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Tensar geogrid technology for rail trackbed, structure stability

05 Oct '12

2 min read

Tensar International has led the world in the design and manufacture of trackbed stabilisation, ground stabilisation and soil reinforcement solutions since the 1970s.

Continuous development and innovation of geogrids and geotextiles, including many patented designs, have led to their use in railways across Europe and the world, as well as road, bridge, embankment, runway and many other applications. Peter Musgrave, Senior Track Bed Design Engineer for Network Rail, points out that, currently in the UK, more 10% of all ballast maintenance per year now includes geogrid stabilisation.

Tensar ground stabilisation and reinforcement solutions are backed by in-situ performance testing and certification by major rail authorities internationally. Tensar's technical design solutions enable installation of ballast and sub-ballast to meet specified bearing capacity requirements. Millions of square metres of trackbed ballast and sub-ballast have been stabilised with improved bearing capacity throughout Europe.

As well as improving bearing capacity over poor ground load bearing conditions, use of Tensar geogrids has been shown to reduce trackbed maintenance time and cost requirements by a factor of up to 3; long term stability performance is also excellent even under dynamic ground conditions.

In addition to stabilisation, use of Tensar geogrids has been shown to reduce differential settlement and trackbed maintenance requirements across transition zones, where trackbed crosses fixed structures such as bridge decks, road crossings and through rail stations.

Tensar geogrids offer a sustainable approach through efficient material usage by extending ballast life, reducing waste and resulting in less demand for quarried new material, waste disposal and transportation, thus lowering carbon emissions.

Further applications of Tensar Technology solutions and TriAx geogrids include reinforced soil trackside structures and foundations under railways for controlled settlement across extended low bearing capacity sections of ground. Trackside applications include stabilisation for slopes and embankments, retaining walls, bridge abutments and noise barriers.

Tensar International