Geosynthetics

KESHAVA PRAJWAL P
SUMANTH KRISHNA S
 What are Geosynthetics?
GEO
 Soil, Rock or other Geotechnical material
SYNTHETIC
 Man made
 Polymeric material

Used to enhance, augment and make

possible cost effective
construction
 Polymer - Types & Materials
Polypropylene(PP)
Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE)
Polystyrene (PS)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polyamide (PA) eg.
Nylon Polyester
Acrylonitrile Butadiene
Styrene (ABS)
 Roles or Functions of
Geosynthetics
 Separator

 Reinforcement

 Drainage

 Filter

 Energy absorber

 Container

 Barrier
Geosynthetic Global Offer
 Types of Geosynthetics
Geotextiles (GT)
Geogrids (GG)
Geonets (GN)
Geomembranes (GM)
Geosynthetic clay liners (GCL)
Geocomposites (GC)
Geo others
 Geopipe, Geofoam, Geocells,
Geomesh
Geotextiles (GT)
 Geotextiles (GT)
Flexible, textile-like fabrics
Majority are made from polypropylene fibers
Woven (slit film, monofilament or multifilament)
Nonwoven (needle punched or heat/chemical
bonded)
Characterised by an open and porous structure
(with controlled permeability)
Mechanical and Hydraulic properties vary widely
Very versatile in their primary function
(except as liquid barrier)
Geogrids (GG)
 Geogrids (GG)
stiff or flexible polymer grid-like sheets
structure allows for soil “strike-through”
bidirectional – equal strength in both directions
unidirectional – main strength in machine
direction
focuses entirely on reinforcement applications,
e.g.,walls, steep slopes, base and foundation
reinforcement
Geonets (GN)
 Geonets (GN)
all are made from high density polyethylene
results in parallel sets of ribs as a integral unit
biplanar – flow is equal in all directions
triplanar – flow much greater in machine
direction
function is always in-plane drainage
surfaces must be covered; usually with GTs
Geomembranes (GM)
 Geomembranes (GM)
impermeable sheets
function is always containment
represents a barrier to liquids and gases
many types: HDPE, LLDPE, PVC,
EPDM, etc.
manufactured rolls are field seamed
new applications in hydraulics and private
development
Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCL)
Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCL)
function is always containment
common product is bentonite between
internally reinforced by needle punched or
stitching
bentonite product bonded to GM is also available
many other variations exist
competitive with compacted clay liners (CCLs)
beneath a GM; one has a composite liner
 Geopipe (GP)

GEOPIPE
 Geopipe (GP)
its really buried plastic pipe!
function is always drainage
HDPE and PVC most common
can be smooth walled or corrugated
 Geofoam (GF)

GEOFOAM
 Geofoam (GF)
lightweight fill on soft or sensitive soils
relieves lateral pressure on walls
also used for insulation of frost-sensitive
soils
Geocomposites (GC)
 Geocomposites (GC)
hybrid systems of any or all
array of available products
GT/GM; GT/GG; GT/GN; etc.
considerable ongoing
innovation
primary function depends on
final product
 Function vs. Geosynthetic Type
Type of Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment
Geosynthetic

geotextile    
geogrid 
geonet 
geomembrane 
geosynthetic 
clay liner

geopipe 
geofoam 
geocomposite     
Properties of Geosynthetics -
Parameters

Physical
Chemical
Mechanical
Hydraulic
Endurance
Degradation
Parameters . . . .

Physical
 Thickness
 Specific Gravity

 Mass per unit area

 Porosity

 Percent open area

 Apparent opening size

Parameters . . . .

Chemical
 Polymer type
 Filler material

 Carbon black percentage

 Plasticizers and additives

 Manufacturing process
Parameters . . . .

Mechanical
 Tensile strength
 Compressibility
 Elongation
 Tear/impact/puncture resistance
 Burst strength
 Seam strength
 Fatigue resistance
 Interface friction with soil
 Anchorage in soil
Parameters . . . .
Hydraulic
 Permittivity (cross plane permeability)
 Transmissivity (in plane permeability)

 Clogging potential
Parameters . . . .
Endurance
 Installation damage potential
 Tear/impact/puncture resistance
 Abrasion resistance

 creep
Parameters . . . .
Degradation
Resistance against
 Ultraviolet radiation
 Temperature

 Oxidation

 Aging

 Chemical and Biological reactions

 Properties of Geosynthetics
Range of Values
Mass per Tensile Apparent
Thickness Elongation
Type unit strength opening size
(mm) (%)
area (kN/m) (mm)
(gsm)
Non-
Woven 0.25 – 7.5 100 – 2000 5 – 100 20 – 100 0.02 – 0.6
Geotextile
Woven
0.25 – 3.0 100 – 1500 20 – 400 10 – 50 0.05 – 2.0
Geotextile

Geomebranes 0.25 – 3.0 250 – 3000 10 – 50 50 – 200 ~0

Geogrids 5.0 – 15.0 200 – 1500 10 – 200 5 – 25 10 – 100

Geonets 3.0 – 10.0 100 – 1000 – – 5 – 15