The United States Army Corps of Engineers first developed the cellular confinement system as a means to stabilize soil in soft terrain and wet weather conditions for roads, airstrips, and any other applicable need.   

As the Army Corps of Engineers discovered, thin-walled cells filled with soil, sand, or other aggregate material provide a significantly greater load-bearing capacity than compacted soil alone.  High-density polyethylene proved to be the most durable, economical, and environmental choice, and has been a great success ever since.

The Army required 6,400,000 square feet of the cellular confinement system for the Gulf War. Geo Products supplied the geocell successfully and has since extended its capabilities to the public sector for a variety of civil engineering purposes.  

Cellular Confinement

Civil engineers find themselves struggling to find the balance between a soil's ability to drain and its ability to compact.  Both are highly desirable in terms of construction benefits, but unfortunately find themselves at odds--the better a material's ability to drain, the lower its ability to compact and thus the lower its bearing capacity.

The solution, therefore, was to confine the soil with a three-dimensional cellular structure and eliminate the problem of low compacting ability and bearing capacity.  With the geocell, successful drainage is achieved, and the system supports heavy loads without displacement.

Ever since its inception, the geocell technology has shown itself to be the ideal solution for any stabilization problem.  Whether the need is for soil reinforcement, earth retention, slope protection, or channel protection, geocells are able to economically and reliably provide a resolution.  

By preventing horizontal movement of the fill material, the system significantly heightens the material's shear strength and bearing capacity.  The number of cells in close proximity also provides considerable weight distribution ability, spreading the specific point of impact throughout the entire system.

In terms of water drainage, the open design of the geocell promotes porosity both vertically and laterally, thus allowing drainage and groundwater recharge while avoiding erosion and surface runoff.  If so desired, vegetation can grow through the geocell structure rather than other environmentally-harmful possibilities such as pavement or cantilever walls.  Local aggregates may be used, thus reducing the environmental and economic impact of importing more costly fill materials.  

With cellular confinement, soil can be reinforced for transportation purposes, erosion can be negated by the decrease in lateral forces, and embankments and slopes can be retained or stabilized as needed.