Project: Internal Road Stabilisation for Vegetable Oil Refinery Plant

Products to be used for the function of stabilisation will carry CE Marking based on European
Technical Approval (ETA) certification indicating a products fitness for the intended use which
conforms to the Construction Products Regulations (CPR).

5. Typical sections for Stabilised Internal Access Road proposed using Tensar
Mechanically Stabilised Layer

As per Geotechnical investigation report it is observed that existing sub soil is silty clay and silty sand.
Stabilisation scheme is proposed in this document is for internal road of refinery. As per the proposal
details given by client, rigid CC pavement and Interlocking paver block pavement are proposed in the
facility.

As per subsoil data, the existing subsoil is observed to be varying hence to have uniform subgrade
resistance along the alignment which would result in better performance of pavement, TX geogrid
layer has been proposed at interface of GSB and subgrade. The incorporation of TX geogrid at the
interface of GSB and subgrade will lead to stabilisation of unbound layer, by forming a flexurally stiff
layer, it will further enhance its performance by increasing the modulus of stabilised layer. This also
allows for further optimisation of the pavement crust, in the present proposal optimisation has not been
carried out only the performance enhancement benefit has been incorporated.

Most performance problems with rigid/ concrete pavement constructed on such varying and low CBR
subgrade are result of poorly performing joints. Poor load transfers create high stresses, which
contributes heavily to distress such as faulting, pumping and corner breaks.

“Load transfer” is a term used to describe the transfer (or distribution) load across discontinuities such
as joints or cracks (AASHTO, 1993). When a wheel load is applied at a joint or crack, both the loaded
slab and adjacent unloaded slab deflect. The amount the unloaded slab deflects is directly related to
joint performance. If a joint is performing perfectly, both the loaded and unloaded slabs deflect equally.

Incorporating geogrids into the roadway section is an effective method of creating a stiffer and more
uniform foundation that will maintain integrity over time improving the Load Transfer. The geogrid
enhancement results in less deformation during construction, and during the pavement’s life. This is
accomplished by the geogrid interlocking with and confining the aggregate base. The confinement
reduces the potential for contamination of the aggregate base with the subgrade soil and also acts as
separation layer. The geogrid and aggregate base together create a mechanically stabilized layer
(MSL). The fig below gives the details of the proposed stabilised rigid pavement cross section.

Tensar Application Suggestion

Project: Internal Road Stabilisation for Vegetable Oil Refinery Plant

Alternatively Sealed Interlocking Paver Block Pavement can be used as alternative economical
solution over conventional rigid pavement. Design alternative sealed interlocking block pavement can
be done based on required design MSA. Typical cross section of a Sealed Interlocking Paver Block
pavement is presented in figure 6 for reference

A. Typical Cross Section of CC Pavement for Heavy Traffic Intensity

TENSAR TX TYPE II
Geogrid

Figure 3 Typical Cross Section CC Pavement using Tensar TX geogrid –

Heavy Traffic Intensity

B. Typical cross section of Pavement for Light Traffic Intensity

TENSAR TX TYPE II
Geogrid

Figure 4 Typical Cross Section CC Pavement using Tensar TX geogrid –

Light Traffic Intensity

Tensar Application Suggestion

Project: Internal Road Stabilisation for Vegetable Oil Refinery Plant

C. Typical Cross Section of Interlocking paver Block Pavement

TENSAR TX TYPE II
Geogrid

Figure 5 Typical Cross Section of Interlocking Paver Block Pavement using Tensar TX
geogrid

D. Alternative Typical Sealed Interlocking Paver Block Pavement

TENSAR TX TYPE II
Geogrid

Figure 6 Typical Cross Section of Sealed Interlocking Paver Block Pavement using Tensar TX
geogrid

Tensar Application Suggestion

Project: Internal Road Stabilisation for Vegetable Oil Refinery Plant

Annexure I – Case Study

Tensar Application Suggestion

 CASE STUDY : Ref 273

Car Park,Dobbies Garden Centre,

Southport, UK, 2007

A Tensar mechanically stabilised layer was used to help mitigate

the potential differential settlement

Tensar TriAxTM being installed over weak ground

BENEFITS TO CLIENT

Mitigation of differential settlement over weak and variable ground conditions.

THE PROBLEM

Worse than expected soils (fibrous silty peats with sand pockets) were exposed during the construction of the car
park areas of a garden centre development.

THE SOLUTION

A Tensar mechanically stabilised layer, incorporating multiple layers of TriAxTM geogrids, was used to help mitigate
the potential differential settlement that could occur under the car park areas.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A new garden centre was under construction on the outskirts of Southport in Merseyside. As site clearance and
topsoil removal was carried out around the car park area, the exposed formation was worse than expected and
consisted of fibrous silty peats, with pockets of sand – characteristic of the area of Southport. Concern was raised
by both the contractor and scheme engineers about the potential for post-construction differential settlement.
Tensar International was contacted and asked to provide on-site advice and to propose a solution.

Above: TriAx geogrid placed over the weak formation

Right: Finished car park founded on the mechanically

stabilised layer

Tensar TriAx geogrids, with their equilateral triangular-shaped apertures which form a matrix of stable hexagons
provide excellent multi-directional stiffness when placed within compacted granular fill. The resulting mechanically
stabilised layer (MSL) helps to control differential settlement by forming a flexurally stiff composite layer that
helps to smooth out any potential profile irregularities.

CONTRACT DETAILS

Consultant: Goodson Associates

Contractor: Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Client: Dobbies Garden Centre

Tensar International Limited

Cunningham Court
Shadsworth Business Park
Blackburn BB1 2QX
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 1254 262431
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1254 266867
Email: info@tensar.co.uk
www.tensar-international.com
 CASE STUDY : Ref 310

Car parking at the Gibside Estate

Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - 2012

Tensar MSL™ (mechanically stabilised layer) incorporating TriAx®

geogrid used to enable construction over unexpectedly soft soils

Tensar MSL enables initial access over low strength soil

BENEFITS TO CLIENT

By adopting a Tensar MSL™ (mechanically stabilised layer), construction work was able to continue
without delay and with reduced costs despite the discovery of extremely soft ground conditions.

THE PROBLEM

Unexpected low strength ground conditions discovered on site presented the project team with the
potential for additional excavation and delayed construction which would result in increased costs.
Even gaining access to the area was proving difficult as CBR values less than 0.5% were encountered
across the site.

THE SOLUTION

A Tensar MSL incorporating layers of Tensar TriAx geogrid was installed to allow safe and stable access
onto the soft ground with further assessment made to provide a stabilised foundation to the final car
park construction.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Work had commenced on constructing an additional car park at the National Trusts’ picturesque
Gibside Estate on the outskirts of Newcastle-upon-Tyne when site operations had uncovered areas of
existing formation soil with significantly lower strength soils than had been anticipated. Formation CBR
values as low as 0.4% were measured in the exposed soils.

Following the discovery of these extreme ground conditions, Tensar International was approached by
the project team to provide proposals to enable construction to continue and avoid unnecessary delay.

Tensar’s engineers proposed a Tensar MSL to provide safe and stable access over extremely soft soil
conditions and ultimately to provide a stabilised foundation for the car park when construction had
been completed. A locally sourced recycled granular fill was used along with layers of Tensar TriAx
geogrid to stabilise the granular layers.

The Tensar proposal reduced the amount of additional excavation into the soft soils as well as
minimising the amount of imported stone required in the construction phase. As a result, a cost saving
of around 10% was achieved compared to that for the original construction depths envisaged.

Despite operating close to the low strength

formation soils, construction operatives could
work in safety and the inclusion of TriAx geogrids
stabilised the construction to allow vehicles to
traffic the area and maintain the construction
programme.

Ben Johnson, Site Agent for contractor Owen

Pugh, said that he approached Tensar “…for a
quick response and suitable design to reduce the
cost of imported materials, and increase the
stability of the car parking construction, to
ensure most cost effective solution for the client.”

CONTRACT DETAILS

Consultant: Patrick Parson

Contractor: Owen Pugh

Client: National Trust

Tensar International Limited

Cunningham Court
Shadsworth Business Park
Blackburn BB1 2QX
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 1254 262431
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1254 266867
Email: info@tensar.co.uk
www.tensar-international.com
 CASE STUDY : 327

Widening of an existing road over embankment

Širvintos, Lithuania, 2010

Economical and effective solution for road widening. After three

years, no signs of differential settlement or surface cracking.

Tensar MSL™ (Mechanically Stabilised Layer) under construction

BENEFITS TO CLIENT

By adopting Tensar Technology, the client was able to avoid excavating part of the old exisiting embankment,
mitigate differential settlement and achieve the required level of support under the asphalt surfacing for the
proposed extension of an exisiting road.

THE PROBLEM

The embankment has previously been widened with a variable clay and organic soil. Further widening with a
better quality soil would likely result in differential settlement problems. Removal of the variable soil appeared to
be the only option but this would increase the cost of construction. Therefore a more cost effective solution was
required.

THE SOLUTION

A Tensar Mechanically Stabilised Layer (MSL) incorporating Tensar TriAx® geogrids provided a cost effective
solution for widening the exisiting embankment without the need for excavation, whilst providing the required
level of support and mitigation of differential settlement.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

An existing road embankment was

widened to cater for increasing traffic
flow.

Part of the exisiting embankment

(labelled B) was constructed with clay
and organic materials (15MPa strength),
therefore required complete removal
before the proposed widening (labelled
C) using sandy soils (45MPa strength)
was able to progress.
Cross section of widened road embankment

Removal of the organic soils would be expensive and so an

alternative approach was required. The alternative proposal
consisted of extending the exisiting embankment using sandy soils
(labelled C) and installing Tensar TriAx over the entire width of the
embankment (A & B & C) to create a mechnically stabilised layer
(MSL). The Tensar MSL provided the required level of support
(120 MPa) for the road asphalt surface whilst mitigating the risk of
differential settlement

A commerical evaluation of the project was carried out, which

Tensar MSL over embankment constructed confirmed that the alternative proposal incorporating Tensar MSL
with variable materials was more cost effective. After three years in use, there is no
evidence of differential settlement or cracking in the road surface.

CONTRACT DETAILS

Contractor: UAB FEGDA

Client: Lithuanian Road Administration under the Ministry of Transport and Communications

Design Company: VĮ Vilniaus regiono keliai

Tensar International Limited

Cunningham Court UAB Mosas
Shadsworth Business Park Birželio 23-osios g. 5
Blackburn BB1 2QX LT-03206 Vilnius
United Kingdom Lithuania
Telephone: +44 (0) 1254 262431 Telephone: +370 5 261 01 79
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1254 266867 Facsimile: +370 5 260 83 55
Email: info@tensar.co.uk Email: mosas@mosas.lt
www.tensar-international.com www.mosas.lt