GEOSYNTHETICS ENGINEERING: IN

THEORY AND PRACTICE

Prof. J. N. Mandal

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay,

Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Module - 2
LECTURE - 7
AN OVERVIEW OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

RECAP of previous lecture..

Introduction
Geosynthetics scope and definitions
Categories of geosynthetics
Raw materials for production of geosynthetics
Composition of geosynthetics
Manufacturing of Geogrid
Different types of geosynthetics

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

FUNCTIONS OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Separation
Filtration
Drainage
Reinforcement
Protection (Cushion)
Barrier / containment
Erosion control

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

SEPARATION:

Geosynthetic can separate two layers of soil and thereby

prevent intermixing.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

FILTRATION:

Geosynthetics can allow water to pass across the plane

while prevent or retain the soil particles.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

DRAINAGE:

Geosynthetics can allow water to pass along its plane.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

REINFORCEMENT:

Geosynthetics can reinforce the soil mass and improve the

stability of structures in terms of strength and deformations
with respect to unreinforced soil.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

PROTECTION (CUSHION):

Geosynthetics can protect from abrasion and perforation. As

for example, the geotextile can act as a cushion over
geomembrane and prevent or reduce any kind of damage to
the geomembrane layer during construction.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

BARRIER / CONTAINMENT/ WATER PROOFING:

Some geosynthetics can be used as relatively impermeable

barrier to prevent liquids or gases. It can also be used as
noise barrier.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

EROSION CONTROL:

Geosynthetics can be employed to prevent or reduce

erosion of soil due to rainfall and surface water runoff.

EROSION CONTROL
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 GEOSYNTHETIC FUNCTIONAL APPLICATIONS

SEPARATION

Geosynthetic placed between ballasts and

sub-grade soil in a rail road
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Geosynthetic placed between aggregate and
foundation soil in a paved road

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 FILTRATION

Geosynthetic placed between earth and

gabion for filtration
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Geosynthetic placed between earth and rock in an
earth rock-fill dam

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 DRAINAGE

Geosynthetic placed in an earth fill dam as a

chimney drain
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Gravel wrapped with geotextile in a trench drain
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
A geotextile and a geomembrane are placed in tunnel lining
system (Rock -shotcrete-geotextile-geomembrane and
concrete)
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 REINFORCEMENT

Reinforced soil steep slope with

several layers of geogrids

A wrap around facing

Segmental reinforced soil reinforced soil wall
retaining wall
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 PROTECTION

Geosynthetic containing sand, Geosynthetic placed around

rock to protect against scouring pile jacketing
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 BARRIER/ CONTAINMENT
Geosynthetics (geomembrane or geosynthetic clay liners) can
act as relatively impermeable barrier to impede flow of fluids or
gases in landfills, waste containment, encapsulation of swelling
soils, asphalt pavement overlays and reflection cracking.

Geosynthetic placed between an existing crack pavement

and an asphalt overlay to minimize the reflection cracking
or delay the propagation of cracks
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 EROSION CONTROL
Geosynthetics blanket and mat can control erosion from the
earth banks, slopes and silt fences. The mat may be made of
polymer, jute, coir and wooden fibers.

Geosynthetic placed between Geosynthetic placed at bottom

subgrade earth bank and rip- of underwater excavation to
rap for rock protection prevent erosion
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 SCREEN
When the flowing fluid (water, wind) carries particles in
suspension, geosynthetic stops the fine particles and allow
fluid to pass through. Although the accumulated particles
increase fluid pressure, screen can withstand the pressure.

Silt fence can be placed to block the water current silt

and/ or wind blow sand to stabilize dunes
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Vertical silt placed in water to prevent the suspended
particles from polluting the downstream water
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Geosynthetics have several other applications:

It can be used as daily cover on the working surface of

municipal solid waste landfills to protect it from birds,
animals and winds.

Cylindrical shaped double layer geosynthetics called as

geotextile tube filled with hydraulic fill can be used for
shoreline protection or to dewater the sludge for water
purification.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OF GEOSYNTHETICS

Reinforced soil walls and steep slopes: The primary

function is reinforcement and secondary function is drainage.
Embankments: The primary function is separation and
secondary functions are filtration, drainage and reinforcement.
Railroads: The primary functions are separation and
filtration.
Unpaved roads: The primary function is separation and
secondary functions are filtration, drainage and reinforcement.
Paved roads: The primary function is separation and
secondary functions are filtration, drainage and reinforcement.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Repaving: The primary function is water proofing and
secondary function is reinforcement.
Drainage: The primary function is filtration and secondary
functions are separation and drainage.
Hydraulic construction: The primary function is filtration
and secondary function is separation.
Sports fields: The primary function is separation and
filtration.
Tunnels: The primary functions are drainage and protection.
Geomembrane containment: The primary function is
protection and secondary functions are drainage and
reinforcement.
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 DESIGN OF GEOSYNTHETIC

Evaluate the geotechnical properties by soil exploration

Evaluate the properties of geosynthetic materials (i.e.

physical, mechanical, hydraulic and environmental etc.)

Determination of geosynthetic functions such as separation,

reinforcement, drainage, filtration, protection, containment and
erosion control

Try trial design and compare with various alternative

methods

Analyze the proper models and evaluate their parameters

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Develop most safe and cost effective appropriate design.

Determine the exact required properties of geosynthetics

and their installation techniques.

Look at the availability of geosynthetics or modify the

design if required.

Monitor the construction site.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

Civil engineers have to face lot of challenges to get the
engineering solutions for any project:

Maximum use of local materials and manpower to reduce

cost and time
Tight time schedules
Various site constraints like space, alignments, social and
political problems
Long term performance and higher cost benefit ratio over a
larger period of time
Least maintenance cost, and
Least environmental impact
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Geosynthetics type and functions
Functions Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment

Type of
Geosynthetics

Geotextile
Geogrid
Geonet
Geomembrane
Geosynthetic

clay liner
Geopipe
Geofoam
Geocomposite

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Applications and functions of geotextile
Geotextile Separation Filtration Drainage Reinforcement Protection
functions/ Areas
of application
Unpaved roads X

X
Repairing

Railroads X X

Hydraulic
construction X
Drainage X

Sports fields X X

Embankments X

Vertical drains X

Retaining walls X

Tunnels X X
Geomembrane
containments X

X primary function secondary function

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Design parameters and applications of Geosynthetics
Applications Unpaved Rail Hydraulic Drain Sports Emban Retaining Tunnel Geomembra
Geosynthetic roads road construction age field kment wall ne
parameters containment

Puncture X X X X X X X
resistance (N)
Tensile elongation X X X X X X X
(%)
Drop test X X X

Effective opening X X X X X X
size (mm)
Thickness (mm) X X X X X X X X X
Permeability in the X X X X X X
plane, Kh (cm/sec)
Permeability X X X X X X X
normal to the
plane, Kv (cm/sec)
Tear resistance (N) X
Tensile strength X
(kN/m)
Burst pressure X
resistance (kN/m2)

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

THE CORRECT CHOICE OF GEOSYNTHETICS
Generally, the amount of geosynthetics selected depends on
the applied load and soil conditions for various projects.

Geosynthetics 90 110 130 140 180 200 235 280 350 400 500 600 70 800
0
(g/ m2)
Road
construction

Railroads x x

River bank x x x x
protection
Costal x x
protection
Drainage x x x x
Tunnel x X x x x x x x
construction
Geomembrane x X x x
protection
Retaining walls x X x

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Design chart for geotextile
Project analysis

* Separation, Filtration, drainage

Use of geotextile
Yes/ No
Determination of geotextile functions *
Determination of required safety factor
Determination of onsite parameters **
Calculation of minimum required values
Determination of actual geotextile minimum values ***
Calculation of actual safety factor
Comparison of safety factors factual, required
reinforcement, protection, sealing
** Soil: grain size distribution,
shear strength, permeability,
water: Rate of flow, flow
conditions
Stress: Static, dynamic
*** Mechanical: Puncture
resistance Burst-strength, tear-
resistance, tensile strength
Hydraulic: Kv = permeability,
Dw = effective opening width.

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Please let us hear from you

Any question?

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay

 Prof. J. N. Mandal
Department of civil engineering, IIT Bombay,
Powai , Mumbai 400076, India.
Tel.022-25767328
email: cejnm@civil.iitb.ac.in

Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay