In its February 2015 newsletter, international geosynthetics and affiliated civil technologies manufacturer Maccaferri focused on two geotechnical software tools. These products are dedicated to assisting pavement design and improving fluid drainage.
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The publication is part of a special supplement created by Maccaferri for its involvement with the Geosynthetics 2015 conference, which concluded February 18 in Portland, Oregon.
PAVEMENT DESIGN SOFTWARE
MacRead Studio 1.0 Pavement Design concentrates on understanding geogrid strength and positioning in roadway subgrade stabilization applications.
The tensioned membrane and lateral restraint mechanisms of geosynthetics in subgrade improves the soils load bearing capability while guarding against erosion of the subgrade (e.g., mixing of fines that might lead to rutting and pavement cracking).
Here, Maccaferri’s pavement design software is based on a 4-layers model: asphalt (binder and wearing course) if paved, and base, sub-base, and subgrade. Following that establishment of thickness, with respect to commonly available methodologies (e.g., AASHTO, Giroud-Han, Leng-Gabr), the number and the mechanical characteristics of reinforcing layers may be determined. This will account for mitigating horizontal forces from self-weight, wheel load, and the membrane effect.
Multiple geosynthetic strains may be considered, and thickness savings versus traditional designs are including. The results can be significant with aggregate layer reduction (e.g., > 25%).
To support the software’s utility, the newsletter includes a case study of Leng-Gabr geogrid reinforcement design from South Africa.
FLUID DRAINAGE SOFTWARE
The advanced MacFlow Studio geotechnical software tool has been engineered for a broad range of applications. It is focused on understanding drainage geocomposite selection. This includes sub-horizontal, sloping, and sub-vertical applications. The software helps determine when geocomposites are an appropriate (and perhaps significantly more economical) solution to traditional sand and gravel drainage layers.
MacFlow also provides comparative or equivalency tables between specific drainage geocomposite types and granular layers.
The calculations in the program consider long-term flow rates, reduction factors, length and incline of an installation, infiltration coefficients of rainfall, soil- or hard surface-interface with a geosynthetic, weight and thickness of soil layers, distributed surcharges, surficial flow, and more.
The newsletter provides an interesting project example of how the drainage software was used for the design of a landfill cover in the Caribbean.
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SEE ALSO
- INDUSTRY PROFILE: Maccaferri
- Sinkholes: Bridging the Divide in Union Bridge
