GEOSYNTHETICS

Introduction
Geosynthetic-Overview
Geosynthetics Applications

Geosynthetics
Modern

civil engineering construction

materials
Modify/Improve soil/geologic material
behaviour
Developed/Synthesized for specific
function or application in construction
More than 1billion sq m annual use

Geosynthetics The wide variety

Geotextiles

Woven,

non-woven Filter

fabrics

Geogrids
Geomembranes
Geosynthetic

Clay Liner

Geonets,
Geocomposites
Geocells
Geopipes,

Geotubes. Geofoams

(L) woven monofilament

(R) calendered woven monofilament
(L) woven multifilament
(R) woven slit film

(L) nonwoven needle-punched

(R) nonwoven heat-bonded

Geosynthetics composition
Polypropylene
H

DPE
Polyester
PVC
Synthetic Rubber
Natural fibres Jute, coir

 geotextiles

- flexible, textile-like
fabrics of controlled permeability
used to provide filtration, separation
or reinforcement in soil, rock and
waste materials
geomembranes - essentially
impermeable polymeric sheets used
as barriers for liquid or solid waste
containment
geogrids - stiff or flexible polymer
grid-like sheets with large apertures
used primarily as reinforcement of

geonets - stiff polymer net-like sheets with

in-plane openings used primarily as a
drainage material within landfills or in soil
and rock masses
geosynthetic clay liners - prefabricated
bentonite clay layers incorporated
between geotextiles and/or
geomembranes and used as a barrier for
liquid or solid waste containment
geopipes - perforated or solid wall
polymeric pipes used for the drainage of
various liquids
geocomposites - hybrid systems of any, or
all, of the above geosynthetic types which

Woven or Knitted Geotextiles

Non-woven Geotextile

BIAXIAL GEO GRID

Uniaxial Geogrid

Woven or Welded Geogrids

Geonets

Geocomposites

COIR GEOTEXTILES

Geosynthetics the functions

Separation
Drainage
Filtration
Reinforcement
Moisture
Cushion

barrier

Separation function

Drainage function

Filtration function

Reinforcement function

REINFORCEMENT FUNCTION

Geomembrane Seepage Barrier

Lateral Restraint

Bearing Capacity Increase

Membrane Tension Support

GEOCELL MATRESS UNDER

EMBANKMENT ON SOFT SOIL

Geocell in the making

Geotextile wrapping of Geocell

Concrete Facia Panels for GRS

Wall

Erosion Control Blanket

Design Requirements for

Asphalt Pavements

Grid Locations for Asphalt

reinforcement

Reflection Cracking

Locate near to
existing discontinuity
Mechanistic design
method still evolving
Stiff geogrid best
Geotextile can
waterproof

Rutting in Overlays

Locate where
strains are largest;
mid-depth
Increase in life to
critical rut of three
times
Requires stiff
geogrid

GLASS GRID UNDER OVER LAY

ROAD WIDENING
Overlay
GLASS GRID
bitumen emulsion layer

ROAD WIDENING

Other Applications in Highways

Geosynthetic

Reinforced Soil Walls

Reinforced soil slopes
Subsurface Drainage systems-trench
drains, strip drains
Stabilising canal road systems in
expansive soil regions.
PVD.

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil

Wall

Geosynthetic Band drains

Type of
Geosynthetic
(GS)
Geotextile (GT)

Separation
x

Geogrid (GG)

Reinforcement
x

Drainage

Filtration
x

Containm

Geonet (GN
Geomembrane
(GM)

x
x

Geosynthetic Clay
Liner (GCL)

Geofoam (GF

Geocells (GL)

Geocomposite
(GC)

specifications
Specifications

are from international

organizations.
AASHO.
British Textile Technology Group - BTTG.
DGGT- EBGEO, Germany.
Geosynthetics Research Institute, USA
Presence of large number of test methods &
specifications are a matter of concern and
confusion.

Need for Testing

Index

Testing-Basic Properties of Products

Quality control tests- Rapid testing to
assure continuity of equality.
Performance testing- Testing of
Geosynthetics in contact with soil under
standard conditions in the lab to provide
better simulation of site conditions. Also in
full scale on site.

Designing with Geotextiles

Determine Critical Function

FILTRATION, REINFORCEMENT,
SEPARATION or DRAINAGE
If FILTRATION FOS (AOS/EOS)
If REINFORCEMENT Tensile
Strength
and Modulus
If SEPARATION ? Survivability
Consider long-term performance