GEOSYNTHETICS AND

REINFORCED SOIL STRUCTURES

Different Types of
Geosynthetics and Their
Applications
K. Rajagopal, Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Madras, Chennai
e-mail:
e
mail: gopalkr@iitm
gopalkr@iitm.ac.in
ac in

RECAP OF PREVIOUS LECTURE

Introduction
Historical background
Early applications
Functions of geosynthetics
Types of geosynthetics

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

2/52

OUTLINE OF 2nd LECTURE

TYPES of geosynthetics
- - - - CONTINUED
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

3/52

TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Geotextiles
G
Geogrids
id
Geonets
Geomembranes
Pre-fabricated
Pre
fabricated vertical drains (PVD)
Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL)
G
Geocells
ll (3
(3-d
d confinement)
fi
t)
Geocomposites & Geo-others
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

4/52

GEONETS

Geonets are also planar products

Consists of ribs in two directions
Apertures are of diamond shape
Ribs in the two directions are at different planes
Thickness of g
geonets is larger
g than that of
geogrids
Geonets are also referred to as geospacers
g
p

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

5/52

TYPICAL GEONETS
Ribs at two
horizontal planes

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

6/52

GEONET APPLICATIONS
Erosion control ribs act as small
check dams to slow down the surface
runoff decreases erosion potential
of water
Drainage
D i
llayers water flows
fl
along
l
the geonet because of large thickness

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

7/52

Boulder net laid on Konkan railway line in Western

ghats functions as guide for loose boulders and
vegetation support
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

8/52

Laying of boulder net

Vegetation growth after two
seasons
Courtesy: M/s Garware Wall Ropes Ltd., Pune
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

9/52

Anchor trench at the top of

the slope
slope, 1m deep
deep, 0
0.5m
5m
wide, filled with soil

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

10/52

GEOMEMBRANES
Thick impervious plastic sheets
Thickness .5
5 mm to 3 mm approximately
To contain liquids and gases

Ro gh surface
Rough
s rface texture
te t re

Smooth double
do ble sided membrane

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

11/52

APPLICATIONS OF
GEOMEMBRANES
Landfill lining
Canal lining
Tunnel lining

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

12/52

Geomembrane in a landfill

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

13/52

Canal lining using geomembranes

Concrete lining of surface

geomembrane
g

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

Anchor trench

14/52

Tunnel lining for moisture

protection
t ti

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

15/52

Pre-fabricated vertical drains

t accelerate
to
l
t th
the pre-consolidation
lid ti
of soft clay soils

Tv

t
cv

f
(U
(
%)
)
Tv

d
d
T
t
c
v

Tv = time factor
t = time
cv = coefficient of
consolidation
lid ti
d = drainage path length
U% = degree of consolidation
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

16/52

Reducing the flow path length to

accelerate rate of consolidation
surcharge fill

Highly
permeable
drainage
medium

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

17/52

PVDs for pre

pre-consolidation
consolidation

Corrugated plastic
core for drainage

Geotextile filter
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

18/52

Pore water flows laterally

to the wick drains and is
carried through the core

Connection
arrangements for wick
drain installation

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

19/52

Installation of PVDs at a construction site notice the

connection
ti off PVD with
ith th
the anchor
h plate
l t
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

20/52

PVD b
being
i pushed
h d iinto
t th
the ground
d
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

21/52

General view after installation of PVDs

PVD s at a site
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

22/52

Geosynthetic Clay Liners

Consist of a core of bentonite clay
sandwiched between layers of thick nong
woven geotextile
Applied below and above geomembrane
y
in landfills
layers
Self-repair mechanism
Bentonite expands when flid leaks through
punctured geomembrane closes the gap
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

23/52

Geosynthetic
y
Clayy Liner
Geotextile layers

dry
y bentonite
powder

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

24/52

GEOCELL 3d confinement product

Plan view showing the

mechanism of confinement

Iso-metric view of a
geocell layer

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

25/52

Photograph of an expanded geocell

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

26/52

Advantages

Easy to transport
Any fill material can be used
All round
d confinement
fi
t tto soilil
Semi-rigid layer (very stiff support)
Spreads loads over a large area
Excellent support even under cyclic loads
loads.

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

27/52

APPLICATIONS
Erosion control
Steep slopes and retaining walls
Sub-base
S bb
supportt
Road bases
Railway
R il
tracks
t k
Container yards

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

28/52

Use of geocells for construction of unpaved road Factory

P
Preparation
ti off ground
d

S ap g to
Stapling
o jo
join
different geocells

Stone aggregate filled in geocell pockets

Stretching of the geocell layer

Compaction by a 10 tonne roller

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

29/52

Geocells used for

construction of a steep
slope
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

30/52

Vegetation taking root through geocell pockets

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

31/52

IITM students standing on a

geocell supported soil
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

32/52

Typical Container yard heavy loads, usually constructed on

y near the shore
soft marine clays
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

33/52

Typical mud wave formation in container yards due to heavy

l d and
loads
d extremely
t
l soft
ft subgrade
b d soilil
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

34/52

Geotextile separator being laid on the ground surface at a

container yard
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

35/52

Geocell layer laid on the geotextile separator and filled with

stone aggregate
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

36/52

Container yard 3 years after geocell

treatment

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

37/52

Some more pictures of the same yard

Perfectlyy level surface minor damage

g in p
paver blocks
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

38/52

Polymeric erosion control mats

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

39/52

Geocomposites
C
Combination
bi ti off ttwo diff
differentt ttypes off
geosynthetics to take advantage of each

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

40/52

Geo-others

Geodrains
Lightweight fills
Geopipes
G t til bags
Geotextile
b
& soilil encapsulation
l ti
Gabions
Geosynthetic Encased Stone Columns
Many others left to the imagination of
engineers
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

41/52

Drainage boards for use in Retaining Walls

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

42/52

Light-weight fill cum drainage medium

Thi k medium
Thick
di
made
d off polystyrene
l t
b
beads
d
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

43/52

Gabions filled with stones

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

44/52

Gabions filled with sand bags

SAND FILLED GEOBAGS

TYING OF ROPE GABIONS

PLACEMENT OF GEOBAGS

FINAL VIEW

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

45/52

Light-weight drainage medium

Made of used rubber

tyres and other
industrial wastes

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

46/52

Encased Stone Column

Bearing capacity enhanced by
Passive
pressure

+
Additionall
Additi
confinement

Geosynthetic
y
encasement

Stone column
Sectional plan

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

47/52

Construction of Encased Stone Column

Al i ett al.
Alexiew
l (2005)
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

48/52

Courtesy:
Dipl.-Ing. Holger Pohlmann
Naue Fasertechnik GmbH & Co. KG

P
Present
study
d

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

49/52

Load settlement curve for stone columns

encased in non
non-woven
woven geotextile
0

100

Pressure (kPa)
200
300

400

Seettlement (mm)

0
ESC - 50 mm
ESC - 75 mm
ESC - 100 mm
OSC - 50 mm
OSC - 75 mm
OSC - 100 mm
Clay

10
20
30
40
50
Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

50/52

Latest Trends
Vacuum consolidation
Encased stone columns
Electro Kinetic geosynthetics

Types and Functions of Geosynthetics

51/52

52/52