GEOCOMPOSITE

INTRODUCTION
Geocomposite is a production of
the combination of at least one of the
geosynthetic material with other
component.
Usually
geocomposite
consist of a three dimensional polymer
core acted as a medium for the flow of
the liquid. The core polymer is covered
by a layer of geotextile or geomembrane.
The cover material will protect the core
material and lengthen the serviceability
of the geocomposite. Due to its ability to
direct the flow of the liquid,
geocomposite is normally designed for
the use of drainage. Geocomposite
drainage can be classified into two basic
type which are sheet drainage and strip
drainage. The geocomposite can be
waterproof in one face and protect the
structure behind. Figure 1 (Terram 2016)
shows the example of the geocomosite
sheet drainage.

Figure 1 Geocomposite sheet drainage

(Terram 2016)

Mechanism
Ability of geocomposite will
change when the core is different.
Different core will provide different
ability and durability. Commonly
geocomposite will have a layer of
geotextile,
polymer
core
and
geomembrane. Geotextile will block the
soil component from entering the

polymer layers. Polymer layer will direct

the flow of the water. However, the
geomembrane layer act as a water proof
of the geocomposite to protect the soil or
the concrete structure below it. The
polymer core also can be changed to
other material to change the ability.
Usage
Waste Management
Geocomposite drainage system
has been introduced as a barrier of the
waste to the surrounding. The
geocomposite that been used is formed
by a layer of the polymer covered by the
geomembrane or geotextile. It will help
to collect and drain any rainwater away.
This will help to prevent the overlying
soils destabilizing through saturation .
Besides that, it could also prevent the
groundwater been polluted by the
leachate. The geocomposite layer will
direct the flow of the leachate away to a
control area and prevent the contact with
the soil layer below. On the other hand,
the volume for the waste landfill will be
increased. The thick stone drainage layer
will be replaced by thin geocomposite.
The cost of installation of the traditional
stone layer will be much expensive than
the using the geocomposite layer.
Protect Buried Structure
Geocomposite has been used in
waterproof layer of many structure
which contact with the soil. The
geocomposite can prevent the water
from seepage into the concrete structure.
The polymer core in the geocomposite
will drain the water away to the
perforated pipe prepared. From example,
geocomposite is laid at the outer part of

the concrete lining of the tunnel. The

geocomposite
will
prevent
the
groundwater seepage into the tunnel and
maintain the condition inside the tunnel.
Road Drainage System
The geocomposite can be design
as part of the road structure. The
geocomposite layer will direct the
rainwater from the road surface to the
drainage system beside the road traffic
lane. The geocomposite can help to
maintain the moisture content of the base
and sub-base layer. High flow of the
geocomposite layer will direct the
rainwater and prevent water pounding on
the road surface. The water pounding on
the road surface will damage the road
and bring some inconvenient to the road
users.
Plantation
Geocomposite with the layer of
the superabsorbent synthetic polymers
(SAP) can be used in the field of
agriculture. SAP has the ability to store
water for the irrigation purpose.
Geocomposite used in the agriculture
field may provide reinforcement to the
root system of the plant. SAP layer in the
geocomposite will reduce the water
wastage during the irrigation. It can
reduce the amount of water by half
compared to normal irrigation. It can
also maintain the moisture contain
beneath the root layer of the plant which
can
provide a
better
growing
environment
to
the
plant.
H.
ORZESZYNA et al (2006) identified
that the geocomposite has positive effect
on the growth of plants and root system
by securing better water supply.

References
1. Terram 2016, Geocomposite,
Terram, Maldon, booklet.
2. Wick Drains, 2014, Wick Drians,
LAYFIELD CONSTRUCTION
PRODUCTS, viewed 22 April 2016,
<https://www.layfieldgroup.com/Ge

osynthetics/DrainageProducts/Wick-Drains.aspx>
3. H. Orzeszyna, D. Garlikowski, and
A. Pawlowski, 2006, Using
geocomposite with superabsorbent
synthetic polymer as water retention
element in vegetative layers,
INTERNATION Agrophysics, vol.20,
pp. 201-206.