Types and Functions of Geosynthetic

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Materials

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Dr. D. N. Arnepalli
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Department of Civil Engineering

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Indian Institute of Technology Madras

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 Learning Outcome

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On completion of this session, participants should be able to:

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 List at least seven types of geosynthetics

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 List at least five geosynthetics functions

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 Describe three types of geosynthetics

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 Describe three functions

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 Assign correctly the relevant functions to at least 2 geosynthetics

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Learning Outcome : Geosynthetics & Primary Function

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Primary Function
Type of geosynthetic

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Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment

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Geotextile (GTX)

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Geogrid (GGR)

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Geonet (GNT)

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Geomembrane (GMB)

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Geosynthetic Clay
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Liner (GCL)
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Geopipe (GP)
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Geofoam (GF)
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Geocomposite (GC)
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 Definition of Geosynthetics

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Polymeric materials that are specifically manufactured to be used in

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geotechnical and geoenvironmental applications

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According to ASTM D 4439 (Geosynthetic is Defined as):

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A planar product manufactured from polymeric material used with soil,

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rock, earth or other geotechnical engineering related material as an integral

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part of a human-made project, structure, or system

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Natural materials such as jute and coir are considered to be geonaturals

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(e.g. woven into mats for reinforcement applications)

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 Applications of Geosynthetics

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 Geotechnical engineering (growth rate 10%)

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 Geoenvironmental engineering (growth rate 15%)

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 Transportation engineering (growth rate 10%)

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 Hydraulic engineering (growth rate 15%)

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Reasons for Explosion in Application

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 Quality-control manufactured in factory environment

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 Can be installed very rapidly
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 Generally replace raw material resources
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 Generally replace difficult designs using soil/construction material

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 Is required for approval of regulations in some cases (subtitle-D, PCB)

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 Cost competitive
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 Being actively marketed & are widely available with technical data base
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 Function of Geosynthetics

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 Reinforcement

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 Separation

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 Filtration

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 Drainage

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 Barrier E ng
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 Protection
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 Types of Geosynthetics

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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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 Geocells

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 Erosion control products
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 Geocomposites
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 Geo-others
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 Geofoam, Geopipes, HDPE vertical barriers, Geofibers

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geotextiles

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 Indeed they are textile in physical sense (but made of synthetic fibers)

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 Biodegradation and short lifetime is not a problem

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 Made into flexible, porous fabric (by weaving, knitting, needle punching,
thermally bonded)

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 More than 100 applications (Separation, Reinforcement, Filtration,
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Protection, and Drainage)

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 Terzaghi used in 1950’s as sealing membrane between sheet piles and

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as a pond liner
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Types of Geosynthetics: Geotextiles

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Woven Geotextiles

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Nonwoven Geotextiles (needle punched/thermally bonded)

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Knitted Geotextiles

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geogrids

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 It is a planar, polymeric product consisting of a mesh or net-like regular
opening

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 Network of intersecting tensile-resistant elements, called ribs, integrally

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connected at the junctions

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 The ribs can be linked by extrusion, bonding or interlacing

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woven geogrid respectively
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 Resulting geogrids are called extruded geogrid, bonded geogrid and
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 Extruded geogrids are classified as uniaxial or biaxial geogrids

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 Mostly used as reinforcement

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geogrids

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 Extruded Geogrids

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Uniaxial geogrid Biaxial geogrid

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 Bonded & Knitted Geogrids

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Bonded geogrid Knitted geogrid

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geonet

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 Some times called as geospacers

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 They are formed by continuous extrusion of parallel sets of polymeric

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ribs at an acute angle

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 When ribs are open they form open net like structure

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 Due to their in-plane permeability for gases and aqueous liquids used
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only as drainage (layer/function)
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Types of Geosynthetics: Geonet

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geomembrane

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 Relatively thin and impervious sheets of polymeric material

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 Made by air-blowing or dye extrusion

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 Primarily used as covers & liners in the waste disposal/storage facilities

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 Some times used as canal/tunnel/dam lining to reduce leakage

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Smooth and textured/rough geomembrane

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geomembrane

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G
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Field Seaming of Geomembrane

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Field Seaming of Geomembrane

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 Geomembrane Liners in Action

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Composite geosynthetic liner at QELTS, Kingston,Canada
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Geomembrane Liners in Action

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 Wrinkle Formation and Connectivity

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2:11 pm 2:33 pm

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Composite geosynthetic liner at QELTS, Kingston,Canada
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1.5 mm smooth HDPE; 3H:1V slope

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Latitude 4434 N; Air temp 15C; September 21, 2007

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCL)

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 Interesting combination of synthetic and natural material

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 Generally thin layer of bentonite is sandwiched between geotextiles or

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bonded with geomembrane

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 The structural integrity of the GCL is achieved by needle punching,

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stitching, or physical bonding

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 GCL is used as composite below GM for environmental applications

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Bentonite

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Upper-GT (Cover-GT)
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5-10 mm
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Reinforcing Fibers
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Lower-GT (Carrier-GT)
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Photographic view of GCL Schematic of GCL

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geosynthetic Clay Liners

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geocell

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 A three-dimensional, permeable, polymeric honeycomb or web
structure, assembled from geogrids/strips and special bodkins

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couplings in triangular or square cells

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 Generally used to improve load-bearing capacity, and control the

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settlement (eg: Foundation for Chandrayan-1 Antenna)

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Open
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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geocell

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Stitched/stapled
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Geocell on Slope for Erosion Control

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 Types of Geosynthetics: Geocomposite

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 Consists of combination of geotextile, geogrid, geonet and

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geomembrane in a factory fabricated unit

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 They encompass wide range of functions such as: separation,

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reinforcement, filtration, drainage and containment

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geogrid

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geotextile
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geotextile
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Rein. Sep. and Drainage Separation and Drainage

geomembrane
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Types of Geosynthetics: Geocomposite

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geocomposite (PVD)

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Types of Geosynthetics: Geocomposite (Erosion Control)

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 Geo-others: Geopipe

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 Plastic pipe, smooth or corrugated and with or without perforations
used for drainage and collection of liquids and gases

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 Geo-others: Geofoam

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 Product created by polymeric expansion process, consists of many
closed gas fill cells.

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 The skeletal nature of cell wall is unexpanded polymeric material

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 The resulting product is generally in the form of large but extremely

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lightweight blocks that can be stacked side-by-side

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 Act as lightweight fill material, thermal insulator and as drainage
channels in various applications

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Geofoam in Action

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Abbreviations and graphical symbols of geosynthetic products as

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recommended by the International Geosynthetics Society

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Abbreviations and graphical symbols of geosynthetic products as

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recommended by the International Geosynthetics Society

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 Functions of Geosynthetic Material

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 Reinforcement

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 Separation

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 Filtration

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 Drainage

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 Fluid barrier E ng
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 Protection
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 Primary Functions of Geosynthetics

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 Geosynthetic applications can be classified according to primary
functions

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 However, it is important to note that geosynthetics may also perform

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one or more secondary functions

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Design by Function

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a) Evaluate the criticality of the application

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b) Determine the function(s) of the geosynthetic

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c) Determine the required property value for the function(s)
d) Test or obtain the allowable property of the candidate geosynthetic
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e) Calculate the factor of safety (FS)

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f) Evaluate factor of safety

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g) Prepare specifications and construction documents

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h) Observe construction and post-construction performance

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Reinforcement Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Reinforcement Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Dense sand

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Loose sand
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Reinforcement Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Tensile member Tensioned member

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Reinforcement function of geosynthetic
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 Reinforcement Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Change of failure mode Redistribution of applied surface loads

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Membrane effect (Vertical support) Interlocking effect (Passive resistance)

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Mechanism of reinforcement function of geosynthetic

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Reinforcement Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Separation Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetic acts to separate two layers of soil that have different
particle size distributions

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 Example: Geotextiles used to prevent road base materials from

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penetrating into underlying soft subgrade, thus maintaining design

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thickness and roadway integrity

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 Key properties/characteristics: “Survivability” properties

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Granular fill over soft soil (a) without and (b) with geosynthetic
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 Filtration Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetic acts similar to a granular filter by allowing water to move
through the soil while retaining upstream soil particles

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 Example: geotextiles used to prevent soils from migrating into road

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drainage aggregate or pipes while maintaining flow through the system.

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 Key properties/characteristics: “Apparent Opening Size (AOS),

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Permittivity”

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Mechanism of filtration An idealized interface condition at equilibrium

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 Drainage Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetic acts as a drain to carry fluid flows through less permeable
soils (in-plane fluid transmission media)

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 Example: Prefabricated vertical (wick) drains used to accelerate the

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consolidation rate of clays

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 Key properties/characteristics: “Transmissivity”

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Mechanism of drainage La Parade Homogeneous Earthfill Dam, France

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 Barrier Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetic acts as an essentially impermeable barrier to fluids or
gases

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 Example: Geomembranes used as barrier to downward movement of

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leachate at the base of a landfill

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 Key properties/characteristics: “Polymer chemical properties(OIT),

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thickness”

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Mechanism of barrier
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 Barrier Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Upstream face of Kadamparai dam Leakage in drainage gallery

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Upstream face with PVC geomembrane

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Water level at FRL

 Barrier Function of Geosynthetic Material

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Leakage rate of 38000 LPM (unlined) Leakage rate of 80 LPM (after lining)
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 Protection Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetic acts to protect other geosynthetics

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 Example: Nonwoven geotextiles used to minimize puncture of
geomembranes (by reducing point contact stresses) from adjacent

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gravel during installation and while in service.

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 Key properties/characteristics: “Resistance to puncture, thickness”

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Mechanism of protection
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 Erosion Function of Geosynthetic Material

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WAVES

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Erosion of slope by rain water Erosion of coast by waves

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Erosion by meteorological events Erosion by runoff

Erosion Function of Geosynthetic Material

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 Geosynthetics- Primary Function

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Primary Function
Type of geosynthetic

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Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment

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Geotextile (GTX)
   

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Geogrid (GGR)


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Geonet (GNT)


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Geomembrane (GMB)

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Geosynthetic Clay
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Liner (GCL)
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Geopipe (GP)

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Geofoam (GF) 
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(low BC)
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Geocomposite (GC)
    
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 Summary

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 Geosynthetics are the polymeric materials used in combination with
geomaterials

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 The number of geosynthetic types is large, and growing

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 Geosynthetics are engineered materials and, as such, engineering

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properties are needed for their design

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 The properties of geosynthetics are selected according to their

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functions

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 Acknowledgements

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Some information and few pictures in this presentation have been adapted from

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 International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) web page

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 Presentation originally prepared by Prof. Jorge Zornberg of The University of

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Texas, Austin, USA on behalf of the IGS, presentation prepared by

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Prof. K. Rajagopal of IIT Madras, India

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 Text books authored by Prof. R. K. Rowe of Queens University, Kingston,

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Canada; Prof. S. K. Shukla of Edith Cowan University, Australia;
Prof. R. M. Koerner of USA
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 Publication authored by previous researchers

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Our acknowledgements to International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), Prof. Rowe,

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Prof. Zornberg, Prof. K. Rajagopal, Prof. Shukla, Prof. Koerner, and Authors of
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research publications
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Types and Functions of Geosynthetic Materials

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Dr. D. N. Arnepalli

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[email protected]

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Department of Civil Engineering

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Indian Institute of Technology Madras

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