Performance evaluation of a multi-span GRS–IBS

April 1, 2019  |  Feature

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 g…
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Yeager Airport: Deconstruction and reconstruction of the side of a mountain

April 1, 2019  |  Feature

Yeager Airport is located on top of a series of leveled mountains in Charleston, W.Va. Completion of the original airport construction in the 1940s required 9 million cubic yards (6.9 million m3) of soil and rock earthwork (Keller 2017). In 2005, due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety r…
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A leachate pond geomembrane after 25 years of service

February 1, 2019  |  Feature

This article reports on the evaluation of an exposed geomembrane liner in a landfill leachate pond after being in service for 25 years. The evaluation was performed in two campaigns: in August 2014 and in May 2018. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the condition of the geomembrane and t…
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Reviving the Palos Verdes Reservoir, Part 3

February 1, 2019  |  Feature

California’s water infrastructure is one of the most challenged systems in the United States due to the large population it supports, the age of much of the water infrastructure, and the diverse environments—mountains, coastlines, old-growth forests, deserts—found in the state. The water infra…
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2018 International Achievement Awards

February 1, 2019  |  Awards, Feature, IAA

Recognizing design excellence in geosynthetics The International Achievement Awards, sponsored by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), recognize innovation, technical skill and design excellence in geosynthetic applications. The awards are an annual competition promoting awarenes…
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Geocomposite groundwater drainage system for bluff erosion protection

February 1, 2019  |  Feature

The project presented herein was designed to enhance an existing groundwater drainage system and repair erosion related to groundwater seepage on a berm constructed using coal combustion residuals (CCR) on top of a Lake Michigan bluff at a site in southeastern Wisconsin. This article presents the pl…
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Managing urban water issues with geosynthetics

November 19, 2018  |  Feature

Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded Phylway Construction a contract to rebuild the Lake Pontchartrain levees in Louisiana. After extensive testing, high-performance turf reinforcement mat (HPTRM) products were approved, with Phylway using East Coast Er…
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Multilinear drainage geocomposites to filter oil sands tailing slurries

October 1, 2018  |  Feature

Mining and some energy operations generate large quantities of water-containing tailings. These tailings are made of crushed-rock particles that are deposited in a slurry form. This is the case for coal, tar sand, lead, zinc, gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, nickel, taconite (iron), phosphate, baux…
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Automation of large-scale geotextile and geomembrane fabrication

October 1, 2018  |  Feature

The development of a large-scale fabrication machine was conceived during the fabrication of geotextiles for a tailings pond cap in 2010. The machine joins five strips of material at a time to create fabricated panels for large projects. It is capable of both welding geomembranes and sewing high-str…
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Geosynthetics opportunities and solutions in shale gas extraction

October 1, 2018  |  Feature

While natural gas contained within shale rock is geologic and thus ancient by its very nature, the practice of its removal by horizontal drilling coupled with hydrofracking is a relatively recent development (Figure 1). Indeed, these dual technologies are making possible the recovery of huge amounts…
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