Applications being accepted for DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations professional development grants
April 1st, 2019
The DFI Educational Trust and the DFI Women in Deep Foundations Committee are awarding five grants of $1,750 each to women involved in design and/or construction of deep foundations to attend DFI’s 44th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Chicago, Oct. 15–18, 2019. The grant includes free conference registration and covers related expenses for attending […]
Geosynthetics Conference watch: Enthusiasm for 2019, Looking ahead to 2020
April 1st, 2019
Good energy at the Geosynthetics Conference 2019 The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)-sponsored Geosynthetics Conference 2019 was a huge success in Houston, Texas, Feb. 10–13, with some 1,100 engaged attendees, presenters, speakers and exhibitors contributing to the intellectual and commercial hum felt throughout the Marriott Marquis. “We were delighted with the enthusiasm of the attendees […]
Large-scale studies to evaluate the resilient modulus of geocell-reinforced pavement
April 1st, 2019
The 2017 ASCE report card (ASCE 2017) on civil infrastructure assigned grade “D” for America’s roads, and this rating necessitates the adoption of more sustainable and resilient approaches in design and construction of transport infrastructures such as highway embankments and pavements. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) material has been considered as one of the sustainable options […]
Infrastructure funding remains uncertain
April 1st, 2019
Nearly a year has gone by since we published the June/July 2018 issue with a theme of “Geosynthetics Used in Highways and Bridges.” The editorial in that issue noted, “As of this writing, the White House and U.S. Congress are working on an infrastructure bill or bills after President Donald Trump released an infrastructure proposal […]
Expanding a lakeside road with a reinforced soil slope
April 1st, 2019
Reconstruction of Hennepin County State Aid Highway 112 is a multi-phase project. Phase 1 was completed in fall 2018. Phase 1 included reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway as well as the construction of a bike trail between the road and the lake. The roadway/trail alignment is adjacent to the shoreline of Minnesota’s Long […]
GMA heads back to Wisconsin and convenes in Texas
April 1st, 2019
GMA heads back to Wisconsin and convenes in Texas The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) followed up on its April 2018 advocacy trip to Wisconsin by providing geosynthetics education to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) in January. Education is a key component of GMA’s mission, and activities like this grow the understanding of […]
Impact of geogrids on concrete highway pavement performance
April 1st, 2019
The benefits of using geogrids for constructing flexible pavements is well documented. Additionally, the study prepared by White and Vennapusa (2017) discusses the method for field performance verification of the geogrid mechanically stabilized layer. However, this article looks beyond using geogrid mechanically stabilized layers for asphalt pavement design and examines using multiaxial geogrids within concrete […]
The 2019 state of the geosynthetics industry
April 1st, 2019
The U.S. and Canadian geosynthetics market includes geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, geosynthetic clay liners, drainage materials, geocells and erosion control materials. In 2018 the U.S. and Canadian geosynthetics market grew in the low single-digit range and is expected to grow somewhat higher in 2019. Consolidation continues in geosynthetics market U.S. geosynthetic manufacturers will likely experience stiff […]
MSE wall failures can be mitigated through the use of geotextile filters
April 1st, 2019
For the past 17 years, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has been accumulating data on failures of geosynthetic reinforced mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls. We presently have 320 cases, of which 201 (63%) have been caused in whole or part by water within, or adjacent to, the reinforced soil zone. We sincerely hope that our […]
Performance evaluation of a multi-span GRS–IBS
April 1st, 2019
The I-70 multi-span bridges (Figure 1) over Smith Road in Aurora, Colo., included design methodology changes that were classified as “experimental features,” and, thus, additional project funds were included for evaluation. In order to understand the geostructural performance of the multi-span geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS), the abutment was instrumented with a vertical chain […]