Skip to main content

Geosynthetics for base reinforcement

Tensar is making some key moves internationally, as well as in terms of market segments. The company is now marketing the GlasGrid range in the US and expects to develop healthy sales, however it sees major growth potential with the Geogrid product range. Jim Penman, director for bi-axial products & applications said: "One area we're moving into is base reinforcement and in particular what we're looking at is mechanistic emirical (ME) technology." Tensar has worked with the University of Illinois on a new d
March 14, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

Tensar is making some key moves internationally, as well as in terms of market segments. The company is now marketing the GlasGrid range in the US and expects to develop healthy sales, however it sees major growth potential with the Geogrid product range.

Jim Penman, director for bi-axial products & applications said: "One area we're moving into is base reinforcement and in particular what we're looking at is mechanistic emirical (ME) technology." 340 Tensar has worked with the University of Illinois on a new design specification for Geogrid, setting out numerical models. Discrete element modelling using spheres has also been employed to establish the behaviour of the materials in a construction environment. With previous attempts in this field, there was no interaction between the models and the results were limited. However this latest advance allows the engineers to model the load exerted on the road and as a result, the effect of the GlasGrid product can be factored into the calculations.

With this stage complete, Penman said that the company is now starting to develop the product commercially and he also outlined the commerical benefits to Tensar of proving the Geogrid in the base reinforcement sector. "Right now our market is in soil reinforcement buth the market for base reinforcement is 50 times the size," he said.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Safer highway containment continues to grow
    March 8, 2012
    A steady flow of new technology and systems is ensuring the highway barrier sector is seeing major gains in safety. Mike Woof reports A combination of technological development and tougher regulations are ensuring a constant flow of new safety barrier solutions for the highway sector. Issues such as containment and deflection are high on the technical agenda, while a wide array of technologies is being developed to meet specific needs for certain applications. Both in the US and Europe, an increased focus o
  • Demand for asphalt testing solutions
    February 14, 2012
    Asphalt testing is performed for a variety of reasons by a variety of companies. Patrick Smith reports Road safety is in the interest of everyone and today it is also an important target shared by the majority of the companies involved in road design and construction. The growing attention paid to this value has had a remarkable effect on the material testing field, encouraged by an increasing market demand for testing solutions as well as by the new technical requirements established by international st
  • Latest developments in construction machines
    April 4, 2012
    High performance backhoe loaders from Hidromek can compete with leading brands on performance - Mike Woof reports Turkish manufacturer Hidromek is looking to take a larger slice of the international market with its newly upgraded backhoe loader models. The firm currently sells machines in 50 countries worldwide and intends to boost its market profile. Marketing manager Levent Karaa aç said, "We will be a global brand." This family owned firm has come a long way since it was founded in 1978, manufacturing a
  • Latest developments in construction machines
    February 14, 2012
    High performance backhoe loaders from Hidromek can compete with leading brands on performance - Mike Woof reports