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Meet the Presto Geosystems Team: Get to Know Bryan

Posted by Ashley Beyer

Bryan and NaomiHow long have you been with Presto Geosystems?

Time flies when you are having fun! I have been with Presto Geosystems going on 14 years. In that time, I got to work with some really great people and enjoyed speaking with Gary Bach on how geocells were invented back in the late 70s and early 80s.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and enjoyed doing all things outdoors. My father was an Olympic ski jumper, so I had no choice but to strap on a pair of skis and follow in his footsteps. I became pretty good and was in three junior Olympics before a bad fall ended that part of my life. I grew up before video games, so we were always outside playing football, baseball or just riding bikes.

After a year at Michigan State University, I attended college at Michigan Tech University in Houghton, MI and graduated with a degree in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, I moved to Green Bay, WI, and worked for Foth & Van Dyke and then Robert E. Lee engineering consulting firms before joining Presto Geosystems.

What attracted you to the world of engineering and geosynthetics?

I was lucky enough to land a wonderful job out of college at Foth & Van Dyke in Green Bay, WI. Foth was a growing consulting firm at the time and the staff was always at the leading edge of technologies. When I started in consulting, geosynthetics were just becoming an option for roadway and earth retention projects. I got to see early on how engineers included geosynthetics in their projects and how the approval agencies accepted them. I guess I’m really showing my age…

What does your job entail? Can you take us through a day in the life as the Chief?

The best part of my job is that every day is different and it seems there are no “typical” days. Our products can solve so many soil stabilization problems that I am blessed to work with engineers all over the world on their challenging projects. It is rewarding to walk away from my computer at the end of the day knowing that the Geosystems Team and our worldwide distribution network work together to make a difference.

What do you like most about your job and/or what do you like most about this industry?

The people and relationship building through the years has been enjoyable. Our industry really works closely to ensure successful geosynthetic projects. I enjoy working on the AREMA, ASTM, and ISO committees and the discussions with the industry experts.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

How do you turn it off? When I first started consulting 35 years ago, we didn’t have the technology we have today. We didn’t even have AutoCAD or personal computers at the time! Everything was done by hand, and I think we understood the calculations better. When you left work, it allowed you to unwind. Today, it seem it is 24/7, especially with the advancements in technology. It can be a challenge to turn it off.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t out helping solve the world’s soil stabilization and erosion challenges?

My wife and I stay pretty active, especially in the summers. We live on a golf course, and you will always find us out playing or enjoying a cocktail on the 19th hole! Family is a big part of our life. We are lucky to have four wonderful kids who have moved out of the house and are employed! They have given us three beautiful grandchildren (one more on the way in December) that we love to spend time with and spoil which is what grandparents are supposed to do.

What is your favorite place in the world to visit?

I have been lucky to have traveled all over the world for leisure and work. A few of my favorites include Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and Banff in Canada. If had to pick one it would have to be Punta Cana since my wife and I have the best of times when we visit. We have so many great memories there. We both have stressful jobs, so it is nice to get away, relax on the beach, enjoy some cocktails and let someone else do the cooking.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

This is an easy one but hard to decide which person. I am a huge old western movie fan. It is to the point that if I am watching tv and scrolling through the channels and come across one, my wife just gets up and goes to another tv. I would have to pick my top 20, throw them in a hat, and just pick one and would be fine.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Never a Dull Moment.

Are material shortages delaying your road construction projects? Here is how to stay on schedule and within budget.

Posted by Ashley Beyer

Written by: Bryan Wedin, P.E., Chief Design Engineer

close up of partially filled geoweb geocellsRoad construction is booming, and this trend is expected to remain strong due to high demand and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes investments across many sectors, including public infrastructure.

Along with this boom, the road construction industry has been dealing with inflation-related cost increases and limited availability of construction materials. The industry has been impacted by supply-chain interruptions and shortages for many roadway materials including lime, cement, and even aggregate. These materials are typically used for roadway base construction, which means road construction projects that use these materials may be subject to delays. Due to these shortages and delays, on-site material or sand-filled GEOWEB® geocells can provide a cost-effective, readily available substitute for base materials–especially where native subgrade conditions consist of weak or soft soils.

GEOWEB® Geocells for Roadway Base Stabilization

The GEOWEB geocells have been used for load support and foundation applications worldwide for more than 40 years. Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the late 1970s, Presto co-invented the technology now known as geocells or a cellular confinement system (CCS). The early applications of geocells consisted primarily of stabilized, expedient sand roads for military vehicles. In the early 1990s, the U.S. Army deployed over 6 million square feet of the geocellular system to stabilize the shifting desert sands and provide mobility for troops and military vehicles. At the time, the system was dubbed Sandgrid due to its readily available sand infill.

Both the USACE and Desert Storm forces found a solution for building fast access roads across sand landscapes. By utilizing the principle of soil confinement to enhance soil strength, the GEOWEB System turns sand into a load-supporting composite structure that can support heavy-loaded vehicles under repeated load cycles. Since then, the GEOWEB System has also been adopted by State and Federal roadway authorities for domestic road construction across the United States.

Presto Geosystems has endeavored to improve and innovate geocell technology, creating the modern-day GEOWEB® Soil Stabilization System. The GEOWEB geocells are made of 100% high-density virgin polyethylene (HDPE) and do not contain any recycled material, fillers, or exotic polymers—all of which can negatively affect performance. Complete with a full line of accessories for ease of installation and long-term performance, the GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System is the most advanced geocell technology in the industry.

Sand-Filled GEOWEB Geocells for Soil Stabilization

sand filled geocellsGeocells are three-dimensional honeycomb-like structures made of ultrasonically welded strips of HDPE that confine infill material over a specified cell depth and diameter. Through confinement, the GEOWEB system distributes loads laterally and controls shearing, as well as lateral and vertical infill movement.

Compared to planar geosynthetic products such as geogrids—which commonly rely on expensive imported high-quality aggregate—geocells are highly versatile and can be filled with a variety of commonly available and economical infill materials, including sand.

In many cases, geocells allow for the beneficial reuse of on-site materials, eliminating the need to purchase expensive aggregate or imported structural fill. These advantages not only offer the potential for savings in overall construction costs but also contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions due to less aggregate/fill processing, transportation, and handling.

The illustration below provides a comparison of four structurally equivalent aggregate sections over a subgrade with a CBR of 0.5%.

GEOWEB Cost Benefit

As shown, the unreinforced aggregate option would require more than 36 inches of aggregate to achieve minimal stability, and the planar geosynthetic option (geogrid + geotextile) would require 26 inches of aggregate. In contrast, the GEOWEB geocells reduce the total section thickness to only 15 inches, and where suitable on-site material is available, it is possible to limit imported aggregate to just the wearing course.

GEOWEB Diagram

The GEOWEB geocells dramatically increase the shear resistance of the infill, which allows the use of lower-quality fill to carry concentrated loads that would otherwise require crushed aggregate to prevent localized, near-surface shear failure. The cellular structure also distributes concentrated loads to surrounding cells, thus reducing the stress on the subgrade directly beneath the load and the required total thickness of the structure.

 

Let Our Engineers Run Design Calculations on Your Next Project. See the Cost Savings For Yourself!

Presto Geosystems’ engineering team works closely with you to provide free project evaluations and on-site installation support. The team at Presto Geosystems is here to provide engineering support from the preliminary stages through construction. Use our free online tools to keep your projects moving forward. The project evaluation will deliver a technically sound, cost-effective solution based on four decades of accredited research and project experience. Please contact our knowledgeable staff and network of qualified distributors to discuss your project needs today.

Request Free Project Evaluation

Presto Geosystems Announces Launch of the ATRA® Wall Key

Posted by Ashley Beyer

We are thrilled to announce our newest innovation at Presto Geosystems: the patented ATRA® Wall Key for the GEOWEB® Retaining Wall System.

The ATRA Wall Key is used to connect adjacent GEOWEB Retaining Wall sections through the GEOWEB material slots (I-slots). The ATRA Wall Key includes an integrated washer at the base of the handle for coverage of the I-slots when connecting adjacent wall sections, frictional barbs for an improved interlock with the GEOWEB sections, and an ergonomic handle with S-shaped contouring for ease of installation.

ATRA tan and green wall keys

The ATRA Wall Keys are the most effective way to connect the GEOWEB Retaining Wall sections, ensuring the long-term success of your project. Made of non-reactive, chemically inert high-density polyethylene, the ATRA Wall Keys provide a more secure and permanent mechanical connection over staples or zip ties, and they are the only geocell connector specifically designed for use in exposed wall face applications. Formulated to withstand weathering and ultraviolet radiation, the ATRA Wall Keys will not corrode or photodegrade, even when exposed to harsh environments. Securing sections with the Wall Keys is faster than using staples or zip ties, requires no tools, and can be completed by one installer with one easy turn.

The new ATRA Wall Keys offer a natural-looking aesthetic by blending seamlessly into our green or tan wall fascia options.

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Presto Geosystems
[email protected]
P: 800-548-3424

How Geosynthetics Are Uniquely Poised to Help Alleviate Congestion at U.S. Ports

Posted by Ashley Beyer

Written by: Michael J. Dickey, PE, Director and Bryan Wedin, PE, Chief Design Engineer

On May 6, 2022, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released an amended Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), allocating over $234 million for port infrastructure development in 2022. Adding to the previously appropriated amount of $450 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), this will bring the total amount available for port improvement projects to $684 million for FY2022.

The significance of this investment comes at a crucial time. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, the pandemic has laid bare the need for a transport system that is able to surge and stretch across all links—from sea, to land, to rail, to warehouse, to consumer. The question is, how can this funding be used to meet this need quickly and cost-effectively? The answer may lie in a strategy implemented in 2021 in the state of Georgia to alleviate congestion at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Port Authority, in partnership with Norfolk Southern, implemented a solution that has caught the attention of other U.S. port authorities and Class I railroads using what is being referred to as “pop-up container yards”.

What Is a Pop-Up Container Yard?

In a recent article featured on Freightwaves.com, pop-up container yards are described as “mini-versions of inland ports where containers are brought to strategically located sites by intermodal rail, shortening the distance trucks have to travel to collect imports or drop off exports and reducing traffic in and around busy seaports. The concept essentially brings the seaport closer to manufacturing, agriculture and population centers.” While, on the surface, pop-up container yards may seem like a very pragmatic solution to a complex problem, developing one of these sites can come with its own set of unique challenges.

container yard

One such challenge relates to existing ground conditions. From a geotechnical perspective, the ground conditions may not be suitable for the heavy demands of container handling and storage operations. And unless an alternate location has been identified that is better suited, project engineers and designers must often evaluate the need for ground improvement options capable of supporting heavy vehicle loads over soft or unstable soils. The good news is that the GEOWEB® Soil Stabilization System was invented specifically for this purpose. The GEOWEB Cellular Confinement System (CCS) is an American-made geosynthetic product manufactured by Presto Geosystems that has been in use for over forty years.

GEOWEB Geocells Improve Bearing Capacity Over Soft or Unstable Soils 

Created through a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Presto Products Co., the GEOWEB system was designed to address the needs of the U.S. military to build access roads capable of supporting heavy vehicle loads over soft or unstable soils. The system’s deep cellular network controls both the horizontal and vertical movement of unstable base soils. In load-support applications, when a static or dynamic load is applied to a geocell-reinforced layer, lateral earth pressures are mobilized and transferred across a three-dimensional network of interconnected cells. The layer essentially performs like a composite material, facilitating a phenomenon known as the mattress effect.

Success Story: CSX Intermodal Facility in Charleston

The CSX Charleston Intermodal Yard required base reinforcement due to poor and unstable subgrade conditions. Shallow surficial soils comprised very loose sandy soils that were inadequate to support the operation of reach stackers used in regular lifting and moving containers. In addition, a similar condition was prevalent in another area of the site designated for chassis parking. Both areas were prone to significant rutting due to the inherent instability of shallow surficial soils.

The Presto Geosystems’ design staff worked closely with CSX to provide design recommendations based on sub base strength, vehicle loadings, and frequency of traffic. After a thorough review of the geotechnical report, it was determined that on-site material could be beneficially reused as infill in the GEOWEB system.

Eliminating the need to import costly aggregate and structural fill led to significant cost savings, and yard downtime was substantially reduced. Minimizing downtime was especially important due to the high volume of tractor-trailers the facility handles daily. The reach stacker area used an enhanced woven geotextile, three-inch base, six-inch GEOWEB panels, and a three-inch wearing surface. The chassis parking area utilized a high-strength woven geotextile, six-inch GEOWEB panels, and a two-inch wearing surface. The GEOWEB system stabilized a total of 1.75 acres. Both areas have required minimal maintenance and continue to function as designed. Both areas have required minimal maintenance and continue to function as designed.

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Protect Your Project Schedule and Reduce Costs with GEOWEB® Geocells

geoweb base reduction

As demonstrated by the success at the CSX intermodal facility, where a suitable source of clean sand is available, the GEOWEB cells can be infilled with on-site material in place of expensive aggregate, drastically reducing imported aggregate volumes altogether. Even at sites where a suitable source of clean sand is not readily available, geocells offer the potential to reduce the required thickness of the base layer in a load support application by as much as 50%. In both cases, project stakeholders can realize cost savings, as well as a potential reduction of schedule-related risks, particularly where the availability of suitable aggregate, or availability of truck drivers to transport said material, might otherwise be outside of the project decision-maker’s control.

Compared to planar geosynthetic products such as geogrids—which commonly rely on expensive, imported high-quality aggregate—geocells are highly versatile and can be filled with a variety of commonly available and economical infill options. Infill options include sand, crushed aggregate, recycled concrete, pulverized debris, recycled asphalt, or other locally sourced materials. The illustration below provides a comparison of four structurally equivalent aggregate sections over a subgrade with a CBR of 0.5%.

As illustrated, the unreinforced aggregate option would require more than 36 inches of aggregate to achieve minimal stability, and the planar geosynthetic option (geogrid + geotextile) would require 26 inches of aggregate. In contrast, the GEOWEB geocells reduce the total section thickness to only 15 inches, and where suitable on-site material (OSM) is available, it is possible to limit imported aggregate to just the wearing course.  

A Value-Engineered Solution for Your Pop-Up Container Yard Project

The GEOWEB geocells can be added to pop-up container yard projects to provide a value-engineered solution for both paved and unpaved areas. This not only reduces construction costs, but can also help keep your project on track when aggregate shortages and limited availability of truck drivers threaten your project schedule.

Project-specific recommendations are influenced by loading, subgrade soils, traffic frequency, and infill type. The engineering team at Presto Geosystems works closely with engineers and project planners, offering free project evaluation services and on-site installation support. Our recommendations will deliver a technically sound, cost-effective solution based on over four decades of accredited research and testing data. Please contact our knowledgeable staff and network of qualified distributors and representatives to discuss your project needs today.

Contact: Bryan Wedin, PE, Chief Design Engineer

Sustainable Vegetated Channels = The Death of Rip Rap

Posted by Katie Bocskor

Rip rap is a common channel protection method because of its resistance to most flows with appropriate rock size; however, it does have significant drawbacks. Material can be expensive, not locally available, and placement requires heavy equipment. Additionally, rip rap channels are prone to regular maintenance, collection of debris and garbage, erosion at boundaries, undermining, and movement.

Naturally vegetated channels are grassed greenways that offer substantially lower maintenance and cost but are limited in their ability to resist moderate-high flows and shear forces even for short durations—unless the soils and vegetation can be stabilized.

High-Performing Vegetated Solution

The GEOWEB® Soil Confinement System offers protection to channels with continuous low flows—as well as moderate-to-high flow intermittent channels. The system’s honeycomb-like network creates check-dams that protect the soil layer from hydrological erosive forces and resulting erosion that impacts unconfined soils. Cell wall perforations lock up with the vegetative root for further stabilization.

The GEOWEB single-layer vegetated channels can withstand ~9 ft/s (2.7 m/s), more than doubling the resistance of typical unsupported vegetated channels (4 ft/s (1.2 m/s). The GEOWEB channels can withstand even higher velocities—as high as 30 ft/s (9m/s)—with an overlying Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM) when fully vegetated. This is a significant improvement, essentially doubling performance resistance to shear stress and velocities for TRMs and Erosion Control Blankets (ECBs). Rigorous flume testing at Colorado State University (CSU) with varying shear stresses and flow rates substantiated resistance of high shear stresses up to 15.9 lbf/ft2 (77.6 kgf/m2).

Vegetated GEOWEB TRM System Compared to Rip Rap

The GEOWEB TRM System offers advantages over rip rap for vegetated channels:

  • Streamlined Transition with Boundaries: Smooth integration with boundaries reduces undermining and erosion at boundary points
  • Higher Permeability: Ideal for environmentally low-impact design
  • Easier Integration in Landscape Plan: Less obtrusive and can be incorporated as a “soft” solution (i.e., grassed conveyances) with capabilities of some hard-armored systems

Sustainable Solution for Vegetated Conveyances

Sustainable vegetation in channels can be achieved with the GEOWEB TRM system. Applications that benefit include roadside ditches, stormwater channels, shoreline embankments, dams, spillways, and pond overflow systems. The GEOWEB/TRM system is a more sustainable—and environmentally friendly solution than rip rap for these common applications.

 

 

 

Presto offers full design and specification tools and a free project evaluation service to determine applicability.

Meet the Presto Geosystems Team: Get to Know JP

Posted by Ashley Beyer

meet JP imageWe have a great team here at Presto Geosystems, so we thought it would be fun to share a bit more about each member through a new blog series. For our inaugural Meet the Presto Geosystems Team blog post, we are thrilled to introduce José Pablo George—Presto Geosystem’s International Business Manager (BDM).

Let’s get to know JP…

JP

How long have you been with Presto Geosystems?

Time slides and blurs in a funny way. It seems so natural for me to be doing what I do with GEO, as if I’ve always been here and can draw deeply on decades of experiences, yet at the same time I still have the positive outlook and optimism of a freshly minted graduate. The year-over-year calendar and the bits of chrome in my hair suggest a compromise: this year marks my eighth year with GEO; call me a well-seasoned new-ish guy.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

My specialty is in establishing, culturing, and maintaining business relationships, especially with our international clients. My former life and experiences pre-Presto support this well.

I was a Spanish teacher (secondary schools and technical colleges) for 17 years, and have the linguistic skills and cross-cultural skills thanks to that, as well as the “educating adults” part needed for onboarding new network agents for us. Presto initially hired me as a LATAM BDM, and I gradually took over most of the international world from there!

I´ve developed my chops with quality assurance and network training through the State of WI DOT, technical colleges, and Harley-Davidson corporate in their Quality Assurance programs and motorcycle training programs. I´ve studied Verbal Judo, am a legit Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and have negotiated labor-management bargaining contracts from both sides of the table. I don´t shy away from tough conversations, and although I´m usually the “quiet one,” my words have strength and I usually deliver them in a way to make them count.

Additional life experiences of growing up with my artist grandfather, working the family dairy farm, building houses from blueprints, solo motorcycle trips across the country, living and working abroad, and working the world´s most famous pottery kilns have all expanded my perspective, and make for interesting stories to share (another time).

What attracted you to the world of geosynthetics?

Initially it was softball and Spanish that attracted me to the world of geosynthetics. The former Geosystems Director and I played on a rec league softball team, and he kept trying to hire me for my Spanish skills. When two other Fortune 500 companies offered me positions (also due to my Spanish skills), I figured a career change merited a closer look. I decided to leave teaching for the corporate world, and am glad to have made the leap. Since starting with Presto, I have obtained my CPESC certification and have learned so much more about geosynthetics and engineered soil stabilization solutions. I´m even published and on patents now!

What does your job entail? Can you take us through a day in the life as an International Man of Myst…umm, I mean International Business Manager?

The day of an International Manager is always a mystery… yet also contains some comfortable stability. Every single day I am talking with contacts from around the globe. My mobile number is my WhatsApp, Viber, Signal, Teams, text, and Messenger number… and I use each of them to reach our agents and clients in the way that is most natural to them. Every day I get to use my Spanish language skills, and I have also learned a bit of Dutch, Setswana, Japanese, Portuguese, French, and German. Most days I am offering design and sales support, sourcing appropriate supporting resources for projects, and doing my part to keep our solutions present in the minds of engineers and clients. Most weeks I am presenting the details of one of our solution sets for a particular application, such as Infrastructure Resilience for Roads and Bridges, Channel Armoring, or Mine Slope Reclamation… sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish.  Sometimes it means presentations… of whitepapers… to government entities… to International Erosion Control or Geosynthetics groups, and the like. Once upon a time, my job meant lots of travel to meet with clients IRL, not just virtually. I look forward to the travel again someday. Really, my job entails building relationships with the right connections. Sometimes I have to seek them out, sometimes connections find us. Either way, I must develop them into something.

What do you like most about your job and/or what do you like most about this industry?

What I like most about my job is the connection to people and places around the globe. The industry allows me to offer lasting, valuable solutions to real problems. We solve the most challenging soil stabilization problems, and give the world a strong foundation to build on. There is a bit of superhero stuff in that! What´s not to like?

Can you tell us a little about what it’s like working with international business partners?

Ha! Never before have I understood time zone differences and ultra-long project gestation times so well.  I organize my day to speak with different parts of the world at different times… Europe and the UK at the start of my day, LATAM and SADC throughout the day, Asia Pacific and MENA towards the end of the day… it is a lovely variety! Not always so clean cut, but that generalizes it some. I must exercise great patience… as anything international involves extra touches and tending. With all of our international projects and partners, it comes back to building and keeping strong relationships, as well as ease of use, reliability, and high performance. Our partners know we will do what it takes, and with integrity, to help them find success.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t out helping solve the world’s soil-stabilization and erosion challenges?

I love spending time in the forest, and am fortunate to live in a region that allows me to experience the changing seasons with unhindered access to the woods. My family and I love to camp, hunt, fish, ski, bike, hike, and enjoy time together outdoors. I hate ticks and mosquitoes, and most other things that try to bite me without my permission… but generally speaking will spend as much time as possible in the woods.

What is your favorite place in the world to visit?

There are so very many places I have yet to see!!! How can I pick just one?!

Tops on my list of having been: Cartagena, Colombia; Granada, Nicaragua; La Rioja, Spain; the Frankfurt area of Germany; and the Parque Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica.

Soon-to-be favorites include Paris and the wine country of France, and the Amsterdam area of the Netherlands.

An eventual favorite trip will be a summer camping trip to the Denali area of Alaska… and to Banff, Alberta, Canada. Maybe back to the Patagonia area of Argentina, this time to fish and not just for work… and to other parts of Japan beyond the Tokyo area, including Sapporo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.  So many adventures yet to be had!

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

This is a tough one. At this juncture in time, if I had to pick just one person I´d like to meet, I would ask Keanu Reeves to accompany me for a long walk and talk at a dog park with our pets. He is also an International Man of Mystery, a “cool breeze over the mountains” that is aware of his celebrity status yet is generous and careful with his presence. I admire the way he sticks to his principles and manages to stay cool and look at the bright side, with kindness, humility, and gratitude. He models being a good human in a way the world needs right now. If Keanu turned me down, I would ask Steve Martin to share his mad banjo skills and a few jokes with my son, or Shakira to sing with my daughter.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

The Next Adventure Awaits…

JP Book

GEOWEB® Geocell Reinforcement Improves Structural Performance of Railway Track Beds

Posted by Katie Bocskor

Every year, railroads dedicate a great deal of capital and resources toward creating and maintaining high-quality track profiles. Providing a well-designed track profile is the foundation on which a successful rail line operates. With ballooning rail traffic carrying heavier loads than ever and increased occurrence of extreme weather events, a stable track profile is essential for successful operation.

GEOWEB® geocells have been used in the track bed for rail applications worldwide for more than 40 years. Through an interconnected honeycomb-like network, the HDPE-based GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System provides apparent cohesion and strength to materials that would otherwise be unstable over soft subgrades. Geocells stabilize the ballast, reduce vertical and lateral stresses, and limit ballast movement. Stabilization within the geocell system provides a longer lasting track profile that extends rail service life, while also reducing maintenance cycles and recurring maintenance costs. Research has shown that geocells reduce settlement of the ballast foundation and can reduce required cross-section thicknesses by up to 50%. This is particularly advantageous where track beds must be constructed over soft soils. The reduction in thickness leads to cost savings, along with an accompanying reduction in carbon emissions due to decreases in aggregate processing, transportation, handling, and installation. In general, geosynthetics offer tremendous potential in reducing carbon emissions from civil construction projects, in many cases by 50% or greater.

North West Electrification Programme Case Study

In the United Kingdom, Network Rail encountered extremely soft soils with low shear strengths during track modifications to the North West Electrification Programme. Due to soft subgrade conditions, conventional track design methods resulted in cross-sections as thick as 1 meter. Poor soil conditions along the track route required a soil stabilization solution to improve undertrack stiffness and provide a more cost-effective solution. The Network Rail Track Bed Investigation (TBI) team elected to evaluate an alternative solution using geocells to reduce required cross-section thicknesses. The GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System has been used under track in the United Kingdom since the 1980s; however, very limited information was collected at that time to document the resulting improvement in performance. Therefore, the TBI team used in-house numerical modelling to validate the design approach, and results indicated that a geocell-stabilized track performed as well as the conventional full-thickness cross-section. Based on this information, combined with the demonstrated long term stabilization of the above-referenced early installations, the TBI team elected to use the alternate track bed design incorporating GEOWEB Geocells. The North West Electrification Programme subsequently approved the use of geocells on a number of sections with the goal of reducing construction depth, in turn, reducing costs associated with track enhancement and long term maintenance.

After installing the GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System on the North West Electrification Programme in 2017, track quality improved significantly. The reduction in the required track bed construction (40% reduction in granular fill material), reduced the cost of track enhancement by approximately 22% (Wehbi, et al., 2018). Network Rail also realized the benefit in the ability to use granular fill or course sand as ideal infill materials. Network Rail’s experience using geocells has shown substantial construction cost savings and benefits to the structural integrity of the track bed (Wehbi, et al., 2018). Network Rail has also monitored Willesden North on the London North East and Newham Bog on the London North West in addition to the Northern West Electrification Programme, which show similar results and benefits.

Based on their success using the GEOWEB system in track bed applications, Network Rail developed a guide providing a summary of the benefits from research and testing, design recommendations, and best practices. In August 2020, Network Rail issued, “The Use of Geocells in the UK Railway Track Bed, Technical Guide.” The guide provides technical guidance based on extensive research conducted at the University of Kansas (UK) and Oregon State University (OSU), which includes existing geocell design methods, case studies from successful installations, and industry-proven installation methods utilizing specialized geocell ATRA® connection keys. The guide served as a reference for development of the Network Rail Track Bed Standard NR/L2/TRK/4239, Issue 2, issued September 2020, which contains detailed design information and guidelines for using geocells in track bed applications.

Network Rail has approved the GEOWEB® Soil Stabilization System as the solution in areas with soft soils to improve and regulate track bed stiffness, while reducing maintenance, installation time, and cost. GEOWEB® geocells achieve all requirements of the Network Rail Track Bed Standard NR/L2/TRK/4239, Issue 2 and accompanying guide “Use of Geocells” for below track installations.

Protecting Environmental Geomembrane Covers With Suspended GEOWEB Geocells

Posted by Katie Bocskor

Economic pressure, the desire for green solutions, and the intensification of climate extremes have converged to create a need for better methods to effect soil stabilization. Fortunately, a proven technology exists that addresses issues associated with these conditions and provides a more stable cover solution for landfill covers, lagoons, stormwater containment basins, and other geomembrane-covered systems. Soil, aggregate, and concrete protective covers over geomembranes can be secured against known gravitational, hydrodynamic, and seismic forces using the GEOWEB® Soil Confinement System.

Soil and aggregate are commonly used as a protective cover over liners on slopes of 3H:1V or less. However, when slope gradients are greater, unconfined soil and aggregate covers are typically unstable and not used. In arid areas, cover depth may range from 75 mm (3 in) to 150 mm (6 in). Where conditions support vegetation, cover depth may range from 100 (4) to 600 mm (24 in) or greater where the final depth is a function of the characteristics of the desired vegetation. Regardless of cover depth, if an extreme rainfall event occurs that is 10%, or greater than what would typically be expected, soil mass increases, assumed friction angles decrease, and factors of safety for soil stability drop to a point where failure of the cover occurs and exposure of and/or damage to the geomembrane results.

Suspended GEOWEB Solution
The use of the GEOWEB 3D slope cover system best addresses critical details when designing or remediating geomembrane covers. With the aging infrastructure of dams, impoundments, and landfills, design engineers are looking for innovative and cost-effective solutions to build and repair new and existing facilities. The adaptability of the 3D system provides geomembrane protection while contributing to an easier and faster installation process.

Structural Support System
Because traditional stake anchoring would puncture the geomembrane, the GEOWEB system is suspended from the crest of the slope through an integrated structure of tendons and load transfer clips. This structural support system directly protects the geomembrane from accidental puncturing and natural degradation–which indirectly prevents soil contamination and erosion. The structural support also allows the GEOWEB system to work on slopes that are much greater than 3H:1V.

A variety of infills may be used, tailored to a project’s specific needs. When lining a landfill cover, crushed aggregate or vegetated infills are common because they put less pressure on the geomembrane cover and allow for growth of the landfill if necessary. For more structural projects, such as dam linings, concrete infill may be the better choice and may allow a thinner concrete cross-section for a reduced cost. This demonstrates another unique aspect of the geocell system, in that the 3D structure of the geocell can act as the formwork for a concrete pour, eliminating the need for expensive and timely construction techniques. Full design evaluations should be performed in order to analyze the loading, shear forces, and factors of safety on each project.

 

Read Technical Paper >>

Original paper entitled, “Failure of a Landfill Cover and Remediation using Geocells” was presented at the First Pan American Geosynthetics Conference & Exhibition, March 2008, Cancun, Mexico. Original paper was co-authored by Mauricio Abramento, PhD, CEG Engenharia, Marcos Mello Rocha Campos, MSc, GEOKLOCK Consulting and Environmental Engineering, Claudia Vasquez Bastias, Fiberweb Bidim and Daniel Senf, PE, CPESC, Presto Geosystems.

GEOBLOCK Grass Pavers: Fire Lane Access System

Posted by Katie Bocskor

GEOBLOCK® POROUS PAVEMENT SYSTEM

Environmental regulations that control and limit stormwater runoff, reduce impervious surfaces, and increase green space have resulted in the growth of permeable pavements for traffic areas. The GEOBLOCK Porous Pavement System offers support for all vehicular loadings and protects the grass from the  damaging effects of traffic while allowing natural groundwater replenishment.

Examples of the GEOBLOCK system providing solutions for fire access lane requirements are illustrated in this case study summaries below.

Test 1: The City of Kentwood (1994)

Kentwood, Michigan

GEOBLOCK System Put to the Test

The City of Kentwood, Michigan put the GEOBLOCK system through a worst-case scenario field test to measure performance and prove the system’s capabilities.

Prior to testing, a series of less-than-ideal installation conditions were established:

  • Five inches of sand subbase was installed, developing a base support capacity of only 2.8% CBR.
  • GEOBLOCK units were laid parallel (rather than perpendicular) to the direction of traffic.
  • Edge restraints, typically used to help prevent block shifting until vegetation, were omitted—both of which help anchor the system.
  • The test area was not proof-rolled prior to load applications.

The fire marshal directed a 60,000 lb (22,400 kg) ladder/pumper to drive onto the unfilled 13 ft x 48 ft (3.9 m x 14.6 m) GEOBLOCK test pad, drop its outriggers and begin tests while geotechnical engineers monitored the systems performance.

After a series of rigorous tests, the ladder/pumper stayed on the GEOBLOCK pavement for a full hour.

The Results:

Under loading, inspection revealed only a 1/2 in (13 mm) deflection in the pavement system. After removal of the load, the GEOBLOCK pavement rebounded to its original condition in less than one hour, and the units were recovered for future use. As a result of this test and the system’s performance, the City of Kentwood approved the GEOBLOCK Grass Pavement System for use on its fire access lanes.

Case Study 1: Microsoft Campus (1996)

Redmond, Washington

The Challenge

As Microsoft Corporation’s facilities expanded through the years, so did their need for fire access lanes at their campus buildings. Grassed access lanes rather than hard-surface paving were desired to enhance the aesthetics of the new building and grounds. The search for a reliable porous pavement system led them to the GEOBLOCK Grass Pavers.

The Solutions

At their Washington State Campus, 8,600 square feet of the GEOBLOCK system was installed for permeable, grass fire access lanes around nine campus buildings.

Previously, 9,000-square-foot installations were installed around three other campus buildings. At other locations, existing fire access lanes were expanded using the GEOBLOCK system to meet new code requirements.

The Results

Implementation of the GEOBLOCK system helps preserve the campus’ natural look while providing the load support necessary to accommodate all emergency vehicles.

Test 2: AT&T Corporate Center (1994)

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

A worst-case scenario field test was also required by the Lyons Township Fire Department, New Jersey prior to approving the GEOBLOCK System for a fire access lane at the new AT&T corporate convention facility.

A test pad was installed in front of the facility adjacent to a concrete block entrance drive. Side restraints, sometimes used to anchor the pavement system, were purposely omitted. A few weeks later with only light grass established, the Lyons Township Fire Department was ready to begin the testing.

Under full pressure, firemen turned the hose directly on the GEOBLOCK platform and proceeded to saturate the test pad. With water still standing on the pad, an 80,000 lb. fire engine was backed over the saturated area, and with the outriggers lowered, was lifted off its tires. A series of tests were performed under full load and less-than-ideal conditions to determine the capabilities of the GEOBLOCK system.

The Results

After passing the tests successfully, the Fire Department approved the GEOBLOCK system at the AT&T Corporate Center for fire access use.

Case Study 2: Friends University (1999)

Wichita, Kansas

The Challenge

When officials at Friends University planned to beautify the exterior of the campus’ newly renovated Davis Hall, it included removing the large driveway leading up to the building’s main entrance. The university wanted to create a large open area, or pedestrian mall, where campus events could be held in front of the 110-year-old Davis Hall. The new design included a 76-ft diameter paving stone mosaic at the Rose Window Plaza in front of the hall to replicate the pattern of the stained glass window. The finished concept would include sidewalks, flowerbeds, and period lights.

Removing the frontage road and circle drive left the mall with diminished emergency vehicle access. The university sought an alternative to hard surface paving that would blend naturally with the green look of the campus while providing the necessary load support for maintenance and emergency vehicles.

The Solution

The GEOBLOCK Load Support Solution was chosen to best complement the new pedestrian mall and paving stone design work. About 9,000 square feet of the GEOBLOCK system was installed with an engineered base of sand and topsoil. Topsoil and a hearty bluegrass and fescue blend sod were placed in the cells of the GEOBLOCK units.

The Results

The GEOBLOCK system met the University’s need for vehicular and pedestrian load support over grassed areas while complementing the aesthetically pleasing entrance and protecting the grass from the harmful effects of the traffic.

Case Study 3: Homestead Village Complex (1997)

Bellevue, Washington

The Challenge

Faced with the common problem of providing emergency vehicle access while maintaining desirable green space, architects and contractors building the Homestead Village Complex rejected traditional paving materials in favor of a permeable system.

The Solution

The GEOBLOCK System was utilized in three areas at the apartment complex—two fire access lanes and one access road to the complex’s water detention pond. Three areas totaling 3,000 square feet were installed in less than three days, starting from site preparation through seeding.

The Results

After the system was fully vegetated, tests were performed by the local fire department, and the GEOBLOCK system was approved for use.

Case Study 4: Intervet, Inc. (2002)

Desoto, Kansas

The Challenge

The mall area in front of the pharmaceutical company’s office building was designed with a series of intersecting concrete roadways for emergency access. The owner desired green space for visual appeal in the large adjacent areas. However, a typical turf-only surface would not reliably support the load of fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

The Solution

The GEOBLOCK system was chosen for its aesthetic appeal, ease of installation, and load support capabilities. The GEOBLOCK units were placed on a prepared base such that their tops were flush with the adjacent concrete roadways. Units were set in place, cut as needed to conform to site irregularities, infilled with topsoil, and seeded.

The Results

The landscape contractor and owner were very satisfied with the final solution. When tested under full load, less than one-half inch of deflection was noted in the loaded areas.

GEOWEB Geocells Combined with a Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM)

Posted by Katie Bocskor

GEOWEB® System – Research Synopsis

Research Objective
Measure the performance of the GEOWEB (GW) material combined with a turf reinforcement mat (TRM) (integrated system) with topsoil infill and vegetation under varying shear stresses and flow rates to quantify both hydraulic forces and
corresponding soil loss.

The test consisted of a series of continuous one-hour flows over the GW-TRM system at incrementally increasing discharges. The performance threshold was defined as the point at which 0.5 inches (13 mm) of soil loss occurred.

Research Scenario

The Research Facility
Steep-Gradient Overtopping Facility (SGOF) at the Hydraulics Laboratory of the Engineering Research Center (ERCD) at Colorado State University (CSU), Ft. Collins, Colorado

Test Timeframe
April 2005-August 2006

Test Materials

  • GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System
  • North American Green C350 Turf Reinforcement Mat

Scope of Test

Hydraulic performance testing was conducted on an integrated system comprising the GW30V textured/perforated GEOWEB System and the North American Green C350 composite turf reinforcement mat. The C350 TRM was chosen for its known performance in the test apparatus. Six tests were conducted under the research program to measure the performance of the integrated system, identify stability threshold conditions, and quantify both hydraulic forces and soil loss.

Assembling the Test Components

  • The selected textured/perforated GEOWEB section was placed in the test apparatus and topsoil infill added.
  • When the GEOWEB cells were completely infilled with topsoil, the soil was lightly tamped.
  • Grass seed and mulch were added to finalize the growing medium.
  • The turf reinforcement mat was secured over the textured/perforated GEOWEB section by ground staples at defined intervals in conformance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Vegetation was established over a 14-week period to allow root system integration within the perforated cells of the GEOWEB material. Kentucky bluegrass was the chosen vegetation for this series of tests.

Test Procedures/Result

The test apparatus is lifted and positioned in place in the flume with a 2h:1v slope. In an effort to model storm conditions, the soil was saturated prior to the six tests. The integrated system was subjected to flow discharges ranging from 10 ft/sec (3.0 m/sec) to 27 ft/sec (8.2 m/sec). Two sets of water surface elevation data were taken; one at the beginning and one at the end of each hour-long flow to obtain an average depth. Vegetation density counts were also measured prior to and directly after each test at upstream, midstream, and downstream locations.

Observations

Exposed to the extreme flows, and despite ordinary topsoil infill and typical TRM staple patterns, the system showed no measurable soil loss. It was observed that the vegetation had decreased stem and blade count during the total testing timeframe, however at a decreasing rate of loss for each incremental test.

Chosen vegetation type will influence the stem and blade loss. Typically a hardier grass type or blend would be used for field applications rather than pure Kentucky bluegrass. At the completion of the test, an extracted soil sample showed vegetative root penetration to a depth of 1.5 inches (38 mm), with larger roots interacting with the cell wall perforations. As future growth occurs, root interaction will increase.

Testing Summary/Conclusions

No system instability was observed for shear stresses up to 15.9 lbf/ft2 (77.6 kgf/m2) and for average velocities up to 26.5 ft/sec (8.1 m/sec) with peak velocities over 29 ft/sec (8.8 m/sec). Due to facility constraints that prevented testing higher velocities than those reported, system failure limits were never found. The test results for the integrated system far exceed the limits of separately reported values of the GEOWEB Cellular Confinement System (CSS) and turf reinforcement mats with topsoil/vegetated soil.

Field Applicability

The results of this integrated system testing can be applied to highway drainage ditches, spillways, dam, and pond overflow systems and other vegetated channels exposed to high shear forces and intermittent, longer-duration velocities. This system replaces rip rap with a less expensive, low maintenance, aesthetically pleasing green solution.

Exclusivity of Results

The results of the testing are exclusive to the materials utilized in this test. Specifically, no inference shall be drawn from this research review indicating suitability of any cellular confinement system other than the genuine GEOWEB Cellular Confinement System. Due to the challenging nature of the projects for which this application applies, we strictly warn the reader of the potential for significant infill loss, project failure, and/or loss of property or life if substitutions are made including, but not limited to the GEOWEB Cellular Confinement product and a properly prepared engineering design analysis.

Certifiable Results

Results of this testing/research are certifiable and only available through Presto Geosystems.

Download CSU Vegetated Research Summary >>