Using Geocells to Treat Swamps

Principle of Action

Foundation Reinforcement: Geocell has high lateral restraint and tensile strength. After laying it on 

the surface of the swamp, it can effectively restrain the foundation soil and limit the lateral deformation 

of the soil body. 

Thus, it improves the bearing capacity of the foundation, making the foundation more stable and less 

prone to settlement and collapse.

Drainage and Consolidation: The open-cell structure of the geocell is conducive to the vertical 

infiltration and lateral drainage of water. 

In swamps, it can serve as a drainage channel to accelerate the discharge of groundwater, 

speed up the consolidation of swamp soil, reduce the water content of the soil, and improve the 

strength and stability of the soil.

Load Dispersion: When engineering construction is carried out on the swamp or vehicles and 

pedestrians pass through, the geocell can evenly disperse the load acting on it over a larger area, 

reducing the pressure per unit area, avoiding foundation damage caused by excessive local pressure, 

and protecting the surface of the swamp and the underlying soil structure from damage.

Material Selection

Material: Commonly used materials for geocells include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 

polypropylene (PP), etc. HDPE geocells have high strength, corrosion resistance, and anti-aging properties,

 and are suitable for swamps in various harsh environments. 

PP geocells are relatively lightweight, flexible, and moderately priced, and can be selected according 

to specific project requirements and budgets.

Cell Size: Select appropriate cell sizes according to the specific conditions of the swamp and project requirements. 

The height of the geocell is generally between 10 - 50 cm, and the width of the cell sheet is usually 

3 - 10 cm. 

For swamps with thick soft soil layers and high bearing requirements, geocells with larger heights and 

wider sheets can be selected to provide stronger reinforcement and bearing capacity. For some 

shallow swamps or areas with low requirements for deformation control, 

geocells with smaller sizes can be used.

Tensile Strength: The treatment of swamps requires geocells to have sufficient tensile strength to 

withstand various loads. Generally, the tensile strength of geocells is required to be between 10 - 50 kN/m,

 and the specific value should be determined through calculation and testing according to the 

actual situation of the project. When selecting, ensure that the tensile strength of the selected geocell 

can meet the usage requirements after the swamp treatment to ensure the safety and stability of the project.

Construction Key Points

Site Preparation: Before construction, the swamp needs to be cleaned up, removing surface debris such 

as weeds and branches. Appropriate drainage treatment should be carried out on the swamp to lower 

the groundwater level and keep the construction site as dry as possible. If there is a silt layer on the 

surface of the swamp, it is necessary to decide whether to remove it or take other treatment 

measures according to the thickness and properties of the silt.

Geocell Laying: Unfold the geocell and lay it flat on the treated surface of the swamp. Pay attention to

 making the direction of the geocell consistent with the main stress direction. Adjacent geocells should 

be connected with connectors, such as U-shaped nails and connection buckles, to ensure a firm 

connection and form an integral reinforcement structure. 

During the laying process, avoid phenomena such as wrinkles and twists of the geocell, and ensure that 

it makes even contact with the ground.

Filler Selection and Filling: After the geocell is laid, appropriate fillers need to be filled in the cells. 

The fillers are generally well-graded sand, gravel, or crushed stone, etc. These materials have high 

strength and water permeability, which can improve the reinforcement effect of the geocell. When filling,

 pay attention that the particle size of the filler should not be too large to avoid damaging the geocell. 

At the same time, ensure that the filler is densely filled. The layered compaction method can be used, 

and the thickness of each layer of filler should not exceed 1/3 of the height of the cell, and the 

compaction degree should meet the design requirements.

Slope Treatment: If there are slopes in the swamp, when laying geocells on the slope, the slope should 

be trimmed first to make it conform to the design slope. 

The geocell should be laid from top to bottom along the slope, and the geocell should be fixed on the 

slope by means of anchoring to prevent it from sliding down. The spacing and depth of the anchors 

should be determined according to factors such as the height and slope of the slope and the 

specifications of the geocell. Generally, the anchor spacing is 0.5 - 1.0 m, and the anchor depth is not 

less than 0.5 m. At the top and bottom of the slope, appropriate sealing measures should also be taken, such as setting up concrete retaining walls or compacting the fill soil, etc., to enhance the overall stability 

of the geocell.

Coordination with Other Treatment Measures

Combination with the Drainage System: Although the geocell itself has a certain drainage function, 

for the comprehensive treatment of swamps, it is also necessary to combine it with a complete 

drainage system. For example, set up drainage ditches and blind drainage ditches around and inside 

the swamp to guide the water drained by the geocell to a suitable place, avoiding the adverse impact 

of water accumulation on the treatment effect. 

At the same time, the drainage system can also lower the groundwater level and further improve the 

soil conditions of the swamp.

Coordination with Vegetation Restoration: On the basis of treating swamps with geocells, carrying out

 vegetation restoration can improve the durability of the treatment effect and ecological benefits. 

Select moisture-resistant and salt-alkali-tolerant plants suitable for local growth for planting. The roots 

of the plants can further reinforce the soil, prevent soil erosion, and at the same time improve the 

ecological environment and promote the restoration and balance of the swamp ecosystem.

Coordination with Other Reinforcement Measures: For some swamps with complex geological 

conditions and high bearing requirements, it may be necessary to use geocells in combination with 

other reinforcement measures. For example, methods such as gravel piles and cement mixing piles 

can be used to initially reinforce the swamp foundation, and then geocells can be laid to achieve a 

better reinforcement effect and meet the requirements of engineering construction.