2009 JUBILEE SYMPOSIUM ON POLYMER GEOGRID REINFORCEMENT

Tuesday 8th September 2009,

One Great George Street, London

Arising from a research project with leading universities and supported by the SERC (Science & Engineering Research Council), geogrids were launched in 1984 with a symposium to publicise this extensive research and assist with product commercialisation.

The Jubilee Symposium on Polymer Geogrid Reinforcement was held on the 8th September 2009 at the Institution of Civil Engineers and reviewed the wide body of practical research that continues to this day and also formulated the challenges for new research in order to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms and to deliver further technical advancements.

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.