Use a geogrid while retaining walls for optimal results at specific times is crucial. It offers a much more effective solution to the complexity of retaining walls. It helps in addressing significant concerns during the process, such as:
- Soil erosion
- Landslides
In addition, it also helps it in handling several other challenges related to the particular terrain. Over the years, there has been a significant rise in the demand for retaining walls. Retaining wall systems is not an easy task, given that it needs innovative methods to complete the task and maintain the functionality and durability of the wall at the same time.
Engineers have always been looking for practical solutions to overcome the challenges that come with it. And one such solution is – incorporating geogrids. These geogrids are geosynthetic material that helps retain and enhance the retaining walls’ performance and functionality. In this article, you will learn about the diverse applications of these geogrids in retaining walls.
Ensuring Strength and Stability
You must use these geogrids, especially in dredging and dewatering projects. The main reason to use the geo container wall is to make the wall more sustainable. This flexible solution is also used to contain soil and stabilize embankments. Typically, while making these walls, large bags are used. These bags are usually made from geotextile or polymer materials of high strength, which is why it is also called a geo bag retaining wall. The bags are filled with sand or local soil and other materials.
Combining geogrids and geotextile bags offers strength and stability to the walls while maintaining their structural integrity. The high tensile strength provides the desired strength to the reinforcement layer within the bags filled with sand or soil. It helps in the proper distribution of loads, which is essential to maintain the stability of the walls, which, in turn, prevents lateral movement of the soil inside the bags. This eventually prevents bulging and, therefore, enhances the wall’s strength, stability, and overall integrity.
Use in Dewatering Projects for Soil Consolidation
Another crucial use of the geogrids is in dewatering projects where you need to ensure soil consolidation. The geo bags dewatering is indispensable for these projects since solid poses a significant challenge all through.
If there is excess moisture, it will weaken the stability and integrity of the retaining wall significantly. This means that the wall will not be strong being susceptible to different external factors, such as:
- Landslides
- Soil erosion and more.
The load-bearing ability will be low, and drainage will be weak and less functional due to poor soil consolidation. Therefore, you can say that geogrids are typically used when you need a more functional drainage conduit. This will allow passage of additional water more freely through the openings in the geogrids. In short, geogrids are needed when you want better water movement that will alleviate hydrostatic pressure on the rear of the retaining walls, which will help minimize the occurrence of issues related to seepage. In addition, you may also need to use it when you want to prevent the soil from becoming oversaturated while maintaining the compactness of the soil structure.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of Dredging Projects
Geogrids are also needed to enhance the effectiveness of the dredging project, where debris and sediments are removed from water bodies. Using geo bags for dredging is essential during sediment containment because it helps prevent contamination of the environment during the project. It also helps in maintaining navigability through the waterway. The strong geotextile materials of these geo bags are also used for containing dredged sediment transference and dewatering.
In short, geogrids are necessary to retain structural integrity by offering the necessary support to the geo bags when these are used during dredging experiencing significant loads. In addition, it is needed to prevent rupture and to provide solidity to the geo bags while using them in the dewatering areas. All in all, it helps in more effective sediment contamination and water drainage.
Reinforcing Soil with Relation to Wall Heights
Geogrids are often required to reinforce soil for higher walls, ranging more than 3 or 4 feet. However, geogrids may also be used for shorter walls, especially when it is needed to deal with specific situations, such as:
- Poor soil condition around the wall
- Excess loads over the wall
- Tiered walls or
- Steep slopes around the wall.
Geogrids allow adjusting the impacts that may be caused due to these anomalies and make things more manageable and controllable. This, once again, reinforces the stability, durability, and life of these structures. Therefore, whether a wall is short or tall, geogrids can be used for the safety and integrity of the structure. It does not cost as much as the traditional techniques of retaining walls, all due to the woven textile or geo bags used in the process.
Some Other Use Cases
And finally, there are also a few other instances where geogrids must be used. These are:
- Embankments and bunds that have been steepened
- Bunds that have become fragile and unsafe
- Environmentally-friendly walls with greenery or
- An earthen construction with reinforcement.
Apart from that, geogrids often prove very useful when it is needed to stabilize slopes around the walls by using veneer.
Conclusion
So, these are the times when you will need to use geogrids for retaining walls. Ideally, the use of geogrids has transformed the domain of wall retention engineering. It offers engineers more versatile and practical solutions to overcome the common challenges associated with dredging and dewatering projects. It also offers the necessary strength and stability in geo bag retaining walls and supports drainage by providing the necessary reinforcement.
Engineers today harness the full potential of geogrids while retaining wall systems. With further technological advancements, geogrids will be the cornerstone of modern engineering related to geotechnical projects. It will help ensure the longevity of the structures and ensure resilience in the retaining structures irrespective of the varied landscapes.
