Geocell Manufacturers

Geocells confine soil or aggregate in a honeycomb of plastic cells. That lets you stabilise slopes, control erosion, and build load-bearing bases for roads, parking areas and sports surfaces on weak ground. This article covers what geocells are, the types of geocell material, where they are used and what they offer. For more detail, see the benefits of geocells.

What is a Geocell?

A geocell is a three-dimensional cellular structure, usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), that is filled with soil, gravel or another material. It arrives as a flat, folded panel of welded strips and is pulled open on site into a honeycomb that follows the shape of the ground.

Once filled, the cell walls hold the infill in place. The strips act as tensile reinforcement around each pocket of soil, and the interconnected cells keep the infill from moving downslope or spreading out under load.

When a load presses on the soil inside a cell, as in a load support application, the soil tries to push sideways and strains the cell walls. The walls resist this, so inside the 3-D confinement the soil particles can barely move laterally, and the vertical load is resisted by the hoop stress in the walls and friction at the soil/cell interface. The filled layer behaves as a stiff mattress that spreads the load over a wider area.

Types of Geocell Material

Different geocell types suit different soils and jobs. The main division is between perforated and non-perforated geocells.

Perforated geocells have small holes in the cell walls that let water and air pass between cells. They suit applications where the soil needs to drain and plants need to root across cells, such as vegetated slopes and other green infrastructure.

The perforations also allow lateral drainage and interlock between the infill of neighbouring cells. Either way, the geocell is a series of strips joined at welded seams, so its integrity depends on the strength of the strip and of the weld.

Non-perforated geocells have smooth or textured solid walls. They are used where water should not move between cells, for example channel linings with concrete infill, and in cover layers over liners at landfills. The solid wall keeps fine infill within each cell.

Geocells are often used together with other geosynthetics: on a lined slope, for example, the geocell holds the cover soil over a geomembrane.

What are the Different Applications of Geocells?

Geocells solve problems across several industries. The main geocell uses are:

• Road Construction

Many unpaved and access roads are built over unstable ground such as soft clay, peat or loose sand. Without reinforcement the aggregate punches into the subgrade and ruts, which shortens the life of the road and makes it unsafe. An aggregate-filled geocell layer spreads wheel loads and reduces rutting on highways and access roads alike.

• Landscape Architecture

In landscaping, geocells hold topsoil and plants on slopes. The cells slow runoff and stop it concentrating into gullies that wash out the slope.

• Load Platform

Geocells form a semi-rigid platform on weak soils or where excavation has to be kept shallow. They increase the bearing capacity under ground-bearing slabs, spread footings and strip footings, and can reduce the thickness of pavement layers in laydown areas, parking lots and roads.

• Retaining Wall, Embankment, and Levee Rebuilding

Geocells control erosion on embankments and slopes, and stacked, filled geocell layers can form gravity retaining walls. On levees and embankments they protect the face against overtopping and runoff, and they can carry protective cover over channel and pond linings on slopes.

• Green Roofs and Walls

Rooftop gardens are increasingly common in cities. Geocells hold the shallow growing medium in place, particularly on sloping roofs, and can be used to build vegetated walls.

Benefits of Geocell Material

• Providing protection and stabilization for steep slopes

Geocells are used to prevent slope erosion and to stabilize the surface. The cells follow the terrain and stop surface soil moving downslope.

Because they hold a thin cover layer in place, they can reduce the volume of material needed on the slope, which saves cost and time. The panels are light and can be placed by hand without heavy machinery.

• Liner protection for channels and hydraulic structures

Geocells line canals and other hydraulic structures, usually filled with concrete or stone. The lining resists channel erosion and keeps bank soil from washing into the water.

• Support of static and dynamic loads on weak subgrade soils

A filled geocell layer spreads static and dynamic loads over a larger area of weak subgrade, which reduces settlement and the risk of bearing failure.

• Durable infrastructure

In roads and pavements, the geocell layer gives a flexible but stiff base that spreads loads from the surface, which reduces rutting and the cracking that comes from subgrade movement.

Geocell Manufacturers and Suppliers

Ocean Global manufactures geosynthetics in India, including geotextiles, geogrids, geocells, geomembranes, geocomposites and geonets, and supplies geocells across India, including the North East.

Geocell panels in general are expandable three-dimensional panels made from HDPE, polyester or another polymer. The connected strips form the walls of a flexible cellular structure into which the infill is placed and compacted. The result is a free-draining layer that holds the infill in place and resists bulk movement through the tensile strength of the cell walls, improving how the soil or aggregate performs.

Ocean Global makes geocells in India for road, rail, slope and ground-improvement work. Recent projects include HDPE geocell 330 × 100 mm at an Air Force project in Gwalior and railway doubling works in Haryana.

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