27-Jul-16

Dr.G.Venkatappa Rao

Geosynthetics
Construction Material compare
with cement & steel
Is a Technology - Engineering with
Geosynthetics
Process of development
Technology groups involved
Polymer,
Textile
Civil
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Historical - Roads
Use of coconut leaf mattresses in Kerala in
road construction
Dragging a bogged down vehicle using leaves,
brushes etc
Cordruoy roads using tree trunks packed next
to one another and levelling with gravel for
traffic in forest areas
Natural erosion control by vegetation
turfing, trees etc

27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 9

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

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GEOSYNTHETICS
They generally replace scarce raw material
resources like steel/cement/aggregates
They are good alternatives to conventional
designs
They are, sometimes, the only means of
construction
They can be rapidly installed
They can revitalise textile industries ???
27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 11

What Are Geosynthetics?

A planar, polymeric (synthetic or natural)
material used in contact with soil/rock and/or
any other geotechnical material, for Filtration,
Drainage, Separation, Reinforcement, Protection,
Sealing and Packing.

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Geosynthetics The wide variety

Geotextiles Woven, non-woven Filter

fabrics
Geogrids
Geomembranes
Geocomposites
Geonets, Geofibres,mesh mattings,
Geopipes

27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 14

What Are Geotextiles and Related

Products ?

Geotextile
A planar, permeable, polymeric (synthetic or
natural) textile material, which may be nonwoven,
knitted or woven, used in contact with soil/rock
and/or any other geotechnical material in civil
engineering applications.

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Continuous filament extrusion (after American Hoechst Corp.)

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Flat Loom
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Woven or Knitted Geotextiles

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Scanning electron micrographs of (2X1) twill

weave monofilament fabric
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Woven geotextile

Scanning electron micrographs at

interlacement point of woven fabric
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A nonwoven geotextile in the form of a manufactured

sheet, web or batt of directionally or randomly
orientated fibres, filaments or other elements,
mechanically and/or thermally and/or chemically
bonded. Nonwovens are used in Filtration, Drainage,
Separation, Protection and/or Erosion Control
applications.

27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction

(Protection)
G V RAO 30

The needle punching process (after American Hoechst Corp.)

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Typical barbed needle (after American Hoechst Corp.)

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Basic principles of needle punching process

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Non-woven Geotextile

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Scanned electron micrographs of spun bonded

fabric with different amplification

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Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 36

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B
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C
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Geogrids
A planar, polymeric structure consisting of a
regular open network of integrally connected
tensile elements, which may be linked by
extrusion, bonding or interlacing, whose
openings are larger than the constituents,
used in contact with soil/rock and/or any
other geotechnical material in civil
engineering applications.

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Geogrid Manufacture
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Uniaxial Geogrid

Uniaxial Geogrid

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Geogrid Biaxial
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Extruded Geogrids

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Woven or Welded Geogrids

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Geonet
A planar, polymeric structure consisting of a
regular DENSE network, whose constituent
elements are linked by knots or extrusions and
whose openings are much larger than the
constituents, used in contact with soil rock
and /or any other geotechnical material in civil
engineering applications (IGS)

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Geonet
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Geomembrane

A planar relatively impermeable, polymeric

(synthetic or natural) sheet used in contact
with soil/rock and/or any other geotechnical
material in civil engineering applications

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Geomembrane

A planar, relatively impermeable, polymeric (synthetic)

sheet with a minimum thickness of 1.0 mm. In landfill
applications they are usually manufactured of HDPE
with a thickness of > 1.0 mm, in Germany > 2.5 mm. The
surface can be smooth, profiled or textured and
can be of importance for the shear behaviour.
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Geocomposites

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Manufacture of GCLsContd

Adhesive mixed with clay

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Geomat
A three-dimensional, permeable, polymeric
structure, made of bonded filaments, used to
reinforce roots of grass and small plants and
extend the erosion control limits of vegetation
for permanent erosion control applications.

27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 65

Geosynthetics composition

Polypropylene
HDPE
Polyester
PVC
Synthetic Rubber
Natural fibres Jute, coir
Geosynthetics - Introduction
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G V RAO

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COIR GEOTEXTILES

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Rolls of RECBs

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Geosynthetics the functions

Separation
Drainage
Filteration
Reinforcement
Moisture barrier
Cushion

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What is Separation?

Definition

A Geosynthetic placed at the interface between

two dissimilar geotechnical materials functions
as a Separator when it prevents these materials
from mixing under the action of applied loads

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Separation function

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Separation Applications
Typical Application of Geosynthetics as
Separators
At sub-grade/sub-base
interfaces in temporary and
permanent roads

Between railroad ballast and a

foundation soil

Between embankment fill and

soft foundation soil
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Filtration and Separation

Difference between two different soil
types

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Filtration and Separation

.Nonwovens are used in Filtration,

Drainage, Separation, Protection
and/or Erosion Control applications.

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Drainage function

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Typical Applications (1)

BUILDING DRAINAGE GARDEN ROOF

ROAD EDGE DRAINS HORIZONTAL ROOFING

FINDRAINS PARKING DECKS

RETAINING WALLS PLANTERS

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REINFORCEMENT FUNCTION

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Geostrip

A polymeric material in the form of a

strip, used in contact with soil/rock
and/or any other geotechnical material
in civil engineering

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Reinforcement function

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Function vs. Geosynthetic Type

Type of Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment
Geosynthetic
geotextile
geogrid
geonet
geomembrane
geosynthetic
clay liner
geopipe
geofoam
geocomposite

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First Reinforced Soil Wall in

India Ludhiana, Punjab - 1986

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BS 8006 1995

The Designed
Section

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segmental
facing units
shear key or
mechanical
connector

geosynthetic
reinforcement
layer reinforced soil

geotextile
wrapped drain
retained soil

granular
levelling pad

foundation soil

Geosynthetics - Introduction GV
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Blockwork wall in S E Asia

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800
Gravity
700
Walls
600

500 Crib / Bin Walls

400
MSE (Metals)

300

200 MSE
(Geosynthetics)
100

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Height of wall (m)
Koerner
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2016al. 1998 Geosynthetics - Introduction G V RAO 98

Placement patterns for reinforcement

(a) Even spaced-even length (b) Uneven spaced-even length

(c) Even spaced-even length (d) Even spaced-uneven length

with short facing layers with short facing layers

27 July 2016 (One that Failed)! Geosynthetics - Introduction G(With

V RAO Reinforcement-Steep 99
& Stable)

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27 July 2016 Geosynthetics - Introduction GV 100

RAO
3rd European Conference on Geosynthetics

Geosynthetic materials
10.4m

Stiff uniaxial
geogrid 40
and 55 kN/m

Vertical prefabricated drains:

Geocell mattrace : Width 100mm, Thickness 3 mm
Uniaxial stiff geogrid 80 kN/m PP filter, Tensile strength 2.2kN
Biaxial geogrid 30 kN/m Discharge capacity buckled
50.10--6 m3/s
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3rd European Conference on GeosyntheticsRAO

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Placing Fill on Geotextile

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Soft soils in construction

- low bearing capacity

- excessive rutting
- compressible layers
- landslides
- slope failure
- uneven settlements
-

soil reinforcement
needed !

Geosynthetics - Introduction GV
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Stabilization of ballast layer

Ballast

Sub-base
geogrid

sub soil

Geosynthetics - Introduction GV
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Hydraulic Engineering Applications

Waterproofing of Dams
Waterproofing of Canals
Reservoir Liners/Floating Covers
Tunnel Waterproofing &
Rehabilitation
Pipe Rehabilitation & Remediation

Geosynthetics - Introduction GV
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Waterproofing of Dams

masonry, concrete, earth and RCC

dams
GM is not a structural element, its
waterproofing
many dams over 50-years old often
have leakage; sometimes excessive
leakage
methods Geosynthetics
are under rapid
- Introduction GV
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development mainly in European
Alps and in China

(Lining a
Concrete Dam)

(Concrete Dam Leaking!)

Geosynthetics - Introduction
(Completed Concrete Dam Lining) G Earth
(Lined V Dam: Before Rip-Rap)
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LINING SYSTEMS
Canal and Pond Lining

(Lined Pond) Geosynthetics - Introduction G V Decomposition of Waste)

(Aerobic
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Embankment over Soft clay

Embankment Fill
Beware of ditches
Reinforcement: Full
in this area!!! width or localised areas

Tr
Tr

Soft Clay Foundation

Reinforcement tension
develops as a vector of
these forces

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Silt Fence - Installation

Maintenance of Silt Fences

Inspection - physical condition, depth of soil behind
fence, base pullout, fabric condition
Clean-out when half-full.
Allow soil to overtop and install additional downhill
fences
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Geosynthetic in Waste Containment

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Function vs. Geosynthetic Type

Type of Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Barrier
Geosynthetic
geotextile (WGT) (NWGT) (NWGT)
geogrid
geonet
geomembrane
geosynthetic
clay liner
geopipe
geofoam
geocomposite

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RAO

Summary
Geosynthetics are bona fide engineering
materials - MORTH, IRC
Test methods and designs are available
BIS, ASTM, BS
Basic advantage is quality control of factory
manufactured products
Construction Quality by rigorous CQC/CQA
Field performance has been excellent

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A presentation by
Sai Master
Geoenvironmental Services
Private Limited

SAI MASTER ACHARYA SRI EKKIRALA BHARADWAJA Serving the Environment

THANK YOU

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Web Sites of Geosynthetic Organizations

Geosynthetic Institute (GSI)

<http://www.geosynthetic-institute.org>
International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)
<http://www.igs.rmc.ca>
Geosynthetics Materials Association (GMA)
<http://www.gmanow.com>
International Standards Organization (ISO)
<http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/ISOOnline.frontpage>
ASTM International
<http://www.astm.org>

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