The logging yard at Canfor’s Fort St. John mill is subject to the heaviest loading operations in the worst soil conditions. Saturated peat with a CBR <1% and a high water table is not the ideal subgrade for log handling operations – logs that weigh from 600-1000 kg.

Cat 988H loaders weighing more than 43,000 kg, heavy hauling trucks, and other mechanical equipment created heavy rutting in the soft soil. The logs, stockpiled in huge, 6-metre high stacks, suffered from large settlement, which further impeded operations, while frequent access to the log feeder resulted in worse rutting. Coupled with a freeze-thaw cycle, they had the odds stacked against them.

Conditions at the yard meant that the sawmill could not operate at full capacity, while requiring constant, time-consuming and expensive maintenance. Everything turned around for Canfor after hearing of Neoloy Tough-Cells for soil stabilization and soil reinforcement.

Conventional Solution

Previously, Canfor was hauling and applying expensive gravel every year to maintain adequate structure for their log yard operations. In a span of three years, Canfor added 50+ cm height of gravel to the entire site, only to watch as it failed after each and every placement.

Neoloy Tough-Cell Solution

The design was based on one layer on the subgrade to improve the bearing capacity and another layer to reinforce the base and increase its modulus.

330-150-96-C Neoloy was used as a construction layer to stabilize the subgrade and improve its bearing capacity. This layer of geocells was in-filled using locally available sand. On top of this 330-150-96-D Neoloy was installed in the the gravel base layer to reinforce it, distribute loads, enhance drainage and prevent surface degradation.

A non-woven geotextile was laid over the subgrade and a woven geotextile laid over the subbase layer for layer separation in the saturated conditions.