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MSE retaining wall drainage and pile obstructions
April 5th, 2022
The Reinforced Earth Co. examines the many elements of MSE retaining wall drainage when there are obstructions. Drainage inlet at roadway gutter line. Photograph courtesy of the Reinforced Earth Co. Two common types of obstructions we see behind a retaining wall face are site drainage structures and bridge abutment piles. The presence of—and loading from—these obstructions within […]
‘Geosynthetics Super Bowl’
February 11th, 2022
The Reinforced Earth Co.’s MSE retaining wall at SoFi Stadium plays a hidden but important role in the “geosynthetics Super Bowl.” The Reinforced Earth Co. mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall (left) is shown partially completed with the construction of SoFi Stadium underway. Photograph courtesy of the Reinforced Earth Co. One of the tallest mechanically stabilized […]
Anchors, tie-rods and whalers
April 1st, 2021
Q: We are having issues related to obstructions in the reinforced zone of our mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls. In the first case, there is a rock outcrop that is limiting the length of the geogrid reinforcement. In the second case, we have a drop-down inlet structure to divert stormwater, which is in the […]
MSE wall failures can be mitigated through the use of geotextile filters
April 1st, 2019
For the past 17 years, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has been accumulating data on failures of geosynthetic reinforced mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls. We presently have 320 cases, of which 201 (63%) have been caused in whole or part by water within, or adjacent to, the reinforced soil zone. We sincerely hope that our […]
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 […]
BOSTD America geogrid plant up and running in Oklahoma
September 28th, 2018
BOSTD America’s new geogrid manufacturing plant is operational at the company’s American headquarters in Blackwell, Okla. The BOSTD Group, based in Europe, includes BOSTD International, BOSTD Geosynthetics and BOSTD America. It is a manufacturer of high-quality geogrids produced on a continuous-production line, as well as drainage nets and composites, geocomposites, asphalt reinforcement material and geocells […]
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. […]
In the classroom: Part 2: Geosynthetic coursework at Syracuse University, and Part 3: Geosynthetics education from IGS–NA
August 1st, 2017
Introduction This article is part of a 4-part series on how engineering students or practicing engineers learn about geosynthetic materials. Geosynthetic materials have been used in civil and environmental engineering applications for more than three decades. The benefits of geosynthetic materials are widely recognized, and they are used in a variety of industries. The high […]
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 […]