Soil reinforcement

SOIL REINFORCEMENT

improving mechanical features of soils

Soils have relatively low tensile strength so that they are not able to transfer all of forces arising in a structure when it is loaded. The tensile forces created can be transferred using geosynthetics materials - geogrids, geotextiles or geocomposites. The geosynthetics products used as a reinforcing element, hence the term reinforced soil.

To ensure satisfactory performance of the reinforcement, a low elongation under stress and good design with respect to a type of soil being reinforced is essential. Geogrids are more suitable for grainy and non-cohesive materials (sand and gravel) while woven geotextiles or reinforcing geocomposites are better for cohesive, fine-grained soils (clay, loess).

Benefits of use of geosynthetics materials for reinforcement:

• improvement the mechanical properties of soils
• otherwise unsuitable types of soil can be used
• expensive structural designs are avoided
• undesirable mixing of soils and demands for earth moving are minimised
• extension of the existing road or railway embankments to increase their capacities can be easily achieved
• minimum land take required
• natural noise reduction barriers/ walls are easily constructed
• construction time is shorted (earthworks also in winter)
• embankment safety and stability is increased
• natural appearance of landscape is maintained
• costs for construction is optimised