Geocells for Soil and Gravel Stabilization

Dirt Filled in Pockets of Geocell

The Advantages Of Using Geocells

Infrastructure development means the development and engineering of structures while guaranteeing they will not have a negative impact on natural resources. A big concern is soil stabilization and the possible risks to stability involving bridges, roads, and footpaths.

A cellular confinement system offers many advantages for engineers including increased weight-bearing capabilities, good stabilization, and affordability. Some other advantages include:

Long-lasting infrastructure. Geocells are constantly used in civil engineering projects for constructing roads and pavements by offering a flexible base while holding soil in place. Due to their exceptional load distribution, geocells will prevent a great deal of stress cracking that often happens with paved roads as well as protection for elevated slopes. A geocell grid provides a better alternative to stone pitching or mulch mats for steep slopes. It prevents erosion without having to bring in expensive materials or skilled labor.

The cellular confinement system offers an environmentally friendly solution to create green slopes or retaining wall systems. Geocells can be filled with vegetation, concrete, or local materials such as soil or gravel without involving extensive quarrying. Using local materials will increase the positive effects on the environment by decreasing carbon footprints.

Muddy Area before Gravel Grid

Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture involves protecting plants and preventing soil erosion using specialized solutions such as geocells. Geocell grids will decrease runoff or groundwater flow while stopping the formation of erosion channels that are a threat to the landscape. Other advantages include protecting riverbeds and tree roots along with stabilizing ground soil, channel walls. and preventing erosion in greenbelts, vegetation, and slopes.

Erosion Control

Soil erosion has always been a problem, globally. Every year, natural elements such as rain, flooding, and wind will destroy nutrients in topsoil and then fill up with rivers and streams. Once erosion has hit, it's probably going to get worse over time unless action is taken to control it. That said, there are some tools for erosion control that can stop destructive cycles.

Cell-Tek Geosynthetics is the exclusive manufacturer of SlopeGrid® which is an innovative erosion control product. Erosion control is the act of preventing the loss of soil. Among some industries, including construction and agriculture, erosion can take place and cause damage by operations performed on construction sites. Soil erosion is extremely damaging to plants and wildlife unless steps are taken to prevent it from happening. The prevention of erosion plays a very important role in two engineering techniques -low-impact development (LID) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

LSG Install in Backyard

Dumping Gravel from Wheel Barrow

Soil Integrity – Using anti-erosion technology, such as geotextiles, will keep sediment at bay and protect the soil from runoff caused by streams. This is not only important for preventing pollution of the water but also for protecting nutrient-rich topsoil that vegetation depends on.

Decrease Runoff Acceleration- Erosion control products are used for better topsoil in order to absorb rain. In turn, it will decrease the acceleration of runoff that might take place resulting in the loss of less sediment.

Pollution Control – There are many places where topsoil contains pollutants and chemicals left behind by agricultural activities or from construction sites. When erosion hits, pollutants are carried away along with the soil and will contaminate waterways and harm wildlife and plants. Implementing erosion control will prevent that from happening.

Supporting Biological Diversity - Biodiversity is a variety of life on Earth. It's the variation of genetics, species, and the level of the ecosystem. Biological diversity is not evenly spread out on Earth but is greater in the tropics due to the warm climate and productivity in the region. When erosion starts it will continue making areas worse off than it was before. Soil will be swept away destroying the area as well as the wildlife. When habitats are destroyed by erosion, the biological diversity in the area will plummet.

Gravel Grid Expanded

Cell-Tek Erosion Control Products

Soil-erosion will cause a great deal of damage to wildlife, property, vegetation, and waterways. Once erosion sets in, it will continue to get worse as time moves on. Therefore, it's imperative to bring in erosion control products for the soil ahead of time. Cel-Tek provides the most effective erosion control products on the market.

The Benefits

Geogrid reinforced slopes can take on different forms with each being ideal for different situations. Some systems can be covered with topsoil and vegetation to create natural grass while others are filled with granular aggregate such as gravel or stones.

Partially Installed Gravel Grid

Dirt Filling Geocells

Soil stabilization techniques include mechanical actions such as interlocking cellular grids and several infill options in order to prevent the destabilization of slopes.

Protection and removal techniques. These steps and products will help in clearing unstable material that rests on the upper layer of the slope. One example is anti-erosion protective netting.

Techniques for water drainage. Water that is trapped in soil or rock mass will definitely cause an increase in water pressure which will seriously decline the slope's stability. To fight this off from happening, techniques for water drainage must limit the entry of water and control ground levels.

About Gravel Stabilization Grids

Gravel is the most popular material for driveways, parking lots, walkways, and other gravel surfaces. The downside, gravel surfaces require a lot more maintenance than other materials because it's loose and will gradually move, causing gaps and ruts along the surface. While the imperfections can be filled with new gravel, it will not permanently correct the problem. The best solution to reduce and stop gravel from moving is bringing in a quality gravel driveway stabilization grid.

Backhoe Filling Geocells

LSG Install in Front Yard

Some benefits of using stabilizer grids include:

These grids will keep the gravel in place by restricting the aggregate from moving outside of the cellular structure. Stabilizer grids are created to form a more durable pavement system.

The Structural Number (SN) is used to classify the value of its performance and strength. As an example, a system that has 10 inches of unconfined gravel will have a structural number of 1.40 while confined gravel of 4 inches has a SN of 2.80.

Because the grids reduce the amount of needed gravel, the pavement system will not require top-ups over time. In turn, the amount of gravel needed for building and maintaining the paved surface will be less.

The grids will reduce rutting. Driveways that do not have a solid base will allow cars to sink into the gravel creating ruts. Outside of being an eyesore, ruts can make it very difficult to navigate over the driveway's surface.

• Driveways
• Access Roads
• Paths for Golf Carts
• Playgrounds
• Bicycle Trails
• Parking Lots
• Camping Sites
• Patios
• Landscaping
• Public Parks
• Pathways
• Sports Grounds• and Many More

Pockets of Geocell

Car Parked on Geocell

Access Road Stabilizers

Geocells are a kind of geosynthetic material that works like a subgrade reinforcement tool. On a broader scale, geosynthetics are made from polymeric materials to offer a cost-effective way of adding reinforcement, stability, and effectiveness to construction projects. Geocells are flat sheets of intersecting grids that have large open spaces between the ribs known as apertures.

Cell-Tek manufactures geocellular grids. Applying geocells to the subgrade at projects for road construction creates a mechanically stabilized layer to improve the bearing capacities of the road. Rutting and subgrade displacement sets off geocell's response to load support which stops unrestrained lateral movement that would take place without geocells. Cell-Tek is a leader and dependable manufacturer of geocells for road construction applications for both unpaved and access roads.

Geocells Used In Construction

Geocells are excellent answers for all kinds of roads and are beneficial in areas with bad drainage and demanding subgrade. Geocells will increase stability and strength in all base layers and hold soil in an inflexible layer while offering better durability and load-bearing capacities. Smaller unpaved roads will benefit from geocells in areas with loose soil or demanding subgrades with stability complications.

Geocells under subgrade will last a longer period by offering greater flexibility for the life of the road while reducing the cost of maintenance due to its ability to hold soil for long-term stability. It will increase construction effectiveness by cutting back on the level of aggregate needed. Also, it offers an economical and eco-friendly answer for difficult construction conditions. Geocells are excellent for erosion control and embankment stability as well.

Geocell Installation Project

Driving on Gravel Grid

Cell-Tek's Geocells

Geocells are economical for many construction projects. It's environmentally friendly, easy to install, and very effective even in conditions with weak soil. Geocells will increase the lifetime of small and unpaved roads with very low maintenance requirements.

Cell-Tek is a leader in offering the best geosynthetics answers for both large and small construction projects. They are known for all their products being cost-effective, and eco-friendly, while extending the life of your construction projects.

Cell-Tek offers many excellent products for your next construction project. One of their leading products is geocells for incredible stability of soil, and amazing erosion control while remaining eco-friendly and cost-efficient while providing flexibility for the life of many roads.