PP geogrid (one of the …essential staples!! of road engineering) finds use in soft soil areas, on highways, and in subgrade stabilisation work. Why? It improves performance without ramping up that all-important build cost.
PP geogrid
PP geogrid is simply a geosynthetic made of polypropylene (obviously!) with a grid structure that has high tensile strength in one or both directions. The main use is in soil reinforcement – the soil particles are locked inside giving an improvement in stability. It’s lightweight and thus easier to work with compared to some of the older stuff.
Strong tensile strength for road loads
Roads are subjected to huge stresses dynamically and temporally Heavy vehicles are putting a continual load into the subgrade. PP Geogrid’s job is to better distribute these loads so as to reduce the stress concentrations in the weakest parts of the soil.
This encased by PP Geogrid will reduce the rutting/deformation and form part of the important base of highways.
An effective solution for soft soil stabilisation
Soft soil is a huge problem in roadwork, as it has a soaked California bearing ratio of only 3%. The material is therefore liable to settle so PP geogrid effectively reinforces it by increasing the interlocking and friction on the surface which gives a considerable increase in the shear strength of the base.It lends a hand in common with reducing any long term settlements. Because of such attributes it is suitable for the making of embankments and roads. Often it replaces a costlier granular layer of greater thickness. Helping to reduce the amount of aggregate used.
Cost Reducing Construction Material
PP geogrid in a number of ways lowers the overall price sought of a project. Not so much earth is excavated, and not as much aggregate is used also the time taken is shorter. Again a saving is seen in transportation of such material as it is lightweight.
That is the reason for popularity in mass construction projects needing budgetary restraint.
Chemical and Corrosion Resistant
Roads must cope with all around hostile environment. In the soil moisture is present, salts and chemicals.
PP geogrid has good resistance to chemical corrosion. Especially, it does not rust or corrode and it still retains properties in acid or alkaline soils. Thus assuring long service in underground applications.
Super Easy to Install
PP geogrid is super easy to install. Generally it can be rolled out directly on top of the ready subgrade, without need of particular heavy equipment to lay it out. Labor hands can easily cut and overlap to fit the project design on site. Work in turn, is more efficiently, and less labor required. That is quite a qualification on fast tracked road projects.
Widely Used in Road Engineering Applications
PP geogrid is used widely in number of road construction applications; Used for highways in improving general subgrade bearing capacity. Generally used for embankment reinforcement so as to reduce settlement. And also used for slope stabilization so as to prevent sliding failure. Also important in lighter sense to use, is in several critical functions, in reinforced soil structures (RSS).