Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name : M.P.Sirisha
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Civil Engg
Institute : QQGPT, Hyd
Year/semester : III semester
Subject : Construction Materials
Subject code : C306
Topic : Timber, Plastics, Glass & Asbestos
Duration : 50 minutes
Sub Topic : Geo synthetics
Teaching Aids : PPT

9C306.60 1
 Objectives

On completion of this class you would be

able to state

• Types and applications of geosynthetics

9C306.60 2
 Recap

In the last class we discussed about

• Types and uses of gypsum

• Powder coated Aluminum

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 Geosynthetics
Geosynthetics is the term used to describe a range of
generally polymeric products used in combination
with soil to solve civil engineering problems
The term is generally regarded to encompass eight
main product categories
1. Geotextiles
2. Geogrids
3. Geonets
4. Geomembranes

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 Geosynthetics (Contd)

5. Geosynthetic clay liners

6. Geofoam

7. Geocells (cellular confinement)

8. Geocomposites

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 Uses of Geosynthetics
These products have a wide range of applications and

are currently used in many fields of civil engineering

• Geotechnical Engg., : erosion control, sediment control,

• Transportation Engg., : road drainage, pavement

strengthening

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 Uses of Geosynthetics (contd…)

• Geo environmental Engg.,: landfill liners, landfill covers

• Irrigation Engg., : embankments, retaining structures,

reservoirs, canals, dams

• Other fields: mining, aquaculture and agriculture

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Geotextiles

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Geogrids

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Geonets

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Geomembranes

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Geosynthetic Clay Liners

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Geofoam

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Geocomposites

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 Geotextiles
• Geotextiles are porous to liquid flow across their

manufactured plane and also within their

thickness, but to widely varying degree

• There are at least 100 specific application areas for

geotextiles that have been developed

• The fabric always performs at least one of four

discrete functions; separation, reinforcement, filtration
and/or drainage

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 Geogrids

Modern geogrids were invented by Dr.Brian Mercer

(Blackburn, UK) in the late 1970s
Geogrids are
(a) Stitched in one or two directions for improved physical properties
(b) Made on weaving or knitting machinery by standard textile
manufacturing methods
(c) By bonding rods or straps together

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 Geogrids (Contd)
• Stiff polymer geogrids are used in layers with
mineral aggregate fills or other suitable soil
• They create a stiff mechanically stabilised layer
within the soil
• This improves its load bearing capacity
• The apertures of the grid hold or confine the
aggregate or soil particles
• They prevent the lateral shear created by vertical
loading

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 Geomembranes
These materials themselves are relatively thin impervious
sheets of polymeric materials used primarily for
• Linings
• Covers of liquid - or solid-storage facilities
• Such facilities include all types of
• Landfills
• Reservoirs
• Canals
• Other containment facilities
• Thus the primary function is always containment
functioning as a liquid and/or vapor barrier
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 Geocomposite

• A geocomposite consists of a combination of

• Geotextiles
• Geogrids
• Geonets and/or geomembranes in a factory fabricated unit

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 Geocomposite (Contd)

• One of these four materials can be combined with

another synthetic material (e.g., deformed plastic sheets

or steel cables) or even with soil

• For example, a geonet with geotextiles on both surfaces

is a geocomposite

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 Applications of Geo Synthetics

The major functions of geosynthetics as

discussed previously are
1. Separation
2. Reinforcement
3. Filtration & Drainage
4. Containment

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 1. Separation

• Separation is the placement of a flexible geosynthetic

material, like a porous geotextile, between dissimilar
materials

• The integrity and functioning of both materials can

remain intact or even be improved

• Paved roads, unpaved roads, and railroad bases are

common applications

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 2. Reinforcement
• Reinforcement is the improvement of a total system’s

strength created

• The introduction of a geotextile geogrid or geocell (all of

which are good in tension)

• Into a soil (that is good in compression, but poor in

tension) or other disjointed and separated material

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 2. Reinforcement (Contd)

Applications of Reinforcement are

• In mechanically stabilized and retained earth walls
• Steep soil slopes
• They can be combined with masonry facings to
create vertical retaining walls
• Basal reinforcement over soft soils
• Over deep foundations for embankments
• Heavy surface loadings

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 2. Reinforcement (Contd)
The resulting mechanically stabilized aggregate layer exhibits
improved load bearing performance Geocells made from new
polymeric compounds are also increasingly used in

• Unpaved and paved roadways

• Load platforms and railway ballast
• Where the improved loadbearing characteristics
significantly reduce the requirements for high quality
imported aggregate fills
• Thus reducing the carbon footprint of the construction
-- Carbon footprint is a measure of minimizing the
development activities that cause pollution due to
carbon compounds 9C306.60 25
 3. Filtration and drainage

• Filtration is the equilibrium of soil-to-geotextile interaction

that allows for adequate liquid flow without soil loss,

• across the plane of the geotextile over a service lifetime

compatible with the application under consideration

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 3. Filtration and drainage (Contd)

Filtration applications are

– Highway underdrain systems
– Retaining wall drainage
– As silt fences
– As flexible forms for bags, tubes and containers.
– Drainage applications for
– Retaining walls
– Sport fields
– Dams
– Canals
– Reservoirs
– Capillary breaks
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 4. Containment
Containment involves geomembranes, geosynthetic clay
liners, or some geocomposites which function as liquid or
gas barriers
Landfill liners and covers make critical use of these
geosynthetics
All hydraulic applications
• Tunnels
• Dams
• Canals
• Reservoir
• Floating covers
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Secondary or Tertiary Uses of Geo Synthetics
• Geosynthetics are generally designed for a particular

application by considering the primary function that can

be provided

• A geotextile placed on soft soil will usually be designed

on the basis of its reinforcement capability

• Separation and filtration might be secondary and tertiary

considerations

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Secondary or Tertiary Uses of Geo Synthetics

(contd)
• A geomembrane is obviously used for its containment

capability,

• Separation will be a secondary function

• The primary function will depend entirely upon what is

actually created, manufactured, and installed

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 Advantages of Geosynthetics
• The manufactured quality control of geosynthetics

In a controlled factory environment is a great

advantage over outdoor soil and rock construction

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 Advantages (Contd)
• The thinness of geosynthetics versus their natural soil
counterpart is an advantage in sofar
– As light weight
– On the subgrade
– Less airspace used
– Avoidance of quarried sand, gravel, and clay soil
materials
– The ease of geosynthetic installation is significant in
comparison to thick soil layers (sands, gravels, or
clays) requiring large earthmoving equipment

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Quiz

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 Quiz

• Material used primarily for lining covers of

liquid or solid storage facilities

(a) Geotextiles
(b) Geogrids
(c) Geonets
(d) Geomembranes

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 Examination Questions

• What are the various types of geosynthetics?

• What are the applications of geo synthetics?

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