GEOSYNTHETICS IN

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
 Contents

• Intro

• Overview

• Applications

• Impediments

• Suggestions
 Intro

WHAT ARE GEOSYNTHETICS?

GEO - EARTH

SYNTHETIC - POLYMERIC MATERIAL

**Within the Geosynthetics fraternity, natural materials

such as Jute and Coir are also considered to be
Geosynthetics**
 Intro
Definition

 A product manufactured from polymeric/natural

mtrl used with soil, rock, earth or other geotechnical
engg related mtrl for constr of Geotech systems.

 Reduces Maint & Cost of Constr

 Quality contol possible

 Intro

 Modern civil engg construction mtrl

 Modify/Improve soil/geologic mtrl behavior

 Devp/Synthesized for specific function or

application in construction

 More than 1 billion sqm annual use

 Uses
o Improve Ground Stabilization
o Pavements: Roads , Parking Bays ,
Runways(for bearing vehicle/AC loads)
o Heavy duty pavements : Ports and Harbours
o Railways
o Erosion Control
o Retaining Wall and Bridge Abutments
o Building fdn improvement
 Potential Areas

o Black Cotton Soil Areas – Geotextile application

o Coastal and Delta Regions – Band drains
o Hilly Terrain – Erosion control with the use of
Geotextiles – Synthetic and Natural
o Reinforced soil structures using polymeric
geosynthetics
OVERVIEW
 Classification
• Geotextiles – Woven & Non
Woven
• Geogrids – Flexible and Rigid
• Geonets
• Geomembranes
• Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL)
• Geocells
• Geofoam
• Geocomposites
 Classification

Polymer based
• Polypropylene
• Polyester
• PVC
• Polyamide
• Polyethylene
 Geotextiles

• Continuous sheets of woven, non- woven or

knitted fibers. They look like a fabric. They are
flexible and permeable
• Geotextiles are permeable fabrics which when
used in association with soil, have the ability to
separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain

Characteristics :
• Porous and allow flow of water through it.
• Most used
• Available in rolls of 5.6m wide and 50-150m long
 Geotextiles

Comes in two forms

• Woven

• Non Woven
 Geotextiles
Woven

o Uniform and regular interweaving of

threads or yarns in two directions
o Regular Visible Constr Pattern

o Function
• Soil Separation, Reinf, Load distr, Filtration,
Drainage
• Have high tensile strength and relatively low
strain
 Geotextiles
Non Woven

o Formed by heat bonding, resin bonding

or needle punching

o Function

o Soil Separation, Stabilization, Load Distr,

but not used for reinf

o They have high strain and stretch

considerably under load
 Geogrids
• Used to reinf soil and similar mtrl
• Commonly used to reinf retaining walls,
sub bases or subsoil
• Large aperture between indvl ribs
• Have Low strain and stretch about 2%
under load
• Strength is more that other geotextiles
• Function
• Used exclusively for reinforcement below
roads or structures
 Geogrids : Use

Load is distributed evenly after the use of Geogrid. Used below road surface
Geogrids : Use

Used below Road Surface

Geogrids : Use

Grass Lanes
Geogrids : Use
 Geonets

• Planar product, known also as “Geospacers”

• Consists of ribs in two directions
• Apertures are of diamond shape
• Thickness is larger than that of geogrids
• Geonets are made of stacked, crisscrossing
polymer strands that provide in-plane drainage
• Can be Bi-planar or Tri-Planar
 Geonets
Function

• Erosion control : Ribs acts as

small check dams to slow down
the surface runoffs which
decrease erosion potential of
water

• Drainage: water flows along the

geonets because of large
thickness
 Geomembrane
• Very low permeability synthetic membrane
barrier used to control fluid or gas migration in
a structure, or system

• Impervious plastic sheet

• Thickness 0.5mm to 3mm approx

• Used as a fluid barrier in designing drainage

systems

• Used as DPC in floors, roofs

 Geomembrane

Application
• Landfill Lining
• Canal lining
• Tunnel lining
 Geosynthetic Clay Liner
• Woven fabric-like material

• Combination of Geotextiles and Geomembranes

• Used as barrier for liquid or solid waste

• Applied below & above geomembrane layers

in landfills

• Self repair mechanism

• Provide sub-base support

 Geocells
• 3-dimensional honeycomb-like structures
• Made of strips of polymer sheet

Characteristics
• Similar to geotextiles/geogrids but have
depth
• Provides both a physical containment &
transfer of load through it
• Allow passage of water
• Used in slopes with soft sub-grade
• Used in erosion control in channels
Geocells
 Geofoam
• Manufactured into large light weight blocks
by polymeric expansion process
• Extremely light materials with gas filled
cells
• Low density/ high strength: Geofoam is 1%
to 2% the density of soil with equal strength
• Quick to install, can be installed during any
weather
• If in contact with a petroleum solvent, imdt
turn into a glue-type substance, unable to
sp any load
• Untreated geofoam is a Fire hazard
 Geofoam
Use
• Within soil embankments over soft,
weak soils
• Under rds, airfd pavements and
railway trs subject to excessive
freeze-thaw conditions
• Thermal insulation in storage tks
with cold liquids
• Separation
• Lightweight fill
 Geocomposites
• Combination of two diff types of
geosynthetics
• Use Prep to extract all the maj
properties of the geosynthetics into a
single unit
Types
o Geotextile - Geonet Composites
o Geotextile - Geomembrane Composites
o Geotextile - Geogrid Composites
o Geomembrane - Geogrid Composite
o Geotextile-Polymer Core Composite
Geosynthetics : Composition

• Polypropylene
• HDPE
• Polyester
• PVC
• Synthetic Rubber
• Natural fibres – Jute, coir
Geosynthetics : Functions

• Separation
• Drainage
• Filtration
• Reinforcement
• Moisture barrier/Sealing
• Cushion/Protection
Separation
Drainage
Filtration
 Filtration Function

Acts similar to a sand filter by allowing water

to flow through the soil while retaining
upstream soil particles
 FILTRATION

Protected soil Fine-grained

Filter Layer

Drainage Layer Coarse

grained

CROSS – PLANE FLOW

Functions of the Filter:
1. Prevent migration of fines into the filter.
2. Maintain relatively high permeability.
3. Prevent migration of fines into coarse layer.
Reinforcement
 Reinforcement Function

Geosynthetic acts as a reinforcement

element within a soil mass or in combination
with the soil. This produces a composite that
has improved strength and deformation
properties over the un-reinforced soil.
 GEOSYNTHETICS

FUNCTION:

REINFORCEMENT
(GT,GG)

PROPERTY:

TENSILE STRENGTH
Moisture/ Seepage Barrier
Protection
Comparison of Functions
APPLICATIONS
 Geosynthetics : Applications
 Rds and Pavements
o Subgrade separation and Stabilization
o Base Reinforcement
o Overlay Stress absorption and reinf

 Subsurface Drainage
o Subgrade dewatering
o Road base drainage
o Structure drainage
 Geosynthetics : Applications
 Reinf Soil Systems
o Embankments over soft foundations
o Reinforcement steep slopes
o Reinforcement soil walls

 Erosion and Sediment Control

o Hard Armor Systems, Silt Fence
 Geosynthetics : Applications

 Seepage Control Systems

o Structure water proofing
o Environmental Protection

 Sp Systems
o Prefabricated Systems and on-site Fabrication
Geosynthetics : Applications

Under Embankment on Soft Soil

Geosynthetics : Applications

In Trenches
Geosynthetics : Applications

Erosion Cont Blanket

 Geosynthetics : Applications

 Locate near existing

discontinuity
 Stiff geogrid best suited
 Geotextile can seal
moisture

Reflection Cracking
 Geosynthetics : Applications
 Locate where strains are
largest ie mid-depth

 Increase in life to critical

rut of three times

 Requires stiff geogrid

Rutting in Overlays
Geosynthetics : Applications
Geosynthetics : Applications

Glass grid under overlay

Geosynthetics : Applications

Earth
Retention
Techniques
Geosynthetics : Applications

Earth Retention
Techniques
 Geosynthetics : Applications
• Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Walls
• Reinforced soil slopes
• Subsurface Drainage systems - trench drains,
strip drains
• Stabilising canal road systems in expansive soil
regions
• PVD
Geosynthetics : Applications
IMPEDIMENTS
 Impediments
 Mostly Imported
 Test methodology adopted from country of origin
o International std
o European std
o German
o British
o American
 Few Indian stds
 Impediments : Use in India

• Lack of desired Legislation

• Lack of reqd stds on product as well as on design, constr &
installation guide
• Lack of policy /regulatory initiatives by the Central and State Govt
• Lack of awareness of Stds and Guidelines
• Lack of Natl Certifying and Accreditation agencies in the country
• Lack of R&D facilities
• Incompleteness of existing Standards and Guidelines
 Testing Needs

• Basic properties of Mtrl/ product, dependent

on manufacturer report
• Quality Ctrl Tests – To assess reqd parameters
• Performance Testing – At lab & Site
 R&D Facilities

• IITs, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai

• CRRI
• CCRI, Coir Board
• Manufacturers Lab.
 R&D Facilities : Shortcomings

o May not necessarily have all relevant facilities for

test house
o May not maint ambient temp and humidity as reqd by
ISO (21 ± 2°C & 65%).
o May not have skilled/Trained Technicians
o Not Accredited
SUGGESIONS
 Suggessions

Establish National Body/ Org to address the

issue on priority

The Org to act as Eyes and Ears for the Country

 Suggestions

o Function as a Test House

o QC checking at the place of manufacturer
o Assessment of the product for the designer
o 3rd party Quality Cont by testing of product
o Testing & Evaluation for product
o R&D
SUMMARY
 Parameters for Geo-synthetic Selection

 Geosynthetic Specification should cover:

o Mtrl Selection

o Design Parameters

o Functional Reqmt

o Application and Performance Reqmt

o Durability Reqmt

o Survivability Reqmt

o Reqd Strl and Integrity Properties

o Storage, handling and installation reqmt

 Reqmts of Geosynthetics
Endurance Properties Hydraulic Properties
• Abrasion Resistance Apparent Opening Size (AOS),
• UV Stability Percent Open Area, Porosity
• Biological Resistance Permeability / Permittivity
• Chemical Resistance Soil Retention Ability
• Wet/Dry Stability Clogging Resistance
• Temperature Stability In-Plane Flow Capacity
• Long term durability
Performance – Soil / Fabric Properties
• Stress - Strain
• Creep
• Friction/Adhesion
• Dynamic and Cycling Loading
• Soil Retention
• Filtration
ADVANTAGES
 Advantages of Geo-synthetics
• Cheaper in product cost, tpt and installation

• Can be designed & installed quickly with flexibility

for constr during short pd

• Consistent over a wide range of soils

• Space Savings

• Better Construction Quality Control at site

 Advantages of Geo-synthetics
• Easy dply

• Less Environmentally Sensitive

• Improved performance and extended life

• Increased Safety Factor

• Compatible with fd conditions

 Advantages of Geo-synthetics
• Increased service life of flexible pavt sec by a factor
of 2.5 to 3.0 for weak subgrades (CBR 2%) and by
2.0 to 3.3 for moderate subgrades (CBR 4.2 to 4.5%)

• Increase in allowable load Bearing Capacity by 40 to

50% for subgrade CBR>3 and well over 50% for
subgrade CBR<3

• Increase in Tfc Benefit Ratio (TBR) from 1.5 to 70.

 Economic Importance
o Commonly accepted as durable, long lasting and
environmentally safe soln
o The cost of geo-synthetics varies usually betn 3 to 5%
of the total cost of proj
o For a number of projs, saving of 30 per cent in total
proj cost achieved
o Min Repair and Maint costs
o Prevent accidents, incr efficiency, min pollution
o Efficient use of natural resources
 Environmental Importance
o Str need to have long term durability to prevent potential
ecological disasters(earthquakes, global warming)
o Provide long lasting soln with min cost
o Difficult/ impossible to degrade, can be disposed off without
danger of contamination
o Assist the envt by acting as containing barrier for toxic mtrl
o Functional lifetime is extremely long - over 100 years.
o Provide sealing and capping of pollution due to chem
released after road and rail accidents into grndwater
?
THANK YOU