Strata delivers a fast-track solution to stabilise a reinforced soil structure for NHAI’s project development of the Baharampore-Farakka Section of NH-34, West Bengal, India, commenced by HCC.

Strata has emerged as a trailblazer in construction engineering in expediting foundation stabilisation processes. With their unwavering commitment to ensuring the durability and timely completion of critical infrastructure projects, Strata has recently taken on the task of stabilising the foundation for a vital highway link. Employing innovative techniques and leveraging their expertise is poised to revolutionise the way foundation stabilisation is approached in the construction industry.

Project Brief of Baharampore– Farakka Section of NH-34, West Bengal

The NHAI stipulated that it required a ‘fast-track’ solution to stabilise a reinforced soil structure system on the Baharampore – Farakka Section of NH-34. The height of the reinforced soil structure ranged from 6m to 18.5m. Since the system’s height exceeded 15m, a two-tiered system was adopted beyond a height of 15m.

The subsoil was weak, and the groundwater table was almost ground level. Stability analysis indicated a safety factor lower than the norm of 1.3. There were better solutions than soil replacement due to the high groundwater and weak soil. Ground improvement methods proved to be prohibitively heavy on project schedules and costs. To ensure the stability of the structure notwithstanding weak subsoil conditions, Strata recommended basal.

Innovative geosynthetic technologies

In civil engineering, using innovative geosynthetic products like StrataGridTM SGB Biaxial Geogrids and StrataWeb® Load Bearing Geocells has become crucial for ensuring the stability of reinforced soil walls. These products play a vital role in basal reinforcement, enhancing the structure’s strength and stability. StrataGridTM SGB Biaxial Geogrids are designed with high- strength polyester yarns arranged in a grid pattern, offering excellent soil confinement and load distribution capabilities. On the other hand, StrataWeb® Load Bearing Geocells consist of interconnected cells that can be filled with compacted soil, providing structural support and preventing lateral spreading. Combined, these geosynthetic products contribute to a robust and durable reinforced soil wall system, effectively withstanding external forces and improving overall stability.

Reinforced soil structure system

Reinforcement along the entire base of the reinforced soil structure system. The solution included StrataGridTM SGB geogrid and StrataWeb® geocells to ensure the stability of the entire reinforced soil system with a safety factor higher than the norm.

The basal reinforcement reduced the cost of the system adopted, comprised of a layer of StrataGridTM SGBn biaxial geogrid, underlain by two layers of StrataWeb® load Bearing geocells for heights beyond 10m, and a single layer for heights below 10m. The design was approved by the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.

Strata’s creative solution provided a safe, easy, rapid, and economical solution. The confining cellular system of StrataWeb® also facilitated the use of pond ash. This further reduced the cost of construction. Strata’s unique design was approved to be one of the most effective solutions for constructing highly reinforced soil structures on weak soils.

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