Tenax presents GRAVEL LOCK, a composite for retaining gravel
March 21st, 2019
Italian company Tenax’s new product GRAVEL LOCK is a geocomposite made up of a cuspated, rolled high-density polyethylene geogrid coupled with a polypropylene nonwoven fabric. It is ideal for creating draining and stable gravel floors for pedestrian and vehicular passage, the shape in rolls and the reduced amount of gravel required for filling (less than […]
Geocomposite groundwater drainage system for bluff erosion protection
February 1st, 2019
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 planning, design and implementation of the remedy. The planning […]
The magic of water and geosynthetics
February 1st, 2019
Water is a fundamental issue in many projects using geosynthetics. From erosion control to reservoir liners and covers, from landfill leachate pond barriers to coal ash dewatering, handling water and the effects of water are considerations nearly every engineer employing geosynthetics considers. Geosynthetics can effectively manage water applications of erosion control, reinforcement, barriers, filtration and […]
Multilinear drainage geocomposites to filter oil sands tailing slurries
October 1st, 2018
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, bauxite (aluminum oxide), uranium, trona (soda ash) and potash, for example. There […]
The many applications for geosynthetics in the energy sector
October 1st, 2018
The opportunities for geosynthetics in energy applications are nearly endless. There are huge energy categories, such as oil, natural gas and coal, but geosynthetics also play a role in nuclear energy, hydropower, wind power and solar power, among others. Geosynthetics line storage tanks, support roads to remote sites, line tailings ponds, provide filtration, dewater coal […]
Geosynthetics opportunities and solutions in shale gas extraction
October 1st, 2018
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 of natural gas—so much so that one can envision […]
Geocomposite lamination strength ASTM test method: Time for an update
August 1st, 2018
Recent project experience that included continuous peel testing across the roll width of geocomposite materials has shed light on the issue of peel strength between geotextiles and geonets that are heat-bonded together. The variability of peel strength across a roll width is found to be much greater than expected, with the typical standard deviation often […]
The GMA Techline answers all
August 1st, 2018
UV Weathering of Geotextiles Q: My firm is providing construction quality assurance services for a landfill cell expansion. We are having an issue with our contractor and are going to be in a position of having 8 ounces/square yard (271 g/m2) of nonwoven geotextile exposed for a period of time, which exceeds the seven-day limit […]
A next-gen basin liner solution for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
April 1st, 2018
There are more than 100,000 miles (> 160,000 km) of levees throughout the United States, protecting lives and property from extreme weather-related flooding. Aging infrastructure and increasingly stronger storms have intensified the need to reinforce and protect levees, and emergency responders need solutions to repair a breached levee before it results in catastrophic damage. Therefore, […]
History of geosynthetics use on national forest roads
June 1st, 2017
Introduction The objectives of this article are to document the long history of geosynthetic materials used in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and other rural roads, to document the many creative and useful ways geosynthetics have been used, and to promote the cost-effective uses of geosynthetics in road projects today, particularly on […]