GEOSYNTHETICS ENGINEERING: IN

THEORY AND PRACTICE

Prof. J. N. Mandal

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay,

Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Module - 2
LECTURE - 6
AN OVERVIEW OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Categories of geosynthetics
 Geosynthetics scope and definitions
 Raw materials and machineries
 Composition of geosynthetics
 Types of geosynthetics and functions
 Geosynthetic functional applications
 Multiple functions of geosynthetics
 Design of geosynthetic
 Sustainability using geosynthetics
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 INTRODUCTION
 In the past four decades, extensive research has been
carried out on geosynthetics around the world.

 It is required to attain good design, good research and at

the same time good material and good construction
technique to overcome the educational and technical
challenges.
 The dynamic and rapid growth of geosynthetic is exciting,
emerging and vibrant in the field of civil engineering.

Today, more than twenty billion square meters of

geosynthetics have exclusively been used in several million
projects (Giroud, 2012).
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 The jute geotextile was successfully used on Strand road
in Kolkata in 1934 by Bengal PWD and subsequently in
Myanmar during 2nd world war. The jute geotextile had also
been used for erosion control in 1980.

 The revolutionary development of geosynthetics has been

started in the early 1970s in the field of construction industry.

 Geosynthetics provide proper solution to design and

construction problems in spite of climatic, geographic or
technological differences.

 The uniqueness of geosynthetics is that they ensure

multifunctional performances and simple to use and provide
great economical potential advantages.
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Geosynthetics classifications (After Rankilor 1981)
Textiles Webbings

Synthetic Natural Synthetic Natural

Cotton, jute, reeds, grass Palm leaf,
polymers Steel, polymers
wood, bamboo

Impermeabl Permeable Closed Open Strips

e mesh mesh
Geomembrane
Reinforced
Geogrids earth
Combination products
Geotextiles

Non-oven knitted woven

Combination products

Monofilament Silt film Multifilament

Needle-punched (thick) Needle-punched (thin)

Unmodified Reinforced Spun Melded stabilized Non stabilized Non stabilized

bonded e. g. stabilized e. g.
calendared calendared
Melded Reinforced

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 GEOSYNTHETICS SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
What are Geosynthetics?
Geosynthetic is a product made of polymeric/natural material used
with soil and rock, or any other related geotechnical engineering
materials for the construction of Civil Engineering structure, or
system.
Why would we want to use them?
 Sustainable development and environment protection can go
hand - and – hand.
 It reduces maintenance cost and increases life.
 It saves substantial cost over alternative solutions.
 The quality can be controlled as manufactured in a factory
 It is widely available.
 It has generic specifications and easy to install.
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Optimum technical properties of Geosynthetics:

 It has excellent stress-strain behavior

 It has good flexibility
 It has excellent filtration characteristics
 It has high water permeability
 It can provides excellent mechanical protection
 It can be welded together
 It does not form by-products
 It is highly resistant to chemical and biological attack, and
 It is chemically ultraviolet stabilized
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
When can we use them?
 Low bearing capacity of the soil
 Excessive Settlement of soil
 Soft soil treatment (Reclamation of Land)
 Limited space for construction
 Land Saving
 To control and protect the environment
 Swelling soil
 Faster Construction
 Saving in time
 Saving in cost
 Sustainable environmental safety
 To maintain quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Where can we use them?
 Geotechnical Engineering
 Transportation Engineering
 Geo environmental Engineering
 Coastal/Hydraulics/Water Resources Engineering
 Mining Engineering
 Agricultural Engineering
 Earth quake Engineering
 Bio Engineering

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

How can we use them?

We can use geosynthetics based on their major functions

and specifications. There are six major functions:

 Separation

 Filtration

 Drainage

 Reinforcement

 Protection, and

 Sealing
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Who produce Geosynthetics?
Around the world there are many manufacturing companies
that produce comprehensive range of Geosynthetics and
any other related products used in Civil engineering and
construction systems.

CATEGORIES OF GEOSYNTHETICS
• Geotextiles (Knitted, Nonwoven, Woven)
• Geogrid (Bonded, Extruded, Knitted, Woven)
• Geomembrane (Bituminous, Elastomeric, Plastomeric)
• Geonets
• Geosynthetics Clay Liner
• Geocomposite drains (PVD, Geonets or Geospacers)
• Geopipes
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
• Geostrips • Geotextile tubes
•Geo coir
• Geospacers
• Geo jute
• Geocomposite
• Bamboo
• Glassgrid
• Geocell / Geoweb
• Geoarmour
• Gabion
• Geoblanket
• Fiber
• Geofoam
• Hybrid geosynthetics
• Geomats
• Electro kinetic geosynthetics
• Geocombs
• Smart Geosynthetics
• Geotextile container
• Geo straw
• Geotextile bags
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
RAW MATERIALS USED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
VARIOUS TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS

• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polyamide/ Nylon (PA)
• High density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
• Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)
• Medium density polyethylene (MDPE)
• Very low density polyethylene (VLDPE)
• Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)
• Chloro-sulphonated polyethylene (CSPE)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Polyester or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)
• Ethylene Propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM)
• Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
• Geo Jute (GJ)
• Geo Coir (GC)
• Bamboo (B)
• Sisal (S)
• Straw (SW)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
RAW MATERIALS USED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
VARIOUS TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Raw materials Geosynthetics

PP, PET, PE, PA, GJ, GC, S, SW Geotextiles
PET, PP, HDPE, GC, B, S Geogrids
PVC, PP, HDPE, LLDPE, VLDPE, Geomembranes
CPE, CSPE, GJ
HDPE, MDPE,GJ, GC, S, SW Geonets
HDPE, PP, PVC Geopipes
EPS Geofoams
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 COMPOSITION OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Geosynthetics are made of different types of fibers or yarns:

 Monofilament
 Silt-film monofilament
 Multifilament
 Silt-film multifilament
 Staple fibers
 Staple yarn
Stable fibers
Filaments
Silt films
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Woven geosynthetics and knitted geosynthetics can be
made of yarns as follows:

A monofilament yarn
A spun yarn
A multifilament yarn
A fabricated yarn and
A slit film yarn
 The nonwoven geosynthetics can be made of stable
fibers or filaments. The arrangement of fibers is random
and bonded together with the following systems:
 Mechanical bonding  Spray bonding
 Chemical bonding  Spun bonding
 Heat/ Thermal bonding  Stitch bonding
 Resin bonding
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Manufacturing of Geogrid

Strata India (Courtesy to Mr. N. Dalmia)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Tensar International (1996, 1997 and 1999)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS
GEOTEXTILES (GT)
 Nonwoven geotextile
 Woven geotextile

Nonwoven geotextiles Woven geotextiles supplied

supplied by manufacturers by manufacturers
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Nonwoven Geotextiles:

Mechanically bonded non- Thermally bonded non-woven

woven

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Woven Geotextiles:

Monofilament-on-multifilament Multifilament-on-multifilament

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

GEOGRIDS (GG)

 Woven geogrids: Yarns are weaved perpendicular to

each other

 Bonded geogrids: Two or more sets of strands are

bonded together perpendicular to each other

 Knitted geogrids: Yarns are knitted together

perpendicular to each other

 Extruded geogrids: Geogrid polymer is made of sheet

form

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 GLASS GRIDS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 GEONETS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 GEOMEMBRANE

Geomembranes are made of relatively impermeable thin

continuous flexible plastic sheets or rubber materials. It has
smooth or rough surfaces either on one or both sides.

Geomembranes are of two types:

Calendared geomembranes are polyvinyl chloride (PVC),

polyethylene (PE) and ethylene interpolymer alloy (EIA).

Extruded geomembranes are high-density polyethylene

(HDPE), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), very flexible
polyethylene (VFPE) and polypropylene (PP).

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Different types of geomembranes supplied by
the manufacturers
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
GEOCOMOPITES (GC)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

GEOCOMPOSITE EROSION CONTROL MATS

Geocomposite Erosion control mat supplied

by manufacturers
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 GEOSPACERS / GEOSTRIPS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

GEOSYNTHETIC CLAY LINERS (GCL)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

GEOTEXTILE TUBES

Schematic view of geotextile tube

GEOPIPES

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 GEOFOAM
Geofoam blocks or slabs are made of expanded
polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS). It is a
very lightweight material with high void content and its
density is very low compared to the soil.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 GEOCELL/ GEOWEB

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

GEOTEXTILE CONTAINERS

GEOMATTRESS/ GEOTEXTILE BAG

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 NATURAL GEOTEXTILE

Geojutes supplied by Geocoirs supplied by

manufacturers manufacturers
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
GABIONS

FIBERS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

ELECTROKINETICS GEOSYNTHETICS: These are
basically quick drainage materials. These are electrically
conductive geosynthetics. It performs soil consolidation by
electro-osmosis process.

GEOBLANKET: It is made of synthetic or natural

biodegradable permeable materials. It is used for
temporary erosion control with vegetations.

GEOMAT: It is a three dimensional permeable material. It

is made of bonded filaments. It can be used for permanent
erosion control problems. The roots of grass and small
plants act as reinforcement for vegetation.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Please let us hear from you

Any question?

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Prof. J. N. Mandal
Department of civil engineering, IIT Bombay,
Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay