Geogrids

In civil engineering, the reinforcement and stabilisation of soils or substrates is one of the most demanding applications for geogrids. Geogrids are a subcategory of geosynthetics and are used exclusively for the purpose of reinforcement. Their task is to provide the composite soil/geogrid body with the necessary tensile strength to ensure the long-term stability of the structure that it supports. The reinforcing effect is established by means of force transmission resulting from the friction, interlocking and/or adhesion between the soil and the tension-resistant geogrid, which creates a composite effect.

Geogrids are synthetic reinforcement products with a grid structure and are made entirely or largely from polymeric materials, usually polypropylene (PP) or polyester (PET). Since geogrids are industrially manufactured, they have defined and verifiable technical properties that allow project-specific product selection and design.

Stretched, woven, laid and knitted grids can be differentiated by their manufacturing processes. The modes of action and thus the optimum areas of application of the grids vary depending on the manufacturing process.

In civil engineering, geogrids form the basis for durable and safe solutions that cannot be achieved with traditional earthwork methods or only at great expense and with much technical effort. These solutions include the stabilisation of unbound subbase courses, the reinforcement of steep slopes, supporting structures and bridge abutments, and the construction of traffic routes on subsoils with poor load-bearing capacity. Common applications for geogrids are the construction of roads and traffic areas, construction site access roads, car parks, railway lines, service roads and industrial complexes.