SEMINAR ON

Overview of The Presentation

Scope of geo-synthetics What are geo-synthetics Types of geo-synthetics Geo-synthetic Advantages Functions Sub-grade conditions in which geosynthetics are useful Potential geo-synthetic benefits Conclusions

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

SCOPE OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Limited financial resources

Requirement of high- quality materials

Unavailability or short in supply

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

WHAT ARE GEOSYNTHETICS..?

A range of generally synthetic products used to solve geotechnical problems. The synthetic nature make them suitable for use in the ground where high levels of durability are required

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

WHAT ARE GEOSYNTHETICS..?

ASTM (1997) has defined a geosynthetic as a planar product manufactured from a polymeric material used with soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical-related material as an integral part of a civil engineering project, structure, or system.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

TYPES OF GEO-SYNTHETICS
The term is generally regarded encompass four main products,

to

Geo-textiles Geo-nets/geo-grids Geo-membranes Geo-composites

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 6

Geo-textiles

Manufactured from mainly polymeric yarns and fibers, consisting primarily of polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene and polyamide

Woven - interlacing of yarns Non-woven - by various methods other than weaving, mainly heat bonded, needle punched and chemically bonded

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 7

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

Geo-nets/geo-grids
Stiffer than geo-textiles and have relatively large voids within the material Production include bonding or interlacing. Produced from nearly all polymeric materials.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

Geo-nets/geo-grids

Geogrids are meshes of a regular pattern of tensile elements usually made of a fairly rigid type of plastic
They provide increased shear strength between soil strata interfaces

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

10

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

11

Geo-membranes
Impermeable sheets produced from polymeric materials Manufactured several ways, excluding woven methods Manufactured using fiberglass and bitumen

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

12

Used widely as cut-offs and liners Applied largely is the containment of hazardous and municipal wastes and their leachates Acts as an escape route for gases and leachates generated in wastes

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

13

Made of various materials including low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene PVC geo-membranes are very flexible and can conform to uneven surfaces without being punctured

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

14

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

15

Geo-composites

Geosynthetics which are a combination of any of the above three A geo-net sandwiched between two non-woven geo-textile layers can be used to provide a drainage layer with high transmissivity

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

16

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

17

GEO-SYNTHETIC ADVANTAGES
Space Savings Material Quality Control Construction Quality Control Cost Savings Technical Superiority Construction Timing Material Availability Environmental Sensitivity

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 18

FUNCTIONS
Separation 2. Filtration, drainage 3. Reinforcement 4. Fluid Barrier 5. Protection
1.
Lateral restraint

Bearing capacity increase

Membrane tension support

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

19

Separation
Geo-synthetics is placed at the interface between the aggregate base course and the sub-grade. Functions as a separator to prevent two dissimilar materials (sub-grade soil and aggregates) from intermixing.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

20

Separation

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

21

Filtration, Drainage

Geo-textile act as a filter to prevent fines from migrating up in to the aggregate due to high pore water pressures Acts as a drain, allowing the excess pore water pressures to dissipate through the geo-textiles

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

22

Reinforcement
Improves the performance of pavements by three possible mechanisms 1. Lateral restraint 2. Bearing capacity increase 3. Membrane tension support

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

23

Lateral Restraint
Lateral restraint of the base and sub-grade through friction and interlock between the aggregate, soil and the geo-synthetic

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

24

Lateral Restraint

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

25

Bearing Capacity Increase

Increase in the system BP by forcing the potential BP failure surface to develop along alternate, higher shear strength surfaces.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

26

Bearing Capacity Increase

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

27

Membrane Tension Support

A third possible geo-synthetic reinforcement function is membrane-type support of wheel loads

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

28

Membrane Tension Support

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

29

Fluid Barrier
Geo-membranes, thin-film geo-textile composites, are used as fluid barriers to impede the flow of a liquid or gas one location to another.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

30

Protection
The geo-synthetic acts as a stress relief layer. Geo-synthetic blankets and geo-synthetic mats reduce erosion caused by rainfall impact. Nonwoven geo-textiles is often used to prevent puncture of geo-membranes (by reducing point stresses)

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

31

FUNCTIONS

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

32

FUNCTIONS

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

33

SUBGRADE CONDITIONS IN WHICH GEO-SYNTHETICS ARE USEFUL

Poor soils (SC, CL, CH, ML, MH, OL, OH, and PT) Low un-drained shear strength Cu < 90 kPa CBR < 3

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 34

SUBGRADE CONDITIONS IN WHICH GEO-SYNTHETICS ARE USEFUL

High water table High sensitivity

Under these conditions, geosynthetics function primarily as separators and filters to stabilize the sub-grade.
Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 35

FUNCTIONS
Un drained Shear Strength (kPa) Sub-grade CBR Functions

60 90

2-3

Filtration and possibly separation Filtration, separation, and possibly reinforcement

30 - 60

1-2

< 30

<1

All functions, including reinforcement

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

36

POTENTIAL GEOSYNTHETIC BENEFITS

Reduces the intensity of stress on the subgrade and prevents the base aggregate from penetrating in to the sub-grade. (Function: separation).
Prevents sub-grade fines from pumping or otherwise migrating up in to the base. (Function: separation and filtration).

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

37

Prevents contamination of the base materials. (Function: filtration). Reduces the thickness of aggregate required to stabilize the sub-grade. (Function: separation and reinforcement).

Reduces disturbance of the sub-grade during construction. (Function: separation and reinforcement).
Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 38

Allows an increase in sub-grade strength over time. (Function: filtration). Reduces the differential settlement of the roadway, this helps in maintain pavement integrity and uniformity. (Function: reinforcement).

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

39

Reduces the depth of excavation required for the removal of unsuitable sub-grade materials (Function: separation and reinforcement). Reduces maintenance and extends the life of the pavement. (Functions: all).

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

40

CONCLUSIONS
Geo-synthetic reinforcement in pavement design and construction should be widespread. Geo-synthetic reinforcements are incorporated into permanent, paved roads either as base (or sub-base) reinforcement As sub-grade restraint for construction of flexible or rigid roadways over weak subgrade conditions

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements 41

REFERANCES
1.

Engineering properties of sand fiber mixtures for road construction by Rosa L. et al, Journal of geotechnical and geo-environmental engg. March 2001 Performance of geo-synthetic reinforced asphalt pavements by Hoe I Ling et al, Journal of geotechnical and geo-environmental engg. February 2001

2.

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

42

3.

Geo-synthetic reinforcement of aggregate base/sub-base courses of pavement structures GMA White paper II June 27, 2000

4.

Experimental analysis of geo-textiles & geofibers composites, by Dr A. K. Haghi

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

43

Geo-synthetic Reinforced Pavements

44