What is the difference between a geocell and a geogrid? Many people think that these items are similar, but they are different in some aspects and it is important to know about that.
They are categorized as geosynthetic and may have different functions for various purposes. Linguistically, Geosynthetics derives from the word Geo, which means earth, and Synthetic (artificial).
So, geosynthetics are man-made materials used for work related to the earth or land. It is especially polymers (a type of plastic), which are used in civil engineering projects and it has contact with soil and rock.
What is the Difference between a Geocell and a Geogrid?
The differences can be seen from several scopes. Those scopes are the form of material, physical look, and many more again as explained as follows.
1. Physical & form of Material
Geocell is a 3-dimensional material that looks like a honeycomb. It can be folded and opened. This product will be locked in the cell so that lateral movement of the material can be prevented.
Apart from that, geocells also have a good drainage system which means water will flow but doesn’t carry compacted filling material. Meanwhile, Geogrid has a 2-dimensional shape.
The flexibility of Geogrid is quite good, but for support in pavement, geocell will work better. To increase the bearing capacity of the soil, geogrids are sometimes a less-than-ideal alternative.
2. Filling Material
What is the difference between a geocell and a geogrid? The 2D and 3D structures have incredibly different impacts on the type of fill material used. Geocell is using more types of materials.
These can use local materials as well such as the sand. So, as long as that granular material can be inserted into the cell, it is used as a filling material.
Furthermore, Geogrid is also fussier, the filling material must be well-graded and high-quality aggregate. Depending on the location of the quarry and the original soil, the cost of fill materials may increase.
3. Performance Above Subgrade
Geocells are a much more economical option for soft soil construction to continue. This is because of the vertical support of each cell, Geocell will behave like a semi-rigid plate. This concept can save you time and money.
Meanwhile, Geogrids will not perform well on soft soil. It is especially on heavy-duty vehicles where 2 or 3 layers of geogrid are needed to be placed in a stack.
Cost Consideration
One of the most essential considerations to have is for sure about the cost. For some reason, geogrid can cost you more because in certain projects, you will need more layers of these items.
In other words, we can say that Geocell is more recommended for short and long-term use. Sometimes maybe it costs you more, especially at the beginning of a project.
However, using Geocell can reduce the maintenance budget because of its characteristics and benefits. For your information, Geogrid has some types such as Uniaxial, Triaxial, and Biaxial.
So, what is the difference between a geocell and a geogrid? The explanation above is clear enough, and now you can choose the best product based on your needs.
For more information about Geocell please contact: Whatsapp/Mobile Phone: +62 811 1721 338 (Ms. Ais) or Email : info@urbanplastic.id.