The Main Function of Fiberglass Geogrid

Slow down reflection cracks

To effectively slow down or minimize reflection cracks and prevent further damage or deterioration, follow these steps:

• Identify the Cause: Determine if the cracks are caused by underlying issues such as structural movements, thermal expansion, or material fatigue.
• Surface Preparation: Clean the surface thoroughly to remove debris, dust, and any loose materials. Ensure the surface is dry before applying any treatments.
• Crack Filling: Use appropriate crack fillers designed for the specific material (e.g., asphalt, concrete). Ensure the filler is flexible to accommodate any future movements.
• Reinforcement: Apply a reinforcement layer such as geotextiles or fiberglass mats over the affected area to distribute stress and prevent further cracking. Secure the reinforcement properly to ensure it remains in place.
• Seal Coating: Apply a high-quality seal coat to protect the surface from water infiltration, UV rays, and chemical damage. Ensure even application and adequate drying time.
• Regular Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections and maintenance to identify and address new cracks early. Reapply seal coats and fillers as needed to maintain the integrity of the surface.

Anti-fatigue cracking

• Repeated Stress: Anti-fatigue cracking occurs due to the repeated application of stress or loads on a material, typically metal, over an extended period.
• Microstructural Defects: Existing microstructural defects, such as voids or inclusions, can initiate cracks when subjected to cyclic stress.
• Material Properties: Materials with lower fatigue strength are more susceptible to anti-fatigue cracking.

Effects

• Structural Integrity: Cracks can compromise the structural integrity of components, leading to potential failure.
• Safety Hazards: In critical applications like aviation or construction, such cracks pose significant safety risks.
• Economic Impact: Repairing or replacing components affected by fatigue cracking can incur substantial costs.

Prevention Methods

• Material Selection: Using materials with high fatigue strength can reduce the risk of anti-fatigue cracking.
• Design Optimization: Designing components to minimize stress concentrations, such as avoiding sharp corners, can help prevent crack initiation.
• Surface Treatments: Processes like shot peening can improve surface properties, enhancing resistance to fatigue.

Potential Solutions

• Regular Inspections: Implementing regular inspection schedules to detect early signs of fatigue cracking.
• Stress Reduction Techniques: Employing techniques such as stress relieving heat treatments to reduce residual stresses.
• Repair Methods: Using methods like welding or adhesive bonding to repair cracks and restore structural integrity.

High-temperature resistant rutting

Asphalt concrete has rheological properties at high temperatures, which is specifically manifested in: summer asphalt road surface is soft and sticky; under the action of vehicle load, the stressed area is dented, and the asphalt surface cannot be fully restored before the load after the vehicle load is removed. Under the condition of the vehicle, plastic deformation has occurred; under the repeated rolling action of the vehicle, the plastic deformation continues to accumulate, forming a rut. After analyzing the structure of the asphalt surface layer, we can know that due to the rheological properties of asphalt concrete under high temperature, there is no mechanism in the surface layer that can restrict the movement of aggregates in the asphalt concrete under load, which causes the asphalt surface layer to move. This is the main reason for rutting

The fiberglass geogrid is used in the asphalt surface layer, which acts as a skeleton in the asphalt surface layer. The aggregates in the asphalt concrete penetrate between the grids to form a composite mechanical interlocking system, which restricts the movement of the aggregates and increases the lateral restraint force in the asphalt overlay. The various parts of the asphalt overlay restrict each other to prevent the asphalt surface layer from being damaged. Move, thereby playing a role in resisting rutting.

Resistance to low-temperature shrinkage and cracking

On asphalt roads in severe cold areas, the surface temperature in winter is close to the air temperature. Under such temperature conditions, the asphalt concrete shrinks when cold, resulting in tensile stress. When the tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength of asphalt concrete, cracks will occur, and cracks will occur in the places where the cracks are concentrated, forming diseases. From the perspective of the causes of cracks, how to make the strength of asphalt concrete resist tensile stress is the key to solving the problem.

The application of fiberglass geogrid in the asphalt overlay greatly improves the tensile strength of asphalt concrete, which can resist large tensile stress without causing damage. In addition, even if cracks are generated in a local area, the stress at the place where the crack occurs is too concentrated, but it will gradually disappear through the transmission of the glass fiber geogrid, and the crack will no longer develop into a crack. When selecting the fiberglass geogrid, in addition to its performance indicators should meet the requirements in the above table, special attention should be paid to ensure that its width is not less than 1.5m, so that it has a sufficient cross-sectional area when used as an interlayer to control reflection cracks. Fully dissipate the crack energy; at the same time, the mesh size should be 0.5 to 1.0 times the maximum particle size of the upper asphalt surface material, which helps to achieve the best shear adhesiveness and promote aggregate interlocking and restriction.

For more information please contact to Geofantex Geosynthetics Co., Ltd.