup that might occur. This permeability also improves the soil’s stability by keeping it moist and reducing its risk of collapse.
Reduction in Pavement Thickness
Road reinforcement geocell is a great solution for preventing soil erosion and extending the life of asphalt pavements. They help to evenly distribute the load over a large area of the subgrade, which reduces local pressure and allows the soil to recover its bearing capacity. In addition, the honeycombed confinement system helps to reduce the movement of loose soil particles and increases the overall stiffness of the subbase.
A recent study on the use of geocells for a paved road over weak soil shows that they significantly improve the dynamic and static load responses. The improvement factors of the resulting geocell-reinforced base can reach 2.5 to 3.5 times of the modulus value of the unreinforced section.
The improvement factors depend on the relative density of the infill material, geocell rigidity and geometry, placement location, and the type of geocell. Moreover, the strain peak response of the underlying soil can also influence the performance of geocells. For example, the maximum longitudinal strain generated by the road surface in the case of a geocell-reinforced base can be reduced with increasing axle load.
Additionally, geocells help to reduce the cost of construction by reducing the amount of aggregate required. They can also be installed quickly and easily, without the need for heavy equipment. In one project, a crew of four people was able to install over 11,000 square meters of geocells in just two days.
Reduction in Costs of Construction
Roads built on soft soils will deform and damage over time unless they’re reinforced. Road reinforcement geocells are a cost-effective way to stabilize these roads Flood control sandbags and help them last longer. They increase the load bearing capacity of a weak foundation by spreading the forces of traffic over a larger area. They also reduce the amount of road aggregate needed to build a road, which saves on material costs.
This geocell technology works well with a wide range of fill materials, including gravel, sand, and soil. It helps to stabilize roads on soft ground, prevent shrinking and cracking in clay, mitigate lateral dispersion and strain in sandy soils, and reinforce subgrades in all types of soft soils. It can also prevent erosion on steep slopes by providing a textured surface that resists wind and water erosion.
Geocells can be installed quickly and easily, with no need for heavy equipment. They also allow for the use of low-grade fill material, which is often more affordable than grading and crushing existing rock. In addition, they can be built in the winter without needing to wait for the ground to thaw.
When compared to other traditional reinforcement methods, the construction time for geocells is significantly reduced. There are no excavations required, and the geocells can be placed directly on top of the road surface. This saves money and resources, while allowing for a faster construction schedule.
Reduced Resource Consumption
Road reinforcement geocells are designed to confine weak soils, thereby improving their bearing capacity and shear strength. They also help in preventing shrinking and cracking of clay, mitigate lateral dispersion and strain from sandy soils, and strengthen all soft subgrade materials. As a result, roads constructed with geocells can easily bear the heaviest traffic loads without sinking, rutting, dents, or washing out of surface. These cellular confinement systems can be used for unpaved roads, parish surfaces, and local, fire escape routes, among others.
The cellular structure of these geocells helps in uniformly distributing the load, reducing the local pressure on the foundation soil. This reduces the stress on the pavement surface, controls pavement cracking, and extends its service life. Additionally, it also minimizes the use of heavy construction equipment and enables faster pavement construction.
Several studies conducted on geocell-reinforced pavement bases using various filling materials have shown that they significantly improve the load-carrying capacity of the base material, decrease permanent deformation, and reduce vertical stresses. For instance, one study on a 1.4 km section of the Wisconsin state highway using geocells reinforced with industrial byproducts found that the pavement did not show any distress even after a year of use.
It is important to check the quality of road reinforcement geocells before purchase. Look for a geocell manufacturer with years of experience in the industry and certification from independent testing laboratories. You should also be wary of manufacturers who are new in the field as they may not understand most principles of engineering and soil stabilization solutions.
