Geocells are three-dimensional honeycomb-shaped cellular confinement systems made from various materials like HDPE, polypropylene, carbon and glass fiber, etc. consisting of thin-walled connections that form interconnected voids for infill materials or vegetation.
Working and Benefits
Geocells work by confining and interlocking infill soils, aggregates, or vegetation within a geo-textile grid system. The interconnected voids created within the geocell mattress allow soil reinforcement while also permitting lateral drainage and erosion control functions. Some key benefits of geocell technology include:
Ground Improvement
By placing geocells over soft subgrade soils and filling them, the soils beneath are reinforced against bearing capacity failures as well as excessive consolidation settlement problems. The stiff interconnecting walls of the geocells laterally restrain the infill materials in place and also serve to distribute the imposed loading over a wider surface area. This significantly enhances the load-bearing capacity and shear strength of weak soils.
Erosion Control
Filled Geocells effectively protect earthen slopes and embankments against erosive forces of water and wind. They function as a three-dimensional armor that binds infill materials like gravels, sands, and topsoil to create a erosion-resistant vegetated surface. The open-cell structure also promotes vegetative growth from seeded or planted species by retaining moisture and nutrients around the plant roots.
Vegetatedreinforcement
Geocells can be seeded or planted along with infill materials to create vegetative reinforcements. As plants grow through the cells, their roots and stems interweave to form a natural soil-reinforcing matrix further enhancing the shear strength of slopes and embankments. Coupled with drainage functions, vegetated geocells provide long-term, aesthetically-pleasing, and eco-friendly solutions against slope and embankment erosions.
Applications
Some common applications where geocell technology proves highly beneficial include—
highways, roadways and railway embankments
stadium/sports field construction and landscaping
reservoirs, erosion control projects
landfill and mining sites
riverbank and shoreline protection works
slope stabilization of quarries and excavated areas
airport runways and parking lots construction
horticulture for growing various plants on slopes
Components and Installation
Geocells typically comprise rectangular or hexagonal units made of HDPE, polypropylene or other durable materials molded, connected or welded together by vertical or diagonal walls to form the honeycomb matrix configuration. The collapsible and lightweight property allows easy transportation, handling, and installation at sites.
Standard installation procedures involve—
1. Preparation of leveled base surface with compaction
2. Unrolling geocell rolls and joining cell-edges or tabs
3. Stapling or anchoring edges to secure on underlying base
4. Filling cells with infill materials like gravel or topsoil
5. Compacting infills with suitable equipment
6. Optional seeding/planting as required
7. Installing erosion control blankets if required
Quality and Testing Standards
Leading geocell manufacturers follow international quality, safety, and testing standards like ASTM D6768, EN13495, CIRIA C712, NCMA TEK 8-2C, and ISO 10318. Common performance tests conducted on geocells as per standards include—
– Grab tensile strength
– Carbon black content
– Cell dimensions and UV resistance
– Hydraulic gradient test
– Triaxial shear strength of soils
– Pullout capacity
– Peel adhesion strength
– Surveying post-installation settlements
This ensures consistent product quality, durability, and performance capabilities as per specified design parameters. Third party accreditations like CE marking in Europe further guarantee quality and safety compliance of geocell technologies.
Geocell technology has proven successful as an effective and sustainable ground improvement, slope reinforcement, and erosion control solution globally across diverse terrains and applications. Its versatile benefits coupled with ease of installation recommends widespread use of this promising confinement system in civil infrastructure projects.
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