Soil Reinforcement

During a Nor'easter in March of 2010, heavy surf and high winds devastated the dune system protecting beach front homes, near the Hampton's, on the twin forks of Long Island, New York. With the dunes gone, there was nothing left to protect the beachfront properties from future storms. Instead of doing a "sand push" along the beach, or trucking in sand to rebuild the dunes, Maccaferri was approached to offer an alternative long term solution. The steel sheeting shown in the top right image was a temporary solution after an earlier storm; however, the US Army Corp of Engineers mandated that it was to be removed. The MacTubes® were installed as the only means of defense against future storms.

Geofabrics Australasia Pty. Ltd. (www.geofabrics.com.au), an Australia-focused geosynthetics manufacturer and service provider, has announced the hiring of industry veteran Dr. Richard Austin as the company's new National Technical Manager. With 20+ years of experience in the geosynthetics field, Richard brings considerable expertise and international insight to Geofabrics. Through his previous key positions with geosynthetics manufacturers and system providers in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong Richard has developed a strong reputation in the industry, particularly in the utilization of soil reinforcement technologies, for subgrade and slope stabilisation and the construction of mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) walls.

The University of Minnesota held its 61st Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference on Friday, February 22 at the conference center on the St. Paul campus. Sponsored by the U of M Department of Civil Engineering, the Minnesota Geotechnical Society (MGS), and the Geo-Institute of ASCE, this annual gathering continues to impress. In a report on his visit to the conference, Geosynthetica Editor Chris Kelsey writes that "This year's event focused on instrumentation, data interpretation, and the impacts of geotechnical activities on the environment and structures (such as building overlying tunneling zones). These guiding ideas helped provide significant perspective on the changing practice of engineering. Chaired by Steve Gale (Gale-Tec), the event included many presentations in which geosynthetics played a key role in the geotechnical solution."

Writing for the December 2012 issue of Rebuilding America's Infrastructure, Jeff Fiske details how NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) selected Triton Marine Mattresses for bridge scour protection. The bascule piers to be protected support drawbridge gears and may also support a guardhouse on top of a key bridge in a KSC-controlled channel. The reinforced mattressed solution was selected for scour protection performance, constructability, adaptability, and durability in a challenging, submarine environment. Also, the coastal and waterway revetment system was much more cost-effective than the alternatives. Read it online. Learn more here.;

Tensar has launched a new website with easy-to-navigate access to geogrid products and systems, project case studies, industry white papers, product literature and more. Search by application, system or market sector to learn how Tensar's wide range of geogrid products, systems and applications can benefit your next project. Registered users can take advantage of SP4 PRO, Dimension Solution and other valuable Tensar software too. Register by February 28 and be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 5 iPads.

The first quarter of the year is a time of renewing professional society memberships, and it is also often a time of elections. Readers are encouraged to renew their North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) memberships now…as well as take part in the NAGS Elections. From now through February 21, members of NAGS—the North American chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)—will be able to vote for the President Elect position and a Vice President spot.

GSE Holding, Inc. has announced its acquisition of all of the equity interests of SynTec, LLC, a Baltimore, Maryland-based manufacturer of geosynthetics that complement GSE's well-known containment geosynthetics. SynTec has revenues of approximately $20 million. Co-Founders Giovanni Capra and Aigen Zhao, both of whom are veterans of the field, will remain with GSE after the acquisition.

The International Geosynthetics Society (www.geosyntheticssociety.org) has announced its selection of Prof. Richard J. Bathurst, P.Eng., Ph.D., FEIC, FCAE, to deliver the 2014 Giroud Lecture—one of the Society's highest distinctions. Since its first awarding in 1998, the Giroud Lecture has recognized exceptional achievement and influence in the field of geosynthetics and has been delivered every four years at the opening of the International Conferences on Geosynthetics, organized by the IGS. Dr. Bathurst is only the fifth to be bestowed this honor and will present the lecture at the opening of the 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics (10 ICG), Berlin, Germany, 21–25 September 2014. Learn more.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and in particular the traditional Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) states (e.g., United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) have played a strong role in the geosynthetics field for many years. Most often, however, recognition has been given only to companies active on the raw materials side of the business, such as the extraction of petroleum and natural gas, which are subsequently used to manufacture polymers, which in turn influence the properties and performance of geosynthetics manufactured everywhere. The continued expansion of Mattex Geosynthetics, headquartered in Dubai (UAE), tells a different story and is more emblematic of the region's growing influence on the manufacturing side of geosynthetics.

U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., was welcomed by top executives during a recent tour of Tensar International's Headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia. During his visit employees were able to discuss industry trends, and learn about a transportation bill that could expand the country's infrastructure.

Strata introduces StrataBase®, a complete line of rigid biaxial geogrids designed for structural reinforcement in paved and unpaved roads. The line consists of fully tested extruded and oriented polypropylene geogrids offered in multiple tensile strengths, all of which meet or exceed current industry standards. StrataBase reduces pavement failure caused by lateral spreading of base material and is a cost effective alternate to costly undercutting and backfilling. It has proven to reduce aggregate thickness up to 50% and improve structural performance and pavement life. Learn more.

In a 21 January 2013 letter to its business partners, Tensar International Corporation has announced a price increase of 8% for its biaxial and TriAx® geogrids. Writing for the company, Dean Ditmar, Vice President and General Manager, notes that the sharp rise in raw material costs, primarily in regards to polypropylene resins and additives, has necessitated the move. "We will continue to pursue all options to manage our costs and minimize the need for future price increases," Ditmar writes. Download a copy of the letter (PDF)

A proposed new ASTM International standard will provide a test method to give index performance for both established and new geogrids, which are products used for the reinforcement and stabilization of roads, railways, airports, docks and other trafficked areas. ASTM WK39646, Test Method for Multi-Axial Low-Strain Tension Test for Geogrids and Geotextiles, is being developed by Subcommittee D35.01 on Mechanical Properties, part of ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics.

Founded in 1988 to provide Canada with technical resources for geosynthetics, CTT Group’s Geosynthetics Division, known as SAGEOS, offers innovative R&D services, reliable laboratory testing and independent expertise to manufacturers, engineers and contractors seeking technical answers and solutions for projects that involve geosynthetics. After two decades of continuous growth and thousands of satisfied clients, SAGEOS proudly serves hundreds of customers every year. With about $5 million in cutting edge laboratory equipment spread over 20,000 square feet of laboratory space, and a network of specialized partners, we offer world class, multilingual services in all areas of the world. Learn more about the many tests offered by SAGEOS in support of the geosynthetics field (PDF). Learn more here.;

With 11,000+ attendees, 4,000 presentations, and 750 sessions and workshops, and with just a few days in which to absorb the material, the annual Transportation Research Board gathering in Washington, D.C. is a huge undertaking for both organizers and attendees. To support this year's event (January 13–17) TRB has released a very useful mobile app for saving agendas, keyword search, session and committee meeting times/locations, and more.

Group CTT and SAGEOS are working with various industries to foster new opportunities and materials with nanotechnology. Just as polymer modifications have expanded the roles and successes of geosynthetic materials, additional surface modifications and treatment of fibers with nano-particles may change geosynthetic performance characteristics significantly and enable new applications. Contact Eric Blonde, eblond@gcttg.com, for more information. Learn more here.;

Tensar TriAx® TX190L geogrid has been developed specifically to improve rail track ballast stability and so maintain track geometry. Its unique advantages are recognised in the November 2012 issue of Certificate No. PA05/05505 by Network Rail's Technology Introduction Group, Asset Management Services; Network Rail endorsement is widely regarded internationally as representing the highest technical standards. Tensar TX190L (PADS no. 057/100470) can be used for both sub-ballast and ballast stabilisation in new track bed and renewals and maintenance upgrades. Its benefits for rail networks include extended maintenance cycles and reduced whole life costs, as well as reduced construction time and traffic disruption with their associated additional costs.

Geosynthetics veteran Ian Peggs was in Abu Dhabi, UAE in November for the annual Geosynthetics Middle East conference. He writes of the fifth installment of the conference, "One day was devoted to geotextiles, geogrids, and geocells, while another was devoted to geomembranes. Approximately 350 people registered and represented 30 countries including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, UK, USA, Germany, Switzerland, India, Iran, China, Slovakia, and Poland. There were more than 30 exhibitors. The conference is organized by SKZ (Germany) with the assistance of BMC-Gulf." Read more.

Group CTT publishes a broad resource for the greater geosynthetics and textile industries: Textile Journal. Each issue examines market trends, changes in tests and standards, new opportunities for growth (e.g., nanotechnology), and much more. Read it online. Learn more here.;

Last October, professionals and partners of the HUESKER Group received the Milton Vargas Award. This award is an initiative of the Brazilian Magazine Fundações and Obras Geotécnicas that aims to recognize the work of professionals responsible for planning, design and implementation of large construction projects and whose works have already been mentioned prominently in the pages of the magazine. The awarding took place in São Paulo in the presence of hundreds of professional engineers representing the Brazilian geotechnical consultants and companies including the honourees, their friends and families.

Engineers at District 2 of the Illinois Department of Transportation were busy preparing plans for a major project in the Quad cities area in Rock Island County of Northwestern Illinois. The project, an extension of the Milan Beltway, was to include a long and highly visible drainage channel. They sought out a vegetated solution for this project, and the ideal solution they found was with composite turf reinforcement mats (C-TRM) from Tensar North American Green. Read about the exemplary and cost-saving performance from this site.

Yamba is a small coastal community on the northern beaches of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. and is known as the "Jewel in the Crown" for Clarence Valley Council, a point which was reinforced when it won "The Best Town in Australia" in 2009. In early 2012, undermining in the southeast corner of Whiting Beach was exposing key infrastructure, including the footpath, road, stormwater pipe work and chamber, pressurized sewer and a car park. ELCOROCK® Geotextile Sand Containers were seen as an ideal solution to fit these criteria and were adopted after consultation with Geofabrics Australasia, Fisheries and Crown Land.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has published the third issue of its 2012 volume of newsletter. Issue 28.3 delivers 40+ pages of stories from around the world, summarizing events, detailing opportunities in geosynthetics, profiling society activities, and more. Key stories in this issue include a reboot of the "Educate the Educators" initiative, results from the IGS Elections (2012 - 2016 term), the members-only proceedings library online, and much more.

In a joint effort HUESKER Synthetic, INORA and NEOSTRAIN have documented the outstanding technical solution for sinkhole reinforcement as well as the detection and monitoring of deformations of the new constructed motorway A1 near Katowice, Poland. The solution was presented in the paper "Fully automated system for monitoring of deformations and settlements of embankment body of motorway A1" and presented at the 16th Polish Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering held in Breslau, Poland in September 2012. The technical Committee of the Conference thanked the authors and awarded the paper for its high level of innovation and quality.

Tensar International, the leader in geosynthetic soil reinforcement and stabilization, has completed a major investment in its Morrow, GA geogrid production plant. The facility's new extruder is now operating at full capacity, offering additional production capacity to help meet growing demand for Tensar® TriAx® Geogrids. The new extruder can run multiple resin types and allows the facility to run longer production campaigns. Significant growth of TriAx® Geogrid sales prompted the investment.