Dr. Mark H. Wayne Tensar Invited lecture title:Adoption of Composite Behavior in the Design of Geogrid Stabilized Granular Materials |
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Abstract: Since the early 1970s, geogrids have been utilized to reinforce or mechanically stabilize granular materials. They have proven successful in the construction of slopes, embankments, load transfer platforms, and walls. As a stabilization material, geogrids are used in laydown yards, paved and unpaved roads, working platforms, airports, rail, and port facilities. Initially, their use was driven by their ability to provide safe access over soft soils. More recently, their use has been motivated by financial benefits associated with the reduction of natural resources, decreased construction time, and extended service life. Environmental benefits include a reduction in the number of trucks and associated fuel needed to transport granular materials, as well as a decrease in water usage during placement and compaction. In the early stages of use, a mechanically stabilized granular layer was incorporated into designs based on its empirical behavior, with the geogrid modeled as a linear element. Over the past decade, research efforts and new testing have revealed the influence of geogrids on surrounding granular materials and led to the development of a method to harness the resulting composite behavior. This presentation will highlight the research that led to this discovery and discuss how engineers can incorporate composite behavior into their designs. |