How did we select a geonet for the demanding slope geometry and 16,000 sq. ft. of protection area?
Implementing the project in North Africa presented a number of environmental, logistical and technical challenges. The general contractor, with the cooperation of subcontractors, needed a solution that would provide:
- Effective protection of the slopes of a large-area reservoir,
- matching the local topography,
- Heat and solar radiation resistance,
- Quick and hassle-free installation by local contractors.
At Geo Globe Poland, we have provided a complete system based on cellular geogrid GEOMAXX® GKM-462 - the most durable and robust product line in our portfolio, designed for demanding field conditions.
Who was the customer?
The general contractor for the project was the company, implementing the project on a vast, dry site with high solar exposure and steep reservoir slopes. In cooperation with a friendly subcontractor, it sought a stable and durable protection for an area as large as 16,000 m².
The reservoir was located in an environment where alternating sandy and hard ground sections, strong winds and intense UV radiation create some of the most challenging installation conditions. Each slope section required an individual approach and the selection of an appropriate stabilization solution.
What problem did the customer face?
Implementation in Morocco took place under conditions that differ significantly from typical slope stabilization projects. The reservoir was located in a vast, dry area where:
- Temperatures exceeded 40°C,
- Strong UV radiation degrades standard plastics for most of the year,
- The wind carries fine sand fractions, which put additional stress on the structure.
In such a challenging area, it was necessary to secure slopes of 1:1.5 and a total area of as much as 16,000 m². The lengths of the slopes required individual adjustment of the length of the geonet sections, since the ready-made modules available on the market did not match the scale and geometry of the tank.
On top of that, there were further difficulties:
- various substrates - from loose sands to compacted, hard substrate fragments, making it difficult to anchor uniformly,
- risk of surface erosion - causing a landslide of unstabilized material,
- the requirement to work quickly due to the investment schedule and weather (in this region, short installation windows are standard).
Standard geocell systems available locally proved inadequate. Tapes that were too thin, had low UV resistance and could not be adjusted to the length of slopes meant that the contractor needed a material with higher strength and a better dimensional fit. In such circumstances, one reaches for the strongest systems cellular geonets.
Solution designed by Geo Globe Poland
In such demanding conditions, we reached for our most powerful stabilization tool: GEOMAXX® GKM-462 cellular geonet with a height of 10 cm, designed to work in the most difficult terrains.
GEOMAXX® GKM-462 is distinguished by:
- thick, textured tape,
- high UV resistance,
- Dimensional stability even at extreme temperatures,
- High resistance to point and linear loads.
Conditions in Morocco can quickly verify the quality of the material, and the GKM-462 variant was designed for just such challenges.
Why has GEOMAXX® GKM-462 proven to be reliable?
1. toughness that endures the Moroccan sun
Textured HDPE tapes with enhanced UV resistance maintain rigidity and stability even with prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 40°C.
2. effective cooperation with local backfill
The fill was a mixture of humus mixed with aggregate. The material was available on site, but required proper containment in the cells to prevent it from sliding down the slope. GEOMAXX® allowed for its stable loading and even distribution of loads.
3. installation using J-shaped steel anchors„
Such anchors work perfectly on a diverse ground. Applied fasteners:
- enabled the system to be securely anchored along the entire length of the slopes,
- Have increased resistance to strong wind,
- improved the adhesion of the geo-grid to the ground.
Adjacent sections were additionally fastened together with UV-resistant clamps, creating a rigid, homogeneous stabilization system.
4. matching section lengths to slopes
The reservoir slopes were long, irregular and varied. With GEOMAXX®'s wide range of dimensions, we selected the layout of the sections so that:
- speed up installation,
- minimize waste,
- Fit the geo-grid to the realistic geometry of the slopes,
- Reduce working time under weather pressure.
The end result - what did the customer gain?
Thanks to the GEOMAXX® GKM-462 geo-grid, the slopes of the reservoir were permanently stabilized, and the backfill material was effectively protected from landslides and erosion. The system adapted to the length of the slopes allowed to reduce waste and speed up the pace of installation, which translated into a more efficient implementation of the entire project. The successful installation of the geo-grid provided long-term protection against water and wind erosion, and also prevented pollutant runoff into the reservoir.
Do you have any questions? Contact the Geo-Globe experts!
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