Archives

Geosynthetics and coal combustion residuals

October 1st, 2018

According to the World Bank Group, in 2015 coal produced 41% of the world’s energy and about 34% of the energy production in the United States. While global warming and pollution are serious challenges according to most scientific evidence, and coal burning is cited as one cause of both, there are many staunch advocates of […]

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Estimating live loads in MSE wall and slope design

June 1st, 2018

In formulating a factor-of-safety value for a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall or slope project, a design engineer calculates a ratio of resisting forces to driving forces. This contrast is further recognized when using load and resistance factor design (LRFD), which is in our not-too-distant future. The resisting forces are the soil’s inherent properties (e.g., […]

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GSI hosts webinar on MSE wall back drainage design

May 9th, 2018

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar entitled “MSE Wall Back Drainage Design,” on May 23, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Within GSI’s database of 301 failed mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls reinforced with geogrids or geotextiles, 64% have failed due to water. Furthermore, 73% have been constructed with fine-grained silt […]

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Geocomp hires Epstein as Southeast regional manager

May 3rd, 2018

Geocomp, a geostructural consulting, design, instrumentation and testing company, hired Aaron C. Epstein, P.E., to lead the consulting division in the company’s Atlanta, Georgia, offices in the position of Southeast regional manager, the company said. Epstein will develop Geocomp’s southeastern U.S. geostructural engineering services, expand opportunities for structural health monitoring and geotechnical instrumentation/monitoring, and support […]

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NHI hosting course on earth retaining structures in New Mexico and California

April 30th, 2018

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) will host a three-day instructor-led course on earth retaining structures twice this summer, in Sacramento, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The course (Course Number FHWA-NHI-132036) will provide state-of-the-practice design tools and construction techniques to expand implementation of safe and cost-effective earth retention technologies, NHI said. […]

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GSI hosts webinar on MSE structure inspection

April 25th, 2018

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar entitled “Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall, Berm and Slope Construction Inspection,” on May 9, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. The inspection and monitoring of MSE wall, berm and slope construction using geosynthetic reinforcement is essential for providing a safe, durable system. Such inspection includes […]

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GeoDallas Watch: Geosynthetics in transportation and environmental applications highlight two-day event

April 1st, 2018

GeoDallas 2018 is an intimate two-day educational event focusing on the theme Geosynthetics in Transportation and Environmental Applications to be held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 16–17, 2018. The conference includes half-day short courses, case studies, panel discussions and training lectures. The full schedule for the conference will be announced in late April at www.GeoDallas.com. Attendees […]

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A risk assessment for MSE wall projects

February 1st, 2018

During the past 40 years, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls have gained wide acceptance within the public and private sectors, becoming the standard of practice for filled walls. The evolution away from the concrete cantilever wall has occurred primarily because MSE walls are less expensive to construct and easier to design and build. The Federal […]

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GSI offers webinar on MSE wall, berm and slope construction inspection

December 1st, 2017

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will offer a webinar entitled “Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall, Berm and Slope Construction Inspection,” on December 13, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. The inspection (aka monitoring) of MSE wall, berm and slope construction using geosynthetic reinforcement is essential for building a safe and durability system. Such inspection […]

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GSI offers webinar on failed MSE walls with geosynthetics

September 25th, 2017

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will offer a webinar entitled “A Data Base and Analysis of 301 Failed MSE Walls with Geosynthetic Reinforcement,” on October 11, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, berms and slopes with geosynthetic reinforcement have been developed since the 1970s, first using geotextiles and later […]

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