All Articles

Geotextiles in unpaved roads: A 35-year case history

January 1, 1970 | Case Studies

By William M. Hawkins Abstract This article presents current information on geotextiles installed experimentally in an unpaved road 35 years ago. In 1972, geotextiles were largely untested, and the site was set up as an accelerated field test to determine the comparative performances of several fabr…

First artificial surf reef in Europe

January 1, 1970 | News

Work is nearly completed in the building of Europe’s first artificial surf reef near Dorset in southwest England. The project, estimated at £2.7 million (ca. $5.4 million U.S.), is designed to double the size of the waves at Boscombe, Bournemouth, to 4m (13ft) as well as greatly increase…

Strength without density: Geofoam at work on the CAS green roof

January 1, 1970 | Case Studies

An innovative redesign transforms the California Academy of Sciences. By Shelby Gonzalez Introduction The California Academy of Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco has completed a transformation. Its innovative redesign has already gained international recognition as a cultural icon. Under one “living…

Geosynthetics in the Greater Grand Forks Greenway

January 1, 1970 | Case Studies

By Adam Regn Arvidson The turf reinforcement mat (TRM) in the Red River Greenway project is Enkamat, manufactured by Colbond, a Dutch company with production facilities in Europe and the U.S. The 3-dimensional nondegradable matting is made of continuous nylon or polypropylene filaments fused at thei…

Erosion control materials

January 1, 1970 | Products

These products are designed to help solve erosion- and sediment-control problems and to provide long-term stabilization by establishing and maintaining vegetative cover. Erosion-control products give engineers ready solutions for one of the fastest-growing design niches. Many of these products work …

Geocells

January 1, 1970 | Products

Geocells are engineered for protection and stabilization applications. They are often used to help improve the performance of standard construction materials and erosion-control treatments. Geocell products are three-dimensional, expandable panels made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyeste…

Drainage materials

January 1, 1970 | Products

Geonets, sheet drains, edge drains, and prefabricated vertical drains are all designed to offer strong, performance-enhancing alternatives to traditional drainage systems. Geocomposite drainage systems are engineered to minimize costly, conventional graded-aggregate and/or perforated-pipe subsurface…

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs)

January 1, 1970 | Products

Bonding clay to geosynthetic materials has created an economical, long-term solution for many applications. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are hydraulic barriers made of clay bonded to a single geosynthetic layer or to multiple geosynthetic layers. Because of its low permeability, swelling capacity…

Geogrids

January 1, 1970 | Products

Geogrid products are designed for reinforcement and, characteristically, are integrally connected to elements separated by in-plane apertures. Geogrids form a distinct category of geosynthetics designed for reinforcement. These products are characterized by a relatively high tensile strength and a u…

Grand Isle to get storm-surge protection before 2009 hurricane season

January 1, 1970 | Case Studies

By Ron Bygness Ending more than a dozen years of debate regarding plans to upgrade storm-surge protection for Grand Isle, La., Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration signed an agreement in April with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a $50 million project to rebuild the island’s decimated…