5 Things to Know Before Buying Geogrid manufacturer

by Mahesa Bhawanin, on April 01,

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Are you considering the integration of geogrids into your pavement designs to enhance performance or potentially minimize pavement thickness while still achieving your targets? Here are five critical points to consider before making your purchase.

1. Performance is the true metric, not lab tests

This insight may seem obvious, yet it can be challenging to convey within the engineering community that geogrid index properties such as strength and stiffness may not effectively correlate with the tangible performance advantages. The only definitive way to ascertain whether a geogrid will perform as expected is by deploying it in a pavement structure and analyzing its effectiveness. Various factors need consideration in pavement construction: particle size, geogrid interaction, subgrade strength, wheel load variations, etc. Consequently, ongoing testing backed by substantial case studies is imperative for confidence in any particular geogrid solution.

A Tensar mechanically stabilised road subbase layer resulted in a thinner pavement design while achieving a 60% increase in road service life at the Great Yorkshire Way.

2. The evolution of geogrid performance enhancement in pavements continues.

This ties back to point one, as it raises the question: if lab results do not predict performance, how do we integrate performance into our designs? Luckily, the technology behind geogrids has a rich history; although research is ongoing, we have enough data to reliably estimate improvements. It's recognized that there is room for advancement. According to publications like AASHTO R50-09, improvements from geogrids arise empirically and should be validated through full-scale trafficking tests. Tensar’s TriAx geogrids, introduced after 30 years of experience with biaxial geogrids, continue to evolve with new findings daily. We anticipate a time when geogrid influence in pavement design can be fully quantified and modeled, but until then, we can already substantially optimize pavement designs. This information bulletin will highlight how our research contributes to refining existing design methodologies.

Accelerated Pavement Testing conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers has confirmed that geogrids significantly improve pavement performance.

3. Manufacturer declarations matter, backing marketing with facts.

Geogrid manufacturers often use terminology interchangeably, such as stabilization, reinforcement, and interlock, among others. Terms like flexible geogrids, rigid geogrids, stiffness, and strength are often used without consensus on their meanings in marketing materials. To distinguish between the various geogrids, new terms emerge rapidly, sometimes leading to confusion. The recent publication of ISO standards helps clarify some mechanisms and applications intended for geogrids, facilitating clearer discussions between consultants and manufacturers.

4. Geogrid index properties are not utilized in pavement design.

This poses challenges for end users. If one cannot rely on index properties as performance indicators, how can one select the proper geogrid? Numerous confusing manufacturer publications use overlapping terms, leaving designers uncertain. The simplest approach is to recognize that specifications should guide the selection of an appropriate geogrid. Matching physical characteristics does not guarantee intended performance. Specifications should focus on performance targets, which holds manufacturers accountable for their performance claims. No single property indicates overall performance; it results from a combination of factors. By specifying necessary performance outcomes, the proposed geogrids should adequately demonstrate that they can meet such targets. We recommend specifying geogrids only for index properties essential for identifying the product, with performance metrics serving as the true benchmarks.

The pavement sections underwent more than 800,000 Equivalent Standard Axle Loads (ESALs), equivalent to 690 million cars passing over them, as implemented by the US Corps of Engineers.

5. All geogrids function, but they don’t all perform identically.

Every geogrid is crafted for a specific application. Misusing a geogrid outside of its intended purpose can foster disappointment and skepticism regarding geogrids' effectiveness in pavements. Just as you wouldn’t use a fork to drink soup, avoid employing a geosynthetic filtration product for pavement reinforcement. While some benefit may arise, it’s not the geogrid’s intended function. Comprehensive trafficking trials and systematic, independent testing pave the way for greater confidence, credible designs, and ultimately superior pavements for all.

These are the five key points to consider when selecting a geogrid for your pavement needs. For additional information and to explore our extensive expertise in pavement design, please reach out to us.