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What Materials Are Used in Geocell?

Introduction

If you’ve worked with geocell systems on the ground, you realize that it isn’t just design that makes or breaks them. A geocell may be a simple honeycomb, but what it’s built from determines how it’s going to perform when loaded, in sunlight, under wet soil, and sitting on that steep slope.

Today’s geocell products vary little except for what they’re made of. Most are polymer-based, but how these are utilized varies based on what they’ll be used for, what they’ll be used on, how much you’re willing to pay or scrimp at, and how rugged you want them to be. Knowing how they’re made makes knowing what to pay for easy… and which to avoid as failing, all too soon, in the field.

Key Explanation

For the most part, HDPE.

The material is a member of the family of polymers called polyolefins, with excellent characteristics already proven over years of use in a variety of products. It shows good permeability, resistance to UV fading, and chemical response. In short, it’s aces for slope protection geocell, erosion control geocells or geocell for load support.

Above posted are typical specs. Long term performance in sun? HDPE works.

Stable deformity under long tern loads. The polypro geocell breaks away from its family with the following:

  • More prone to crinklejuice on long-term load sites
  • Harder to protect where stable sitting, like at the road base
  • But it’s more rigid, so comes to the field cheaper, and performs well

After this you can guess the discipline of the maker and user, and what he pays.

PET (Polyester) – Less Common but High Strength

Some producers offer geocell systems made of polyester strips, or reinforced of composite. These are:

  • Arguably extremely high tensile strength
  • Arguably very low elongation to assist with demanding structural reinforcement use

Suitable for:

  • Retaining wall and so on with very demanding requirements
  • Some civil engineering and earthquake-resisting engineering work

That said, PET geocell is much less common in normal civil works due to cost and availability.

Textured or Smooth Surface Material

Regardless of base material (HDPE or PP), geocell strips can be:

  • Textured – Helps friction with soil aggregate, and therefore greater stability
  • Smooth – Easier to manufacture, and cheaper but low interlock performance

Textured and perforated geocell is typically preferred for:

  • Soil stabilization
  • Erosion control
  • Channel protection

Perforated versus Non-perforated

In some cases, the sheet isn’t perforated yet is a geocell. These cells are slightly different in the sense that they can be filled with some sort of aggregate, yet they are better for other applications.

Perforated geocell:

  • Water drainage
  • Root penetration
  • Ease the hydrostatic pressure

Non-perforated geocell:

  • Containment
  • Keeps out water… generally

So what does your project require?

Applications / Use Cases

So which material do you pick based on where the geocell will be used? Easy, refer to the chart above for a simple breakdown of the main choices:

HDPE geocell
Stipulations: slope protection. Embankments where drainage isn’t a critical issue. Erosion control and/or landscaping type applications.

PP geocells
Stipulations: heavy base stabilization in general. Ports, some logistics yards and highways, applications with HS classes of up to about 125 (or 100) on rigid pavements.

PET or other reinforced geocell systems
Stipulations: engineered retaining wall type applications where loading is of considerable value.

So… for example…

Do you really need heavy-duty PP on your driveway geocell project?
No. HDPE is more than enough. Pick a 75–100 mm thick sheet and you’d be well on your way to a happy customer.

But… do you really need HDPE on that retaining wall geocell?
Not at all. You could use a PPS, and indeed may be to meet the need for the higher tensile strength, creep resistance and so forth.

Comparison or Benefits

How best to look at the features and what one gets from such a comparison:

HDPE

  • Great, low-cost all round geocell material
  • Flexible for installation (on-site), and on the scales of manipulation
  • Most economical to fulfill a vast number of project requirements

PP

  • More stiff than HDPE. Holds more when loaded down long term
  • More suited to heavy trafficked areas, build up points of note (roads, highways)
  • More expensive

PET

  • High-performance material with limited uptake
  • A founder in the engineered category

What sort of materials are found on jobs?

Over-specing material on jobs is not an exemption. On occasion a supplier will have the material on hand so tab it onto the over-killed design. Thus it all depends on who be doing the design and lines to the actual supplied specs.

How to Choose / Buy

When you’re sourcing geocell material and may be about to enter onto a long positive contract with a geocell manufacturer, don’t fall into the trap of just comparing geocell prices over the phone, by looking at some random specs.

That being said, ask yourself and them the following…

  • Is this a slope or road base, or not to forget a retaining?
  • What is said to come down, or apply load?
  • Typically does it face UV constantly from above?
  • Is drainage important (to it)?

And then your parameters:

  • Material, yes, HDPE or PP (there be other matters)
  • Sheet thickness? For 75–100 mm say
  • Weld strength? Certainly on the note of ultrasonic welding geocell
  • Cell height in the geocell, etc., and the said to be able to come up to
  • Textured or smooth on the surface
  • Perforation characteristics

So says:

For the buying for the geocells, not mentioned but ascertain details, that one merely want a HDPE textured perforated geocell.

And they want a low price per square meter, so nature, but they don’t mind the fact of quality, longevity, and return from such.

FAQ

What is this?

Geocell is a proven three-dimensional cellular confinement system consisting of polymer strips that are welded together to form a honeybee structure tied to stabilize the soil and prevent movement and erosion as it supports the load.

How does it work?

That being filled with soil, gravel or sand then, for instance, fillets above the geocell fill confines the material from all ends with its structure resulting in enhanced stabilization, and load distribution.

Cost or lifespan?

That states in place varies from materials as per the height and thickness of the job. But mostly HDPE is the cheapest option.

Now in regard to lifespan:

  • HDPE may last 10–20+ years in ordinary conditions
  • More can be ascribed to UV stabilization and actual installation

Best option?

Such as stated sum to that of HDPE textured perforated geocell, for the most part.

And on the heavy loads, though, PP, PET or along depending.

Common problems?

  • Choosing the wrong material for the right load condition
  • Low strength weld
  • Poor installation
  • Overlooking drainage

However, if you are sourcing geocell for a project, it is always better to discuss the application in detail rather than simply asking for a price. The right material choice often determines the long-term return far more than the initial cost.

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