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Module 7:Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Lecture 20:GeneralApplications of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
The Lecture Contains:

Geotextile And Geomembrane

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Module7:Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Lecture 20:GeneralApplications of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Applications
Major applications
1. Embankments over very soft soils
2. Unpaved road supports
3. Retaining walls
4. Slope stabilization
1. Embankments
Embankment can fail in a multitude of ways involving excessive settlement and lateral spreading, with or
without single or multiple failure surfaces and surface bulging becoming apparent.
Geotextiles provides restraint against lateral deformation and assist in load distribution on the soft subsoil.
Stability analysis of a reinforced embankment will have to take the following modes of failure
(a) Block sliding on the geotextiles:
A vertical crack or other type of failure through the embankment isolates a block of soil which slides
outward on geotextiles .
A simple analysis would assume horizontal active earth pressures pushing outward and soil fabric friction
resisting the process.

Figure 20.1

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Figure 20.2

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Module 7:Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Lecture 20:GeneralApplications of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Geotextile and Geomembranes
Uniform distribution of shear stress would imply tensile forces in the geotextiles which increases linearly
towards the center of the embankment .
at the center of the embankment.

A minimum factor of safety of 1.5 w.r.t strength and a fabric strain limited to 10%

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Module 7:Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Lecture 20:GeneralApplications of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Geotextile and Geomembrane
(b)Failure along a slip surface:

Figure 20.3

Slip surface is assumed to be circular either within the embankment or through the geotextile
Fabric provides an additional stabilizing force T at the point of intersection with the failure surface.

Stabilizing moment due to the fabric

For circular failure surfaces

(c) Overall bearing failure:

(Terzaghis or Hansens Bearing capacity)

The bearing capacity of an embankment foundation is unaffected by a geotextile contained within

or just below the embankment

Overall bearing capacity could be improved if a mattress like reinforced surface layer of larger
extent is provided at the base of the embankment .

(c) Excessive settlement :

Due to consolidation of the sub soil the embankment undergoes large settlement and the presence of the
fabric may reduce differential settlement.

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Because of the drainage effect of nonwoven fabrics consolidation of the subsoil may be accelerated with a
consequent gain in strength where deformation criteria require high strength, high modulus woven
fabrics the drainage function may be provided by the Geocomposits .

Edge reinforcement also helps to reduce erosion and may assist in the establishment of vegetation.

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Module 7:Geotextiles and Geomembranes

Lecture 20:GeneralApplications of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Geotextiles and geomembrane
Unpaved roads:

Reinforcing action of geotextile can be used in unpaved roads for economic advantages.
Geotextiles also fulfill additional basic functions such as separation, filtration and drainage.

Nonwoven and woven fabrics are used in road construction.

Unpaved roads without fabric

Hammit (1970) proposed a formula for determining the thickness of aggregate required for unsurfaced
roads and air fields so as to produce a rut depth less than 3 - in (75mm).
The design thickness is a function of the number of coverage N of an equivalent single wheel load and the
tire contact area .
The unreinforced aggregate depth

required for

Where
Aggregate depth unreinforced,m
Axle load, KN
Undrained cohesion of the sub soil

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is