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A forensic hypothetical: The case of the percolating water
April 1st, 2008
By Dov Leshchinsky Introduction Nearly every SRW system in the market has experienced some sort of failure. Like the power of chum in luring sharks, failures attract attorneys and engineering experts. Typically, the attorney for the plaintiff will compile “expert” reports providing a list of what appear to be the faults in design and/or construction. […]
Repairing Yi-Lan-I Road in Taiwan
April 1st, 2008
By Vincent Ho and Steven Chang Introduction Stretches of the Yi-Lan-I Road in Taiwan are located more than 3,200ft (1,000m) above sea level. It’s an important road that provides the primary access to the National Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area. But during a particularly rainy 75-day period (mid-July through September 2005), the region experienced abundant rainfall […]
The GRS bridges of Defiance County
April 1st, 2008
By Michael Adams Introduction Three years ago, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) teamed up with local officials in Defiance County, Ohio, to test a new prototype geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) integrated bridge system. Built in 2005, the prototype GRS bridge on Bowman Road in Defiance County is a success story for the county as well as […]
Three challenges in using SRWs and other reinforced-soil structures: Part 2B
April 1st, 2008
By Michael R. Simac, P. E., and Blaise J. Fitzpatrick, P. E. Introduction While segmental retaining walls (SRWs) have been routinely used for more than 15 years now, there are still three challenging issues facing owners considering their use. What is the best way to procure, design, and then build these structures to minimize short-term […]
Geomembrane sealing systems for dams
April 1st, 2008
By Robert Koerner and John Wilkes Abstract The 2006 ICOLD Bulletin on Geomembrane Sealing System for Dams supersedes and greatly expands upon two earlier versions, published in 1981 and 1991. The 250 dams incorporating geomembranes cited in this new Bulletin include: 174 fill, 43 concrete, 32 roller compacted concrete, and 1 hybrid. Of the total, […]
GeoAmericas-2008 and GRI-21 proceedings now available
April 1st, 2008
All of the educational tracks from GeoAmericas- 2008 in Cancún are now available on CD: 238 papers from 44 technical sessions, more than 2,100 pages! The CD also contains the papers from all the sessions at GeoAmericas, including the Robert D. Holtz Symposium and all of the “Best Papers” presentations. There are more than 2 […]
Marr named to Academy of Engineering
April 1st, 2008
W. Allen Marr, Ph.D, P.E., and president of Geocomp Corp., has been named to National Academy of Engineering. Marr, who has spent his entire 40-year professional career focused on incorporating the benefits of applied research in geo-engineering into civil engineering practice, was selected for the NAE for his “innovative applications of numerical methods, risk analysis, […]
Sprague honored for technical paper
April 1st, 2008
C. Joel Sprague of Greenville, S.C., won the 2008 Most Distinguished Technical Paper Award from the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) earlier this year. His paper, “Slope Erosion Testing: Identifying ‘Critical’ Parameters,” describes how different lab testing procedures used by three laboratories to evaluate the likely performance of erosion control products in the field produced […]
Growing use for geosynthetics: “living walls”
April 1st, 2008
By Shelby Gonzalez With the recent explosion of eco-awareness, demand is growing for a new geosynthetic-dependent product: living walls. Living walls--also called “vertical gardens”--are walls of living plants anchored in geocomposite systems. Different manufacturers use different systems. Patrick Blanc of Patrick Blanc Vertical Gardens, for example, layers rotproof polyamide felt and waterproof PVC over a […]
Peter Kesser named president at Stevens
April 1st, 2008
JPS Industries Inc. announced earlier this year that Peter A. Kesser was named president of Stevens Roofing and Geomembrane Systems. Kesser was most recently vice president of sales and marketing at Stevens. JPS is a U.S. manufacturer of extruded urethanes, polypropylenes, and mechanically formed glass and aramid substrate materials for specialty applications. With headquarters in […]