The client proposed the idea of ground improvement for their container stack yard and pavements leading to the container yard. The subsoil consisted of marine clay with a high groundwater table. The load-carrying capacity of the subsoil was not adequate to carry the load due to the container stacks and reach stacker. The safe bearing capacity of the subsoil is low, creating the need for an innovative solution.

The challenges were such that the natural subgrade of the site covered with marine clay comprised a low CBR value making access difficult for the construction vehicles. The conventional approach would have been soil replacement which is expensive and not environmentally friendly.

The consultant proposed a design introducing two layers of StrataGrid™ reinforcements within the WMM layer. The arrangement was such that the principal axes of the two geogrid layers are perpendicular to each other; thus, creating a stiff mechanically stabilized layer that could withstand severe loads coming from the container stacks and dynamic loads from the reach stacker.

Strata’s value addition included faster execution of work due to ease of installing the geogrids, saving time for the project as the conventional method would have been too time-consuming, and utilizing the local infill and saving transportation costs.