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Protecting geomembranes from animal damage
June 1st, 2017
Resisting animal and insect attacks on geomembranes is an interesting problem. Geomembrane installers and manufacturers have had numerous geomembranes damaged by bears, deer, coyotes, birds, beavers, and ground squirrels (Figures 1 and 2). In most cases, the damage is incidental to something else the animal is seeking. Deer damage the liner with their hooves trying […]
Geosynthetics Materials Association News
June 1st, 2017
GMA honors Dr. Robert M. Koerner and Dr. George Koerner On March 14 in Orlando, Fla., the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) hosted the inaugural Robert M. Koerner Award and Lecture Series. Established by GMA in 2016, the award and lecture series is given to an individual who has had a measurable impact on the geosynthetics […]
Recap of the 2017 Geotechnical Frontiers conference
June 1st, 2017
More than 2,100 attendees and some 200 exhibitors flocked to the Hyatt Regency Orlando Hotel in Florida, March 12–15, 2017, for the jointly sponsored Geotechnical Frontiers conference. A major event in the geosynthetics world, the once-every-six-years conference unites the Geosynthetics Conference of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and its division, the Geosynthetics Materials Association […]
Geosynthetics Institute News
June 1st, 2017
Robert M. Koerner on his namesake award and lecture series On March 14, 2017, at the Geotechnical Frontiers conference in Orlando, Fla., George Koerner graciously accepted the Robert M. Koerner Award and Lecture Series. The biennial award and lecture series were established by the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) Executive Council; Koerner was the first recipient. […]
Are zero leaks with installed geomembranes possible?
June 1st, 2017
Abigail Gilson-Beck and Glen Toepfer step into a geosynthetics minefield in this issue of Geosynthetics with their article “Achieving zero leaks on a budget,” a goal that is controversial in the industry. Whether this goal should even be an objective is the question the debate hinges on. A spirited discussion on this issue arose during […]
Final Inspection: IGS–NA Photo Contest winners
June 1st, 2017
The International Geosynthetics Society North American (IGS–NA) Chapter held the 2017 IGS North America Photo Contest this past winter. The first, second, and third place winners were announced at the Geotechnical Frontiers conference in Orlando, Fla., March 14, 2017. Photographs were required to clearly display a geosynthetic in use. Photographs needed to provide a clear […]
In the classroom: Part 1: Learning about civil engineering technology
June 1st, 2017
Introduction This article is the first of a four-part series in Geosynthetics magazine on how an engineering student or practicing engineer is able to learn about geosynthetic materials. These articles are based on a panel discussion session on March 13, 2017, at the Geotechnical Frontiers conference in Orlando, Fla. Part 1 addresses the topic of […]
Part 2: New design models for MSE walls and slopes
June 1st, 2017
Introduction The design of many geotechnical structures is based on limit-state conditions. For example, in designing gravity walls, the load exerted by the retained soil on the wall is based on an assumed active state of stresses. That is, the wall moves sufficiently outward, enabling the retained soil to mobilize its shear strength along a […]