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Locating geomembrane leaks described in new geosynthetics standard
August 5th, 2013
ASTM committee to meet Jan. 29-30 ASTM International announced in an Aug. 2 press release a proposed new standard for all field-proven electrical methods for locating leaks in installed geomembranes. ASTM WK42576, “Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geosynthetics,” is currently in development by Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes, part of ASTM’s Committee D35 on […]
An anniversary and a new direction
August 1st, 2013
2001 GFR notes that the U.S. Congress passed a $32.9 billion bill for federal highway programs … An artificial reef is constructed with geotextile containers filled with sand to help slow erosion of Surfer’s Paradise in Narrowneck on Australia’s Gold Coast … ASCE’s 2001 “Report Card for America’s Infrastructure hands out below-average grades, specifically referencing […]
Reader expresses concerns about 4-out-of-5 passing results
August 1st, 2013
To the editor: I enjoy reading the GMA Techline in Geosynthetics magazine and the snappy to-the-point answers provided by my friend and colleague, Dr. Koerner. However, I have some concerns with the recommendation to accept 4-out-of-5 passing results for the peel separation parameter for seam peel testing. I do not think a 20% failure rate, […]
Reflections on geosynthetic technical publication outlets
August 1st, 2013
By Bob Koerner As a graduate student back in the 1960s, we were informed by our Duke University advisor (the world-renowned Prof. Alexander S. Vesić) that the hierarchy of research and development (R & D) technical publications was as follows: Journal papers—for archival studies that have been brought to a degree of finality and had […]
Report from the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) biennial meeting
August 1st, 2013
By L. David Suits The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by outgoing NAGS president, Dean Sandri. There were 20 in attendance. A brief overview of NAGS was given. NAGS is a chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society made up of individual members whose mission is: “To provide leadership in advancing the education […]
GMA’s government relations program is delivering progress
August 1st, 2013
By Andrew Aho This is a proactive season for GMA’s government relations program, which will be punctuated with GMA’s annual Fall Lobby Day in September. Our efforts have been particularly effective in the following areas: State and local advocacy GMA’s State and Local Government Advocacy (SLGA) program has made significant progress in its efforts to […]
Q-and-A with Rep. Chuck Fleischmann
August 1st, 2013
Editor’s note: Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) represents the Third District of Tennessee (the eastern part of the state). His support of the geosynthetics industry has included language submitted to the House’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and his meetings with the leaders of Chattanooga-based Propex Geotextile Systems. Because of Rep. Fleischmann’s involvement […]
South Bend recycles a new channel to protect the St. Joseph River
August 1st, 2013
We don’t always have to use all virgin materials for new projects. By Kurt Kelsey Introduction Stormwater management is a necessary task that confronts every municipality. But how the stormwater is actually managed can differ. Typical gray-pipe solutions get the job done, but they do not provide filtering of the stormwater and they are not […]
Market impacts for geosynthetics from the regulation of coal ash
August 1st, 2013
By Boyd Ramsey and Andrew Aho Authors’ note to readers: This is a fast-moving topic where situations change as time and political positions evolve. It is the authors’ intent to report on the current situation and implications “at the time of presentation [April 2013],” providing historical and background information to place the opinions and projections […]
Geofoam solution for underground coal mine tunnel
August 1st, 2013
By Terry Meier About 30 miles east of Salina, Utah, nestled in the western bituminous region of Sevier County, is Convulsion Canyon (Photo 1). This is home for a productive Southern Utah Fuel Co. (SUFCO) underground coal mine, where a longwall mining system and continuous miner units extract more than 6 million tons of coal […]