Geosynthetics in road construction

The road sector in Africa is the main mode of transport carrying at least 80% and 90% of
Passengers. 53% of the Roads in Africa are un-paved, isolating people from basic education,
health, services, transport, corridors and trade hubs and economic opportunities. The scope of
quality infrastructure in Africa is tremendous; geo-synthetics really improve the overall
quality of the infrastructure and greatly increase its lifespan.

One of the major advantages of geo-synthetics in road construction is stability for the road
system. Diane Smith President of East Coast Erosion Blankets, LLC comments that the
erosion blankets go above the soil, and provides that additional erosion prevention factor.

Mohammad Reza Ashgbousi, Development Manager of Geosakht points out that geo-
synthetics important in road construction because they can reduce the thickness of road
embankment layers and may increase durability and speed of road construction

According to Victor Ibrahim, Africa’s Regional Business Development Manager for ACE
Geosynthetics , Getting the right product and specification for each project requirement is
critical in making purchasing decision when it comes to geosynthetics, as there is no one size
fit all in geosynthetics. For each project and application different specification might be
needed.

George Papagiannis, Sales and Markerting Manager of Thrace Nonwovens and

Geosynthetics a company in Greece popular for their Polypropylene Nonwoven geotextiles,
Woven geotextiles and Biaxial Geogrids products, comments that soil conditions in Africa
are often poor and traffic is heavy. The use of geosynthetics is vital for durability and
integrity of roads and cost reduction. “More and more people are understanding the cost
reduction with the use of geosynthetics.”
Thrace Nonwovens and Geosynthetics

Functions of Geo synthetics in road construction

• Stabilisation

Geosynthetics like stabilisation geogrids, improve the overall stiffness of the

pavement layers. They also prevent lateral spreading of the base, increase the
confinement and improve the vertical stress distribution on the subgrade.

The combined benefits can enhance load carrying capacity of the road by well over
50%.

• Separation

Non woven geo-textile helps in keeping the two layers of soil namely: sub-grade and
aggregate, apart; thus preventing mixing and in turn deterioration of their function in the
structure.

This also prevents contamination of the soil and helps each layer distinctly perform its
function.

• Drainage

Non woven geo-textile has a very high permeability and allows water to flow freely along its
plane into the side ditches. This function allows adequate liquid flow without soil loss.

• Filtration

Use of geosynthetic allows adequate liquid flow across the plane of the geo-textile. The
apparent opening size (AOS) allows water to pass freely from the geo-textile while
preventing soil to pass through the same. This is due to the skillful manufacturing of the non
woven geo-textile’s AOS, which is always kept less than the size of the finer soil particles.

Shivendra Singh, Megaplast India Pvt. Ltd Business Development manager puts emphasis on
ensuring the geosynthetic products such as are manufactured to international and various
national standards such as GRI GM 13 and 17, CE. “ A manufacturer with reputation for
reliability, provides product innovation, quality consistency, price stability and
trustworthiness.” The India based company manufactures HDPE /LLDPE Geomembrane,
Films and Carrier Bags (HDPE/LDPE/PE) and distributes them across the world.

A buyer must compare different products based on same parameters. Stephan Westhus, Sales
Director EMEA HUESKER Synthetic GmbH, a German company famously known to
produce geosynthetic products such as Fortrac flexible geogrids, Stabilenka high strength
geotextiles and other geosynthetic products for civil, hydraulic and environmental
engineering adds that a careful and project specific design is highly recommended to be able
to choose the best product by performance related parameters.

Geosynthetics trends in road construction

Geo synthetics like any other product in the construction industry is trying to keep up with
the market trend through advancement and emerging trends. According to Valery Weyn
Director at Geotextiles East Africa, a Kenyan based company that offers specialist Geo-
Synthetic materials and solutions for civil, coastal and hydraulic Engineering, waste,
environmental, Mining, Architectural and Landscaping industries. Stress-relieving geotextiles
or SAMI’s are becoming more popular in road construction more so in East Africa as they are
designed to provide a cost effective alternative to conventional construction methods.
Alexandra Plaksina, Head of geosynthetic export division of Steklonit, a Russian industrial
company in the field of production of geosynthetics and building materials based on
fiberglass, basalt and composite materials comments that geosynthetic products based on
polyester, fiberglass and basalt will be a rising trend in the market and of interest in the
construction and repair of roads and railways, pipelines, soil stabilization and ground
retention.
Kalaskova Jana, Communication specialist of SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS CZ comments that
damaged roads due to thermal, traffic load and other effect cause every year to the investor’s
great repair costs. One of the solution to lifetime extension and increasing the quality of roads
are reinforcing fiberglass grids. Longtime research and experience from field projects
performed by ADFORS declare the suitability for use of reinforcement grids by road
reconstruction. The final quality of repair is always the combination of several components –
correct design with suitable product, quality of product and the final realization of works.
SAINT-GOBAIN ADFORS produces fiberglass geogrids GlasGrid® for more than 30 years.

Manas Geo Textile is a leading manufacturers of non woven geo-textiles in India with a fully
automated modern European line. They are currently involved in a number of road projects
and working with all major consultants and infrastructure companies in the country. The
company believes that the scope of geosynthetics is unprecedented and the number of
benefits it can offer to road construction are un-paralleled.

When it comes to choosing the right geosythentics, quality according to Janery Cao of geo-
ecoweb is the most important factor to consider in products used for engineering project.
Janery further adds that one needs to be keener of the technical parameters of the products
instead of price
ecoweb geocells

Colin Gewanlal, Area Civil Engineer of Tensar International, a company that prides itself in
being an expert in technology driven solutions for Sub grade Stabilization and Pavement
Optimisation, points out that the African market has always been very price sensitive with
much more backlog of service provision than budget allowed to provide for same.This,
according to him, has resulted in African Roads Authorities, Design Engineers and Private
Developers starting to realize that directly comparing the costs of the geosynthetic products
on offer only, may not give a true indication of overall project costs.

“One needs to compare the solution costs of the entire pavement section being constructed.
This is directly influenced by the type of geogrid used. One cannot simply substitute geogrids
in the design and expect the same pavement performance. Furthermore, entire life-cycle cost
analyses are slowly gaining traction and independently proven maintenance reduction over
the life of roads due to the inclusion of stabilisation geogrids, demonstrated by some
manufacturers, are now being appreciated,” said Colin Gewanlal.
TriAx on swamp-Tensar International

With more information and research on the benefits of incorporating geosynthentics materials
in road construction, such as cost saving and prolonged design life of pavement, Felix
Nwanko Technical and sales of Schwartz Kristoffel Engineering Services Nigeria Limited
notes that it has made the use of geosynthentic to increase over the last five years and it’s
been estimated to increase further. “In the near future, more roads will be designed to
incorporate geosynthentics.”
Schwartz Kristoffel, Tank farm Bund Wall with HDPE Liner Geomembrane

Al Florez VP Marketing and Sales of Geo Products a USA based company manufacturing
EnviroGrid Geocells (cellular confinement systems) that are used across the world in
conjunction with SUBMAR West Africa who produces Articulated Flexible Concrete
Mattress, comments that the efficacy of geosynthetics materials and longer the lasting
sustainable results will create a new order of composite materials based road construction and
possibly a total change into monolithic materials for the sub-base and wearing course in
addition to an increase in soil stabilization and erosion control.