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Thank you for taking your valuable time to be here today. Our objective is to provide you
with information that will have significant value to you in solving problems in the future.
** Provide a brief outline of the presentation tailored to the audience. **
What do we all here have in common?
As designers and builders we have educated ourselves to solve problems. This is the one
thing we have in common as engineers. We are in the business of solving problems.
It doesnt mater the size of the problem. Whether small, medium or large, this is what we
do. We solve both design and construction problems for both the public and private
sectors.
However, at times our education, experiences, traditions, policies, standards, etc., put us
in a nicely wrapped box relative to how we solve problems.
Are we inside the box thinkers or outside the box thinkers?
Or both? If both, we need to ask ourselves when and where should think outside the box
or limits we, or others have imposed on us.
Lets have some fun thinking outside the box.
(no text) Describe tool and take time to allow audience to think.
(no text) Describe tool and take time to allow audience to think.
Now lets get down to business and discuss the problem of Soil Stabilization.
We will define soil stabilization as (see Slide)
And we stabilize soils
horizontally when load support is need
to near vertically when earth retention is needed
to any inclination when slope and channel protection is needed.
There are many solutions to these difficult problems. One unique solution is the Geoweb
Cellular Confinement System. The word system is most significant because - this is a
multi-component, engineered system consisting of
the Geoweb section(s),
the infill material and
various components that add value to the system.
We will first look at each of the component groups to see the variability that exists and
second, we will look at specific problems and how they have been solved using the
variability that occurs within the solution components.
Stated in basic terms, the Geoweb component is (see Slide)
A significant part of the manufacturing process is having it ISO certified. This assures the
user of continuous and consistent quality.
Geoweb sections are manufactured with the following variability
6 section lengths
4 cell depths
3 cell types
2 cell wall types.
All variation is a function of the problem being solved. The details of the problem control
the details of the solution. The details of the solution then control the details of the
products being manufactured.
The GW20V cell or small cell and section has the physical dimension range illustrated
here.
The GW30V cell or mid cell and section has the physical dimension range illustrated here.
The GW40V cell or large cell and section has the physical dimension range illustrated
here.
All sections are variable in their individual length and width but maintain the same area
through the recommended expansion range.
The only exception to this are the sections used for retaining walls. They are fixed in their

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dimensions given the nature of the application.
The two different cell wall types are perforated and non-perforated. Both have fully
textured cell wall surfaces.
The perforated cell was developed to allow greater frictional interaction between larger
aggregate materials and the cell wall so the two components function as a single unit.
Aggregate particles interlock with the perforated cell wall creating a high degree of
interaction 90% of the soil-to-soil friction.
The perforations also allow water to flow from cell-to-cell preventing potential problems
related to overly saturated soils.
The perforations also allow for root interlocking within the cells when a vegetated system is
desired.
Moisture and nutrients can easily pass from cell to cell.
The non-perforated cell wall is used in applications where perforations are undesirable.
The fully textured cell wall surface allows smaller particles to bond with the cell surfaces.
This is the Geoweb component. Six section sizes, three cell types, four cell depths and
two cell wall types. Various colors are also available.
The second component is the infill material. This varies with the application.
For load support, the infill must be granular. Fully compacted granular materials gain
considerable strength in confinement. Limited fines are critical for the performance
particularly when infill becomes saturated and receives repeated loading. A general ruleof-thumb is to limit the fines to 6% - 8% maximum.
For earth retention structures, the infill must have limited plasticity. It is the infill that is the
gravity earth-retention structure and the Geoweb cell that holds the infill together.
Compaction is critical, so choosing an infill that can be easily compacted is best.
The infill material for slope protection and channel protection systems has a great degree
of variability. Aesthetics, surface runoff characteristics, ground water, hydrodynamic
forces, and environmental issues should be considered. Many times, one detail will be the
controlling factor in the selection of the infill material.
Aggregate infill
Topsoil infill with vegetation
Concrete infill
Like the correct Geoweb cell size, depth and type, and the correct infill material, the
components must be properly evaluated and selected.
Geosynthetics are an important and critical component in many applications.
Erosion control blankets are used in slope and channel protection systems when details
of the problem dictate.
Geotextiles are used many times as separation layers under the Geoweb section to
prevent contamination of the infill material by the poorer quality in-situ soil. When a
geotextile separation layer is needed, it is absolutely needed.
Geogrids, as well as woven geotextiles, are used many times as reinforcement in earth
retention structures and on special slope and channel protection structures.
When geomembranes are part of the overall solution, the Geoweb system can add life to
the geomembrane by economically protecting it.
Tendons create a structural method to secure the Geoweb system to the ground. Typical
tendon materials are Kevlar, polyester and polypropylene.
Anchoring methods are generally used
to structurally hold the Geoweb system in place against gravitational or hydrodynamic
forces. The design and choice of materials is important to the functionality of the system.
OR to facilitate construction. This anchoring method is non-structural.
The ATRA Clip and ATRA Anchor are important elements in the design of a secure
anchoring system.

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This slide illustrates the anchoring components.
Generally, attaching sections together is used to facilitate construction. However, when
there is a need for structural attachment, special devices and methods are available.
The pneumatic stapling of sections is illustrated here.
The Geoweb system has been researched significantly.
The peat pit research was conducted in the geotechnical laboratory of the Royal Military
College in Kingston, Ontario. There, a pit was filled with saturated peat. Over the peat,
the Geoweb section was placed and infilled with gravel. Settlement plates were placed
through the Geoweb section prior to its placement. A load beam was placed over the
Geoweb section and loaded to failure.
Deflection versus beam-load was plotted. The results illustrate that the Geoweb system
supports much greater loading with far less deflection than unreinforced gravel. In this
research, other geosynthetics performed similar to the unreinforced gravel.
In the tri-axial cell research, a single 10 cm (8 in) Geoweb cell filled with a granular
material was tested in a large tri-axial cell. The presence of the Geoweb cell caused the
non-cohesive soil to gain a significant amount of strength - referred to as equivalent
cohesion.
Soil theory proves that the Geoweb structure adds strength to the granular material with
zero cohesion.
In the cyclical loading test, several granular road base materials were subjected to fullscale dynamic loading both in the Geoweb cell and by themselves. Permanent
accumulated deflection was recorded for each load cycle.
Results were plotted proving that the Geoweb reinforced system can withstand 12 -15
times more load cycles before accumulating the same deflection. The Geoweb system
used to reinforce a road base will add a factor of 10+ to the survivability of that road base.
This, in turn, will directly increase the life of the pavement.
Research using large-scale shear box testing confirms that the textured / perforated
Geoweb system performs better that the smooth wall cell. The tangent of the angle of
frictional interaction between the cell wall with the infill material is directly proportional to
the load support provided.
The 2.5-year (January 1998 June 2000) Association of American Railroads research
program proved, without a doubt, the capabilities of the Geoweb system to support the
heaviest of railroad loadings over soft foundations.
The Geoweb system was installed in the subballast layer over a controlled low-modulus
clay foundation
The Geoweb system in the subballast layer reduced the actual vertical stress on the
subgrade by 20% or more. This reduction was sufficient enough that the following
performance resulted.
Without the Geoweb, tamping was required, on average, every 15 million gross ton of
loading (about 3 months of loading) to stay within the FRA track profile limit of 5
centimeters over a 19 meter cord (2 inches over 62 foot cord).
With the Geoweb and after over 180 million gross ton of loading,
the vertical track alignment never exceeded 1.5 centimeters (30% of the allowable) and
the cross track alignment never exceeded 0.5 centimeters
during the 2.5 year test period.
Several months into the testing, 380,000 liters (100,000 gallons) of water was dumped
over the area to induce failure. No appreciable effect was measured.
Lets now look at
The load support problem in general
How the Geoweb system solves this problem, and
Specific applications and their details.
Load support problems result from having a soil type that shears under a given load.

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Many times, excessive moisture in the soil contributes to the problem. Some times the
problem is temporary - some times permanent. Some times immediate solutions are
needed - other times we can wait for the problem to cure itself (the soil will dry out). These
details may control the solution attempted.
When the poor quality soil will not support the required load, the components of the typical
load support systems are
A geotextile separation layer that is placed over the in-situ soil
Next, an aggregate subbase is placed over the geotextile. The depth of this material
depends on the load and sub-soil support.
The Geoweb sections are then placed
Then infilled and compacted and
Finally, the desired surface.
How does the system work?
Under loading, most poor quality soils without confinement will shear and spread laterally causing the vehicle to become immobile. The specific shape of
the characteristics shear failure is influenced by the soil type and moisture content.
However, if we can prevent the soil from shearing and develop a relatively stiff support
system, we have created stability. This is what we can do with the Geoweb system.
However, the Geoweb material must have sufficient wall strength and joint strength to
resist the shear forces as well as construction loading during the infilling process.
The wall to infill interaction must be high so the infill stays in the cell under loading and
does not punch out.
The cell area must be sized correctly to avoid infill failure within the cell.
The cell must have sufficient depth to provide the desired layer stiffness or resistance to
vertical deflections.
If we look at the support system over a poor quality soil, when a load is applied to the
surface, moments develop within the system.
Those moments are resisted by the compacted infill. The infill, not the flexible Geoweb
container, provides the strength to the system. However, the container must be
engineered.
When we look at a loaded cell, we can see the support provided by surrounding cells. This
too contributes to the ability of the system to rapidly distribute loads via the intra-cellular
support system.
Various tools are available to support the design process.
Hawaiis State Governor closes a road and a State emergency is declared. Large rocks
fall onto the main island road forcing the road to be shut down. However, traffic had to be
continued, resulting in construction of a temporary road over Waimea Bay beach.
A double layer of Geoweb was used, even though it was not required structurally, to
provide a backup layer if the top layer was lost due to high surf.
Delivery of materials as well as construction proceeded at fast pace to open this critical
route to traffic flow.
This is one of the uses of the Geoweb system in load support surface confinement of
granular materials so they can support rubber-tire vehicles without rutting.
We now travel to Hong Kong to solve a similar problem on Stone Cutters Island.
Marine sand is used to expand a ship maintenance facility for the Hong Kong Harbor
Police.
Here, the marine sand fill provides excellent subbase support. The Geoweb system
provides a porous surface while stabilizing the sand at the surface.
200 metric ton loads are applied to the surface by straddle cranes. No displacement of the
sand infill materials occurs under the loading generated by the rubber tires. No other
system can stabilize sand so it can support this magnitude of load without shearing.

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One of the more difficult problems solved was building a support base for a road passing
over 14 m (46 ft) of peat. The location a bypass road around the city of Kuching,
Malaysia. To minimize and control the rate of settlement, the maximum allowable depth of
road base was 0.5 m (20 in). At 1.0 m (3.3 ft) depth, this aggregate would not stabilize
under the loading of the construction equipment.
Geoweb sections were brought in and tested in three configurations, all over a geotextile
separation layer.
A single layer at the bottom of the 0.5 m (20 in) of aggregate
A double layer
And a single layer near the top of the 0.5 m (20 in) of aggregate.
The final section was the geotextile separation layer, 25 cm (10 in) of aggregate, the 20 cm
(8 in) Geoweb section infilled and 5 cm (2 in) of aggregate over the top. Zero deflection
was measured under the loading of this cement truck. Through this experience, we
learned that a degree of resistance was needed under the Geoweb layer in order to fully
compact the infill material. The geotextile alone did not provide that needed resistance.
Charlotte, North Carolina, like many cities, has significant problems with premature
pavement breakup. Asphalt pavement deterioration many times is caused by road base
deflection under increased traffic frequency. This problem is solved using the Geoweb
Cellular Confinement System.
First, the deteriorated pavement and base is removed to the design depth.
Second, a geotextile separation layer is placed.
Third, the Geoweb section is expanded in place.
Fourth, the Geoweb sections are infilled and temporary stakes are removed
Finally, the infill is compacted to specifications and the pavement is placed.
Research and actual installations clearly indicate that this pavement will now out-perform
the old pavement by a factor of 10.
From smaller road repairs to major road projects in remote areas of the world such as this
in the Amazon Basin
the expanded Geoweb section over a geotextile
infilled with available granular material solves the most difficult stabilization problems.
Lets now look at
The slope protection problem in general and how the Geoweb system solves this
problem, and
Specific applications and their details.
Lets first look and the nature of slope-surface stability problems.
When we look at slope surface-stability problems, we see that surface runoff removes soil
particles little by little as the water seeks the path of least resistance. This occurs
regardless of slope material, slope height, slope length or slope inclination.
Groundwater flowing out of the surface can also present problems through removal of soil
particles from within the embankment.
Problems on slopes similar to this are common and many times unpredictable. Soil
particle type and moisture content as well as slope inclination contribute to this problem.
If this problem is not corrected, it may turn into this
when we want our slopes to look like this.
So, how does the Geoweb system solve slope-surface stability problems?
Applied to the surface, the Geoweb cell and wall structure
eliminates the path of least resistance by introducing barricades of equal resistance,
which interrupt the flow of surface water runoff, and
confines the infill material in a cell that is structurally attached to the slope surface.
However, when topsoil is used in the cell, it may need to be protected until vegetation is
established. Therefore, another component of the system can be an erosion control

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blanket.
Geotextiles may be needed for separation particularly when infill is aggregate and
groundwater flow exists. A geotextile layer can also help create a more stable vegetated
system when roots grow through the geotextile and the perforations of the Geoweb wall.
Geomembranes may also be protected by the Geoweb system in applications such as
pond liners, landfill liners and landfill caps.
Tendons are generally used with slope and channel protection systems when
un-stabilizing gravitational and hydrodynamic forces exist or
slopes are steep enough that materials will not naturally stay on them.
If penetration of the embankment material is possible or if penetration of the geosynthetic
layer is permitted, ATRA Anchors are used to hold the system in place.
If penetration is not possible, load is transferred from the cell - to the ATRA Clip - to the
tendon - to a deadman anchor.
In all situations, cell size and depth, relative to slope inclination and infill properties, is
vitally important. Without the proper relationship between these four factors, the system
will probably fail.
This graph illustrates the relationship so the designer can choose the appropriate Geoweb
material.
There are situations where the Geoweb material must be applied horizontally to slopes
creating terraces that minimize the possibility of soil erosion. The Universal Soil Loss
Equation states that when the slope is zero, there can be no erosion.
Dinosaur Provincial Park in the Alberta Badlands needed to protect an area of fossil
remains against the erosive forces of a river.
A 10 cm (4 in) depth, large cell perforated Geoweb system was used and filled with topsoil.
Common J-pin anchoring stakes were used to hold the system from moving during the
infilling process. In this application, the anchor stakes do not serve as a structural
component.
Infilling of the Geoweb cells can be done using any typical earth handling equipment
suitable for working on slopes.
The perforated system provides better parallel-slope drainage and allows for grass root
growth between the cell walls.
The final solution will always give the results desired when all details are properly
considered in both design and construction.
State Route 220 near Collinsville, Virginia had a problem of surface sliding.
Here, the slope has a greater inclination so the smaller small cell in a 10 cm (4 in) depth is
used. The guardrail posts are used to assist in anchoring the system against the
gravitational sliding forces.
When pneumatic equipment is unavailable, sections can be hand-stapled together then
infilled. Hand stapling is difficult and time consuming.
The surface is protected with straw, which keeps the grass seed and young vegetation
from being washed away during rain events. A superior surface protection system would
be an erosion control mat. Today, this would be designed using the perforated system.
The site of the new Waste Transfer Plant in Jefferson County, Alabama required extensive
excavation of a large hill to make room for the building. The exposed poor-quality rock
surface needed protection to prevent weathering. In addition, a vegetated surface was
desired. The Geoweb system was the solution.
Over the rock surface, a geotextile was placed. This functioned as the bottom of the
topsoil containment system. Over the geotextile, the perforated and tendoned Geoweb
sections were suspended.
The tendons were attached to an anchoring system at the top of the steep slope.
Next, the topsoil infill was placed in the Geoweb sections.
The topsoil was then hydro-seeded and an erosion control mat was placed over the hydro-

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seeded surface. The erosion control mat functioned as a lid to the topsoil containment
system.
The result is a structurally stable vegetated-topsoil surface on a steep slope that could not
support vegetation otherwise.
How do you protect a 65-degree geogrid reinforced slope under a bridge deck? Grass will
not grow; stone will not stay of the surface; and concrete would run off when being poured.
This was the situation at the new Elm Street bridge in the St Charles, Missouri.
As we look at this steep slope, we will see the significance of the cellular structure and the
anchoring system in protecting this slope with concrete.
The details of the Geoweb section and the anchor system are designed to contain and
support the fluid weight of the wet concrete. Stake length, diameter and array spacing all
are determined to create a stable system during construction.
The concrete, in this situation, is pumped into the Geoweb cells.
It is then finished to obtain to the desired surface And a flexible, permanent, economical armored slope protection.
The next problem is protecting a polyethylene geomembrane used for lining an industrial
water lagoon on the North shore of Lake Superior at the James River Pulp and Paper
Processing Plant near Marathon, Ontario. What protection system will stay on a
geomembrane without sliding off?
The answer, the tendoned, concrete-filled Geoweb system.
The tendoned Geoweb sections are stretched over the geomembrane liner.
Load is transferred from the cell to the tendon via a restraint pin. Now, the ATRA Clip
restraint pin is the recommended standard practice. Since we know the load, we can
determine the strength and quantity of the tendon material as well as the number of
restraint pins.
The tendons are then attached to a deadman anchoring system. Knowing the load
transferred to the tendons, we can design the proper anchoring system.
The cells are then filled with concrete and
finished to the desired surface.
The problem protect a geosynthetic clay liner used for a stormwater / jet fuel collection
system at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The liner, per specifications, cannot be
penetrated with stakes and the slope is too steep to effectively work on. The solution used
the tendoned, perforated Geoweb system. During installation, the tendons and ATRA
restraint clips were placed in the Geoweb sections on the top of the embankment and then
the tendoned sections were expanded down the slope. This eliminated the need to work
with the ATRA Clips on the steep slope.
The tendoned sections were then stapled together.
The system can easily be altered to fit corners.
And now the system is ready for infilling with concrete.
Concrete is pumped into the cells
and finished to the desired surface.
The final system was very economical to install and will provide years of service.
Mud Lake Dam in Gardnerville, Nevada required an impervious face. A geomembrane
provided the impervious barrier, but the geomembrane needed protection against the
elements at this high mountain site.
The solution again for geomembrane protection is the concrete filled Geoweb system.
The Geoweb sections are expanded with the tendons. After full expansion, ATRA Clips are
attached to the tendons at predetermined load transfer locations. The section is then
collapsed and moved to the top of the dam.

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Slide Text

123 There, the tendoned sections are expanded down the geomembrane-covered surface,
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connected and infilled with concrete. A geomembrane protected by the concrete-filled

Geoweb system provides an impervious barrier with a significant life potential.
The recently constructed Porto Primavera Dam located in the Southwest corner of Brazils
State of Sao Paulo needed temporary protection.
The area needing protection was a lower slope that would be exposed to the waters from
the new lake for a period of two years while the hydroelectric plant finished construction.
The tendoned, concrete-infilled Geoweb system was chosen to solve the problem.
The Geoweb sections were placed over the entire 11 km (6.8 mile) length of the dam.
And then infilled with concrete and rough-trowel finished. The system provided the needed
protection and is now under water.
Lets now look at
The earth retention problem in general and how the Geoweb system solves this problem,
and
Specific applications and their details.
The Problem - a small landslide endangers a house on a hillside. The hill is structurally
stable; however, protection of the exposed area is needed to prevent further embankment
degradation. Repairs need to be made quickly to save the house.
The components of the Earth Retention system are
A geotextile separation layer, which is generally recommended when retained soils differ
from backfill materials.
Next, the Geoweb layers are constructed with each layer designed to be structurally
stable. Each layer is 1.expanded and positioned,
2.infilled with good structural material,
3.the infill is compacted and
4.excess material is removed before the next Geoweb layer is placed.
Drainage is critical in many situations and installations
One unique characteristic of the Geoweb earth retention system is the ability to use
topsoil in the outer cells creating a terraced wall face that is a good environment for
vegetation.
All wall designs must consider how the details of the land-use both on top of the wall and
at the bottom of the wall affect the wall-integrity.
All wall designs must consider stability against all external forces as well as stability against all internal forces.
Now lets look at the solution. We can see the components
The geotextile separation layer
The Geoweb sections being placed
The drainage system
Some of the tools used to maintain the shape of the Geoweb section.
As we take a closer look, we see how the stretcher bar is used to hold the Geoweb
sections open during the infilling process.
We can also see that there is different infill being used in the system. A structural and
drainage infill is being used in the back cells and topsoil in the outer cells. In this situation,
the structural infill maintains internal stability within the wall system. The perforated cell
would now be recommended and used for this application.
The finished project is a beautiful black wall. However, not everyone will have the same
opinion as to the beauty of this system.
This is the system after it has matured. The Geoweb cellular structure has created an
ideal environment for maintaining moisture in the topsoil and growth of vegetation due to
the horizontal soil terraces and the impervious vertical cell wall. Most people will agree
that this is beautiful.

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Slide Text

138 The problem faced by the developers of the Kressview Condominium in Cambridge,

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Ontario was the access needed from the main road at elevation +1.8 m (6 ft) above the
natural ground elevation to a planned condominium building at elevation +10 m (33 ft).
The distance between the main road and the building is 260 m (850 ft). The in-situ soil has
an area of very low bearing capacity for a distance of 30 m (100 ft).
The solution, a geogrid-reinforced embankment using the Geoweb system as the wall
face.
The poor material, per the owners demand, could not be removed because large trees
were to be preserved. Expected settlement in this area was 0.6 m (2 ft).
Construction takes place quickly using typical construction equipment and methods.
(no text)
The system starts the final process of becoming vegetated. Actual differential settlement
during construction was 0.35 m (14 in) with no negative structural affects.
Geoweb solutions are in place at many well-known sites around the world.
Here, Ontario Hydro needed access to the top of a turbine station at the base of Niagara
Falls. The tan faced Geoweb system was chosen for aesthetic reasons.
The finished solution met both structural requirements to support heavy loading and
aesthetic requirements to blend into the natural surroundings.
Here, a major land developer needed 14 walls to support roads throughout the Five
Canyons housing development in the hills of Castro Valley, California, east of San
Francisco.
The Geoweb system was chosen for its economics as well as the aesthetics of the final
solution. The soil in the outer cells will allow for vegetation to develop.
Sections are easily expanded, infilled and compacted.
The Geoweb system can easily adapt to any height, curves or corners.
Moreover, once vegetated, the system becomes invisible behind a natural screen. In this
case, the natural vegetation of the area.
Virginia Canyon in Colorado had a problem on one of the many curves with erosion and
loss of road support materials.
The solution was the stacked Geoweb system. Because of the remote location and the
use of locally available materials, this solution proved to be most cost effective.
In addition, the ability of the system to hold ground water better than the natural slope,
results in a vegetated surface. Note the unprotected area and the loss of embankment
materials.
Moving from California to Korea, earth retention problems have been effectively solved.
Here at the Phoenix Park development south east of Seoul, an 85,000 face sqm (915,000
face sqft) of the Geoweb earth retention system was used.
Terraces were built for vegetation so the structure would blend with the environment.
Vegetation has a secure place to develop and grow and the owners have a secure and
natural system.
Tanner/Moffett Creeks in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is a scenic and naturally
beautiful area. Reclaiming an old roadbed and converting it to a hiking and biking trail
required dropping the elevation of the old roadbed so it would pass under a busy cross
highway.
The Geoweb earth retention system was used both to support existing roads and
The new hiking / biking trail. The green-faced Geoweb material was used to help the
vegetated system to blend with the natural setting.
Lets now look at
The channel protection problem in general and how the Geoweb system solves this
problem, and
Specific applications and their details.

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Slide Text

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resulting from concentrated flows.

Those forces will cause loss of invert materials, which will endanger existing bridge and culvert structures,
loss of embankment materials, which will endanger trees that we desire to preserve, and
loss of land in general, which will have both short-term and long-term negative effects.
We can solve these problems while maintaining the natural look or We can solve the problems of moving water quickly from one point to another.
The shape of the channel can vary from near rectangular to semicircular to whatever shape nature provides.
The components of the channel protection system are the same as those for the slope
protection system. Channel geometry is not a factor.
First, a geotextile separation layer is generally recommended.
Second, there is the perforated Geoweb system with infill chosen based on the problem
details.
Third, there is the tendons and ATRA Anchor system.
All this is designed to create a stable system, even when maximum flow occurs.
The system also can be stacked to provide protection of steepened channel walls.
Different infills are used to meet the requirements of the design.
Various tools are available to support the design process.
Hydrodynamic forces affect the simplest of channels - the roadside ditch. If invert
degradation is not controlled, loss of pavement may result.
The solution is the Geoweb channel protection system. First, the ditch must be cleaned
and necessary repairs made.
Second, the Geoweb sections are placed and infilled.
A stable invert is formed. If areas of degradation occur, larger stone or concrete can be
placed in the Geoweb cells to stabilize those identified areas.
When longer duration flow conditions exist, differential infilling can be used to solve
associated problems.
Here we see the use of both stone and topsoil as infills.
The stone is tamped to help secure it in the cell.
The stone infill resists the degradation effects of longer duration flows. This area is now
fully developed with homes.
In an industrial park in Oakville, Ontario, stormwater needed to be channelized and moved
from a residential area through the industrial park and into a stream flowing into Lake
Ontario. The concrete filled Geoweb channel protection system was chosen. The
components of the geotextile separation layer and the 10 cm (8 in) depth, GW20 cell
Geoweb sections are shown here. If this system were designed today, the perforated
GW30V cell would be used.
The Geoweb cells can be quickly infilled with concrete. Specific procedures guide the
contractor with this operation. In this case, a three-man crew was all that was required.
All phases of construction can take place simultaneously. Note the drainage holes in the
invert.
The finished system is cost effective and will provide years of service.
Petrobras, the national oil company of Brazil, built a natural gas storage and transfer plant
on the banks of the Amazon River.
Protection of the embankments against the forces of the Amazon was a major problem
that needed to be addressed.
The solution was the tendoned, concrete filled Geoweb system. The tendoned Geoweb

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sections were placed and anchored on the rivers bank over a geotextile and filled with
concrete. Drainage tubes extended through the protection layer to relieve ground water
pressures.
In areas at and below the water line, the Geoweb sections were precast with concrete and
loaded onto trucks.
The trucks drove onto barges and the sections were set in place with a crane.
Once the system was completed, a flexible, durable armored embankment protection
resulted.
Roseville, California had a problem. It needed to increase the capacity of Cirby Creek
without increasing the width of the channel? In addition, construction in a residential area
introduces the need for creative access to the work area. There was also a need for a
maintenance road in the bottom of the channel. Moreover, the final system needed to be
aesthetically pleasing. The Geoweb solution addressed all the required details.
The stacked Geoweb system provides the needed increase in channel cross sectional
area and a Geoweb stabilized road at bottom of the wall provided the desired access.
The Geoweb systems flexibility addressed all special details.
In addition, the ability to vegetate addressed the aesthetics. This solution was 7% less
than the gabion alternative.
Molly Anns Brook flowing through Paterson, New Jersey was increased in capacity by five
times to relieve flooding.
A vertical concrete retaining wall was used in front of the apartments, riprap further up
stream, reno mattresses in the invert and up the opposite side from the riprap, turf
reinforcement mats and the concrete filled Geoweb system in critical flow areas.
Critical flow areas included this bend where erosive flows are excessive.
A low water channel was also constructed using the concrete filled Geoweb system.
In addition, the stacked Geoweb system was used in areas where right-of-way was limited.
Details such as curves and stormwater pipes through the wall face were easily
accomplished.
Rock out cropping was also easy to address as shown here with both the wall and the
concrete filled Geoweb system. This system experienced the floods and flow from
hurricane Floyd in the fall of 1999 without damage. All other materials except the concrete
retaining wall suffered severe damage.
Remember three things. First, the details of the problem control the details of the solution.
Second, when details are not correct, problems abound.
Third, a critical step to credible solutions is correct and complete details.
When you solve problems, you generally solve them in teams. We desire to be a member
of your problem solving team.
As a distributor
As a manufacturer
As special consultants
As a global network of engineers solving problems worldwide.
Working together, we can create the best solution for your most difficult soil stabilization
problems.

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