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Silver anniversary: the Tanque Verde retaining walls
October 7th, 2009
By Ryan R. Berg, P.E., and Ronald P. Anderson, P.E. Introduction Some days it seems like we have been designing and constructing concrete-faced, geosynthetic-reinforced, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls forever, and that this technique of constructing MSE walls has always been a conventional solution to grade separation projects. Certainly today, geogrid-reinforced walls with drycast concrete […]
A young engineer, molasses, and failed sand drains
October 7th, 2009
By Bob Koerner Prior to 1959, the chemical industry used sugar cane (mainly from Cuba) for its source of the carbohydrate sucrose used to produce ethyl alcohol for the manufacture of munitions and alcohol. When Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, this nearby source was abruptly eliminated and the alternative was molasses. Of course, […]
Floating geomembrane cover improves biogas collection, heat retention, and odor control
October 7th, 2009
Canadian corn products refiner, Casco Inc., upgraded its 4-million-gallon wastewater anaerobic digester to include a state-of-the-art insulated, floating geomembrane cover. By Jim McMahon Introduction Casco Inc. is all about the processing of corn products. As one of Canada’s biggest, and oldest, manufacturers of corn-refined ingredients such as sweeteners, starches, oil, and animal feed, its products […]
Innovative applications for nonwoven geotextiles in concrete pavements
October 7th, 2009
By Robert Rasmussen and Sabrina Garber Introduction Recent research published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “Nonwoven Geotextile Interlayers for Separating Cementitious Pavement Layers: German Practice and U.S. Field Trials”1 focuses on innovative applications for nonwoven geotextiles in concrete pavements. In May 2006, representatives from FHWA, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials […]
Concerns regarding spark testing
October 7th, 2009
To the editor: While the August/September article on subsurface biofilters was very interesting in demonstrating the wide range of geosynthetics used, I have concerns with the description of spark testing. The method described was: “A probe with a current was passed above the seam with a 25mm [1in.] distance between probe and the seam, and […]
Tensar Intl. acquires Endurablend
October 7th, 2009
Tensar International Corp. (TIC) has acquired the assets and business of Endurablend Systems. With the acquisition, TIC adds a composite micro overlay system to its product offerings. The newly acquired business will relocate its headquarters to Atlanta and operate as a business unit under TIC’s direction. The Endurablend System is a polymer cement slurry surfacing […]
Sibur opens second unit for geogrid production
October 6th, 2009
A new production unit for geogrid manufacturing has opened at Sibur’s Plastik plant in Tula, Russia. The design capacity of the new unit is 3 kilo metric tonnes per annum (kta). According to current forecasts, when the design capacity for geogrid production is attained at the facility, the annual earnings of the enterprise will increase […]