Suelo reforzado con geomallas FORTGRID en Manta, Ecuador: estabilidad y sostenibilidad para taludes residenciales

FORTGRID geogrid-reinforced soil is an innovative solution for stabilizing slopes on steep terrain. In San Mateo, Manta, Ecuador, this technology was applied to develop a house on a steep slope.

Manta, in the province of Manabí, is one of the country's main urban and port centers. In additionIts strategic location facing the Pacific Ocean and year-round warm climate favor real estate growth. ThereforeThe San Mateo area has become a key point of residential expansion.

However, the project site had slopes between 35° and 40°. This condition made the direct construction of the house risky. AccordinglyIn order to achieve this, it was necessary to propose a technical solution that would guarantee stability, safety and sustainability.

Initially, it was proposed a concrete retaining wall of approximately 8 meters in height to generate a stable platform. However, being in an area of high seismicityThis alternative was costly and complex to implement, with a high environmental and earthmoving impact (see Figure 1).

Suelo reforzado con geomallas FORTGRID en Manta, Ecuador: estabilidad y sostenibilidad para taludes residenciales, Geomatrix

Figure 1. Alternative with reinforced concrete retaining wall.

FORTGRID UX geogrid-reinforced soil wall

In order to address the problem, the company has implemented a reinforced floor structure with geogrids FORTGRID UXThe new project, an efficient, sustainable and fast-track solution that guarantees long-term stability for the housing infrastructure.

The system consists of compacted soil layers, reinforced with geogrids. FORTGRID UXThe wall was reinforced with a layer of concrete, which increases the bearing capacity and resistance to horizontal stresses. On the facade of the wall, we applied a wrap-around solutionusing sachets filled with soil and covered with Mantle TERRATRAC TRM for erosion control, allowing plant growth and a natural finish that integrates with the residential environment.

For the subsurface water controla system of horizontal and vertical underdrainage with PERMADRAIN® planar geonetreducing pore pressure and extending the life of the wall.

Figure 2. Typical cross-section implementing the structure in reinforced soil

Main advantages

High resistance to seismic loads.
Significant reduction of costs and construction time.
Landscaping integration by means of vegetation.
Low environmental impact due to less earth movement.
Durable solution adaptable to different topographic conditions.

Results

The geogrid reinforced soil wallFORTGRID UX allowed the safe development of the house on a sloping terrain, guaranteeing structural stability, harmony with the surroundings and technical and environmental sustainability.