Overview of the event
Around 150 delegates attended on the day, which included academics and practitioners in the field from across the globe. Those who participated had the opportunity to be involved in debate and help identify the direction of future research.
The symposium was a valuable opportunity for researchers and those with practical experience of using the materials in novel ways to present an overview of their work. This highlighted the challenges and research opportunities going forward, and the following themes were covered:
- - The Birth and Coming of Age of Geogrids
- - Geogrids in Unpaved Roads and Hardstandings
- - Geogrids in Permanent Roads and Railways
- - Geogrids in Walls and Steep Slopes
- - Identifying the Direction of Future Research
Background
In the early 1980s Tensar International Limited collaborated with leading universities to investigate the potential applications of geogrid in a programme supported by the Science & Engineering Research Council. This research broke new ground and led directly to the successful introduction of geogrids into the construction sector. Since then, many millions of square metres of geogrid have been incorporated into construction projects worldwide. Today, applications-related technology has been extended and continued product development has resulted in the introduction of new forms of geogrid. However, opportunities exist for further technical advancement from new research to achieve greater understanding of the reinforcement mechanisms and the interaction between the geogrid and soil.