Road Reinforcement Geocell
Many studies have shown that geocells can significantly improve the performance of paved and unpaved roads over weak soil. These improvements include reduced rut depth, vertical stress distribution, resilient modulus and load-carrying capacity.
To simulate the pressure-settlement behavior of geocell-reinforced sections, a FLAC3D model was used. The results show that the simulated pressure-settlement curves and bearing capacity improvement factors closely match experimental data.
Strengthens weak subgrade soils
Road construction is often performed on shaky soils, and if the proper technology is not used, these roads may disintegrate. A geocell can help stabilize the soil by confining it and increasing its bearing capacity. These cells distribute the load evenly, which reduces stress cracking and increases the lifespan of the road. This can save on expensive materials and labor costs, making it a more economical choice for road construction.
Many studies have been conducted on the effect of geocell reinforcement in paved and unpaved roads over weak soil. These include laboratory model testing, field trials and numerical and analytical studies. These studies show that geocells can significantly improve the performance of a reinforced base layer. In addition, they can increase the stiffness and tensile strength of the soil, while reducing its creep rate and preventing early failure (Pokharel et al. 2010).
Geocells can also improve the durability of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) base courses by confining it and reducing the permanent deformation. However, it is important to keep in mind that the Road reinforcement geocell RAP base is sensitive to cold temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to study the behavior of the geocell-reinforced RAP base at different temperatures.
Increases bearing capacity
The geocell is an effective method for increasing the bearing capacity of soil, and reducing settlements in road construction. It provides wide coverage and uniform stress distribution, which improves the shear strength of the subgrade soil. It also reduces the movement of the fill and aggregate materials, thereby reducing the total cost of the project. However, the geocell’s effectiveness depends on several factors and variables, such as the relative density of the infill material, the geometry of the cell and placement location, and the geocell type.
Many studies have investigated the working principles of the geocell reinforcement through laboratory tests and finite element modeling (FEM). However, they have only examined the effect of geocells on a limited number of load levels. Typically, they use standard road loads of around 200 kPa, which is acceptable for general usage.
This study used a new approach to examine the performance of geocells in different loading conditions by using pressure-settlement curves and unit strain measurements. The results showed that the geocell-reinforced soil cushion acts as an immediate working platform that redistributes the footing load over a wider area, which decreases the soil-pressure on the subgrade surface. Moreover, the geocell-reinforced soil can be used to build thinner pavement layers without compromising the strength and durability of the base layer. The results of this study indicate that the mechanical properties of the infill soil have a significant impact on the reinforced performance, and it is crucial to select an optimum infill material for the cohesive geocells.
Reduces settlement
Roads built over shaky ground need to be sturdy enough to resist deformation. Otherwise, they will disintegrate and become unstable or unserviceable. Using geocells can help increase the load-bearing capacity of roads. They stabilize and strengthen granular soils, reducing settlement, while also improving the overall stability of the road. This technology can save money in the long run by extending the life of existing roads and cutting construction costs.
The effectiveness of geocells in reducing settlement is determined by the choice of infill material. For instance, sand with high shear strength benefits the performance of geocell-reinforced soil beds. However, sand with low shear strength decreases the performance of the bed. Therefore, it is important to choose the right type of infill material for the project at hand.
In previous studies, it has been demonstrated that the use of geocells can significantly reduce settlement in road foundations. Latha and Somwanshi24 used model loading tests to simulate the pressure-settlement response of square footings supported by geocell-reinforced sand. They found that the Mohr-Coulomb model results matched experimental values below 5.8%. The models also showed that the geocell-reinforced foundations showed greater reductions in footing settlement than the unreinforced ones. The differences in the modeling results increased as the stress level increases, reaching a maximum of 37% at 200 kPa. This was due to the difficulty in simulating the three-dimensional shape of geocells.
Reduces costs
Road construction is a time-consuming process. The use of Geocells can reduce the amount of materials needed for construction and shorten the construction period. It can also increase the performance of the roadway and decrease maintenance costs. Moreover, it is an environmentally friendly way to construct roads.
Cellular confinement systems have been used to improve the load-bearing capacity of unpaved roads for over 40 years. These systems provide three-dimensional stabilization not possible with conventional geogrids. They have improved the lifespan of thousands of miles of paved and unpaved highways, access roads, and work platforms.
Using geocells can also save money by reducing the need for aggregates, and thus decreasing the project costs. This is because the cells help to spread the load over a wider area of the base, and thus reduces the size of the aggregate required.
In addition, the geocells provide a higher stiffness to the soil, Flood control sandbags which reduces the need for additional fill material. This reduction in aggregate requirements also reduces the amount of excavation, hauling, and labor required to lay down the base.
Moreover, the higher stiffness of the geocells can also reduce the need for expensive reinforcement materials in the construction of embankment slopes. In many cases, these cells can be used as a substitute for conventional engineering methods, which significantly reduces the cost of construction.
