ASDA is one of the leading supermarket chains in the UK and part of the Wal-Mart group. For their new store in Halifax, West Yorkshire, they needed a solution for the parking lot structure which was to be built on sloping ground at the front of the store. The solution was to build a series of curved, terraced, modular concrete block retaining walls, incorporating planting areas. Linear Composites' PARAGRID™ 50/15 geogrid was specified to reinforce the soil mass immediately behind the blocks. Layers of PARAGRID™ were installed during construction, the height of the wall dictating the number of PARAGRID™ layers. The combination of PARAGRID™ and blocks enabled the contractors to construct an economical, attractive, durable, low maintenance structure.

With the project Lagunas del Norte located in the Alto Chicama state of La Libertad in Peru there was a challenge of constructing a 22.5 meters (75 feet) high retaining wall to create a loading and access platform for heavy mining trucks.

Maccaferri Peru, with the final approval of Ing. Germán Vivar, designed a flexible system of reinforced soil combining Terramesh and PARAGRID™ geogrid. ParaGrid™ 200/15 delivers a high tensile strength using high tenacity polyester fibres encased with specially engineered polyethylene sheathing.

The energy in surface wind is often sufficient to pick up significant quantities of loose grained materials from storage piles or processing areas. The result can be a direct and significant financial cost together with a longer-term impact on the environment. The installation of a controlled porosity windbreak, such as PARAWEB™ Fence, reduces the winds force but allows a diffused flow to pass through.

Windbreaks are in use at a number of power stations, mines and storage depots throughout the United Kingdom

This major windbreak fence system was installed by Chirex Ltd at their North of England Manufacturing site.

On this project the PARAWEB™ Fence improved operating conditions by protecting the open tops of bio-reactor tanks from turbulence caused by strong winds and storms. Reducing turbulence greatly improves processing conditions and prevents material loss, benefits that have helped Chirex Ltd with its ongoing manufacturing improvements, and commitment to environmental awareness.

Linear Composites’ PARARIB™ mesh products are ideal for controlling the loose debris that may fall from walls and roofs during mining activities. They are designed to be light in weight, flexible and extremely durable, perfect for handling in confined spaces.

PARARIB™ materials consist of high tenacity polyester fibres encased in a tough and durable white flame retardant sheath. The white sheath material enhances light reflectancy and visibility particularly in areas of limited illumination associated with underground mining operations.

The main port of Taiwan is at Keelung near the capital, Taipei. The countryside is generally hilly and there is a shortage of flat land for the storage of containers. Flat areas are now being created by filling valleys which can be accessed at the top end. The valleys are filled in a series of steps supported by large reinforced soil slopes. These nearly vertical slopes, some up to 32m high, are being constructed using Linear Composites Ltd's PARAGRID™ geogrid materials.

Disposal of run-off water from motorways is confronting designers with ever increasing problems in ensuring ground-water remains uncontaminated. Run-off water entering fissures can be transported over long distances by subterranean streams. Drinking wells and other sources of potable water can thus be threatened by effluent from lorry tanker accidents. The Bavarian State Highway Authority has adopted a novel solution using a geomembrane with geotextile reinforcement and protective layers.

The construction of soil bunds to protect ‘bullets’ which store LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) is often carried out at locations where ground conditions are relatively poor. While the bullets themselves will normally be supported by piled foundations the soil embankments around the bullets, necessary to alleviate the consequences of accidental combustion of the LPG, may require specialist techniques to guard against instability on the weak soils. The bunds may be in excess of 12 metres high so soil loads can be very high.

As part of the expansion of Stansted Airport a new railway link from the British Rail main London-Cambridge line was constructed. The spur line was constructed within a glacial valley on a 5.0m (16.40 ft) high embankment over highly compressible soils including a layer of peat up to 7.0m (22.97 ft) overlying chalk.

PARALINK™ reinforcement over a piled foundation was chosen as the solution to the construction problems as it offered distinct advantages over conventional reinforcement materials.

Every year Taiwan suffers much slope instability during the typhoon season. Much of the country is hilly and mountainous and the natural soils are characterized by high silty clay content. Vegetation grows rapidly but is often incapable of preventing slope failures during the periods of heavy typhoon rainfall. These slope failures result in road closures which are disruptive to the life and economy of the country. Regular seismic events exacerbate the problem. Such a major event occurred in 1999 resulting in many slope and other failures which caused significant disruption and loss of life.