ENVIROGRID

Soft, unstable soils create serious issues in unpaved areas such as access roads, parking lots, paths and driveways.  EnviroGrid offers an effective soil stabilization solution since it confines the base materials to prevent lateral movement.  The geocells provide horizontal and vertical confinement of the entire depth of the base layer, significantly reducing pressure and providing subgrade support.  Since each cell within a section connects to adjoining cells, each section of EnviroGrid acts as a large mat or pad distributing applied loads over a large area.

EnviroGrid also allows the use of lower quality aggregates found locally, which eliminates the need to import better or more material.  In addition, filling compact sections of EnviroGrid with sandy soil can replace truckloads of crushed stone, other granular fill, asphalt or concrete.  Additionally, the base material can be more open graded, dramatically improving drainage of the system and increasing life expectancy.

Soil particles on slopes are susceptible to being detached and carried away with concentrated runoff streams, forming rills and gullies.  Over time, the slopes become steeper and less stable, creating an environmental and safety issue.  Traditional methods of stabilizing slopes to prevent erosion use a cover material such as granular fill, vegetation and concrete.  However, these materials alone may not be sufficient to withstand hydraulic forces or steepness of the slope.

Design of EnviroGrid cellular confinement systems for slopes requires analysis of several site characteristics.  Length, height and angle of the slope and the failure angle of existing fill on the slope are important factors in determining the appropriate cell depth and anchoring design.

Retaining wall structures are becoming more necessary as construction encounters rough terrain, steep slopes, and embankment reinforcement.  Changes-in-grade also present obstacles for roads and other development requiring flatter, more usable land.  Standard methods of concrete reinforced retaining walls rely entirely upon internal strength and rigidity.  They are also costly to build, vulnerable to cracking and unattractive to the environment.  An EnviroGrid retaining wall or steepened slope can be constructed wherever a rapid change of grade is desired.

On projects where structures are built with fill material, it is more cost-effective to use EnviroGrid in conjunction with a geogrid.  The geogrid acts as a tieback in the reinforced zone.  EnviroGrid assumes the role of the facing element, such as concrete blocks in a modular block retaining wall.  Unlike modular block, EnviroGrid is flexible and easy to handle.  Planting with grass or shrubbery gives the face a natural look.  In cut situations, the exposed face is unstable due to the removal of the soil holding it in place.  As a result, replacing some of this weight is necessary to stabilize the area.  Stacking and filling EnviroGrid panels creates a near vertical, heavy, reinforced mass or retaining wall.

Channels are often subject to debilitating erosion due to water contained by the channel walls.  Depending on the water flow velocity as well as frequency and degree of stormwater runoff, severe hydraulic stresses upon the channel walls pose significant dangers to the system.  In addition, extended water flow endangers standard soil and grass lined channels.  Even low to moderate forces can gradually remove particles on channels with loose aggregate.  Poured concrete walls can only perform effectively with construction joints in order to avoid rigidity and lessen the danger of compromise from base material displacement.  The system must also be resistant to erosion and stable under the slope geometry and hydrostatic uplift forces.

EnviroGrid cellular confinement systems offer a strong yet flexible solution to contain material while minimizing the erosive forces to the channel slope or bottom. However, multiple considerations are necessary to achieve a safe, environmental, and durable channel system:

• Channel walls must be somewhat flexible to ensure integrity in the face of localized deformations from seasonal factors and sub-base void formation.  However, the system must also be rugged and durable to avoid degradation and uplift from hydraulic forces that are present.
•  System permeability is desirable in some instances to allow natural drainage.  A pervious channel wall relieves hydrostatic uplift forces while stabilizing the system.