Introduction
Weak soil can be a nightmare for construction and designers of all manner of civil engineering projects. Easy to be prone to sudden failure, or simply unable to bear the load or erosive forces, sinking settees and millions of dollars in repairs can take place if the wrong approach is taken.
Geocell or cellular confinement system is a cellular structure, produced from HDPE in a honeycomb shape, enabling stronger ground conditions compared to traditional fabric reinforcements.
You’ll find geocell in use for a variety of purposes including road construction and the need for long-term stability and slope protection, as well as in load-supporting systems.
Key Explanation
The relatively straightforward principle underlying all geocells can be put into simple terms.
Once placed (geotextiles are often delivered preexpanded on-site) connected cells filled with gravel, sand or soil material become confined laterally – tending to meet the lateral stress of any applied pressure, rather than allow movement.
Three main effects take place:
Distribution of loads – rather than be borne in a particular place, stress is spread over a larger area.
Lateral restraint – the infill material no longer displaces, or deforms.
Increased shear strength – the overall structure is far stronger / stable.
In contrast to many traditional methods, geocell does more than support the soil. It supports from within.
Application / Use Cases
Able to be modified for all manner of site conditions, General uses:
Geocell finds application in stabilizing bases of roads and highways to make them less prone to rutting and more capable of bearing loads. It is also useful in slope protection and erosion control, particularly by acting as a flexible containment for soil on slopes, embankments and the like. It is used in load support systems (such as temporary and agile access roads and car parks) when the ground underneath is soft. Used as fill, it acts as a flexible and adaptive retaining wall system, and is also suitable for protecting channels and drainage, promoting better water flow and protecting the ground beneath against erosion.
As it is flexible, geocell can lend itself to both permanent infrastructure underground and temporary, softground jobs above ground in public or workforce access.
Comparisons or benefits:
When compared to traditional soil stabilization and containment methods (thick layers of hardcore or concrete, for instance), the clear benefits of geocell may show up in terms of:
Monetary and material savings
Less reliance on difficult to source and expensive aggregates.
Fast deployment
Easy transportation to site and fast to install.
Cost savings
A cheaper overall budget outlay through reduced material and labor.
Wide ranging application
The cell structure itself can adapt to uneven ground and other environmental issues.
Lower carbon footprint
Local materials can be utilized and aggregate stockpiles eliminated.
In many instances geocell can find a happy medium between outcome and cost that traditional construction struggles to deliver.
How to choose/buy:
With the myriad options of geocell available, it is vitally important to consult a professional for specifications of your own, as there is no off-the-shelf solution for every scenario:
Only the most suitable rice is available!
Considerations:
Cell height
High cells are for heavy duty applications, wheras low cells may suffice if light duty.
Type of cell
Eg. quality in terms of strength, weight and reliability. HDPE is standard but there is a range. Surface type
Perforated and texturized for drainage on dirt and to improve friction for that application. Or not, for different requirements.
Weld strength
Ultrasonic (on join weld, if applicable) quality indicative of performance and longevity of the whole geocell.
Project conditions
Type and ground conditions influencing load scimgd, for instance.
It will be wise to consult your geocell supplier or manufacturer regarding characteristics of his product relative to your needs.
FAQ
What is this?
A three dimensional structure like a honeycomb drawn instead from polymers (typically HDPE), used for soil stabilization and fill. Fill is retained in the cell filler to keep it from moving in a lateral motion.
How does it work?
Unable to move backwards and forwards, the load is then distributed, and the strength of the soil itself is enhanced.
Cost, or lifespan?
The price is reliant on being specific about the application and having know how on specification based on things like cell height, gauges etc, and project size, of course. Geocell as a whole being treated can be cheaper than traditional.
As for lifespan, a good quality geocell can survive a long time, granted the protective measures re harsh environmentalconditions are in place.
Which is the best?
Only the best for a project is good enough if a choice can actually be made, for starters. And there is no such thing as a best.
Like I said, it depends on the application.
For example, roadwork (on or off?) may necessitate more strength and cell height.
Slope narrowing projects require perforated and textured surface routing, so on and so. See?
Common issues?
Some are;
No thought or work going in, resulting in a wreck, just a pointless cost.
Use of geocell that comes from bad wells – literally.
Use of inappropriate specs and measures for the load.