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Forecast: More wind turbines coming
October 8th, 2009
According to a recent report, the market for wind turbines will continue to grow through 2015, driven by new generation additions as well as replacement of smaller, older turbines with larger, more-efficient turbines. Pike Research, a clean tech market intelligence firm, forecasts that the turbine market will resume its growth in 2011, following three years […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Geosynthetics: Recalling the days of yore
October 7th, 2009
The history of geosynthetics has been richly documented by our scholars, researchers, writers, and manufacturers—to list but a handful of sources. Excerpts from these sources are offered here as a “look back.” Compiled and edited by Ron Bygness Magazine reports from the early ‘80s From: Industrial Fabric Products Review, July 1981 Geotextiles have revolutionized the […]
The professor training courses for geosynthetics: 1994-1998
October 7th, 2009
By David J. Elton and David M. Shannon Introduction Fifteen years ago, the Professor Training Course for Geosynthetics began training U.S. professors to teach geosynthetics at the university level. This paper reviews how the course was conceived, funded and run, and examines the results. Origin The Professor Training Course for Geosynthetics was the brainchild of […]
Geocells: The early days with the Army Corps
October 7th, 2009
What many people may not know about the early development of the geocell cellular confinement system is that the material wasn’t always black. In fact, early testing of a “grid confinement” system included wax-coated craft paper; a plastic drainage pipe matrix fastened with staples; paper-thin, hexagon-shaped, glued-aluminum; low- and medium-density recycled materials; pure polyethylene without […]