Engineered Structures are vertical mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) or reinforced soil structures consisting of soil and multiple layers of geosynthetic reinforcement elements to significantly improve the strength of the soil structure.

TenCate geosynthetics are used as integral components in mechanically stabilized earth structures such as retaining walls, steepened slopes and embankments. TenCate Miragrid geogrids, TenCate Geolon® PET geotextiles and TenCate Rock® high strength geocomposites enhance the soil’s shear strength characteristics by providing tensile resistance. This enables walls, slopes, and embankments to be constructed cost-effectively and quickly. Geosynthetics from TenCate have been designed to offer the best characteristics such as high tensile strength, low elongation, low creep for long term performance to cover the service life of the structure.

• Steepened Slopes

To steepen soil slopes, TenCate Miragrid or TenCate Rock® geosynthetics are placed in layers during construction to provide tensile resistance and enhance stability. The facing of the slope can be grass or another facing material. This technique enables slopes to be constructed to any height at any slope angle up to 70 degrees.

• Retaining Walls

Structures steeper than 70 degrees are called retaining walls, and can be temporary or permanent. TenCate geosynthetics, mostly TenCate Miragrid, are applied in layers to provide stability to the structure. There are various options for the facings of such structures, but the most common are greening wire mesh systems and stacked concrete blocks (segmental retaining walls). But also other options like concrete panels with minimized thickness are possible as the earth pressure is taken by the retained structure itself. Building retaining walls with geosynthetics offer a very economical solution with it’s simple way of construction and are aesthetically pleasing with all possible facing options.

• Reinforced Embankments

TenCate Geolon® PET geosynthetics are placed at the base of embankments to provide stability and limit differential settlement. Depending on the specific application, the product may be placed directly on the soft foundation, over foundation piles, or over areas subject to void formation prior to the placement of the embankment fill. This application is the most demanding one, and may require geosynthetics with very high tensile strength materials.