Specifications for Geotextiles

in India

by
R. P. Indoria
Secretary General, Indian Roads Congress
19 November 2010
 ABOUT IRC
 Indian Roads Congress is a Society of Highways
Engineers established in 1934
 Frames Codes of Practice , Standards,
Guidelines, Manuals etc. on various subjects for
Roads and Bridges
 Identification of research topics and Institutions
 Collection of data on research done and
utilization there of
(Cont…)
 ABOUT IRC
 Dissemination of Research findings for revision of
IRC Codes and Special Publications
 Holding Workshops and Seminars on Crucial
Topics for dissemination of knowldge
 Promoting Usages of New Materials and
Technologies
 IMPORTANCE AND USAGES OF
GEOTEXTILE IN ROAD SECTOR
 Use as Separator to Improve Pavement
Performance
 Use as reinforcement and drainage layer
 Use for Ground Improvement
 Use for drainage of ground (PVD/piped drains)
 Jute Geogrid for Erosion Control of Denuded
Slopes
 Jute Geotextile for Drainage and Filtration
Application
 Jute is low cost, renewable, biodegradable and
eco-friendly natural product
(Cont…)
 IMPORTANCE AND USAGES OF
GEOTEXTILE IN ROAD SECTOR
 Construction of road embankments in water
logged area
 Soil Nailing
 River Bank Protection
 Embankment slope protection
 TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES
 Geotextile: Non Biodegradable Synthetics Woven
/ Non Woven Fiber and perform discrete function
i.e. separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage
and moisture barrier (when impregnated).

 Geogrids :Open, grid like configuration, i.e., they

have large apertures and used for the purpose of
separation, but invariably they are being used in
some form of reinforcement.
( Cont…)
 TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES
 Geonets: another specialized segment of Geosynthetics
and Geonets are used for the purpose of drainage. It is to
be noted that geonets are always used with a geotextile.
Geonets used in protective works for highway structures

 Geocomposite: A geocomposite consists of a combination

of geotextile and/or geogrid and/or geomembrane or any of
these three materials with another material in laminated or
composite form and used for accelerating the consolidation
of soft soils. (Cont…)
 TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES
 Geomembranes : Geomembranes are also synthetic
materials but they are impervious and made of thin sheets
of rubber or plastic materials used primarily for lining and
cover of liquid-or solid-storage facilities

 Geocell : A three dimensional structure with

interconnected cells which can be filled with soil/granular
material forming a mattress for increased bearing capacity
and manoeuvrability on loose or compressible subsoil of
base or sub-base in pavements and slope protection
(Cont…)
 TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES
 Natural Geotextiles: Natural fibres are extracted
from plants and are then converted into yarns by
spinning. These fabrics are sometimes treated
with rot resistance materials or reinforced with
synthetic fibres to enhance their durability under
different soil conditions without affecting its
strength and other properties. Natural fibres such
as jute, coconut and coir fabrics are used to
improve soil erosion control and drainage
applications.
 USE OF GEOTEXTILE FOR
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF
ROADS
 Geosynthetics for Highway Pavements
 Geosynthetics Over Existing Bituminous Surface
 Provision of Geotextiles Against Subgrade and
Embankment Erosion
 Geotextiles In Sub-surface and Composite Drains
 Geogrid Applications For Reinforced Soil Slope
Protection
 USE OF GEOTEXTILE FOR
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF
ROADS
 Road pavement as a drainage layer,
Bioengineering measure for shoulders and
earthen slopes, Improving the pavement
performance and Reducing the pavement crust
(?)
• Construction of road embankments in water
logged area
• Soil Nailing , Soil Stabilization
IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES
 IRC has one document titled “State of the Art:
Application of Geotextiles in Highway
Engineering” published by IRC in 1994
 It is a compilation of available literature (at the
time of preparation of the report)
 Since then a lot of developments have taken
place in manufacturing and preparation of
geotextiles, their usage and applications etc.
IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES
 IRC has another document titled SP:59 – 2002
`Guidelines for use of Geotextiles in road
pavements and associated works`
 Being a Special Publication, this document does
not have the status of a ‘Code of Practice” per se
but nevertheless covers the following:
 Scope
 Raw Material and types of Geotextiles
 Functions of Geotextiles
IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES

 Handling and storage of geotextiles

 Geotextiles properties and test methods
 Geotextiles property requirements for various
applications
 Construction guidelines for use of geotextiles
in various applications
 References have been made to ASTM
standards for test methods
 GEOTEXTILES SPECIFICATIONS
 More comprehensive specifications are included
in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
book of Specifications, popularly known as the
“Orange Book”

 The current edition of this book is also very old

(2001) and a revision of the book has been
almost finalised and is likely to be published soon
 GEOTEXTILES SPECIFICATIONS
 The proposed specifications(section 700) cover
the following:

1 GEOSYNTHETICS IN ROAD AND BRIDGE

WORKS
 Scope
 Testing, handling, certification, and
acceptance
 Minimum Geotextile strength property requirements
Installation Type Strength property requirement (MARV)*
condition
  Grab Tear Puncture Burst Strength
Strength in Strength in Strength in N in N as per
N as per N as per as per ASTM ASTM
ASTM ASTM D 4833 D 3786
D 4632 D 4533

Elongation at Failure
<50 >50 <50 >50 <50 >50 <50 >50
% % % % % % % %

Harsh Type 1 1400 900 500 350 500 350 3500 1700
installation
Moderate Type II 1100 700 400 250 400 250 2700 1300
Installation
condition
Less Severe Type III 800 500 300 180 300 180 2100 950
Installation
condition
Geotextile Requirements for Ultra Violet Light Degradation

S.No Properties of Fabric Test Units Requirements

Methods (Retained
Strength)

1 Grab Strength ASTMD 4632 N Not less

than 70%
2 Tear Strength ASTMD 4533 N after 500 hrs of
exposure
3 Puncture Strength ASTMD 4833 N

4 Burst Strength ASTMD 3786 N

 Properties for Prefabricated Vertical Drains
  Unit Minimum Value Test Method
 
Physical Requirements
Weight gm/sq. m 90 -
Width mm 90 -
Thickness mm 5 -
Strength Requirements
Tensile Strength kN ≥ 1 at 10% elongation ASTM D4632
Puncture Strength N 150 ASTM D 4833
Tear Strength N 200 ASTM D 4533
Discharge Capacity
Index text using deformable m3/sec 60x10-6 (300kPa) ASTM D- 4716
foam layers 40x10-6 (500kPa)
Straight – embedded in m3/sec 90x10-6 (300kPa ASTM D- 4716
bentonite
Buckled – embedded in m3/sec 80x10-6 (300kPa ASTM D- 4716
bentonite
 
 Typical Specifications for Geocells
Property Min. Required Value Test method
Density 0.935gm/cm3 ASTM D1505
Environmental Stress crack 5000 Hrs. ASTM D1693
resistance (ESCR)

Carbon Black Content 1.5 to 2% by Weight  

Strip / Cell Wall thickness 1.27mm, -5% +10% ASTM D5199

Seam Peel-Strength Test Min. 355 N per 25mm of cell depth. ASTM E41

Creep Rupture Strength
Creep Rupture Load at 10,000 hours shall ASTM D2990
be 95 kg minimum obtained from the 95%
prediction interval at 10,000 hours
considering a logarithmic time/creep
rupture model.
 Typical Specifications of Natural Geotextile

Type of Weight Width Thickness Open Tensile Water Porometry

Fibre Area Strength Holding (O95)
(KN/m) Capacity
(gsm) (cm) (mm) (%) MD CD (%) micron

Open 500 120 4.0 50 10 7.5 - -

Mesh
Woven                
Geotextile
 
1)Ordinary 700 75 2.0 - 20 20 - 300
2) Rot 700 75 2.0 - 20 20 - 300
Resistance
3)Bitumen 1200 75 2.0 - 20 20 - 150
treated
Non- 500 150 4.0 - 5 2.5 300 -
woven
Fibre
2 GEOTEXTILES IN SUB SURFACE DRAINS
 Scope
 Materials
 Construction requirements
 Measurement for payment
 Rate
 Geotextile Requirements for Subsurface Drainage

Per cent in-situ Geotextile drainage property Recommended

passing 0.075 mm requirement geotextile *
sieve
Permittivity, per Apparent
sec ASTM opening size,
D 4491 mm ASTM D
(Minimum ARV) 4751
(Maximum
ARV

< 15 0.5 0.43 Type II from

15 to 50 0.2 0.25 Table 700-1
 
> 50 0.1 0.22
Recommended Permittivity for Different Soils

Soil type Typical Permeability, Minimum

Ks (cm/sec)Range of Recommended
Soil Geotextile Filter
Permittivity, Y(per
second)
Sandy Gravel 1 X 10-1 to 1 X 10-2 0.5 to 0.1

Clean Sand 1X10-2 to 1 X 10-3 0.1 to 0.01

Silty Sand 1X10-3 to 1 X 10-4 0.01

Silt 1X10-4 to 1X10-5 0.01

Clay 1X10-5 0.01

3 USE OF GEOSYNTHETICS IN COMPOSITE DRAINS
 Scope
 Material
 Installation
 Measurement for payment
 Rate

Apparent Opening Size for Geo-composite Drains

Test Method Units Requirements Percent in-situ

soil passing 0.075 mm

ASTM D 4751 mm <15 15 to 50 >50

0.43 0.25 0.22**
4 GEOTEXTILES FOR EROSION CONTROL

 Scope
 Materials
 Construction requirements
 Slope protection placement
 Seams
 Repair
 Measurement for payment
 Rates
 Erosion Control Geotextile Requirements

Percent in-situ Geotextile drainage property Recommended

passing requirement geotextile
0.075 mm sieve Permittivity, per Apparent
sec ASTM D opening size,
4491 mm ASTM D
(Min. ARV) 4751 (Max. ARV)

<15 0.7 0.43 Type I from table

701
15 to 50 0.2 0.25

>50 0.1 0.22

5 GEOGRID APPLICATIONS FOR REINFORCED SOIL
SLOPE PROTECTION

 Description
 Material
 Installation
 Measurement and basis for payment
 Rates
6 GEOSYNTHETICS FOR HIGHWAY PAVEMENTS

 Scope
 Materials
 Certification
 Installation
 Measurement for payment
 Rate
Separation/Filtration Property Requirement for subgrade Soil
with LL < 35 (such as ML, CL, CL-ML etc) **

Recommended
Sl. No. Geotextile Property Requirement
Geotextile

0.02 sec -1 (per sec)

Permittivity* as per
1. (Minimum average
ASTM D 4491
roll value)
Type II from Table:
701
Apparent Opening
0.06 mm (Maximum
2. Size as per ASTM D
average roll value)
4751

** The soil classification shall be as per BIS-1498 – 1970 (Re-affirmed 1987)

Separation/Filtration Property Requirement for subgrade Soil
with LL > 35 (such as CL, CH, MH etc)**

Geotextile Recommended
Sl. No. Requirement
Property Geotextile

0.05 sec -1 (per

Permittivity* as
sec) (Minimum
1. per ASTM D
average roll
4491
value) Type I from
Apparent 0.43 mm Table: 701
Opening Size as (Maximum
2.
per ASTM D average roll
4751 value)

** The soil classification shall be as per BIS-1498 – 1970 (Re-affirmed 1987)

 Requirements for Geogrid for Sub-Base/base of Flexible
Pavements
Required
    value , kN/m
Property Test Method Machine Cross
Direction Direction
Tensile strength@1% strain ASTM D6637 4.3 6.6
Tensile strength@2% strain ASTM D6637 7.3 10.9
Tensile strength@5% strain ASTM D6637 13.4 19.7

Tensile modulus @5% strain ASTM D4355 437 656

Junction Efficiency, % of rib   90 90

ultimate tensile strength
Ultraviolet stability (after 500 hrs) ASTM D4355 70 %  

Note 1) All numerical values in the Table represent MARV in the specified direction.
2) All geogrids shall be placed along machine direction parallel to the centre line
of roadway alignment.
3) Junction strength is required to maintain dimensional stability of the geogrid
during deployment. It is not applicable to geogrid/geotextile composite products.
7 GEOSYNTHETICS OVER EXISTING BITUMENOUS
SURFACE

 Scope
 Paving Fabrics
 Material Requirement
 Specifications for bitumen coated fiber glass fabric
 Placement
 Measurement
 Rate
 Physical Requirements for Paving Fabrics

Property Units Standard Test Method

Requirements

Tensile Strength KN/m 9KN/m ASTM D 4632

Elongation % ≥50 ASTM D 4632
Mass per unit Gm/m2 140 ASTM D 3776
area
Asphalt Kg/10 sq.m 10 Texas DOT
Retention 3099
Melting Point °C 150 ASTM D 276
Surface Texture - Heat bonded on Visual
One side only Inspection
 Properties for Glass Grid Fiber

Property Test Method Grid

Tensile strength

MD (kN/m) ASTM 6637/ ISO ≥50

CMD (kN/m) 13439 ≥50

Elongation at >5
break (%)
Minimum Mesh   12.5 x 12.5
size (mm)
Melting point 0C - >218
 Framework for promoting usages of
Geotextile
 Majority of the National Highway Development
Programme to be implemented on PPP mode on BOT
basis
 The use of geotextile for road structure i.e. part of new
or existing pavement does not bring the desired
reduction in crust thickness since the pavement has to
be designed as per IRC:37
 There is a strong need to establish relationship
between use of a type of geosynthetic and
corresponding reduction in crust thickness
 Framework for promoting usages of
Geotextile
 This can only be achieved by concerted research
(may be industry sponsored) with the involvement of
research institutes and academia
 This could lead to formulation of definitive
specifications and design methods using geotextiles/
geosynthetics
 For the interim, the Government has created an
enabling environment for the Concessionaire to use
any material / technology / equipment as long as it
meets any of the established international standards
 Framework for promoting usages of
Geotextile
 The Manuals for four and six laning of highways,
which form part of the Concession agreement, have
been published by IRC containing this provision
 Industry need to come out with ways and means to
demonstrate to the prospective users
(Concessionaires) the cost effectiveness (short term
and long term) of the use of geotextiles
 Industry also to come out with other innovative
usage of geosynthetics besides the existing ones
 Framework for promoting usages of
Geotextile
 On our part in IRC we have started a process of
accreditation of new material / technologies /
equipment etc. for use in the design and
construction of highways
 The proposals are examined by an Accreditation
Committee constituted within IRC and comprising of
experts from public as well as private sector
 Upon satisfaction, the Committee issues an
Accreditation Certificate which acts as a confidence
measure with the prospective buyers
 Framework for promoting usages of
Geotextile

 We also insist on field trial / usage reports from

clients
 In case of satisfactory performance reports, the new
material, technology or equipment will then be
suitably incorporated in Codes of Practices /
Specifications
 Conclusion

 Need to establish relationship with cost (crust)

reduction with usage of geosynthetics
 Concerted research to have road crust design
methods and formulate specifications
 Concessionaires to be apprised of benefits of
geosynthetics
 Thank You
for your kind attention