The paper includes an overview of some pioneering projects using innovative geosynthetic reinforcement during the last about 15 years. The focal point is the application of engineered high-strength low-strain reinforcements for specific projects with non-trivial requirements in terms of tensile forces and strain limitations. For the case studies presented the engineering problem faced is described, the requirements to be met, the engineering philosophy, the final optimized solution and the reinforcements used (most of them developed and produced for the cases under discussion). All these cases comprise solutions, products and to some extent design procedures being worldwide novelties proved to be successful. They are presented in chronological order. The first case (“B180 Eisleben”) deals with bridging a huge sinkhole on a German highway developing and using for the first time worldwide geogrids from Aramid (AR) with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1200 kN/m at 3% strain only. The second case (“Böschistobel”) is a landfill in the Austrian mountains where AR-Geogrids of 550 and 1200 kN/m UTS were used to ensure the local and global stability at a low level of deformations. The third case (“Körgraben at Rathenow”) describes a flat embankment on piles for a new super-express (ICE) stretch of DB (German Rail) using AR-Geogrids with 800 kN/m UTS to meet the stringent deformation limitations. The fourth case (“Einöd”) describes the superelevation of an existing landfill to increase its capacity. To ensure the stability and low deformations of the new waste fill in an aggressive environment uni- and biaxial PVA-Geogrids with UTS from 150 to 900 kN/m were developed and used for the first time worldwide. The fifth case (“Gröbers”) deals with bridging sinkholes provoked by former mining for a super-express railroad in Germany using combined geogrids from Aramid (AR) and Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) together with stabilized soils and a warning geotextile-based system. The solution met severe requirements in terms of safety, bearing capacity and limitation of deformations of any type.
Menu