Uniaxial Geogrids

Uniaxial geogrid is called uniaxial because the geogrid is stronger in the machine direction than in the cross machine direction. An easy way to remember this is that it means the geogrid's "strength is in the length" so it should be rolled out perpendicular to the face of the wall or slope to the appropriate length based on the engineered plans. Uniaxial geogrids are usually constructed of polyester yarn with a PVC or similar coating. Polyester is a great material for the uniaxial geogrid application because it will give slightly while under strain, allowing it to stretch as the reinforced slope or retaining wall settles while maintaining the strength needed to reinforce the slope or wall. Our strong geogrid performs its job by interlocking with the fill material and reinforcing the soil mass in a steep slope and by reinforcing the soil mass and connecting to the facing system in a wall whether it be segmental retaining wall block or welded wire form.

What Are Uniaxial Geogrids?

Uniaxial geogrids provide structures with maximum strength in a single direction. They're lightweight, economical and help stabilize structures, keeping them in place and safe. These geogrids are generally considered to be environmentally friendly, and are made up of polymers that allow for a bit of stretching. Uniaxial geogrids contain long openings, known as apertures, between the junctions.

Geogrids first emerged in the 1970s to help balance granular fills. Over time, they have become more sophisticated and now include different variants depending on the application needed. Commonly used for stabilizing retaining walls and embankments along highways or railways, uniaxial geogrids have the ability to maintain high loads in a single direction.

What Is the Difference Between Uniaxial and Biaxial Geogrids?

Uniaxial geogrids offer a significant amount of strength in a single direction in order to support the structure. Biaxial geogrids, on the other hand, offer strength in two different directions thanks to their bidirectional structure.

Both uniaxial geogrids and biaxial geogrids are useful when it comes to different applications. Biaxial geogrids are typically designed with apertures laid out in a square or rectangular format. This type of geogrid is suitable for applications requiring support in two different orthogonal directions.

The design of biaxial geogrids helps save on material costs as they require less sub-base material. They contain granular material while strengthening its overall bearing capacity. Biaxial geogrids can be useful for structures requiring a high bearing capacity in two directions, such as pavements, airport runways and parking lots.

If you’re constructing a road or railway that’s expected to encounter large loads such as trucks and railway sleepers, you need to ensure that the ground is solid and stable. If the area is too soft and pliable, the soil will eventually give way, making for a dangerous and expensive situation. Biaxial geogrids help secure soil through a sophisticated compacting process that helps increase the overall bearing load, even over long periods of time that see high volumes of traffic.

What Are Some Applications That Use Uniaxial Geogrids?

Uniaxial geogrids have various benefits for different applications. Some applications that uniaxial geogrids are suitable for include:

Embankments
Retaining walls
Slope applications
Landfill systems
Geogrid reinforced earth systems

More often than not, reinforcement is only required in one direction when it comes to constructing a retaining wall or slope design. This is what makes uniaxial geogrids the ideal tool for applications requiring a significant amount of support in one direction.

What Are the Benefits of Uniaxial Geogrids?

Since uniaxial geogrids are simple to construct, this makes them more economical than other geogrids. When used for applications such as supporting walls, you can rest assured that uniaxial geogrids will mitigate any force applied to the face of the wall, thus keeping it stabilized and in place. This means that not as much excavation is required, which ultimately lowers the overall costs of a project.

When uniaxial geogrids are used in construction projects, they help reduce degradation over time. For projects such as green walls, steep slopes and dams, uniaxial geogrids help distribute a strong load over a large area, improving holding capacity and increasing overall strength.

Uniaxial geogrids are environmentally friendly and help prevent soil from eroding over time. Using uniaxial geogrids in a construction project is straightforward, making it a simple and reliable tool for ensuring stability and safety.