Geogrids

Geogrids are used as substitutes “armature” materials to solve increasingly more complex geotechnical issues. They are distinguished in uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial and are mainly manufactured of high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polyester with coating of PVC.

Geogrids are applied:

• For reinforcement of embankment bases in weak subsoils.
• For the construction of reinforced earth walls with steep (up to 90°) slopes.
• To create load transfer reinforced pile cap platforms.
• For the reinforcement of ballast or substrate on railways.
• For asphalt layers reinforcement on old cracked pavements, to prevent the "reflective" cracking..
• To reinforce pavements base and sub base and reduce their thickness, for equivalent traffic effect.
• For antierosion control of weak soils in physical or artificial slopes.
• To prevent rock falls from rocky slopes.

Uniaxial

In order to save time and money, it is often necessary to reinforce unstable earth slopes, so that they become stable. It is possible to use lower quality soil materials and this can help a project in its design stage and greatly reduce the impact on the environment, creating flexible structures with minimal land occupancy.

The failure of natural or artificial slopes is a common problem, especially in cohesive soils or in areas with high precipitation.

The main advantages of using uniaxial geogrids are:

• Friendly to environment, reducing interference in environmentally sensitive areas
• Reduce the quantity of required soil materials and allows the use of locally available soil materials
• Simple and fast construction
• Significant reduction of total cost compared to traditional methods

Biaxial

Biaxial geogrids are suitable for base and sub base reinforcement, in weak and heterogeneous soil formations. They combine reduction of the construction cost with great advantages in base or sub base granular layers.

The basic advantages of using biaxial geogrids, are:

• Significant reduction of the thickness of the granular material, without reducing strength
• Minimize excavation and conservation of natural aggregates
• Improved compaction of the embankment
• Control of differential settlements
• Bridging cavities and depressions

Asphalt Pavements

The asphaltic pavements which are subjected to heavy or continuous loads, as well as the cracked surfaces due to weak base and the rigid concrete pavements topped with asphaltic wearing courses, will enormously be benefited by using asphaltic reinforcement.

Products are required which will prolong the life of the coating, will reduce maintenance costs and asphalt thickness, will reduce fatigue and reflective cracking and finally reduce the surface rutting. Such products are special biaxial grids and polyester geotextiles reinforced with glass fibres.

The full reconstruction is obviously the last option and the available funds are now reduced and asphalt is a temporary solution, because the cracks may reappear soon.

The advantages are:

• Reduce the thickness of the asphaltic courses
• Significant retardation of reflective cracking appearance and reduction of surface rutting
• Increase of life of the pavement

Erosion Control

The natural vegetation provides excellent erosion protection. However, additional measures are required in areas prone to flooding, waves, river banks, spillways of dams, dikes suffering from erosion. In these cases, it is necessary to use an additional permanent erosion protection material, to strengthen the resilience of vegetation to arm the root system while it is aesthetic. This alternative solution is cheaper than most rigid and insensitive interventions, it is environmentally friendly and provides a permanent solution with easy installation.