EGRID SOIL REINFORCEMENT
EGRID is a range of geosynthetic products in a mesh or grid made from polymer.
The purpose of EGRID is to reinforce or add strength to soil. The ribbed construction of EGRID is designed to significantly increase the structural integrity of soils.
EGRID Bi-axial:
E'GRID Bi-axial Geogrids are square meshes of polypropylene (PP) and widely used as subsoil reinforcement. Their prominent characteristic is excellent mechanical properties under intermittent high loading. As a bi-axial mesh strength is equal in both machine and cross directions. As granular materials are compacted into the apertures of the E'GRID an interlocking effect is achieved. The stiffness of E'GRID allows for load at low strain. Ultimately highway design relies more on economic solutions which E'GRID provides, allowing for an estimated 40% reduction in granular materials with no loss of performance.
EGRID Uni-axial:
EGRID Uni-axial Geogrids are meshes with elongated apertures made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and are generally used as reinforcement of modular block walls, earth walls, slopes and bridge abutments. Their primary characteristic is good creep performance with low strain and high tensile strength under constant load.
Applications:
- Stabilisation: Bi-axial E'GRID geogrid, with its square aperture, provides high tensile strength in both directions. The optimised geometry of nodes and ribs increases the shear resistance by a process of interlocking between the square ribs and soil. E'GRID geogrid can be used with any soil type. By establishing a composite platform from the fill materials and the interaction of E'GRID geogrid, the load-spread angle can be increased to approximately 45 degrees. This makes load dispersal more effective and reduces the foundation height and construction cost.
- Soft Soil Foundation Reinforcement: On poor foundations, vertical loading generates lateral stress in the fill, particularly at the base. The resulting horizontal shear applied to the foundation causes lateral displacement failure at the structure. A soft soil foundation has high compaction, often with low permeability and long settlement time. Embankment cracking and structural failure on soft soil foundations often occur due to differential settlement. Conventional measures such as wick drains, chemical consolidation, increasing the width and height of the foundation, piled embankments, surcharging, etc, are complex technically with complicated or lengthy construction or high cost. The shearing resistance of soft soil foundations reinforced by E'GRID geogrid either alone or together with conventional measures is greatly improved. With compaction improved and reduction of differential settlement, the bearing capacity of foundations is enhanced. The cost of construction is reduced with less fill needed and time scale shortened.
- Roads, railways, ports and other paved areas: One layer or multi layer E'GRID geogrid construction distributes loading and disperses stress more effectively, leading to the reduction of differential settlement and improved foundation capacity.
- Airport runways: A tough platform can be established with E'GRID geogrid reinforcement. Resistance to the impact of aircraft taking off and landing is improved with more effective and immediate load dispersal.
- Temporary roads and other unpaved areas: E'GRID geogrid reinforcement gives ease of construction of temporary pavements with reduced construction costs.
- Slopes Reinforcement: In construction of roads and railways, reduced land take, convenient construction and good safety margins at reduced cost can be achieved by the use of E'GRID geogrids reinforcement. In environmentally sensitive areas, steep vegetated slopes can often be built in place of the hard-faced structures that would be needed with conventional techniques.
- Failed slope reinstatement: The material of the failed slope can be excavated and reused with E'GRID geogrid reinforcement to reinstate the failed area. This process has low cost and minimal impact on the local environment.
- Environmental protection of slopes: E'GRID geogrids reinforcement can retain the face soil and encourage growth of vegetation. Natural vegetation will cover the whole facing, and special seeding coverage can be sowed to conform to surroundings if needed.
- Reinstatement of spent quarries: With E'GRID geogrid reinforcement, safe structures and permanent vegetation can be established to re-integrate spent quarries into the local environment.
- Walls/ Abutments Reinforcement: An E'GRID geogrid reinforced wall is composed of geogrid, wall facing and fill. Because of the resistance of E'GRID geogrids to chemical and biological attack and its interlock with the fill, a wide range of fill materials may be used, including general backfill soil, construction waste, pulverised fuel ash (PFA), etc. Reinforced walls can be constructed quickly with simple technology at low cost. Wall and slope faces can be designed economically to suit the clients requirements and to blend into the environment. Wall faces may be of brick, stone, or fully vegetated. E'GRID geogrid reinforced walls and abutments are tough and elastic composite structures of multiple layers of geogrid and fill. They can accommodate base deformation and have particularly good resistance to vibration and earthquakes. E'GRID geogrid reinforcement can improve the bearing capacity and factor of safety of a structure and reduce construction cost.
- Landfill: E'GRID geogrids can be utilised with other geosynthetic materials in the base, cover, temporary pavements and banks of landfill sites. The use of E'GRID geogrids can reduce landfill costs, increase capacity and improve safety margins.