Geogrid provides erosion control, slope stability

September 22, 2011  |  Case Studies

Introduction The slope adjacent to the athletic fields at Saint Mark Catholic School in Huntersville, N.C. was the site of fairly severe surface erosion. A project to restore the slope with reinforcing geogrids was completed in 2010. The athletic field slope that had been failing was restored and Sa…
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Geofoam plays a supporting role in academic and civic projects

September 21, 2011  |  Case Studies

Known primarily for its use as a soil stabilizer in transportation projects, expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam is now being viewed by engineers and contractors as the material of choice for an array of other commercial applications. With high compressive strength, light weight, and predictable perf…
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A better way for the Beltway

August 1, 2011  |  Case Studies

By Alan Dinges Introduction Each day close to 50,000 motorists travel through the Telegraph Road interchange on the integral Interstate-95/495 Capital Beltway between Virginia and Maryland, south of Washington, D.C. In early 2008, extensive upgrades to the interchange began as part of a multi-year p…
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Sustainability and the fiber-reinforced soil repair of a roadway embankment

August 1, 2011  |  Case Studies

By Garry Gregory From the Geosynthetics Research Institute’s 24th conference, 2011.The articles in this series encompass all types of geosynthetics and their applications viewed from the context of sustainability. Traditional solutions are compared with geosynthetic solutions from both cost and ca…
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Comparison of carbon footprints for various stormwater retention systems

August 1, 2011  |  Case Studies

Introduction Construction materials continue to be a major source of greenhouse gases (GHG), based on the fossil fuels used in their production. As the amount of greenhouse gases generated each year continues to increase, there is a conscious effort to provide alternatives with lower carbon footprin…
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Patch extrusion welding as a geomembrane failure mechanism

August 1, 2011  |  Case Studies

Geomembrane performance: Lessons learned—Part 2 By Garrett Q. Dutson Introduction This case history examines the geosynthetic construction, use, failure, and repair of an evaporation pond at an EnergySolutions facility in Clive, Utah. A high priority is placed on management of water that has c…
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EPA identifies case studies for hydraulic fracturing study

June 27, 2011  |  Case Studies

Agency to conduct field work in various regions of the country starting this summer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a June 23 press release the next steps in its congressionally mandated hydraulic fracturing study. The EPA has identified seven case studies to help examin…
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Wick drains in action at port project

June 24, 2011  |  Case Studies

By Angelle Bergeron The largest and deepest marine installation of wick drains in the world is ongoing at the Port of Virginia. Mark Palmatier, president and owner of U.S. Wick Drain (Leland, N.C.) said he is working on a project that is the largest and deepest marine installation of wick drain in t…
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New geomembrane for cracked reservoir

June 15, 2011  |  Case Studies

Replacing a geomembrane layer is part of a $163 million repair and expansion job for Tampa Bay Water’s (TBW) cracked reservoir. The Kiewit Infrastructure Group’s proposal aims to repair and expand the utility’s six-year-old, 15.5-billion-gallon facility. Kiewit estimates repairs at…
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A Lake Tahoe bluff-restoration story

June 1, 2011  |  Case Studies

From eroded to elegant By James Chinchiolo Introduction This project took place on a scenic high-banked lakefront property in Rubicon, Calif., with a 60-ft-high unstable and badly eroded shoreline bluff facing (Photo 1, below). The site was originally owned by Scottish immigrant and journalist B.C. …
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