ISSN : 2277-5625 (Print)

ISSN : 2277-5633 (Online) Vol. 8 • No. 2 • July 2019

Indian Journal of Geosynthetics

and Ground Improvement
Half Yearly Technical Journal of Indian Chapter of
International Geosynthetics Society
 ABOUT JOURNAL
Geosynthetics are now being increasingly used the world over for every conceivable application in civil
engineering, namely, construction of dam embankments, canals, approach roads, runways, railway
embankments, retaining walls, slope protection works, drainage works, river training works, seepage
control, etc. due to their inherent qualities. Its use in India though is picking up, is not any where close
to recognitions. This is due to limited awareness of the utilities of this material and developments having
take place in its use.
The aim of the journal is to provide latest information in regard to developments taking place in the relevant
field of geosynthetics so as to improve communication and understanding regarding such products,
among the designers, manufacturers and users and especially between the textile and civil engineering
communities.
The Journal has both print and online versions. Being peer-reviewed, the journal publishes original
research reports, review papers and communications screened by national and international
researchers who are experts in their respective fields.
The original manuscripts that enhance the level of research and contribute new developments to the
geosynthetics sector are encouraged. The work belonging to the fields of Geosynthetics are invited.
The manuscripts must be unpublished and should not have been submitted for publication elsewhere.
There are no Publication Charges.

EDITORIAL BOARD
• Dr. Dali Naidu Arnepalli, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
• Dr. K. Balan, Vice Principal, Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Trivandrum
• Mr. Narendra Dalmia, Director, Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd.
• Ms. Minimol Korulla, Vice President-TMD, Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Tiru Kulkarni, President and Head – Geosynthetics Division, Garware Wall Ropes Ltd.
• Mr. Satish Naik, CEO, Best Geotechnics Pvt. Ltd.
• Dr. K. Rajagopal, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
• Dr. G.V.S. Raju, Former Engineer-in-Chief (R&B), Government of Andhra Pradesh
• Dr. G.V. Rao, Former Professor, Department of Civil Engineering IIT Delhi and Guest Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering IIT Gandhinagar
• Ms. Dola Roychowdhury, Vice President, Z-Tech (India) Private Ltd.
• Dr. Jimmy Thomas, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Albertian Institute of Science
and Technology Kochi, Kerala
• Mr. M. Venkataraman, Geosynthetic and Geotechnical Consultant and Guest Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering IIT Gandhinagar
• Mr. Saurabh Vyas, Head-Technical Services, TechFab (India) Industries Ltd.
 Indian Chapter of International Geosynthetics Society

Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and

Ground Improvement
Volume 8, No. 2 July 2019

CONTENTS
Page
From Editor’s Desk 2

Articles

• Application of Geosynthetic Grout Mattress in Restoration of Canal : A Case Study of Gujarat, India
– Vivek P. Kapadia 3
• Bearing Capacity of Geosynthetic Reinforced Sand Bed on Problematic Soil – P. Rajashekar Reddy,
G.V.N. Reddy and E. Saibaba Reddy 8
• Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along The Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam
– S. Maurya, M. Gupta and R. Chitra 17
• Land Reclamation Using Geotextile Tubes Filled with Fine Grained Soil – Kiran Kumar Rumandla,
C. Nanda Kishore and Rajib Bhattacharjee 24
• Use of Geosystems for Coastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problems - Case Reference
– Geosystems at LNG Petronet Terminal, Kochi, Kerala (India) – Anilkumar Gopinath, Shruthi A. Solshe
and Balraj S. Shevade 29
International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) 37
Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 41
IGS News 54
Indian Chapter of IGS 58

All communications to be addressed to :

The Member Secretary
Indian Chapter of IGS
CBIP Building, Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021
Editor
• Mr. V.K. Kanjlia, Member Secretary, Indian Chapter of IGS and Secretary, Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP)
Associate Editors
• Dr. G.P. Patel, Treasurer, Indian Chapter of IGS and Director (WR), Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP)
• Mr. Uday Chander, Chief Manager, Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP)

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Disclaimer : The opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors.
They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Indian Chapter
of IGS or its members. Reproduction of the material contained in this
journal may be made only with the written permission of the Publications
Manager. Although every effort is made to ensure the correctness of
information submitted for publication, the journal may inadvertently contain
technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Chapter of IGS assumes no
responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication or other documents
that are referenced by or linked to this publication.
 From the Editor’s Desk
The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is a society dedicated to the scientific and
engineering development of geotextiles, geomembranes, related products and associated
technologies. The society has grown to over 4,000 members including corporate, individual,
and student members. With 43 chapters worldwide, including India, it’s easy to be involved
with the society and getting various benefits by joining a local IGS Chapter.
The International Geosynthetics Society can trace its roots back to 1977 when the
International Conference on the use of Fabrics in Geotechnics was organised in Paris,
France. Today the event is referred to as the First International Conference on Geotextiles.
During the conference Dr. J. P. Giroud presented a paper on the Valcros Dam in France,
coining the words “geotextiles” and “geomembranes.”
Founded in Paris, France in 1983 as the International Geotextile Society (IGS), the IGS General Assembly
approved the change of name to the International Geosynthetics Society in 1994. The society is now
headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, USA.
After approval of IGS Council in October 1988, the Indian Chapter of IGS was formed, with its Secretariat at
Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), New Delhi.
CBIP and Indian Chapter of IGS are jointly organizing training courses, for the specific needs of the concerned
organizations, in addition to workshops/seminars on various applications of geosynthetics.
CBIP and Indian Chapter of IGS have successfully organized the exclusive Training Courses for Water
Resources Departments of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on “Applications of Geosynthetics in
Dams and Hydraulic Structures”, in addition to Training Course on “Design and Construction of Pavements with
Geosynthetics” and “Geosynthetics Reinforced Soil Slopes and Walls” for the officers of National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI).
Heavy rain, followed by landslide, in Kerala during August 2018, was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century.
One sixth of the total population of Kerala had been directly affected by the floods and related incidents like
landslides. Heavy rains in Wayanad, Kannur and Idukki have caused severe landslides and left the hilly districts
completely isolated. In this context the Indian Chapter organised a Workshop on “Natural Hazard Mitigation with
Geosynthetics” at Thiruvananthapuram, during 11-12 January 2019, to analyse the extent of damages occurred
due to landslides in Kerala and to suggest mitigation methods.
Geosynthetics are now being increasingly used world over for every conceivable application in civil engineering,
namely, construction of dams, embankments, canals, approach roads, runways, railway embankments, retaining
walls, slope protection works, drainage works, river training works, seepage control, etc. due to their inherent
qualities.
Indian Chapter of Geosynthetics is planning series of events on “Design and Construction of Pavements with
Geosynthetics” in various parts of the country, considering that Geosynthetics can be effectively used to reduce
or avoid reflective cracking, work as a barrier to avoid pumping of soil fines, reduce asphalt cap thickness,
reduce pavement thickness and increase the lifetime of the pavement. It can also be used in drains and filters,
in addition or substitution to granular materials, as Geosynthetics are easier to install in comparison to granular
materials.
One of the suggestions received from the readers of the journal is to take up more case studies of such
happenings. I request all the readers and their colleagues/fellow professionals to contribute the case studies
to further improve the utility of the Journal.

V.K. Kanjlia
Member Secretary
Indian Chapter of IGS

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 2

 Application of Geosynthetic Grout Mattress
in Restoration of Canal : A Case Study
of Gujarat, India
Vivek P. Kapadia
Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat

ABSTRACT
Canals require regular maintenance and repairs during their operational life span. Repairs require
identification of problems and strategic devising of solution. When there is some construction flaw like
selection of wrong materials or non-compliance with the technical specifications, the canal can not perform
as per design and it manifests serious problems during operation. In a large canal named Sujalam
Sufalam Canal in Gujarat, which offtakes from the reservoir of the Kadana dam on Mahi river, is more
than 300 kilometer long and carries surplus flood water of Mahi river to the arid districts of Gujarat. Its
main objective is recharge. Some issues related to defects in the construction had been encountered. Its
initial stretch of approximately 27 kilometer length has exhibited some failures. The paper sheds light on
what kind of defect was mainly found and how the solution was worked out using geo-mattress. Prima
facie irreparable looking canals were restored in a very short period with cost effective, still permanent
solutions which prove that geosythetics can effectively address the construction defects in some cases
and in some cases can play an important role in restoration of failed canals.

INTRODUCTION OF SUJALAM SUFALAM CANAL PROBLEMS OF INITIAL STRETCH OF SUJALAM

The Sujalam Sufalam Canal is 332 kilometer long which
offtakes from reservoir of the Kadana dam on Mahi river
to carry surplus flood water to the arid areas of North
Gujarat. Figure 1 shows the alignment of the Sujalam
Sufalam Canal. This canal has carrying capacity of 625
m3/sec at the offtake point. It is a recharge canal and
hence is in cutting in most of its length. Its initial stretch
is in banking. Considering its objective of recharge, it
has been an unlined canal in the stretch where it is in
cutting. Its initial stretch which is in banking has been
lined. North Gujarat has been an arid area of the state
and groundwater table has gone down to to 150 meter
depth and hence recharge has been essential.
Figure 1. Fig. 1 : Schematic
Schematic View ofView of Alignment
Alignment of Sujalam
of Sujalam Sufalam Canal
Sufalam Canal
SUFALAM CANAL
The initial stretch of the Sujalam Sufalam Canal is in
banking as it offtakes from the reservoir of the Kadana
Dam and the topography is hilly. Undulations are many
and the soil is rocky. The canal was constructed in
2005 from the local soil which was sand, silt and rock
predominantly. Canal banks in this stretch are as 10
meter high and the bed banking is approximately 2 meter.
As the banks contain rock pieces, during the operation
of the canal, the seepage water causes separation of
fine silt particles from the rock and migration of them
after sometime. This phenomenon causes piping in the
canal banks. Settlement or subsidence of soil mass in
the canal bank is a consequent problem due to the said
phenomenon.
Canal banks are having slope of 1.5:1 on both the sides.
Embankment stability requires a gentle slope on the
outer side as it is subjected to rain cuts. Optionally, some
protection work on the outer slope would have avoided
many problems.
Canal alignment in the initial stretch has curvatures
because of topographical undulations. Frequent failures
have been found between Chainage 11 kilometer and
14 kilometer. Figure 2 shows the alignment in the most
problematic part where the banking is 10 meter high and
curvatures are also sharp.

3 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 4 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
Figure 1. Schematic View of Alignment of Sujalam Sufalam Canal
Fig. 2 : Problematic Stretch of Canal Alignment
Figure 2. Problematic Stretch of Canal Alignment
In the initial stretch, seepage has been a common
problem but embankment failures have been a serious
issue. Piping and subsidence of embankment have been
the major problems. Many repairs have been made at
different locations. Chainage 13.420 kilometer is such a
location. There is a curvature and high embankment on
Fig. 3 : Soil Particles Migrated from Canal
Figure 3. Soil Particles Migrated from Canal Embankment and Failure of Lining On both the sides of the vulnerable location, coffer
Embankment and Failure of Lining
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
this location which has failed repeatedly. One such failure
occurred in November, 2017. The left side embankment
failed due to piping and subsidence. It was found that
the curvature caused high velocity of water on one side
which was one of the reasons for destabilization of the
embankment.
S T R AT E G Y F O R R E S T O R AT I O N O F T H E
VULNERABLE LOCATION OF THE CANAL
Shortcomings of the construction of the canal were
required to be addressed during repairs but all of them
could not be addressed as reconstruction of the canal was
the only way to do so which was not practical. In the given
situation, what best could be done was to keep them as it
is and finding a solution that could ensure functioning of
the canal without much problems for a long time. It was
achieved by understanding the causes of the problem
and addressing them in a neoteric way.
As the subgrade of the canal prism had grown weak due
to migration of the soil particles, the first requirement
was to ensure that the subgrade was properly made and
it remains proper for a long even after restoration. Most
critical was to ensure control on seepage from the canal
which would retard the migration tendency of the fine
soil particles.
Stability of the embankment was required to be ensured.
Providing a gentle slope on the outer side was preferable
but it was not feasible from construction point of view in
the existing canal. Protection work on our side was also
an option but better solution was to provide additional
berm which was viable also. Compaction of the existing
embankment to desirable level was not feasible and
hence only by selecting and designing proper type of lining
that the seepage was required to be checked.
Controlling velocity at the curvature and in the downstream
of the curvature was very much required. Velocity of water
in the canal mainly depends on longitudinal gradient of
the canal, roughness coefficient of the lining and degree
and radius of the curvature. Longitudinal gradient and
degree and radius of curvature were not feasible to be
changed in the existing canal. Negative elevation at the
curvature on the outer edge of the bottom of the canal
prism could make some positive impact on the behaviour
of the flow. As an alternative, roughness coefficient of the
lining material could work well.
Plain concrete lining having only little shear resistance
was not preferred. Geosynthetic grout mattress was
preferred. It would also control the velocity due to high
roughness coefficient as its surface is corrugated.
RESTORATION OF THE VULNeRABLE
LOCATION
dams were constructed to avail a proper working
 Application of Geosynthetic Grout Mattress in Restoration of Canal : A Case Study of Gujarat, India 5

space. The damaged concrete lining was removed Table 1 : Specifications of Uniform Section
and the entire embankments and bed were allowed Geosynthetic Grout Mattress
to be dried as they were so slushy and so much in
bad shape that even removal of rock pieces was not Test Units MARV
possible then. Thereafter, surface preparation and Method
subgrade preparation was done with accurate levelling. Physical Properties
25 centimeter negative elevation was provided on the
Composition of Warp 1100 DTX / Polyester
outer edge of the bottom of the canal prism as lining
Yarns Weft 2200 DTX
designed for restoration was effective to some extent in
controlling the velocity. Thus, issue of high velocity and Mass Per Unit Area ASTM D g/m2 440
eddy formation was addressed by two mechanisms – (double-layer) 5261
negative elevation and roughness co-efficient of lining. Thickness (single- ASTM D mm 0.35
Additional berm was to be provided on the outer side layer) 5199
of the embankment and hence that activity was taken
in parallel. Mill Width (Woven) m 2.13
Figure 3. Soil Particles Migrated from Canal Embankment and Failure of Lining
Mechanical Properties
Grab Tensile ASTM D N/50mm 2600 |
Strength – MD | TD 4595 2600
Elongation at Break ASTM D % 29 | 26
- MD | TD - Max. 4595
Trapezoidal Tear ASTM D N 680 | 740
Strength - MD | TD 4533
CBR Puncture ASTM D N 5900
Strength – MD | TD 6241
Mullen Burst ASTM N 2250
Strength D 3786
Figure
Fig. 4. Subgrade Preparation
4 : Subgrade Preparation
(Mod.)
Geosynthetic grout mattress filled with cement sand grout Hydraulic Properties
was used as lining in the canal. But it was not directly
placed on the canal subgrade. Woven geo-textile was Apparent Opening ASTM D mm 0.420 –
placed on the canal subgrade and upon it was placed Size (AOS) 4751 0.595
the geosynthetic grout mattress and then it was filled Flow Rate ASTM D cm /
3
194 - 250
with a properly designed grout. The lining in the form of 4491 min/cm2
geosynthetic grout mattress was 100 mm thick. Selecting
proper material and designing the grout mix were the Table 2 : Specifications of Uniform Section
key to success of the entire project. Geosynthetic grout Geosynthetic Grout Mattress After Grout Filling
mattress was available in the role of 6 meter width.
Average Thickness, inches (mm) 4.0 (102)
Joinery of two adjoining roles was very important in this
Figure 5. Placing of Woven Geotextile on Subgrade and Geosynthetic
application. On site stitching was preferred in this case. Grout Mattress Mass Per Unit Area, lb/ft (kg/m )
2 2
45 (220)
As the thread material for stitching was required to be
Drop Point Spacing, inches (mm) 3 x 4 (76 x 102)
kept away from direct contact of alkaline materials, the
stitched joint was provided accordingly. Concrete Coverage, ft /yd (m /m )
2 3 2 3
75 (9.1)
Main function of the woven geotextile was to evenly Shear Resistance, lb/ft3 (kg/m3) 18 (88)
distribute the load of the lining on the subgrade and protect
the geosynthetic grout mattress from getting punctured Filling concrete in the geosynthetic grout mattress
by some pointed stone in case left inadvertently in the required pumping and therefore the mix design was very
subgrade. After setting of the grout in the geo-mattress, different and was done by trials on site. As the canal width
such issue was not required to be worried about but till at the top was 26.85 meter and the depth 5.75 meter, good
then the geosynthetic grout mattress was required to flowability was required to be obtained for the concrete
remain intact so as to hold the grout inside. or grout whatever was to be filled.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

6 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Table 3 : Specifications of Woven Geotextile

M.A.R.V
PROPERTY TEST METHOD UNIT
(Minimum Average Roll Value)
Weight ASTM D 5261 Oz/yd2 (g/m2) 8.85 (300)
Grab Tensile Strength ASTM D 4632 Ibs (kN) 320 (1.42)
Grab Tensile Elongation ASTM D 4632 % 15
Wide Width Tensile ASTM D 4595 kN/m 50
Wide Width Elongation ASTM D 4595 % 15
Trapezoidal Tear Strength ASTM D 4533 Ibs (kN) 210 (0.93)
CBR Puncture Resistance ASTM D 6241 Ibs (kN) 1500 (6.67)
Permittivity* ASTM D 4491 sec-1 0.30
Flow Rate ASTM D 4491 gpm/ft (1/min/m )
2 2
22 (900)
AOS* ASTM D 4751 US Sieve (mm) 40 (0.425)
UV Resistance ASTM D 4355 % hrs 70 / 500
*At the time of manufacturing, Handling, storage, and shipping may change these properties.

Initially the concrete with 10 mm crushed metal as the
coarse aggregate was filled up with pump but then the
pump started getting clogged and it was found that the
setting time was not the issue but the flowability was
the real issue. After many trials this diagnosis could be
made. This kind of trouble was expected prior to actual
large scale pumping as pumped concrete has been
applied in several applications in some other projects
in Gujarat. Ready mix concrete and Ready mix grout
were also tried but the onsite mixing of the grout in small
plant worked well. It reduced the initial setting during
the travel time and provided fresh grout with proper
consistency available for pumping. After several trials
the workability of the grout could be obtained. Cement
used was OPC Grade-53 conforming to IS:12269.
Sand use was with Fineness Modulus 2.3-3.1. Normal
Water conforming to ASTM: C1602/ C1602M-12 was
used. Finally, the grout mix design which was workable
contained per cubic meter of mix the ingredients as
shown in Table 4. The grout had a designed strength of
35 N/mm2 which was tested during the daily progress
of the work.
Table 4 : Mix Design of Grout
Water 420 kg
Cement 600 kg
Sand 1200 kg
Water/ Cement 0.70
One important fact is that in the grout with high water
cement ration, the long term strength is a very sensitive
parameter. Initial setting of cement is likely to take place
before it reaches the final location but large quantity of
water would not allow it to be sensed. If such an event
occurs, the grout filled in the geosythetic mattress would
not have sufficient strength and the lining would fail in
short time. Therefore, testing of samples collected at the
time of grouting is very important in this context. In case
the long term strength of representative samples is found
unsatisfactory, the respective portion is required to be
removed and redone with new material. Fortunately, none
of the samples failed on this aspect in this application.
Some admixtures were required to retard the initial setting
time and for the purpose of curing of the grout because
in this application curing was not possible after pouring
the grout in the geosynthetic mattress.
Once the grout mix design became workable, the
pumping of grout in the geosynthetic mattress got
completed very fast. As the grout was required to be
flowable, the cement level and water cement ratio
had to be kept very high. The consistency of the grout
delivered to the pump should be proportioned and
mixed as to have a flow time of 9-12 seconds when
passed through the 19 mm orifice of the standard flow
cone as per ASTM C6449-99. Generally, high cement
level produces higher value of heat of hydration which
requires more water content present in the grout which
adds to flowability. Because of the geosynthetic mattress
layers covering grout, evaporation of water is not an
issue which provides a congenial situation from setting
of the grout point of view. This is how high cement level
and water cement ratio related issues and especially the
micro cracking within the grout are avoided. Strength of
the grout after final setting is required to be ensured in
such applications.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Application
Figure 4.ofSubgrade
Geosynthetic Grout Mattress in Restoration of Canal : A Case Study of Gujarat, India
Preparation 7

CONCLUSION
The most important aspect for any engineering project
is its performance. Canals and hydraulic structures
are practically very difficult to bring to the required
performance level as they involve multidisciplinary issues
and need utmost care in design, selecting the materials
and workmanship. Unconventional solutions sometime
lead to several positive dimensions of performance if
introduced thoughtfully which could be learnt from this
project. Some engineering solutions can offer many
benefits other than addressing the problem without any
extra cost as compared to the conventional solutions
and save large maintenance costs. Some struggle for
Fig. 5 : Placing of Woven Geotextile on Subgrade and selecting or designing the right quality material pays a
ure 5. Placing of WovenGeosynthetic
Geotextile Grout
on Subgrade
Mattressand Geosynthetic lot
Grout Mattress
in long run.
Finer details about experiences while commissioning
some engineering activities teach a lot about the pros
and cons of different materials and techniques used and
how they trigger some changes in their application and
they also define the need of reforms to be introduced.
Technological upgradation is required in the field of
maintenance and repairs especially in hydraulic structures.
Large investment in construction of hydraulic structures
can be properly utilized with necessary maintenance
and repair. Modern technologies provide better solutions
which can be seen from various case studies and that is
how can we ensure proper utilization of existing projects
for the designed lifespan.
Geosynthetics are available in many forms and
varieties and they provide neoteric approaches to
Figure 6. Pumping
Fig. of
6 :Concrete
Pumpingin ofGeosynthetic Grout Mattress in Progress
Concrete in Geosynthetic designing solutions of very complicated problems in
Figure 6. Pumping of Concrete in Geosynthetic Grout Mattress in Progress
Grout Mattress in Progress the hydraulic engineering. Problem specific solution
philosophy and methodology is required to be adopted
with a right geosynthetic product. Actual requirements
of different projects could be different, and, therefore,
depending on the situation, an appropriate proposition
for the geosynthetics should be decided. A thorough
understanding of all the practical aspects of the problem
at hand combined with intuitive abilities, a comprehensive
study of all relevant attributes and judgmental strength
of the designer or the solution provider are required for
resolution of complicated engineering problems.

Fig. 7 : Canal with Geosynthetic Grout Mattress Lining
Figure 6. Canal with Geosynthetic Grout Mattress Lining
Proper keying of the geosynthetic grout mattress was done
Figure
on both6. Canal
the sideswith Geosynthetic
at the Grout After
top of the canal. Mattress Lining
restoration
of the canal, the flow was allowed and observations
had been made for a year. The results have been found
satisfactory. Velocity has been effectively controlled and
hydraulics of the flow has improved significantly. The
embankments have been found dry on the outer side
which suggests there is no seepage through them.
REFERENCEs
1. Guide to the Specification of Geosynthetics 2018,
International Geosynthetic Society Secretariat, 1934,
Commerce Lane Ste 4, Jupiter, Florida, 33458 United
States
2. Guidelines For The Design And Construction Of Geosynthetic
Reinforced Embankment On Soft Subsoils, Indian Road
Congress, 2013
3. M. G. Hawkswood, P. J. Assinder, Concrete mattress
used for berth scour protection, GhIGS GeoAfrica 2013
Conference Accra, Ghana 18 – 20 November 2013

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 BEARING CAPACITY OF GEOSYNTHETIC
REINFORCED SAND BED ON PROBLEMATIC SOIL
P. Rajashekar Reddy, G.V.N. Reddy and E. Saibaba Reddy
JNTU Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT
The paper presents analysis to find out the bearing capacity of strip footing resting on geosynthetic
(geogrid/geotextile) reinforced sand bed overlying non-homogeneous clay. The model considered for
the study consists of sand bed overlying soft non-homogeneous clay, whose undrained shear strength
increases linearly with depth. As most naturally deposited clays have induced non-homogeneity, thereby
effective stress and hence the undrained shear strength increases with depth. A single layer of geosynthetic
reinforcement is placed in the sand bed to study the effect of reinforcement. To arrive at the ultimate
bearing capacity of the double layered foundation system, Meyerhof’s punching mode of failure for footings 1of 9
on dense sand (with/without reinforcement) overlying soft non-homogeneous clay is extended to include
the non-homogeneity of soft clay, shear resistance of sand fill and axial resistance of the reinforcement.
Analytical solutions are developed for strip footings supported on geotextile/geogrid reinforced sand beds.
The predicted bearing capacity values are found to compare well with some of the available experimental
values. A parametric study quantifies the effect of various parameters on the bearing capacity.
fluence of linearly increasing undrained shear strength
1. IndroductIon
Keywords : Reinforced sand Bed, non-homogeneous clay, normalised bearing capacity, undrained shear
with depth, under both plane strain and axisymmetric
strength
le stresses by mobilizing tensile forces within them.
1. INTRODUCTION
c0 c0
Most Due
of thetoavailable
the growingsolutions
needsfor of
bearing
presentcapacity
societycon-and
sidered the subsoil clay as homogeneous.
urbanization, usage of problematic soils which were In realty, it
c c c
showsconsidered
undrained shear strength(c) increasing linearly
unsuitable for construction are inevitable. with
depth.Generally,
Whereas, Bujang [1995] presented
for foundations on clayey field datapart
soil, of soft
of the
clay soil
weak which
soil shows increase
is replaced by in undrained
enough shear strength
thickness of sand fill
1 1
with depth, which the
or increase contemplate
width of theincrement
foundationof shear strength
or combination 1
with depth.
of two.Davis and Booker
Alternatively, part exhibited
of weak soil that isforreplaced
fresh de- with k k
posits geosynthetic
the actual variation
reinforced of sand
shearbed strength
whichiswill approxi-
increase k
matelythelinear [Figure
bearing 1a], whereas
capacity for agedthe
and distribute normally
pressure con-over
widedeposit,
solidated area beneath the depth
over the full sand itbed,maythusdevelopreduces
largerthe Z Z Z
shear required
strength sand bed 1b].
[Figure thickness with sameconsolidated
For normally effectiveness. a) b) c)
clay, it may develop constant shear strength in the crust,the
Geosynthetic reinforcement inclusion improves
Fig. 1 : Variation 1of undrained strength vs depth profiles:
wheremechanical
as in remainingproperties
depthofshear
soil and resist the
strength appliedline-
increases tensile
= Freshly
𝑞�𝑐(a) 𝐹[𝑐0 𝑁𝑐deposited
+ 𝑘𝐵] and consolidated clay, (b) Aged (1)
stresses by mobilizing
arly with depth. [Figure 1c]. tensile forces within them. 4
normally consolidated clay deposit (c) Normally consolidated
Most of the available solutions for bearing capacity clay deposit with crust (after Davis and Booker, 1973)
considered the subsoil clay as homogeneous. In realty, Where,
Despite these variations in strength, many of the bearing
Figureit1.
shows undrained
Variation shear strength
of undrained (c) vs
strength increasing
depth pro-linearly F=
capacity ) is surface
f(kB/c0solutions forcorrection factor suggested
footings supported on softbysoil
Da-
with depth. Whereas, Bujang [1995] presented
files: (a) Freshly deposited and consolidated clay, (b) field data
vis
considered, the soil to be homogeneous neglectingas-
and Booker 1973. In the present study footing is
of soft clay soil which shows increase
Aged normally consolidated clay deposit (c) Normallyin undrained shear
sumed as rough
the nature base. non-homogeneity. Consideration
induced
strength with depth, which contemplate increment of
consolidated clay deposit with crust (after Davis and of non-homogeneity of clay is closer to reality and
shear strength with depth. Davis and Booker exhibited that Above (1) for footings with rough base becomes
Booker, 1973) provides reasonable estimate of bearing capacity of
for fresh deposits the actual variation of shear strength
is approximately linear [Figure 1a], whereas for aged foundations
q�c = F[Nsupporting
kB on it. For the bearing capacity(2)
c + 4c ]c0
Despite these variations
normally consolidated in strength, many
deposit, over theoffull
thedepth
bearing
it may of rough and strip0 footings, Davis and Booker [1973]
capacity solutions for footings supported on soft soil
develop larger shear strength [Figure 1b]. For normally con- presented
After plasticity
normalizing solutions
the above withand
c0 itstated that as the
becomes
sidered, the soil to clay,
consolidated be homogeneous
it may developneglecting the nature
constant shear strength degree of non-homogeneity increases, conventional
in the crust, where as in remaining depth shear strength (upper
q�c ∗ bound)
= F[Ncsolutions
+ ] becomes less accurate. Punching(3)
kB

increases linearly withquf depth. [Figure 1c]. shear failure mode 0was proposed by Meyerhof [1974]
4c

γ�2 2D
q� = cNc + �1 + � k � tanϕ + γD (4)
B �
Volume 8 v No. 2 vfooting
Strip July 2019 8
GL GL Maximum value is restricted to ultimate bearing capacity
 1of 9

Bearing Capacity of Geosynthetic Reinforced fluence

Sand Bedof
on linearly increasing
Problematic Soil undrained shear 9 strengt
1. IndroductIon with depth, under both plane strain and axisymmetric
for strip footing supporting on dense sand bed overlying rib thickness fluence
fluence of 3.5 ofmm
linearly linearlyxincreasing
1.6 mm, increasing undrained
with undrained
ultimate shear
tensile shear st
strength
1.stresses
1.IndroductIon
lehomogeneousIndroductIon
by mobilizing
clay layer.tensile forces within wasthem. withwith ofdepth, underunder both plane strain and axisymmetric
Plasticity theory used by strength of 80
depth, kN/m x 50kN/m
both plane and
straintensile
and strength
axisymmetric at
fluence linearly increasing undrained shear strength
Tani
Most 1. &IndroductIon
of Craig [1995] to find out the influence of linearly 2% strain 20 kN/m x 20 kN/m isc0considered) of length,
the available solutions for bearing capacity con- with depth, under both plane strain and axisymmetric
c0 Lr
lelestresses
stressesundrained
increasing bybymobilizing
mobilizing sheartensile
tensile
strength forces
forces with within
within
depth, them.them.
under is placed with in the sand bed at a distance u from the
sidered the strain
subsoiland clay as homogeneous. In on realty, it
bothle
Most plane
stresses
ofthe theby available
mobilizing axisymmetric
tensile forces
solutions for conditions
within capacity
bearing them. thecon-bottom of footing. The cangle cof 0 internal
c0 c c0 and unit
friction c0 c
Most
shows
bearing of
undrained
capacity available
shear
of shallow solutions
strength(c) foundations. for bearing
increasing capacity
linearly
Contributions with con-
weight of the sand are ϕ and γ respectively. While ϕ is
depth.sidered
sidered Whereas,
ofthethe subsoil
Bujang
subsoil clay
[1995] as homogeneous.
as presented field In
data realty,
of softittheitfriction angle between c0 c0
of clay homogeneous. In realty,
r
of Most
membrane the action
available solutions
reinforcement, for bearing
shear capacity
layer effect con- c the reinforcement c and sand. c
clay shows
sidered
soil undrained
whichthe subsoil
shows shear clay strength(c)
increase as sand increasing
homogeneous.
in undrained linearly
Inbearing
shear realty, with
strength itwith c c
shows
and stress undrained
distribution shear strength(c)
through increasing
layer onfield
the linearly
depth. Whereas, Bujang [1995] presented data ofwith softTGSY is the mobilized c axial tension 1
in the
c reinforcement. c
with shows
depth.depth,
capacity undrained
which
Whereas,
of strip shear
contemplate
Bujang
footing strength(c)
resting[1995] onincrement increasing
presented
homogeneous linearly
of shear
field
claydatastrength
wasof In soft the present 1 analysis angle of internal friction of1 sand
clay soil
depth. which shows
Whereas, Bujang increase
[1995]exhibitedin undrained
presented field shear
data strength
of strength
soft
with
clay depth. Davis and Booker andthat Shivfor fresh de-varies between 25° to 40° and density
withsoil which shows increase in undrained shear
considered by Rethalia & Verma [2009] Shankar 1 k of sand bed 1 varies k
clay depth,
soil whichwhich shows contemplate
increase increment
in undrained ofshear
shear strength
strength 1 3 kto 20 kN/m3. 1
posits
et.al
with the
[1993].
depth, actual
Rajalakshmi
which variation et.al
contemplate of shear
[2012] strength
proposed
increment of a is approxi-
method
shear strengthfrom 17 kN/m 1 11of 9
with depth,
with depth. which Davis contemplate
and Booker increment exhibited of that for strength
shear fresh de- 1 k 1 k
to
matelyestimatelinear bearing capacity of strip footing supporting on
the [Figure 1a],Booker
whereas for aged normally con-de-
with depth. Davis and exhibited 1
posits
with
geosynthetic depth. actual
Davis and
reinforced
variation
Booker
sand
of exhibited
bed,
shear
considering thatthat
strength foris for
fresh
linearly
fresh
approxi-
de- 3. METHOD k
Z OF kANALYSISZk
k kZ k9
1of
solidated
posits
matelythe deposit,
actual
linear over
[Figure the
variation full
1a], whereas depth
ofshearshear it may develop
strength
forstrength
aged normally larger
is approxi-
con-
posits
increasing the actual
undrained variation
strength ofwith depth. is approxi- k a) b) c)
shear
mately strength
solidated
mately linear deposit,
linear [Figure
[Figure
[Figure over1a], 1b].
1a],
thewhereas
fullFor
whereas depth normally
forfor
itaged aged
may consolidated
normally
develop
normally con-con-
larger 3.1 Bearing Z Capacity of Clayey
Z Soil Z
clay,
This itpaper
shear may develop
presents
strength aconstant
[Figure method 1b]. shear
to
For strength
estimate
normally the in thelarger
bearing
consolidated crust, Z a)
Z Z Z
b) Z c) Z
solidated
solidated deposit,
deposit, over
over the
the full
full depth
depth it may
it may develop
develop larger
The ultimate bearing capacity, quc, of a strip footing
where clay,asstrength
capacity
shear
shear inof
mayremaining
itstrengthstrip footing
develop
[Figure
[Figure depth
constant
1b].
1b]. shear
supporting ForForstrength
shear on
strength
normally
normally increases
geosynthetic
inconsolidatedline-supported
the crust,
consolidated fluence
𝑞�𝑐 on
a)
=of𝐹[𝑐the a) +increasing
linearly
1 b) undrained b) c)
shear strength c) (1
1. IndroductIon 0surface
𝑁 𝑐 of the clay
𝑘𝐵] whose undrained
(geogrid/geotextile)
arly with
where
clay, itdepth.
as mayin [Figure
remaining
develop reinforced
1c].
depth
constant sand
shear
shear bed
strength
strength overlying
increases
in the soft line-
crust, with depth, under both 1 4
plane strain and axisymmetric
clay, it may develop constant shear strength in the crust, shear strength
𝑞�𝑐
fluence = 𝐹[𝑐 linearly
of 𝑁𝑐 +
0linearly
increases
𝑘𝐵]
increasing withundrained
depth is shear strength(1)
non-homogeneous
arly with
where 1.asin IndroductIon
depth.
in clay (shear
[Figure
remaining 1c]. strength
depth shear linearly
strength increases
increases line-line- 𝑞with=depth, 1 4
where as
le depth).
stresses remaining
by mobilizing depthtensile shear strength
forcesconsiders
within them.increases �𝑐 𝑞𝐹[𝑐=
Where, under
0 𝑁𝐹[𝑐 𝑐 + 4𝑁 both
𝑘𝐵] plane
1 strain and axisymmetric ...(1) (1)
witharly withdepth.depth.The proposed
[Figure 1c]. model non- �𝑐 0 𝑐 + 4 𝑘𝐵]
arly with
homogeneity of clay [Figure 1c].
and the effect of passive resistance Where, c0
Figure Most 1.leof stresses
Variation by mobilizing
the available of undrained
solutions tensile forforces
strengthbearing within
vs depth
capacitythem. pro-con-Where, F= f(kB/c0) is surfacec0 correction factor suggested by Da
i.e., ability
Figure of
1. the geogrids
Variation to
of interlock
undrained mechanically
strength vs with
depth the
pro- Where, cstudy
files: (a) Most
sidered Freshly deposited
subsoil
ofin the clay
available and as consolidated
homogeneous.
solutions foreffect
bearingclay,
In (b)
realty,
capacity con- itF= F=
vis
f(kB/c f(kB/c
Where,
and
) is )
Booker
surface
0 is surface
1973.
correction correction
cIn
0 the
factor factor
present
suggested suggested
0 footing
by Davis by Da-is as
sand particles
Figure 1.undrained thedeposited
Variation fill,of
in addition tostrength
the ofclay,
frictional 0 c c c
Aged files:
shows (a)
normally
sideredFreshly shearundrained
consolidated
the subsoil andasconsolidated
strength(c)
clay
clay increasing
deposit
homogeneous. (c)vsNormally
depth
linearly
In pro-
(b) withand
realty, it F=vis f(kB/c
and )
sumed as rough base.
Booker 1973.
0 is
Booker surface
In 1973.
the correction
present In the
study factor
present
footing suggested
study
is footing
assumed by Da-
is as-
resistance
Figure 1. ofVariation
reinforcement of considering
undrained strengthaxialclay,pullout
vs (b)ofofsoft
depth pro- F= f(kB/c )base.
cis surface correction c studyfactor suggested b
files:
Aged
depth.
consolidated (a)
shows Freshly
normally
Whereas,
clay deposited
consolidated
Bujang
deposit
undrained with
shear and
[1995] clayconsolidated
crust
strength(c) deposit
presented
(after (c)
field
Davis
increasing Normally
data
and
linearly with
as vis and
sumed
rough base.Booker
as rough01973. In the present footing isc as-
reinforcement.
files:
Aged (a) Freshly
normally deposited
consolidated and
clay consolidated clay, (b) Above visas(1) and for footings
Booker withIn
1973. rough
the basepresent becomes
study footing
consolidated
Booker, clay depth.
soil
1973) which clay
Whereas, deposit
shows with
increase
Bujang [1995]indeposit
crust (after(c)Davis
undrained
presented Normally
fieldand
shear strength
data of soft sumed rough base.
Aged
Booker,
with normally
consolidated
clay 1973)
depth, soil clayconsolidated
which
which deposit
contemplate
shows with clay
crust
increase deposit
(after
increment
in (c)
Davis
undrainedof shearNormally
and
shear strength
strength
Above Above
(1) for(1)
sumed for
footings
as footings
rough with rough with
base.1 rough base base becomes becomes
1
2. PROBLEM DEFINITION AND FORMULATION Above 1 for footingskBwith1rough base becomes
(1)
Booker,
consolidated
withwith 1973)
depth. clay
depth,Davis deposit
which with
andcontemplate
Booker crust
exhibited (after
increment thatDavis
offor and
fresh
shear de-
strength q�c = F[N + ]c0 k
1= F[Ncc+ kB
1
k (2
Despite
Fig 2 these
shows avariations
strip footing in strength,
of width, many
B, of
resting theon bearing
top q
Above
�c (1) for 4c]c
footings
0 0
with rough base ...(2)
becomes (2)
posits
Booker,
Despite with the
1973)
these actual
depth. variation
Davis
variations andinBooker of shear
strength, strength
exhibited
many of is
that theforapproxi-
fresh de-
bearing k
q�c = F[Nc + ]c0
kB 4c0 k k (2)
capacity
of Despite
amately
well solutions
graded for footings
sand supported on soft
thesoil con-After After normalizing 0 the above with c0 it becomes
capacity positsthese
linear thevariations
solutions actual
[Figure for bedvariation
1a],
footings of
in whereas thickness,
strength,of shear
supportedformany aged H,
strength
on overlying
ofnormally
soft is
soil approxi-
bearing
con-
con- normalizing
After
k the 4c
normalizing abovethe with
kB c0
above with it becomes
c it becomes
sidered, thesolutions
non-homogeneous soillinearto be homogeneous depthneglecting the
soilnature Z q�c = F[Nc +Z ]c0 Z
toclay deposit considering increase of 0
capacity mately
solidated thedeposit, [Figure
for the1a],
befootings
over fullwhereas
supported it for
mayonagedsoftnormally
develop con- con- After normalizing
sidered,
Despite these soil
variations homogeneous
inlinearly
strength, neglecting
many of thelarger
the nature
bearing Z∗ a) the abovekB 4c Z 0 with
b) c0 it becomes Z c)
(3) (3
undrained
shear strength
sidered, shear
solidated
the soil to strength,
deposit,
[Figure overc, the full
1b]. For normally
be homogeneous with
depth depth.
it may develop
neglectingconsolidated
the nature larger q = F[N
�c∗ = F[N c+ 4c] + kB ] ...(3)
capacity solutions for footings supported on soft soil con- q �c a) c b) c)
shear strength
clay, it may develop qconstant [Figure
ufq 1b]. For normally
shear strength in the crust, consolidated After
q�c ∗ normalizing
= Capacity
F[N
kB4c0 0
the above with c0 it becomes
c +24c ]of Sand Bed on Clay (3)
sidered, the
clay, itsoil
may todevelop
be homogeneous
uf
neglecting in the 3.2 Bearing
nature Soil
where as in remaining qufconstant
depth shearshear strength strength
increases theline-
crust,
==cN
q𝑞���𝑐= cN
γ�
+𝑁𝑐2 +�1
2 1 0
�1
2D
+ �kB�k �ktanϕ tanϕ (4) (1)
++ γDγDat a (4)
𝐹[𝑐 γ� 𝑘𝐵] 2D
arly where
with depth. as in remaining
[Figure 1c]. depth shear strength increases line- For q q
embedded q�c c+0∗
γ�=
strip F[N4 1+
footing +of ] � B,
width, placed depth (1)
= 𝑞�𝑐cN = c𝐹[𝑐
+ 0𝑁 BB𝑐 ++
�1
2D
c𝑘𝐵] ��
� k tanϕ + γD (4)
arly with depth. Strip footing
[Figure 4c
GL GL Strip quf 1c].
footing GLGL D from
�
Maximum
c
NGL and value supported
B 4 �0
� on a thin dense sand bed of
isrestricted
restrictedtotoultimate ultimate bearing capacit
Strip footing Maximum
Where, value isγ� 2 bearing capacity
GL GL thickness,
B undrained
ττ Maximum q�H=
sand
ofWhere,
sand
overlying
bedvalue
bed cN asasc + on a clay 2D
is restricted�1 + layer
to � k whose
ultimate
� tanϕ +undrained
bearing γD capacity (4)
Figure 1. τVariation of B strength vs depth H pro-
H pro-shear F=strength
of bed0)is
f(kB/c
sand asisc0surface
, Meyerhof proposed
B correction � factor punching
suggested shearby Da-
u u 1. τ Variation
Figure of and `τSand
undrained ` Sand bed
bed(ϕ,
strength γ)γ)depth
(ϕ,vs F=andf(kB/c
files: (a)u Freshly Strip L
τ` deposited B
footing consolidated clay, (b)
H mode vis
q of =
= γDN
failure. 0)A
Booker
γDN +istotal
+ surface
0.5γBN
1973.
0.5γBN correction
passive
In the factor
resistance
present suggested
of
study (5)
p (5)acts
footing by
is Da-
at as-
GLfiles: ` L ` GL � Maximum value γisγ restricted to ultimate bearing
is as- ca
` ` (a) Freshly deposited and Sand bed (ϕ, γ)clay, (b)
consolidated � qq p
Aged normally
` ` consolidated
r Lr clay deposit (c) Normally an q
anglevis
=
sumed
� and
γDN
of δ
as Booker
+
with
rough
q 0.5γBN 1973.
horizontal
base. In the present (5)
study
γ or vertical plane through the footing
c0 cAged normally consolidated clay deposit (c) Normally of sand bed base.
as shear failure in thick sand layer
crustτ (after Davis and H edge ofsumed as rough
0
consolidated c cclay deposit
0 c0consolidated
0
τc clay Br withwith
deposit crust (after Davis and
footing. General
0 u 1973)
Booker, ` Sand bed (ϕ, γ) Above (1) shearfor footings
failurewith roughdense
base becomes
Booker, `1973) LGeosyntheticreinforcement
Geosynthetic reinforcement(ϕ (ϕrr)) and punching Above
q� =(1)γDN for footings
q + 0.5γBNγ
through
with sand are (5)
rough base becomes the
1 1 `
1 Geosynthetic reinforcement (ϕ r) possible failure modes. kB
c0 r q�c = F[Nc + kB]c0 (2)
Despite k c Soft
k kthese variations in strength,
non-homogeneous many
clay (c, ϕuof thethe
=0) bearing q�c = F[Nc +4c0 ]c0 (2)
0 Despite Soft
these non-homogeneous
Soft variations
non-homogeneous in clay
strength,
clay (c,
(c, ϕ
many
ϕ
u=0)
=0)of bearing Shear stresses are developed
4c0 on either side of the sand
capacity
Z ZZcapacity solutions for footings supported on on
u softsoft
soilsoilcon- After
solutions for footings
Geosynthetic supported
reinforcement (ϕcon-column, asnormalizing
After the the
footing punches
normalizing theabove
above with
through it becomes
withc0cthe sand layer into
0 it becomes
sidered, the soil to be homogeneous neglecting the nature r)
1
sidered, the soil to be homogeneous neglecting the nature the soft clay. For a strip footing
kB supporting on dense sand
Rigid Base q�cq∗ = ∗ F[Nc + kB ]] (3)
(3)
k Rigid
Rigid Base
Base bed overlying soft
= F[N clay, +4cultimate bearing capacity is
Soft non-homogeneous
quf q clay (c, ϕu =0) �c c 0
4c0
induced non-homogeneity.
Z 2non-homogeneity. uf Consideration of non-
induced
induced
Fig. non-homogeneity.
: Definition sketch of footing Consideration
Consideration
on geosynthetic of non-
of non- q� = cNc + γ�γ� 2
2 2D2D
(4)
homogeneity of clay is closer to reality and provides rea- q� = cNc +B �1�1++� � �k k � tanϕ + γD
� tanϕ + γD (4)...(4)
homogeneity
reinforced
homogeneity sand
of of
clayclayisiscloser
bed over closertotoreality
soft reality and
non-homogeneous and provides clay
provides rea-
rea- B �
sonable GL estimate of of bearing
bearing
Strip footing
Strip Base
Rigid capacityofof
footing foundationssup- sup-Maximum value is restricted to ultimate bearing capacity
sonable
sonable
A single
porting
estimate
estimate
layer
on of bearing
GLof geosynthetic
it. For the bearing
capacity
capacity
reinforcement
capacity ofGLof
foundations
foundations
GL (Geotextile
rough and sup-
strip
Maximum
Maximumvalue valueisisrestricted
restrictedtotoultimate
ultimatebearing
bearing capacity
capacity
porting
porting on on
it. it.
For Forthethe bearing
bearing capacity
capacity τ of
of rough
rough and
and strip
strip of sand
of ofbed
sand
sand as
bedbedas as
made
induced up of
footings, Davis polypropylene
non-homogeneity.
Davis andτ Booker
Booker B B having
[1973] 0.6 τ mm
Consideration thickness,
presentedplasticity of so-
plasticity non-
footings, u τand [1973] `presented H
footings,
specific Davis
gravityu and of 0.9Booker [1973]
andasbreaking Sand
presented bedbed
` Sand
strength (ϕ,
of 80
(ϕ, γ) Hso-
γ) kN/m
plasticity so- rea- q�q= = ...(5)
homogeneity
lutions
lutions and
and of
stated
` ofstated` clay
` that `thatis
thatsize closer
as theLthe L to
degree
degree reality
of
ofmm, and
non-homogeneityprovides
non-homogeneity � γDN γDN q+q+ 0.5γBN
0.5γBN γγ (5)
(5)
and
lutionsGeogrid
and
increases, statedaperture
conventional as the 35
(upper mm
degree x 35
of transverse
non-homogeneity
bound) solutions
r rcapacity solutions becomes
sonable c0estimate
increases, cconventional
0 of bearing
c c (upper (upper bound) of foundations becomes sup-
increases,
less
porting 0 conventional
accurate.
on it. For Punching
the bearingshear bound)
failure
capacity solutions
mode was becomes
proposed
less accurate. 0 Punching shear failure modeofwas rough and strip
proposed
Figure
lessbyaccurate.
Meyerhof Punching
[1974] shear
for strip failure mode
footingpresented
Geosynthetic
Geosynthetic supporting was plasticity
reinforcement
reinforcement proposed
on(ϕ dense
r)(ϕr) so-
Figure 2.2. Bearing
Bearingcapacitycapacity ofof sand
sand bed bed overlying
overlying clay
clay
footings,
by 1Davis
Meyerhof and Booker
1 [1974] for strip [1973]
footing supporting on dense Figure
(Meyerhof, 2. 1974)
Bearing
1974) capacity of sand bed overlying clay
by Meyerhof
sand bedbed [1974] forhomogeneous
overlying strip footingclay
homogeneous supporting
clay layer. on dense
Plasticity (Meyerhof,
sand
lutions and koverlying
stated k Softthat as the degree of layer. Plasticity
non-homogeneity (Meyerhof, 1974)
sand bed
theory overlying
was used by Soft
Taninon-homogeneous
non-homogeneous
homogeneous
& Craig clayclay
clay
[1995] (c,
to ϕ(c,
layer.findϕu =0)
u =0) Plasticity
out the in-
theory Zwasconventional
increases, Zused by Tani & Craig bound)
(upper [1995] tosolutionsfind out the in-
becomes Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
theory was used by Tani & Craig [1995] to find out the in-
less accurate. Punching shear failure mode was proposed
 Where,
qus* = qusq/c *
us0 = It is the combination of strength of bottom non
q� = γDNq + 0.5γBNγ (5) *
qus = *qus/c0homogeneous clay and top sand bed.
qus = It is the combination of strength of bottom non –
qus*homogeneous
= It is γB/c
the combination of sand
clay and top strength
bed.of bottom non –
10 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground 0 = Sand bed density gradient
Improvement
homogeneous clay and top sand bed.
γB/c0 = Sand bed density gradient
H/B = Normalised sand bed thickness
The0 =axial
γB/c Sand force
bed density gradientin the reinforcement, T ,
developed
H/B = Normalised sand bed thickness GTX
considering the unit width
H/B = Normalised sand bed thickness of footing, B is
γ� Lr −B
T�T�
γ�
=2 tanϕr ( ) ...(9) (
BLr −B 2
T�T� =γ�2 tanϕ r( 2 )
Lr −B
(7)
B
Where,
T�T� = 2Where, tanϕr ( ) (7)
Where, B 2
(10)
ϕr = Interface
Where, ϕr= Interface bond bondresistance
resistancebetween
betweensandsand andand geotextil
ϕr= Interface bond resistance between sand and geotextile.(10) Wher
geotextile.
ϕr= Interface bond
The resistance
bearing between
capacity ofsand and geotextile.
double layer system Where, qGTX* =
consisting
TheThebearing
bearing capacity
capacity of of double
doublelayerlayersystem
system consisting
consisting of *
qGTX =temNormc
The bearingreinforced
ofreinforced
reinforcedcapacity
sand ofsand
bed
sand double
and bed and
layer
bednon-homogeneous
and non-homogeneous
system consisting
non-homogeneous of clay
clay consider-clay conside
tem combine
sand b
ingincrease
increase 2of 9
reinforced sand
ing increase
considering bed
in strength ininstrength
strength
and non-homogeneous
with depth with
with depth
clay
isdepth
determinedis determined
consider-
by add-
is determined sand bedby con
ad
pull-o
ing increase
bying ing
(7) and
adding in (7) and
strength
(7)(9)
andas (9)(9) asasdepth is determined by add-
with pull-out.
ing (7) and (9) as
Where qGTX= Normalised bearing kB capacity kB2 of strip
γ� γ�2footing resting 3.1 2oB
q�T� = q
on geotextile
F[N
�T�
reinforced
+= F[N
ckB ]cγ�
4c0sand
+ ]c
0c +
2
bed
B 0 over
4c
+ +K
K �0tanϕ � tanϕ +
T�T�
non-homogeneous
B
T�T�
(8)
...(10)
3.1 Bond
reIn 2o(
ks = Punching shear co-efficient q�T� = F[Nc + ]c0 + K � tanϕ + T�T� 2of
(8) 9
Fig. 3 : Bearing capacity of sand bed overlying clay clay. γ� reInforc out:
4c0 B 2
kB γ�
kB γ�2 γ�
Where
Nq, Nγ = Bearing capacity (Meyerhof,
factors. 1974) q�T� = q qF[N
GTX =
�T� cNormalised
+= F[N ]c
kB 4c0 γ� 4c 0c ++2 bearing
K
]c �
0 tanϕ
+ capacity
γ�B
+ K � tanϕ
tanϕ of r+ strip
(L r −tanϕfooting
B) r (Lrrest
out: −
Where
Where On q�T�
qGTX = F[NonqcGTX
normalizing
= Normalised += the Normalised
geotextile]c0 + above
B0
bearing
(11)
K � tanϕ
reinforced +bysandcapacity
tanϕ
B
undrained
bed r of
r (Lover strip
B
shear
−resting
B) footing rest
...(11)
non-homogene
4cbearing capacity
B of strip
B footing (9) Figure (
Where ks =bearing
Punching shear of co-efficient on geotextile reinforced oversand bed over (9)non-homogeneo
0
The ultimate kBearing capacity shear aco-efficient
strip footing supporting strength of clay,
on geotextile clay. it can besand
reinforced written bedas non-homogeneous
Figure
k = 2. s = Punching
Punching shear capacity
co-efficient of sand bed overlying clay
Figure 4. Stresses on (a) Reinforced sand column Figure velop
and 5 dep
on sand bed, clay.
Figure 3.Figure
Stresses 3.γBon (a) Reinforced sand column andcolumn
(b)
Nq, the
ks =footing
=Punching depth,shearD isco-efficient
equal to zero and (4) Stresses on (a) γB Reinforced sand and in(bdt
s
Nγ Bearing capacity factors. clay. � 2 veloped bed
(Meyerhof,
becomes N 1974)
,
N q, Nγ = Bearing
q Nγ = Bearing
capacity capacity
factors. factors. q (b)
Figure
�T� = geotextile
F 3.
�N Stresses
∗ geotextile
c On
+
kB
�
geotextile+ reinforcement
on
reinforcement
� (a)
normalizing
� �Reinforced
� K
c0 reinforcement
On normalizing
embedded
� the
tan∅ embedded
sand
+ � column
in
above� �sand
�
cembedded
thein sand
above
� tanϕbed
(11) in
andr
(11) by
(
in
sand
(b)
(Rajya-
Lr
by
− 1)
B sand bed
bed
undrained
(Rajya-
undrained shth
bed due to
punch
sh
The Nultimate
, Nγ = Bearing capacity factors. 4c0 B B
bearing capacity of a strip footing geotextile
On
supporting lakshmi, reinforcement
normalizing
(Rajyalakshmi, 2012)
strength embedded
theof clay,
2012) above it (11)
can beby0
bed
written (Rajya-
undrained as shear
The
q
γ�2ultimate bearingofcapacity of a strip footing supporting
lakshmi,of lakshmi, it can2012)
strength ofbeclay, it can
as be written as punching fai
q�The
=The ultimate
cNon sandbearing
ultimate
c+ bed,
bearing
K � tanϕ capacity
the footing of
capacity adepth,
strip footing
a stripDfooting supporting
is equal to(4)zero and
supporting (4) 2012)
strength clay, written
�Nc �+ 2 kB� + �ufγB� �γB�� 2�K𝜏
ononsand on Bsand
bed, the the bed, the
footing footing
depth, D isdepth,
equal D
to is equal
zero to zero and (4) q�T� q 2
to and
zero(4)and q Where,
∗ kB γB � γB � Lr
sand bed,
becomes footing depth, D is equal kB ∗= FγB � tan∅ + Lr� cγB� � B �� tanϕr (Lr − 1)
becomes
∗
Where, = F �N Where,
+q � + = � F �N
� � +
� �
4cK0 tan∅+ �
c+0 � �B��� K � tan∅
tanϕ (+ �− �
01) � � tanϕ ( B − 1)
For becomes
a (4)
double layer soil bearing capacity of strip footing �T� c �T� c 4c�0 � r B c0 r
becomes 2
4c0 c0 B c0 c0B B B B

resting on qtop =+ of γ�2 dense

cN +tanϕ
γ� sand
γ�2 tanϕbed overlying non- (4)
q � = �q
cN =
homogeneous clay, considering
c �
ccN
K �c +B K �(2) K � tanϕ
and (6), results (4) (4) quf qquf
B B ...(6) uf

For For
Fora adouble
a
double
double
For alayerlayersoil
kBdouble
layer
soillayer
γ� 2 soil
bearing
bearing
bearing
soilcapacity
bearing
capacity
capacity
ofcapacity
strip
of
of strip
footing
strip
footing
of strip footing
footing
�� = resting
qresting F[Nc +topon]cof0top +dense of K �sand
tanϕ bed
dense sand bed (5)
overlying
restingon resting
on 4c top
0 onof top
dense
B of dense
sand bed overlying
sand bed
overlying non- non-
non-
overlying non- TGTX H B 𝜏 TGTX
homogeneous
homogeneous
homogeneous clay,
homogeneous clay, clay,
considering
clay,considering
(2) and
considering
considering (2) (2)
(6),
and and
results
(2) and
(6), (6), results
(6),
results results
On normalizing the above (7) by undrained shear strength
2 2
of clay, qc0��, reduces
= qF[N to,kB ]c+
c +F[N
γ�kB
kB γ� γ�2
(5) (5)
��q=
�� = c 0 c++ B]c0
4c F[N
K]c�+tanϕ
0+
K �Ktanϕ
� tanϕ ...(7) (5) TGTX HTTGTX
4c04c0
0 2
B B GTX B HH 𝜏 TGTX
BB 𝜏𝜏 TTGTX
GTX
kB γB �
On
On
q��normalizing
∗
normalizing
On=On
F �N c+ theabove
the
normalizing above
�+ (7)
the�the(7)
�by�byundrained
�undrained
K �by
tanϕ shear
shear strength
(6)
strength quf
normalizing
4c cabove B (7)(7)
above undrained
by undrained shear
shearstrength
strength
ofofclay,
clay, , 0reduces
ofcclay,
0c , reducesto,0 to, to,
c , reduces
0
0 c0, reduces to,
of clay,
Where, kB γB � 2 (a)
q�� ∗ = F �N
∗ c ∗+ � + � kB�kB
� � γB
K �γB
tanϕ2
� � 2 (6)
...(8) quf
*
qus = qus/c0 q��q��= F=4c�N
F0 c�N+c 4c
c0 � +
+ B� �
+c �� ��B�� �K �Ktanϕ
� tanϕ (6)
(6) qqufuf
4c c B
Where, 0 0 0 0
γH
qus* Where,
= It isWhere,
the combination of strength of bottom non – (a)
homogeneousq * Where,
= qus/c (a)
(a)
qus* =usqus*/cclay
0 and 0 top sand bed.
q q==*q I=
*qus*us us tusisqus
/c 0 /c0combination of strength of bottom non
the γH
γB/cq0 us= Sand
= It isbed thedensity gradient
combination of strength of bottom non – TGTX γH
γH
* * – homogeneous clay and top sand bed.
qus qus
homogeneous = It=clayisIt the
is the
and topcombination
sand bed. of of
combination strengthofofbottom
strength bottomnon
non– –
H/B = Normalised
homogeneous
γB/c sand
homogeneous
= Sand bed bed
claythickness
clay and
and top
density top sand bed.
sand bed.
gradient
γB/c0 = Sand0
bed density gradient TGTX
H/B γB/c= Normalised sand bed thickness (Lr-B)/2
= Sand bedbed density gradient
H/B =γB/c 0 = 0Sandsand
Normalised density
bed gradient
thickness TTGTX
GTX
γ� L −B
T�T�3.3 2Bond
= H/B H/BtanϕResistance
( r ) sand
= rNormalised ofsandGeotextile
bedbed Reinforcement
thickness (7) (b)
B = Normalised 2 thickness (Lr-B)/2
Due to Axial Pullout
Where,T Fig. 4 (Lrr-B)/2
(L -B)/2
(7)the(10)
γ� L −B
Due
�T� to=2 the tanϕ
punchingr ( r of ) the strip footing through (b)
B γ�2 Where,
clay, stressesWhere,
Lr −B
ϕr= Interface
sand bed bond =resistance
Tinto 2the
=γ� 2soft between
non-homogeneous
tanϕ Lr(−B sand
) and geotextile. (7)
*(7) (b)
Where, T�T��T� tanϕ
B r ( r 2) q (10) = Normalised bearing capacity (b)
for double layerfooting
sys-
are developed in the sand bed and in geosynthetic qGTX
B 2 GTX = Normalised bearing capacity of strip
The bearing capacity
Where, of double layer system consisting of tem combined
Where, with in-situ clay and geotextile reinforced
ϕreinforcement.
r= Interface
Where, bondTensile
resistance forcebetween
developed sand and geotextile.
in the geotextile resting
(10) on geotextile reinforced sand bed over
reinforced sand bed and non-homogeneous clay consider- qGTX*bed
sand (10)
considering axial capacity
resistance
reinforcement layer placed in the sand bed due to = Normalised
Where, bearing
non-homogeneous clay. forofdouble
reinforcement
layer sys-to
The bearing
ing increaseϕ =ϕInterface
in r=strength
Interface
capacity ofbond
with
bond double resistance
depth
resistancelayer
is between
system
determined
between sand
consisting
by
sand and
add-
and geotextile.
ofgeotextile.
tem combined
pull-out. Where,
with
* in-situ clay and geotextile reinforced
interface
r
reinforced shearbed
sand resistance for an effectiveclay
and non-homogeneous length of (Lr-B) On normalizing
consider- * = the
qGTX Normalised
above bearing
(11) capacity
byreinforcement
undrained for shear
double layer s
ing (7) and (9)The as bearing capacity ofofdouble layer system sand bed
consisting of qGTX = Normalised
considering axial bearing
resistance of capacity for double
to layer s
beyond the
The bearing
ing increase edges
in strength of
capacity footing
with2 of depthdouble width, B (Figure
layer system
is determined 4) has
consisting
by add- strength
of tem combined
of clay, with
it can bewith in-situ
written as clay and geotextile reinforc
clay and geotextile
been reinforced
determined. kB sandγ� bed and non-homogeneous clay3.1 pull-out. tem
Bond resIstance
consider- combined in-situ
of GeoGrId reinfor
qing (7)reinforced
and
F[N(9) +as sand ]c +bed and non-homogeneous clay
(8) consider- sand bed considering axial resistance of reinforcement
�T� = ingc increase
4c0 0 in strength
K � tanϕ + T�T�
with depth is determined by add- sand bed considering axial resistance of reinforcemen
ing increase in
B
strength reInforcement pull-out. due to axIal pull-
ingF[N (7) and kB(9) as γ�2 with depth is determined by 3.1add-Bondpull-out.
resIstance of GeoGrId
q�T� =
ing c8(7) and
kBc + (9) ]c
asγ�0
2+ K � tanϕ γ� + T�T� (8) out:
q�T�Volume
= F[N + ]c +
4c
No. 20 v July
v 4c 0 K
B 2019 � tanϕ
B + tanϕ (L
r r − B) reInforcement due to axIal pull-
0
q�T�kB= F[Ncγ�+ 2
kB
]c0 γ�
Bγ�2
+ 2 γ�K � tanϕ +(9)
3.1 Bond resIstance of GeoGrId
T�T� out:(8) 3.1 Bond resIstance of GeoGrId
kB
q = F[N + ]c + K tanϕ + B tanϕ (L − B) Figure 5 depicts the passive and frictional resistances de-
4c
 qGTX= Normalised bearing capacity of strip footing resting
on geotextile reinforced sand bed over non-homogeneous
clay.
On normalizing the Bearingabove Capacity
(11) by ofundrained
Geosynthetic shear
Reinforced Sand Bed on Problematic Soil 11
orting strength of clay, it can be written as
nd (4) Considering different interaction mechanisms,
3ofthe
9 pull-out
kB γB � 2 γB � L
q �T� ∗ = F �Nc + � + � � � � K � tan∅ + � � � � tanϕr ( r − 1) mechanism of geogrid can be found out as 3
4c0 c0 B c0 B B

...(12) PGGR = PS+ PB ...(13)

(4) For geogrid of Where,
Length,
Where,
quf r and unit
ForLgeogrid of width,
Length,Wr, the friction-
Lr and unit width, Wr, the frict
ooting al component of geogrid is
al component of geogrid is
qGTX* = Normalised bearing capacity for double layer PGGR = Pull-out resistance of geogrid
non- system combined with in-situ clay andP�geotextile
= 2α� Lr τ = 2α PS� LPr�=σ= n tanϕ
2α� Lrcomponent
Friction r τ = 2α� Lrof σnpull-out (12)
tanϕr resistance
reinforced sand bed considering axial resistance
of reinforcement to pull-out. Where, PWhere,
B
= Bearing component of pull-out resistance
(5) For
TGTX H of Geogrid TGTX AGGR = W L geogrid
= surface ofarea
Length, Lr and unit width, Wr, the f
of geogrid.
3.4 Bond Resistance B σn 𝜏= Normal
Reinforcement stress σ n = Normal
al
r r
stress
component of geogrid is
ength Due to Axial Pull-Out For geogrid of Length, Lr and unit width, Wr, the frictional
ϕr = Angle of skin friction
componentϕr = Angle between
of of2α
geogrid
P� = soil
skin
is τand
� Lrfriction
= 2αgeogrid
�between
Lr σn tanϕsoil
r and geogrid
Figure 5 depicts the passive and frictional resistances
acting
PS = 2α Linterface
τ = 2αS Lrof σn reinforcement
tanϕr 3of 9
...(14)
developed in the geogrid reinforcement
quf placed
 =inShear
the sand
stress  = at SWhere,
Shear stress acting at interface andof reinforcement
(6) r
bed due to the application of footing load atsand.
the verge of Where,
punching failure.
sand. = Normal
For geogrid σofn Length, stress
Lr and unit width, Wr, the friction-
(a) al component
σn = Normal stress is
αs = Fraction of geogrid αs = solid of
Fraction surface
geogrid
of area.
geogrid
ϕ = Angle of skin friction solid surface
between area.
soil and geogrid
ϕr = Angler of skin friction between soil and geogrid
γH L P� = 2α � L r τ =
L 2α � L r σ n tanϕ r (12)
non – PB = ( r )αB σ � t t = Shear = rShear
PB = (stress σ�stress
)αBacting t at interface (13) of reinforcem
acting atofinterface
reinforcement
� Where, �
and sand.
sand.
Where, Where,
σn =αsNormal
= Fractionstressof geogrid solid surface area.
αs = Fraction of geogrid solid surface area.
TGTX
S = Geogrid bearing
ϕ r = members
Angle of skin
S = Geogrid bearingspacing.
friction
Lr
between
memberssoil and geogrid
spacing.
PB = ( )αB σ� t
(Lr-B)/2 Lr/S = Number of
 =geogrid
Shear stress acting� at interface of reinforcement...(15)
Lr/S = members.
Number of geogrid members. and
sand.
Where, Where,
(7)
αB = The fraction
α =
ofFraction
αBtotal
= Thefrontal area of
fraction
of geogrid
available for bear-
total frontal area available for b
(b) S = Geogrid
s bearingsolid surface
members area.
spacing.
ing. ing.L S = Geogrid bearing members spacing.
(10) Lr/S
PB == Number
( r )αB σ� tof geogrid members. (13)
� Lr/S = Number of geogrid members.
t = Transversal rib thickness
t = Transversal rib thickness
xtile. Where, Where,
αB = The fraction of total frontal area available for
qGTX* = Normalised bearing capacity for double B = The
αstress on fraction of total frontal area available fo
ng of
σb = layer sys-
The effective σb bearing.
bearing
= The effectivegeogrid
bearingbearing
stress mem-on geogrid bearing m
tem combined with in-situ clay and geotextile S =
bers reinforced t =bersGeogrid ing.
bearing
Transversal
members spacing.
rib thickness
sider- sand bed considering axial resistance of reinforcement to Lr/S = Number of geogrid members.
y add- t = Transversal
σb = The effective bearing ribstress
thickness
on geogrid bearing
pull-out.
αB = The members
fraction of total frontal area available for bear-
σb = The effective bearing stress on geogrid bearin
3.1 Bond resIstance of GeoGrId
The ratio σ b/σThe depends
n ing. The
ratio only
ratio
σ σon angleonly
b/σn depends
/σ n depends
bers
b
of on
shearing
only
angle re-
on ofangle of shearing
shearing
(8) sistance as defined by
resistance
t = (Jewell
sistance
as
Transversal aset.
defined
rib al [5])
defined
by
thickness by (Jewell
(Jewell et. al et.
[5]
) al [5])
reInforcement due to axIal pull-
out: σ� �
σ = The �effective
ϕ � bearing stress on geogrid bearing mem-
− B) = e(� 2 +ϕ�tanϕ
b
tanσ(� =
+ e)(� 2ratio
+ϕ�tanϕ
σb/σtan
� ϕ
( + ) only(14)
σn bers σ n4 The
2 n depends
4 2 on angle
...(16)of shear
(9) Figure 5 depicts the passive and frictional resistances de- sistance as defined by (Jewell et. al [5])
veloped in the geogrid reinforcement placed If the shear
in the sandstress
If theapplied
shear
If is distributed
the stress
shear applied
stress uniformly
is distributed
applied along along
uniformly
is distributed uniformly a
(b) �
ya- bed due to the application of footing load the whole
at the of the
vergesurface Thewhole
ofthe
ratio surface
whole
σ σ� of reinforcement,
reinforcement, (� pull
b n surface
/σ out pull
= e 2 of reinforcement,
depends +ϕ�tanϕ
only on � out
angle ϕ resistance
resistance
of of
tan( + ) pull out
shearing re-ofresistanc
punching failure. geogrid
geogrid can be calculated
sistance can
as be σcalculated as
as can be calculated as
defined
n by (Jewell et. al [5])4 2
geogrid
zation of frictional
Figure and passive
4. Mobilization resistance
of frictional and passive resistance � If the shear stress applied is distributed uniforml
σ� � ϕ L
-out due
for geogrid
to axial pull-out for geogrid P = e(� 2 +ϕ�tanϕ tan(
=the
2α whole + ) + ( r )α σ t
L σ tanϕ (14) Lr
σn ��� surface
� r n4 r of
P2��� = reinforcement, pull
r + (out)α
2α�BLr�σn tanϕ...(17)
� resist
B σ� �
Figure 4. Mobilization of frictional and passive If the
resistance shear geogrid
stress can beiscalculated
applied distributed asuniformly along
The interaction mechanism which affects the pull-out the whole surface of reinforcement, pull out (15)
mechanism which affects the pull-out 3.5 Bearing Capacity of Geogrid Reinforced Sand
resistance of L
geogrid placed duein totheaxial pull-out
sand bed fordue
is geogrid
to Bed on Non-Homogeneous P���Clay
= 2α� Lr σn tanϕr + ( r )αB
mechanism
Fig. of geogrid
5 : Mobilization placed
of frictional in the
and passivesand bed
resistance is due
due to geogrid can be calculated as �
Figure 4. Mobilization of frictional and passive resistance
nce passive
mobilized in
resistance
due to
theto bearing
mobilized members
axial pull-out
axialinteraction
pull-out for mechanism
geogrid in
for the
geogrid 3.2
bearing BearInG
members capacIty
3.2
Bearing BearInG
capacity of of GeoGrId
capacIty
geogrid reinforced sand of LbedGeoGrId
on non-
ansverse The
direction to themechanism
pull-out. Consid- which affects the pull-out homogeneous clayPon = 2α
layer can� Lrbe
σn tanϕ
estimated
r
r + ( � )αbyB σadding
�t
placed
The ininteraction
the transverse
mechanism
direction
of geogridwhich
to affects
placed reInforced
theinpull-out.
thethesand
Consid-
pull-out
bed istheduesand
reInforced
to Bed ���
non-
sand Bed on non-
nteraction mechanisms, the pull-out mech- bearing capacities of 2-layer system consisting (15)of
ering different
The
mechanism interaction
interaction mechanism
of geogrid mechanisms,
placed which
in the
affects
the sand pull-out
homoGeneous
bed duemech-
theisbearing
pull-out
to members clay:
homoGeneous clay:
d cananism
be passive
found
passive
out
resistance
asofcan
mobilized in the sand bed 3.2
overlyingBearInG
soft capacIty
non-homogeneous of
clay, GeoGrId
(whose
of geogrid
mechanism
in thebe
resistance
placed
geogridfound
placedout
mobilized
transverse in as
in the
the bearing
sand bedmembers
direction
is due to
to the pull-out. Consid-
passive resistance mobilized in
placed in the transverse direction to Bearing the bearing members undrained
the pull-out. 3.2ofBearInG reInforced
shear
capacIty sand
strength increases
ofbed Bed
with
GeoGrId
depth)on non-
and the
+ PB ering different interaction mechanisms,
direction(11) the capacity
pull-out mech- geogrid
Bearing reinforced
capacity
homoGeneous of sand
geogrid on non-
reinforced sand bed on
��� =inP�the
Pplaced +transverse
PB to the pull-out. Consid-(11)reInforced sand Bed on clay: non-
anism of geogrid can be found out homogeneous
as
ering different interaction mechanisms, the pull-out mech- homoGeneous clay layer can be
homogeneous clay: estimated by adding the
clay layer can be estimated by adding
Where, anism of geogrid can be found out as bearing capacities of 2-layer
bearing system
capacities
Bearing capacity consisting
of 2-layer
of geogridof sand
system consisting
reinforced sand bedof o
P��� = P� + PB (11) Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
resistance
PGGR =ofPull-out
geogrid
P��� =resistance
P� + PB of geogrid bed overlying
(11) soft non-
bed
Bearing homogeneous
overlying
homogeneous
capacity of geogrid clay,layer
soft clay
non- (whose
reinforced un-estimated
homogeneous
can bed
sand be on clay,
non- (whose
by add
Where,
 Where, 1.2 effect of sand Bed densIty Gra-
Bearing
(11) qGGRBearing
= Ultimate capacity of
bearing geogrid
capacity reinforced
of geogrid sand bed on non- dIent, γB/c0:
(11) capacity of geogrid reinforced sandreinforced
bed on non-
homogeneous
sandhomogeneous
bed overlyingclay clay layer
non-homogeneous can be estimated
clay whose by adding the
layer can be estimated bystrength
adding the
bearing
increases with capacities
depth. of of 2-layer system consisting of sandThe effect of kB/c0, cohesion gradient on non-dimensional
12bearing capacities 2-layer system consisting
Indian Journal of sand
of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
bed overlying soft non- homogeneous clay, (whose un-parameter, qus*, for γB/c0=5, 15 and 35, for ϕ=35˚ and
bed
On drained overlying
normalization soft non-
of (19) with homogeneous
undrained clay, (whose un-
shear strength increases with shear
depth)strength
and theofmobi-H/B=0.5 is illustrated in Figure 7. This figure exhibit
clay, drained
mobilized
c , shear
reduces pull-out
to strength
force increases
in the with
geogriddepth) and the mobi-
reinforced layer 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
lized pull-out force in the geogrid reinforced layer due to
0
due lizedto pull-out and
bearing forcefrictional
in the geogrid reinforced
resistance beyond layer
thedue
edgeto
q��� bearing
∗
= footingand frictional resistance beyond the edge of the 5.1 Effect of Non-Homogeneity, kB/c
bearing
offooting
the and frictional
using (17) resistance
is beyondas
represented the edge of the 0
footing kB using
using (17)�is
γB(17) is2represented
represented as as
F �Nc + � + � � � � k � tanϕ + The effect of cohesive gradient, kB/c 0
on normalized
4c0 c0 B kB γ�22
γBq � = F[Nc L +r kB ]c ]c + γ� K tanϕ + P��� (16) bearing capacity of non-homogeneous clay, q uc* for
α� � q���� � �= tanϕF[Nr c� + −4c01�00++ B K ��tanϕ + P��� (16)
...(18)
c0
���
B B 4c 0 B homogeneous and non-homogeneous clay layers are
L γB � 1 kB kB �
�� �+ϕ�tanϕ γ�2
2
� ϕ shown in Figure 6. This figure reveals that q *, normalized
αB ( qqr���
)( =)(F[N )(c +)e4c 2]c0 + γ� tan K (tanϕ+ + +) 2α� Lr σn tanϕr + uc
B���c0= F[N B c �+ 4c 0]c0 + B
0
B K ��tanϕ
4 2 2α� Lr σn tanϕr + bearing capacity of non-homogeneous clay increases with
L t
((Lrr)α
�� )αB
σ� t (17)
(17) depth, as discussed by Davis and Booker[3] and Bujang4of [2] 9
B σ� t (18)
...(19) and is shown in Figure 1, whereas for homogeneous clay
qGGR *
=q /c quc* is constant with depth. quc* values for homogeneous
Where, Where,
GGR 0 1.2 effect of sand Bed densIty Gra-
clay is constant at a value of 5.14 whereas for non-
qGGR *
=Normalised
qGGR =q Ultimate
GGR = Ultimate
bearing
bearing capacity,
bearing
capacity of double
capacity layer
of geogrid
of geogrid sys-reinforced
reinforced dIent, γB/c0:
homogeneous clay, it increases from 5.14 to 19.6 with
tem withsand geogrid
sand reinforcement
bed bed
overlying in sandy
non-homogeneous
overlying layer
non-homogeneous over non-
clay whoseclay strength
increase in kB/c0 from 0 to 24.
homogeneous increasesclay.with depth. The effect of kB/c0, cohesion gradient on non-dimensional
whose strength increases with depth.
20 parameter, qus*, for γB/c0=5, 15 and 35, for ϕ=35˚ and
On normalization
On normalization of (19) of with
(19) with undrained
undrained shear
shear strength of
strength H/B=0.5 is illustrated in Figure 7. This figure exhibit
of clay,clay,
RESULTS c0,AND c0, reduces
reduces to to
DISCUSSION Non homogeneous clay layer
1.1 effect q��� ∗ = of non-homoGeneIty, kB/c0:
kB γB � 2
F �Nc + � + � � � � k � tanϕ +
4c0 c0 B
Figure 5.αVariation
γB � of normalized
Lr bearing capacity with
� � c � � B � tanϕr � B − 1� +
quc*
non-homogeneity of clay, kB/c0�
0
L γB � 1 �� �+ϕ�tanϕ � ϕ
αB ( r )( )( )( � )e 2 tan( + )
B c0 B 4 2
t ...(20)
10 Homogeneous clay layer
The effect
qGGR * = qofGGR cohesive
/C0 gradient, kB/c0 on normalized bear- (18)
ing capacity qGGRof * non-homogeneous clay, quc* for homoge-
=qGGR/c0 bearing capacity, of double layer
qGGR* =
neous and Normalised
non- homogeneous clay layers are shown in
Figure 6.qThis system
* with
GGR =Normalised
figure geogrid
reveals thatreinforcement
bearing capacity,
quc*, normalizedofindouble
sandy layer sys-
bearinglayer
capacity tem over non-homogeneous
with geogrid reinforcement
of non-homogeneous clay.
clay increasesin sandy
with layer
depth,over non-
as4.
discussedhomogeneous
by Davis clay.Booker [3] and Bujang [2] and
and
Bearing Capacity Ratio’s (BCR)
is shown in Figure 1, whereas for homogeneous clay quc* 20
is BCR
constant
rcg
= (q
with GGR
*/q
depth.uc
*)
q is
uc * the ratio
values forof normalised
homogeneous bearing
clay
constantRESULTS
is capacities at of
a value
geogridAND
of 5.14 DISCUSSION
whereassand
reinforced for non-
bed homogene-
overlying non- Non homogeneous clay layer
ous clay,1.1
homogeneous effect
it increases clayfromofnon-homogeneous
to non-homoGeneIty,
5.14 to 19.6 with increase in kB/c0: 0
clay alone.
kB/c 0 from 0 to 24.
Improvement in bearing capacity of double layer due to 0 12 kB/c0 24
axial pullout in geogrid reinforcement will be known. 120
Fig. 6 : Variation of normalized bearing capacity with non-
γB/c0= 35
28 Figure 5. Variation of normalized bearing capacity with
quc*

The bearing capacity of strip footing on geotextile/ homogeneity of clay, kB/c0

non-homogeneity
= 35˚ of clay, kB/c
geogridφ reinforced
0
sand bed depends on H/B and
H/B = 0.5 5.1 Effectφof Sand Bed Density Geogrid
= 35˚ Gradient, γB/c0
ϕ related to sand layer, γB/c0, related to unit weight Geotextile
γB/c0= 35 H/B = 0.5
of sand bed, γ, footing width, undrained shear The effect10of cohesive gradient, kB/c0 on normalized
Homogeneous clay layer
strength Theofeffect of cohesive gradient,
non-homogeneous claykB/c on the
c0,0 at normalized
base ofbear- Le/B= 3 of non-homogeneous
bearing capacity clay, q uc* for
qGTX*/ qGGR*

ingϕcapacity of non-homogeneous φr/φ=and

0.75non-homogeneous clay layers are
footing, interface angle of shearing quc* for homoge-
15 clay,resistance of homogeneous
qus*

r
neous and non- homogeneous clay
geosynthetic reinforcement with sand and (Lr-B) length shown layers are shown in 64 in Figure 6. This figure reveals that q *, normalized
Figure 6. This figure edges
reveals of
that5footing
quc*, normalized bearing 15 uc
of 17
reinforcement beyond for axial pull bearing capacity of non-homogeneous clay increases with
out in capacity of non-homogeneous
the reinforcement. The bearing clay capacity
increases of with depth,
strip depth, as discussed by Davis and Booker[3] and 35 Bujang[2]
as discussed by Davis and Booker [3] and Bujang [2] and
footing resting on non-homogeneous clay depends on and is shown in Figure 1, whereas for homogeneous clay
cohesion is shown in Figure
gradient, kB/c1,0 whereas
where kforishomogeneous
normalised clay rate qucq*
* is constant with depth. quc*5values for homogeneous
is constant with depth. quc* values for homogeneous clayuc 15 for non-
of increase of undrained shear strength of clay with clay is constant at a value of 5.14 whereas
is constant at a value of 5.14 whereas for non- homogene-
depth. homogeneous clay, it increases from 5.14 5to 19.6 with
ous clay, it increases from 5.14 to 19.6 with increase in 0
increase
8 in kB/c0 from 0 to 24.
Following kB/c0 range
from 0 toof24. parameters are examined for 0 12 kB/c0 24
parametric study H/B (0 to 0.5), γB/c0 (5 to 35) and kB/c0 5.2 Effect 0 120of Sand Bed12 Density 24
6 24). Parametric study has been carried out for Lr/B kB/ c0 γB/c Gradient,
= 35
γB/c0
(0 to 28 0
0 12 24 The effect of kB/c0, cohesion gradient on non-dimensional
(2 to 4) and ϕr/ϕφof=0.67, 35˚ 0.75 &1. parameter, qus*, for γB/c0=5, 15 and 35, forGeogrid ϕ=35˚ and
H/B = 0.5 kB/c0 φ = 35˚
γB/c0= 35 Geotextile
H/B = 0.5
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 Le/B= 3
qGGR*

φr/φ= 0.75
15
*
us
 is shown in Figure 1, whereas for homogeneous clay quc*
10 Homogeneous clay layer is constant with depth. quc* values for homogeneous clay
d bear- is constant at a value of 5.14 whereas for non- homogene-
omoge- ous clay, it increases from 5.14 to 19.6 with increase in
own in Bearing Capacity of Geosynthetic Reinforced Sand Bed on Problematic Soil 13
kB/c0 from 0 to 24.
bearing
12
depth, H/B=0.5 is illustrated in Figure 7. This figure exhibit
[2] and 28
increases in qus*, non-linearly with kB/c0 due to increase
ay quc* in undrained shear strength of clay layer with depth. Due φ = 35˚
us clay to significant increase surface correction factor, F, kB/ H/B = 0.5
ogene- γB/c0= 35
c0 between 0 to 4 as suggested by Davis and Booker
ease in (1973). 0

qGTX*/ qGGR*
0 12 kB/c0 24 15

qus*
120 6
γB/c0= 35 5
17

φ = 35˚ Geogrid
Geotextile
H/B = 0.5
Le/B= 3
qGTX*/ qGGR*

φr/φ= 0.75
64
15
35 6
0 12 24

5 1.3 effect of varIous kB/c0 Improvement 1.4 ef

15
technIQues re
5 Fig. 8 : qGTX*/ qGGR* versus kB/c0- Effect of γB/c0
8 36
Figure 7
0 12 24 a- Geogrid reinforced sistance
kB/c0 b-Geo textile reinforced (a)
24 c-Sand bed on clay Variatio
Fig. 7 : qus* versus kB/c0-Effect of γB/c0 d- Clay alone bed ove
quc*/ qus* / qGTX*/ qGGR*

There is a sharp increase in qus* due to significant increase ferent v

in surface correction factor, F between 0 to 4. φ = 35˚, φr/φ= 0.75, 0.5, γB/
γB/c0= 5, Lr/B= 3 (b) crease f
For γB/c0=5, kB/c0 equal to 4 and 24, qus* is 10.49 and (c) ϕ due to
20.49 respectively. There is a considerable effect of kB/ 20 (a)
the surfa
c0 and γB/c0 on qus* indicating higher qus* values with (d)
increase in γB/c0 i.e., for dense sand bed and relatively
wider footing. The va
5.3 Effect of Geosynthetic Reinforcement (b) sand be
ent, γB/
Variation of normalized bearing capacity values of (c) picted i
geogrid or geotextile reinforced sand bed overlying non- (d) crease
4
homogeneous clay layer, with kB/c0 for γB/c0= 5, 15 & increase
0 12 24
35, ϕ=35˚, ϕr/ϕ=0.75, Lr/B= 3.0, H/B= 0.5 are presented ized bea
in Figure 8. kB/c0 to incre
footings
Normalized bearing capacity values, q GTX* or q GGR* Fig. 9 conside
Figure 6. Normalised bearing capacities versus kB/c0 for
increases non-linearly with increase in kB/c0 due to
different
Variationimprovement
of normalized techniques
bearingon homogeneous
capacities, quc*/and
qus* /
increase in contribution of non-homogeneity of clay layer
nonhomogeneous clayey soil.
towards the bearing strength of the footing. Bearing qGTX / qGGR with kB/c0, the normalized rate of increase of
* *
* 24
capacity increases due to significant contribution of undrainedofshear
Variation strengthbearing
normalized of soft capacities,
clay, for various
quc*/ qground
us /
* *
passive resistance of geogrid reinforcement, (qGGR*) than GTX / qGGR with
qimprovement kB/c0, the normalized
techniques rate of increase of
on non-homogeneous and
the geotextile reinforcement, qGTX*. undrained
homogeneous shear clay strength of soft are
deposits clay,depicted
for various ground 9.
in Figure
improvement
With increasetechniques
in kB/c0 fromon non 0 to- 24,
homogeneous
normalized andbearing
ho-
5.4 Effect of Various Improvement Techniques mogeneous clay deposits are depicted in Figure 9. With
capacity of geotextile reinforced sand bed overlying clay
Figure 9 Normalised bearing capacities versus kB/c0 for increase in kB/c0 from
system increase (qGTX0*)tofrom
24, normalized
8.8 to 23.3bearing
and forcapaci-
geogrid
different improvement techniques on homogeneous and ty of geotextile
reinforced sand reinforced
system, qsand * bed overlying clay system
increases from 18.7 to 33.1 17
* GGR
non-homogeneous clayey soil. increase GTX ) from 8.8
Whereas(qnormalized bearingto 23.3 and of
values for5.14,
geogrid
6.42,rein-
8.89,
*
forced
18.72 aresand system, for
observed qGGRclay,increases
sand bedfrom 18.7 clay,
overlying to 33.1sand
Whereas normalized bearing values of 5.14, 6.42, 8.89,
18.72 are observed for clay, sand bed overlying clay, sand
bed reinforced with geotextile and sand bed reinforced
with geogrid systems respectively. Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
10
 theized
footings. bearing
Angle
surface capacity,
of us increases
shearingqresistance,
of reinforcement. with increase
ϕ effect on qus isin ϕ due
kB/c0 to increase in sand bed density or increase in width of

quc*/ qus*
(d) for
Figure 6. Normalised bearing capacities versus kB/c0 considerable.
*
different improvement techniques on homogeneous and footings. Angle of shearing resistance, ϕ effect on qus is
Figure 6. Normalised
nonhomogeneous bearing
clayey capacities
soil. Indian versus considerable.of normalized bearing capacity value of
kB/c0 for The
14 Journal of Geosynthetics and variation
Ground Improvement
different improvement techniques on homogeneous* and sand 24 bed overlying clay bed with sand bed density gradi-
Variation of normalized (b) bearing capacities, quc*/ qus /
nonhomogeneous
* *
qGTX / qGGR with clayey soil.
with geotextile
kB/c0, the normalized rate of increase of ent, γB/c kB/c
0 for 0=4
different values of ϕ=30˚, 35˚ & 40˚ are de-
bed reinforced (c) and sand bed reinforced
undrained shear strength of soft clay, for various ground * picted in24Figure
H/B=0.511 for kB/c 0= 4ϕ= 40˚H/B=0.5. q * in-
and
with Variation
geogrid systems of normalized bearing capacities, quc*/ qus /
respectively. us
* techniques (d) crease linearly kB/c 4 0 from 10.23 to 13.95 with
with0 =γB/c
qimprovement
*
GTX / q4GGR with kB/c0, the normalized
on non - homogeneous and ho- of
rate of increase
For γB/cmogeneous=5 atclay kB/c =4, qare
deposits
*
, Normalised bearing
GGRdepicted in Figure 9. With ϕ=to40˚
0 from 5 to 35, for ϕ equal
increase in γB/cH/B=0.5 30˚. Normal-

qus*
undrained0shear strength of soft
0 0
12 clay, for various ground 24
capacities
increase of ingeogrid
kB/c0 from reinforced sand bed bearing
0 to 24, normalized overlying clay
capaci- *
ized bearing capacity, qus increases with increase in ϕ due
improvement techniques on non - homogeneous and ho-
system ty ofisgeotextile
1.75 times moresand
reinforced kB/bed
than c0geotextile
overlying clay reinforced
system to increase
17 in sand bed density or increase in width of
mogeneous clay deposits are depicted in Figure 9. With

qus*
increase
sandincrease
system. (qGTX*) from 8.8 to 23.3 and for geogrid rein- footings. Angle of shearing resistance,35˚ϕ effect on qus* is
in kB/c
forced sand system, 0 fromq 0 to* 24, normalized bearing capaci-
GGR increases from 18.7 to 33.1 considerable.
Figure
5.5 Effect
ty of 6. Normalised
of Angle
geotextile
Whereas normalized bearing
of
reinforced Shearing
bearing capacities
sand of versus
bedResistance,
values overlying kB/c0
5.14, 6.42, for
clayϕ8.89,
system 17 30˚
different
increase
18.72 improvement
(q *
) from techniques
8.8 to 23.3 on homogeneous
and for geogrid and
rein-
Variation ofare observed
normalized
GTX for clay,* sand
bearing capacitybed overlying
(qus*), ofclay,
sandsand
bed 35˚
nonhomogeneous
forced sand
bed reinforced clayey
system, q soil.
with geotextile increases
and sand from 18.7 to 33.1
overlying clay with cohesion GGR
gradient, kB/cbed , forreinforced
different 24
Whereas
with
Variation geogridnormalized
systems
of normalized bearing
respectively. values of 5.14,
0 6.42, *8.89,
values of angle of shearingbearing resistances, capacities,
for H/B= quc*/0.5,
qusγB// 30˚
18.72
qGTX * are* observed for clay, sand bed rate
overlying clay, sand kB/c0 = 4
c 0= 15 /isqshown
GGR within kB/c
Figure 0 , the
10.normalized
q *
with kB/c of increase
increase of
for 10
ϕ= 40˚
bed reinforced
undrained with geotextile
shearofstrength
us and sand0 bed reinforced
of shearing
soft 5 H/B=0.5 20 35
different values angle of * clay, for various ground
resistance, ϕ due Ther
γB/c0=5 at
For geogrid
with kB/c0=4,
systems q , Normalised bearing capac-
respectively. e is a
to improvement
increase
ities of geogrid
techniques
in mobilization onGGR
reinforcedofsand
non
bond - homogeneous
bedresistance
overlying clay
and
along ho-
the
system γB/co
mogeneous
surface of clay deposits
reinforcement. are depicted in Figure 9. With 10

qus*
is 1.75 times more than geotextile reinforced sand system. 18
increase in kB/c0 from 0 to 24, normalized bearing capaci- 5 = 0.5
H/B 20 35 Ther
For 26 0=5 at
γB/c
ty of geotextile kB/c0=4, sand
reinforced qGGR*bed , Normalised
overlying bearing capac-
clay system
kB/c0 =4
e is a
17 L /B= 3 γB/co
ities of geogrid
H/B* = reinforced
0.5
increase (qGTX ) from 8.8 to 23.3 and sand bed overlying
φ=for clay
40˚ geogrid rein-system r
ϕr/ϕ= 0.75
is 1.75 times more than 35˚
γB/c 0= 15 qGGRgeotextile
* reinforced sandtosystem. 18 Fig. 11ϕ=: qus versus γB/c0- Effect of8 ϕ
*
forced sand system, increases from 18.7 33.1 40˚
35˚ 6.42, 8.89, H/B = 0.5 kB/c =4
Whereas26normalized bearing values of 5.14, 30˚12 0 resistance
Lrϕ=
c0 from 4 to 12. For a 30˚
/B= 3
value of angle of shearing
18.72 are observed H/B = for 0.5 clay, sand bed overlying φ=30˚40˚ clay, sand of sand, ϕr/ϕ= 0.75
9.5 ϕ, the value of BCRrcg decreases with increase
bed reinforced γB/c with= 15geotextile and sand bed reinforced
qus*

0 BCRrcg
8
with geogrid systems respectively. non-homogeneity of ϕ= clay40˚
layer which is represented
4 by
16 35˚ kB/c0. ϕ= 30˚ 8
12
10
30˚ There is9.5a significant
5 effect20of non-homogeneity,
12 35 kB/c Ther of
For γB/c0=5 at kB/c0=4, qGGR*, Normalised bearing capac- 0
qus*

clay layer on the BCR values. e is a

BCRrcg

ities of geogrid reinforced sand bed overlying clay system γB/co 4

16
is 1.75 times more than geotextile reinforced sand system. 118 8
5 H/B = 0.5 20 kB/c0 =43512
26 Lr/B= 3 γB/c0
6H/B = 0.5 φ= 40˚ ϕr/ϕ= 0.75
γB/c
0 0= 15 12 24
1 ϕ= 40˚ 8
kB/c0 35˚
5 ϕ= 30˚ 20 12 35
Fig. 10 : qus* versus kB/c0 -Effect of angle of shearing
30˚ γB/c0
6 9.5
resistance
qus*

BCRrcg

0 12 24 4
The variation
16 of normalized bearing capacity value of sand
bed overlying clay bed with sand kB/c0bed density gradient, 8
γB/c0 for different values of ϕ=30˚, 35˚ & 40˚ are depicted 12
in Figure 11 for kB/c0= 4 and H/B=0.5. qus* increase linearly
with γB/c0 from 10.23 to 13.95 with increase in γB/c0 from 5
to 35, for ϕ equal to 30˚. Normalized bearing capacity, qus* 1
increases with increase in ϕ due to increase in sand bed 5 20 35
γB/c0
density or
6 increase in width of footings. Angle of shearing
resistance,0 ϕ effect on qus* is12considerable. 24
Fig. 12 : BCRrcg versus γB/c0 - Effect of ϕ
5.6 Variation of BCRrcg with
kB/cγB/c0 – Effect of kB/c0 5.7 Effect of Interface Angle of Shearing
0
Variation of bearing capacity ratio of geogrid reinforced Resistance, ϕr/ϕ
sand bed overlying non-homogeneous clay, BCRrcg, with
To study the variation of normalized bearing capacities
sand bed density gradient γB/c0, for different kB/c0 values
with kB/c0 for sand bed overlying clay (qus*) and geogrid
are illustrated in Figure 12 for H/B= 0.5, ϕr/ϕ =0.75, Lr/
reinforced sand bed overlying clay represented by (qGGR*)
B=3, ϕ=30˚ & 40˚.
for different values of ϕr/ϕ are presented in Figure 13
BCRrcg increases linearly with γB/c0, higher values of for ϕ=35˚, γB/c0= 15, H/B= 0.5 and Lr/B=3. qus* or qGGR*
γB/c0 indicates denser sand bed/relatively wider footing. increases non-linearly with kB/c0 and observed significant
BCRrcg decreases from 7.71 to 5.49 with increase in kB/ increase with increase in kB/c0 from 0 to 4 due to sharp

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 1.7 effect of Interface anGle of
shearInG resIstance, Φr/Φ:
Bearing Capacity of Geosynthetic Reinforced Sand Bed on Problematic Soil 15 9
6of

increase
62 in surface correction factor, thereafter it is 15
significant effect of non-homogeneity, kB/c0 of clay layer ϕ = 35˚
increasing linearly due to increase0.67 in both axial tension Lr/B=4
on the BCR values. 0.75 kB/c0 = 4
in the reinforcement due to passive resistance of geogrid
ϕr/ϕ = 1.0 H/B=0.53
Figure 8. BCRrcg
and undrained versus γB/c
shear strength - Effect
of 0clay withofdepth.
ϕ
ϕr/ϕ =0.75
qus* /qGGR*

ϕ =45.04,
For ϕr/ϕ equal to 0.67, qGGR* values are 35˚ 49.11 and
1.7 effect of Interface anGle of 3
γB/c 0= 15 There is
59.51 at kB/c0 equal to 0, 4 and 24 respectively.
shearInG
a significant resIstance,
effect of parameter kB/cH/BonΦ=qrGGR
/Φ:* whereas
0.5
0
* L /B= 3

BCRrcg
the effect of parameter ϕr/ϕ on qGGR is rmarginal.
35 qus* 8 2
62 q * 15
GGR
0.67 ϕ = 35˚ Lr/B=4
0.75 kB/c0 = 4
ϕr/ϕ = 1.0 H/B=0.53
ϕr/ϕ =0.75
qus* /qGGR*

ϕ = 35˚
3
γB/c0= 15
H/B = 0.5
Lr/B= 3 1

BCRrcg
8
350 12 qus* 24 85 20 235
kB/c0 qGGR* γB/c0
Fig. 14 : BCRrcg versus γB/c0 - Effect of Lr/B

of Rajalakshmi et al. Whereas BCR values of present

approach is nearer to Experimental results obtained by
various researchers for the corresponding properties.
Present analytical results obtained are more than the
8 analytical 1values of various researchers corroborating
0 12 24 5
that the present 20 better results 35
approach is giving than
kB/c0 existing approaches. γB/c 0

Fig. 13 : qGGR* versus kB/c0 - Effect of ϕr/ϕ Table 1 : Comparison of Bearing Capacity Ratio (BCR)
of present study with available literature
5.8 Effect of Length of Reinforcement, Lr/B
To study the variation of γB/c0 on the bearing capacity Results of
ratio, BCRrcg, of the geogrid reinforced sand bed BCR Present
overlying clay to that of footing on clay alone, for different Sl. Study for
Authors
values of Lr/B= 2,3& 4 are depicted in Figure 14 for ϕ=35˚, No corres-
kB/c0= 4, H/B= 0.5 and ϕr/ϕ= 0.95 for Lr/B=2, BCRrcg ponding
Anal Exp
increases linearly from 2.02 to 7.93 with increase in γB/ properties
c0 from 5 to 35. Rajyalakshmi et.
1 1.82 1.82
al. (2011)
Increased bearing capacity values are demonstrated by
denser sand bed and /or wider footings. R Shivshankar et.
2 1.8 1.9 1.94
al. (1993)
Length (Lr-B/2) of the reinforcement beyond the edge of
the footing is effective in contributing passive resistance Rethaliya R.P and
3 1.31 1.18
i.e., shear stresses development over the surface of the Verma (2009) 1.11
reinforcement contributes to the enhancement of bearing
J.P. Love et.al.
capacity 4 1.48 1.48
(1987) 1.4
5.9 Validation of Results
Arghadeep Biswas
5 1.815 1.813
The bearing capacity ratio of reinforced sand bed on soft et. al. (2015)
clay of the present study is obtained by incorporating
respective properties (subsoil, sand bed and reinforcement 6. CONCLUSIONS
etc.) used by various researches. Table 1 shows that Analysis of bearing capacity of strip footing resting
BCR Values obtained in the present study are same as on geosynthetic reinforced sand bed over soft non-
that of Rajalakshmi et al., as this approach is extension homogeneous clay whose undrained cohesion increases

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

16 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
linearly with depth is compared with bearing capacity
of sand bed on non-homogeneous clay. Extension of
Meyerhof’s punching shear failure model for foundations
resting on dense sand bed over homogeneous clay
deposit is incorporated to include the effects of non-
homogeneity of clay. Contributions of sand bed density,
γB/c0, non-homogeneity of clay, kB/c0 on normalised
bearing capacity factors, bearing capacity ratios are
quantified in parametric study. The predicted bearing
capacity ratios (BCR) are found to agree closely with
some of the experimental BCR values, thereby providing
validity of the proposed theory,
• Normalized bearing capacity considering non-
homogeneity of clay, quc* increases from 5.14 to
19.60 with increase in kB/c0 from 0 to 24 whereas for
homogeneous clay it is constant at a value of 5.14.
• Normalised bearing capacity factor, qus* for γB/c0= 35
is 1.55 times more than that of qus* for γB/c0= 5 at kB/
c0=4 due to relatively wider footings or dense sand
bed.
• Normalised bearing capacity values of geogrid
reinforced sand bed overlying soft non- homogeneous
clay (qGGR*), are 1.75 times more than normalised
bearing capacity values of sand bed over non-
homogeneous clay (qus*) for γB/c0=5 and kB/c0=4, due
to the passive resistance mobilised perpendicular to
the direction of axial force and frictional resistance
developed between soil and geogrid surface.
• With increase in bond/ interface resistance between
geosynthetic reinforcement and sand, ϕ r, the
normalised bearing capacity improves marginally.
REFERENCES
Arghadeep Biswas, Asfaque Md Ansari, Sujit Kumar Dash,
A Murali Krishna (2015). Behaviour of Geogrid Reinforced
Foundation Systems supported on Clay subgrades of
Different Strengths. Int.J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng.
1:20 DOI 10.1007/s40891-015-0023-5
Bujang B K H (1995). Stability of embankment son soft
ground- lessons from failures. Petanika J. Sci & Technol
3(1):123-139
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
Davis E H, Booker J R (1973). The effect of increasing
strength with depth on the bearing capacity of clays.
Geotechnique, 23(4):551-563
Davis E H, Booker J R (1985). The effect of increasing
strength with depth on the bearing capacity of clays.
Golden Jubilee of the International Society for Soil
Mechanics and Foundation Engineering: Commemorative
Volume. Barton, ACT: Institute of Engineers, Australia,
185-197
Jewel R A (1990). Reinforcement bond capacity.
Geotechnique 40(3): 513-518
Love J P, Burd H J, Milligan, G W E, Houlsby, G T (1987).
Analytical and Model Studies of Reinforcement of a
Layer of Granular Fill on Soft Clay Subgrade. Canadian
Geotechnical Journal, 24(4):611-622
Meyerhof G (1974). Ultimate bearing capacity of footings
on sand layer overlying ground. Canadian Geotechnical
Journal,11(2):223-229
Rajyalakshmi K, Madhav M R, Ramu K (2012). Bearing
capacity of foundations on geosynthetic reinforced
foundation beds on soft non-homogeneous ground. Indian
Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement,
1(1):11-19
Rethaliya RP, Verma A K (2009). Strip footing on Sand
overlying soft clay with geotextile interface. Indian
geotechnical journal 39(3):271- 287
Shivshankar R, Madhav M R, Miura N (1993). Reinforced
granular beds overlying soft clay. Proceeding 11th
Southeast Asian Geotechnical conference, Singapore:
409-414
Skempton A W (1951). The Bearing Capacity of Clays.
Proceeding Building Research Congress, 1, 180- 189
Tani K, Craig W H (1995). Bearing capacity of circular
foundations on soft clay of strength increasing with depth.
Soils and foundations, ISSN 0038-0806, 35(4), 21-35.
Terzaghi K (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics, John Wiley
and sons, New York
Vesic A S (1973). Analysis of ultimate loads of shallow
foundations. Journal of soil mechanics & foundation
division, 99 (1):45-73
 Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along
The Banks of Brahmaputra River in
Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics - Geosynthetics for
Sonitpur
rastructure Development, 8-11 November 2016, New Delhi, IndiaDistrict, Assam

enGIneered antI S. erosIon Works

Maurya, M. Gupta and R. Chitra
alonG the Banks Central
of Soil
Brahmaputra
and Materials Research Station, India

rIver In sonItpur dIstrIct, assam

ABSTRACT
Erosion and flood are the two major problems of lower plain reach of Brahmaputra River and hence become
maurya,am. Gupta
matter anddue
of concern r.tochItra
its devastating impact on life and property. Many antierosion techniques are
ntral Soil and Materials Research Station,
used as engineered Indiato the problems. This paper describes the case study where Geosynthetics
solutions
materials and Gabions are used in erosion control and flood protection measures at three different reaches
Bstract (Silamari, Biswanath-Panpur and Bhumuraguri-Borgaon) along the Brahmaputra River by construction of
osion and ood bank revetment
are the two majorwith launching
problems apronplain
of lower andreach
raising
of&Brahmaputra
strengthening of embankment
River and at places which are prone
to floods. The project is located in the Sonitpur District of Assam
nce become a matter of concern due to its devastating impact on life and property. Many anti- from Brahmaputra CH: 282 km (Silamari)
to 373 km (Borgaon).The Geosynthetics materials and Gabions
osion techniques are used as engineered solutions to the problems. This paper describes the tested for its strength and suitability
standards are presented in this paper along with advantages
se study where Geosynthetics materials and Gabions are used in erosion control and ood of using Geosynthetics materials.
otection measures at three different reaches (Silamari, Biswanath-Panpur and Bhumuraguri-
rgaon) along the Brahmaputra River by construction of bank revetment with
1. INTRODUCTION tolaunching
braid andapron
develop number of channels causing silting
d raising & strengthening of embankment at places which are prone to of oods. The project
the riverbed, change in course and bank erosion. In the
Rivers and their flood plains are dynamic geologic system.
located in the Sonitpur District of Assam from Brahmaputra CH: 282 kmplain, (Silamari)
a rivertoshows
373 a meandering tendency with meander
Ever changing patterns of erosion and deposition occur
(Borgaon).The Geosynthetics materials and Gabions tested for its strength and suitability
moving downstream causing erosion on the concave
during the evolution of a river, especially when it begins to
ndards are presented in this paper along with advantages of using Geosynthetics materials. on the convex side and cutoffs. The
and deposition
meander and shifts its course across the cutting banks of
meanders also show a tendency to move downstream.
roductIon the bend, while deposition of sediment builds point bars
This causes large-scale bank erosion. Thus bank erosion
on the inside of the meander. The shifting of meander
their ood plains are dynamic geologic system. Ever changing patterns andofconsequent
erosion andloss of land and properties is a constant
paths occurs at varying rates, but it is generally most
occur during the evolution of a river, especially when it begins to meander phenomenon
and shifts all
itsalong the course of the river. The study
rapid during periods of high water. Erosion of the cut
s the cutting banks of the bend, while deposition of sediment builds pointof theon
bars problem
the insideand remedial measures for training of the
bank may attain a magnitude of even meters per day and
der. The shifting of meander paths occurs at varying rates, but it is generallyrivermostinto
rapiddefined
during channel has gained importance due to
streams occasionally shorten their courses dramatically
gh water. Erosion of the cut bank may attain a magnitude of even meters per increase
day and in population pressure and want of alternative
streams
by cutting across the necks of meanders. Therefore, it is
shorten their courses dramatically by cutting across the necks of meanders. sources of livelihood
Therefore, it is for the people whose land and
unwise to build on surfi cial materials close to an active
uild on surcial materials close to an active stream meander, even thoughpropertiesthe building are lost to rivers.
sites
stream meander, even though the building sites may be
her than the ood plain. Figure 1 shows the erosion and deposition along the meandering
higher than the flood plain. Figure 1 shows the erosion Anti-erosion works are normally taken up only for
and deposition along the meandering stream. protection of towns, infrastructures, groups of thickly
populated villages etc. where re-location is not possible
on socio-techno-economic grounds, long lengths of vital
embankments benefiting large areas in case retirement
is not technically or otherwise feasible and agriculture
lands where the cost-benefit ratio justifies such works.
Bank erosion can be minimized by adopting measures
in the form of revetment or pitching along with launching
apron and spurs of earth protected by armor of stones
or spurs of stones in wire mesh crates. Measures such
as porcupine spurs made of bamboos or RCC provide
additional protection to the banks by dampening the
velocity of flow and inducing siltation in the vicinity of
Fig.
fig.1 1:
: Erosion
Erosionand
and deposition
deposition along the
the meandering
meanderingstream
stream
bank. Geosynthetics materials available in various forms
Rivers tend to erode their528 beds and banks in the hilly like mattress, bags, tubes etc. can be filled in-site with
regions resulting in the deepening and widening of rivers. riverbed sand to form the groynes, spurs and revetments
When a river enters the flood plains, it shows a tendency has also gained importance in recent years.

17 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

18 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

2. FLOOD PROBLEM OF THE STATE is four times the national mark of the flood prone area
of the country. The flood hazard map of Assam is shown
Assam with its vast network of rivers is prone to
in Figure 2. The flood problem of the state is further
natural disasters like flood and erosion which has a
aggravated due to flash floods by the rivers flowing
negative impact on overall development of the state.
down from neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh
The Brahmaputra and Barak River with more than 50
and Meghalaya. Table 1 shows flood damage trends in
numbers of tributaries feeding them, causes the flood
the Brahmaputra valley.
devastation in the monsoon period each year. The flood
and erosion problem of Assam is singularly different from 3. BANK EROSION PROBLEM OF THE STATE
other states so far as extent and duration of flooding and
magnitude of erosion is concerned and is probably the Another major problem being faced by the state of Assam
most acute and unique in the country. The flood prone is bank erosion by the river Brahmaputra, Barak and its
area of the state as assessed by the Rastriya Barh tributaries. Damages caused due to erosion runs into
Ayog (RBA) is 31.05 Lakh Hectares against the total several hundred crores every year. Bank erosion by the
area of state 78.523 Lakh Hectares i.e. about. 39.54% rivers has been a serious issue since last six decades as
of the total land area of Assam. This is about 9.40% more than 4.27 Lakh Hectares of land was already eroded
of total flood prone area of the country. Records show away by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries since
that average annual area affected by flood is 9.31 Lakh 1950, which is 7.40% of area of the state. As assessed,
Hectares. The flood prone area of the country as a whole the annual average loss of land is nearly 8000 Ha. The
stands at about 10.2% of the total area of the country, width of river Brahmaputra has increased up to 15.00
but flood prone area of Assam is 39.54% of the area of km at some places due to bank erosion. Breaches of
the state. It signifies that the flood prone area of Assam embankment due to bank erosion by the rivers have
530 S. Maurya, et al.

Fig.
fig.2 2:
: Flood
Flood hazard mapofofAssam
hazard map Assam

3. Table
Bank 1 : FloodproBlem
erosIon damage trends in the
of the Brahmaputra valley (Bhuyan, 2013)
state
Year Average
Another majorAnnual Average
problem being faced byAnnual Affected
the state of Assam is bank erosionAverage Annual
by the river Value of crop
Brahmaputra,
Barak
area and its tributaries.
flooded (mha) Damages caused due to population
population erosion runs into
perseveral hundred crores
ha Damage every year.
(Rs in lost as % of
Bank erosion by the rivers has been a serious issue since
affected of last six decades
flooded area as more than 4.27 Lakh Hectares
Lakh) Total Damage
Total Cropped
of land was already eroded away by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries since 1950, which is 7.40
1953-59 % of1.13 0.10As assessed,
area of the state. 860,000
the annual average loss of 0.8 586
land is nearly 8000 Ha. The width of river 66
1960-69 Brahmaputra
0.75 has increased
0.16 up to 15.00 km
15,20,000 at some places due
2.0to bank erosion. Breaches
757 of embankment 92
due to bank erosion by the rivers have become a common phenomenon. New areas are being affected by
1970-79 0.87 0.18 20,00,000 2.3 1,518 89
erosion every year. The riverine fertile agricultural lands of the state are reducing due to erosion, which
1980-88 has1.43
a very negative0.40
impact on the45,50,000 3.2 2, shows overall
rural economy of the state.Table 14,552
damage due to bank 96
1999-05 erosion
1.07in Assam.0.38 45,86,000 4.3 71,717 34
2006-11 0.26 table
0.17 2: Overall10,28,000 4.0
damage due to bank erosion 3,880
in Assam (Bhuyan, 2013). 22
year area eroded nos. of village family affected value of property with
in ha. affected in nos. in nos. land loss, rs. in lakh
Volume 8 v No. 2001
2 v July 20195348 227 7395 377.72
2002 6803 625 17985 2748.34
 Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along the Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam 19

become a common phenomenon. New areas are being reach, River has migrated more than 5 km on its R/B for
affected by erosion every year. The riverine fertile a reach of about 5 km during the last 10 to 11 years. In
agricultural lands of the state are reducing due to erosion, case the erosion problem continues, the lakhs of country-
which has a very negative impact on the rural economy side populations will be flood affected, the huge private
of the state. Table 2, shows overall damage due to bank & public properties along with the agricultural crops
erosion in Assam. will be damaged, the areas will be completely covered
Table 2 : Overall damage due to bank erosion in with thick silt & sediment of the river, road-network and
Assam (Bhuyan, 2013). infrastructures of Govt., semi-Govt., businesses will be
affected apart from loss of animal & human livestock.
Year Area Nos. of Family Value of These all may cause huge socio-economic setback in the
eroded village affected property with locality. To firmly prevent this development, the erosion
in Ha. affected in Nos. land loss, Rs. affected bank reach has to be stabilized with sustainable
in Nos. in Lakh anti-erosion measures without any further delay.
Figure 3 shows vulnerable bank condition before anti-
2001 5348 227 7395 377.72 erosion work.
2002 6803 625 17985 2748.34 5. FLOOD MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND
2003 12589.6 424 18202 9885.83 BENEFIT
2004 20724 1245 62258 8337.97 In order to provide protection to the vulnerable reaches
Geosynthetics materials and Gabions are used in
2005 1984.27 274 10531 1534
construction of Bank revetment with launching apron
2006 821.83 Engineered44 Anti Erosion2832Works Along the Banks offor
106.93 Brahmaputra Riverofin15.6
a total length Sonitpur
km, District,
Raising Assam 531
& strengthening
of the existing embankment for a length of 8.758 km
4. PRESENT PROBLEM OF STUDY AREA
road used for plying vehicles to N.H-52. In Borgaonand PSCRiver
reach, porcupines at various
has migrated morereaches
than 5 kmforon
additional
its
The project
R/B for is alocated in the
reach of Sonitpur
about Districtthe
5 km during of Assam protection to the banks by reducing the velocity
last 10 to 11 years. In case the erosion problem continues, of flow.
from Brahmaputra CH: 282 km populations
(Silamari) towill
373bekm Such application is rapidly deployed to achieve maximum
the lakhs of country-side ood affected, the huge private & public properties
(Borgaon) as shown in Figure 2. The erosion in above said benefit to the community, typically through the use of
along with the agricultural crops will be damaged,on-site the areas will be completely covered with thick
materials, innovative Geosynthetics materials
reaches
siltis&sosediment
severe thatof the
theriver bank
river, line migratesand
road-network 300infrastructures of Govt., semi-Govt., businesses will
to 400 m each year. At present, the difference between and construction techniques. This scheme will benefit a
be affected apart from loss of animal & human livestock. These all may cause huge socio-economic
the dyke and the river at Bisawnath–Panpur reach is only population of 1.5 lakh and protect 33693 ha. of cultivated
setback in the locality. To rmly prevent this development, the erosion affected bank reach has to be
35 m at some location. The river has already touched the and homestead land including thickly populated villages,
stabilized
only road used for with sustainable
plying vehiclesanti-erosion
to N.H-52. Inmeasures
Borgaon without any further
other public delay.properties
and private Figure 3 shows vulnerableration
with benefit-cost
bank condition before anti-erosion work. of 1.29 :1.

fig.
Fig.3:
3 :Vulnerable
Vulnerable bank
bank condition beforeanti-erosion
condition before anti-erosionwork
work

5. flood manaGement actIvItIes and BenefIt

Volume
In order to provide protection to the vulnerable reaches Geosynthetics materials 8 vGabions
and No. 2 v July
are 2019
used in construction of Bank revetment with launching apron for a total length of 15.6 km, Raising
20 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

6. SOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION
The quick and effective preventive measure adopted
was to implement Geosynthetics materials & Gabions in
flood protection and erosion control work. The scheme
is to protect Biswanath-Panpur reach including upstream
Silamari and far downstream Bhumuraguri to Borgaon
against erosion of the River Brahmaputra as shown in
Figure 4. Protection work is carried out in the form of
Bank revetment with launching apron and strengthening
of the existing embankment.
6.1 Bank Revetment with Launching Apron
Pitching of Geotextile bags and launching of apron is
carried out for a total length of 15600 m where river bank
is dressed to the inclination of 1V: 2H and over this a
layer of non-woven geotextile of 400 gsm is laid as filter
media, anchored at top and bottom of bank slope. After
placement of geotextile filter on bank slope, sand filled
geotextile bags of Type-A (size 1.03 x 0.70 m) made of
non-woven geotextile are placed all along the length of
bank. Thickness of pitching on bank slope is 0.45 m (3
layers) and top height of bank is maintained with respect
to HFL of 72.5 m. Geotextile bags are fi lled with sand to
the specified height to ensure that appropriate density is
achieved and open ends of the bags is closed by stitching
532
the bags with the help of hand stitching machines. Total
quantity of filter material applied is 1,67,650 m2 and
geotextile bags for the protection works is approximately
38,08,147 Nos.
Launching of apron is carried out with multiple layers of
geotextile bags (6 layers) having thickness 0.90 m and
width 20.80 m. At the junction of bank and apron, toe-key
is formed from strips of zinc coated wire mesh gabion box
(size 2 x 1 x 0.45 m) fi lled with three layer of sand filled
geotextile bags of Type A (size 1.03 x 0.70 m) all along
the length of apron. Intermediate key is placed at regular
intervals across the length of apron and it is formed from
two layers of strips of zinc coated gabion box (size 2 x 1
x 0.45 m) filled with three layer of sand filled geotextile
bags each. Here the revetment is a part of bank protection
work while launching apron & toe key is a part of bed
protection work. Bank protection followed by a suitable
bed protection can be considered as the key success
for any anti-erosion work. Strips of Gabion box placed
along the length of apron in toe-key and also at specifi
ed intervals across the apron impart further stability to
the scour protection measure. Total quantity of Gabion
boxes used in launching apron and toe-key is 49428 Nos.
Figure 5 shows installation of Geosynthetics materials &
Gabions at various stages.
S. Maurya, et al.

fig. 4: Protection work and Benetted Area

Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along the Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam 533
Fig. 4 : Protection work and Benefitted Area
6.1 Bank revetment with launching apron
Pitching of Geotextile bags and launching of apron is carried out for a total length of 15600 m where
river bank is dressed to the inclination of 1V: 2H and over this a layer of non-woven geotextile of 400
gsm is laid as lter media, anchored at top and bottom of bank slope. After placement of geotextile
lter on bank slope, sand lled geotextile bags of Type-A (size 1.03 x 0.70 m) made of non-woven
geotextile are placed all along the length of bank. Thickness of pitching on bank slope is 0.45 m
(3 layers) and top height of bank is maintained with respect to HFL of 72.5 m. Geotextile bags are
lled with sand to the specied height to ensure that appropriate density is achieved and open ends
of the bags is closed by stitching the bags with the help of hand stitching machines. Total quantity of
lter material applied is 1,67,650 m2 and geotextile bags for the protection works is approximately
38,08,147 Nos.
Launching of apron is carried out with multiple layers of geotextile bags (6 layers) having thickness 0.90
m and width 20.80 m. At the junction of bank and apron, toe-key is formed from strips of zinc coated
wire mesh gabion box (size 2 x 1 x 0.45 m) lled with three layer of sand lled geotextile bags of Type A
(size 1.03 x 0.70 m) all along the length of apron. Intermediate key is placed at regular intervals across the
length of apron and it is formed from two layers of strips of zinc coated gabion box (size 2 x 1 x 0.45 m)
lled with three layer of fig.
sand5:Installation
lled geotextile bags each. Here
of Geosynthetics the revetment
materials & Gabionsis a part of bank protection
work while Fig. 5 : Installation
launching apron & toe key ofisGeosynthetics materials
a part of bed protection work. Bank & protection
Gabionsfollowed by a
6.2 raising
suitable and strengthening
bed protection of the embankment
can be considered as the key success for any anti-erosion work. Strips of Gabion
Raising and along
box placed strengthening
the lengthof of
embankment is carried
apron in toe-key and out
alsofor
at the total
speci ed length of 8758
intervals acrossm.theCrest
apronwidth is
impart
kept 7.50
further m and to
stability topthe
height
scourisprotection
maintained at RL 74.30
measure. Total m with respect
quantity to HFL
of Gabion of 72.50
boxes used inmlaunching
with freeboard
apron
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
of
and1.80 m. Filling
toe-key of earthwork
is 49428 Nos. Figure is done in uniform
5 shows layersofnot
installation exceeding 22.50
Geosynthetics cm thick
materials with pro
& Gabions ling to
at various
achieve
stages. a slope of 1V:3H. Country side slope is protected by turng with grass sods and river side slope
 Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along the Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam 21

6.2 Raising and Strengthening of the that the Geosynthetics materials and Gabions meet the
Embankment qualifying criteria. The Geosynthetics materials and
Gabions are tested for physical, mechanical, hydraulic
Raising and strengthening of embankment is carried out
and survivability properties. The Laboratory tests such
for the total length of 8758 m. Crest width is kept 7.50 m
as apparent opening size, mass per unit area, water
and top height is maintained at RL 74.30 m with respect
permeability, CBR puncture resistance, tensile strength
to HFL of 72.50 m with freeboard of 1.80 m. Filling of
& elongation (wrap & weft) are carried out in accordance
earthwork is doneEngineered
in uniformAnti Erosion
layers notWorks Along the
exceeding Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam 533
22.50
with ASTM and Indian standards. The tests results
cm thick with profiling to achieve a slope of 1V:3H. Country
(CSMRS, 2015) are presented in Table 3 to 5.
side slope is protected by turfing with grass sods and river
side slope is protected by a sand filled geo-mattress. It is Table 3 : Range of test values for non-woven
a double layered composite geotextile fabricated to form Geotextile bags and Geo-fabric filter media
a three dimensional mattresses after filling sand through
Properties Values
pump at design slope of affected reach, the upper layer of
the mattress is made from polypropylene woven geotextile Mass per unit area, g/m 2
≥ 400
needle-punched with a mixture of U.V. stabilized green Tensile Strength (MD), kN/m ≥ 20
fi bers and cut tape yarns and the lower layer of the
mattress is also a U.V stabilised polypropylene woven Elongation (MD), % 60 - 100
fabric. Geo-mattress is anchored at upper and lower ends Tensile Strength (CD), kN/m ≥ 20
of embankment slope by bending the mat into the trench
Elongation (CD), % 40 - 100
filled with sand filled geotextile bags. Total quantity of
geo-mattresses under use is 161737 m2. Figure 6 shows CBR Puncture resistance, N ≥ 4000
cross section of launching apron, bank pitching and Apparent Opening Size, mm 0.06 - 0.08
embankment work at CH: 10 m at Biswanath Reach.
Permeability, m/sec ≥ 2 x10-3
6.3 PSC Porcupine Works
Table 4 : Range of test values for Geo-mattress
PSC Porcupine works in the formfig. of 5:
screens areofalso
Installation Geosynthetics materials & Gabions
carried out to6.2
provide additional
raising protection to
and strengthening the embankment
of the banks Properties Values
by dampening the velocity of flow and inducing siltation in
Raising and strengthening of embankment is carried Mass out forper
the unit
total area
length(Upper
of 8758layer), g/m
m. Crest width is ≥650
2
the vicinity of bank. Erection of porcupine is carried with
kept 7.50 m and top height is maintained at RL 74.30 Mass m withperrespect
unit to HFL(Lower
area of 72.50layer),
m withg/m
freeboard
2
≥400
six members pre-stressed cement concrete of size 0.10
of 1.80 m. Filling of earthwork is done in uniform layers not exceeding 22.50 cm thick with proling to
x 0.10 x 3.0 m properly fitting/fixing with 12 mm dia 25
achieve a slope of 1V:3H. Country side slope is protected Tensile Strength
by tur ng with (Upper layer),
grass sods kN/m
and river side slope >42
cm long M.S.isNuts and bolts.
protected Total
by a sand quantity
lled of porcupine
geo-mattress. It is a doubleTensile
layered Strength
composite(Lower
geotextile fabricated to form a >76
layer), kN/m
deployed is 41925 numbers. mattresses after lling sand through pump at design slope of affected reach, the upper
three dimensional
layer of the mattress is made from polypropylene woven Apparent Opening
geotextile Size (Upper
needle-punched with alayer),
mixture of <0.350
7. QUALITY CONTROL mm
U.V. stabilized green bers and cut tape yarns and the lower layer of the mattress is also a U.V stabilised
polypropylene
Considering the advantageswoven fabric. Geo-mattress
of Geosynthetics materialsis its
anchored at upper Opening
Apparent and lower Size
ends of embankment
(Lower layer),slope <0.350
by bending the mat into the trench lled
use may rapidly increase in future and the importance of with sand  lled
mmgeotextile bags. Total quantity of geo-mattresses
quality controlunder use therefore
is 161737 mbe. emphasized
Figure 6 showstocross section of launching apron, bank pitching and embankment
2
should ensure
work at CH: 10 m at Biswanath Reach.

Fig. 6fig. 6: Cross

: Cross section
section of launching
of launching apron,bank
apron, bankpitching
pitching and
and embankment
embankmentwork
workat at
Biswanath Reach
Biswanath Reach

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

22 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Table 5 : Range of test values for Gabion wires further decision can be fi rmed up for execution for similar
vulnerable reaches.
Properties Values
Sometimes conventional system for solution will not
Tensile Strength (Mesh wire), N/mm2 350 - 500 be sufficient for desired results. Use of a composite
Elongation (Mesh wire), % ≥ 10 Geosynthetics solution may prove effective and
economically viable. To keep this system to perform in
Tensile Strength (Selvedge wire), 350 - 500 the long run, it is necessary to prevent the erosion from
N/mm2 bed and for that geotextile bags, filled with the locally
Elongation (Selvedge wire), % ≥10 available material, is the ideal option. While designing
the protection works and choosing the products, due care
Tensile Strength (Lacing wire), N/mm2 350 - 500 has to be taken for proper design, structural integrity of
Elongation Engineered Anti Erosion
(Lacing wire), % Works Along≥the 10 Banks ofthe
Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur
system, experienced designerDistrict, Assam 535 who
and contractors
installs the system in order to avoid negative criticism.
8. CONCLUSION
8. conclusIon Following advantages of Geosynthetics materials with
The paper briefly presents the problems and the remedial this application can be outlined:
The paper briey presents the problems and the remedial works carried out along the vulnerable reaches.
works carried out along the vulnerable reaches. The 1. Filling, transportation and installing the Geo-textile
The ood protection and erosion control method adopted with Composite Geosynthetics is a highly
flood protection and erosion control method adopted bags and Geo-mattress is quick, simpler & economic
engineered solution. Such application replaces all other conventional
with Composite Geosynthetics is a highly engineered
methods (e.g Boulders, RCC etc)
for immediate protection where  ood is a regular when
phenomenon required
and in-filling
construction sand
is to material
be completedis abundantly
in a
solution. Such application replaces all other conventional available at site. Locally available unskilled labours for
constraint time period. The use of Geosynthetics
methods (e.g Boulders, RCC etc) for immediate protection materials permitted to carry out works at a faster rate.
filling the bags can add more economy in project.
where The useisofa the
flood mechanically
regular phenomenon zincand coated wire mesh Gabion box ensured the stability of the geotextile
construction
is to bags by providing
be completed the peripheral
in a constraint time con
period.nement
The useto the2.bank
It takes less time
structures. in procurement
Figure of the Geosynthetics
7 shows implementation
of Geosynthetics materials permitted to carry materials & Gabions than the boulders & aggregates.
of Geosynthetics materials, Gabions andout works works. Creating such type of protection work
Porcupine with
at a faster rate. The use of the mechanically zinc coated Therefore huge cost for carriage of rock boulders
greater area and uniformity in construction reduces damage to thebebase
would saved.
of structure and chance of sinking
wire considerably.
mesh Gabion Butbox
the ensured
performance the ofstability of the
restoration work is still to be observed in coming years as a long term
geotextile bags by providing the peripheral confinement 3. Conventionally used boulders for protection works
measures and thereby further decision can be rmed up for execution for similar vulnerable reaches.
to the bank structures. Figure 7 shows implementation of has become scarce and its continuous use also
Geosynthetics
Sometimesmaterials, Gabions
conventional andfor
system Porcupine
solutionworks.
will not be suf cient for
damages thedesired
ecologicalresults. Use of
balance. a composite
Using of sand filled
Creating such type of protection work with greater area geotextile bags and
Geosynthetics solution may prove effective and economically viable. To keep this system to perform Geo-mattress in various forms,
and uniformity in construction reduces damage to the size, shape is found perfect
in the long run, it is necessary to prevent the erosion from bed and for that geotextile bags, lled with replacement for boulder
basetheof structure and chance
locally available of sinking
material, considerably.
is the But Whileand
ideal option. causesthe
designing lower environmental
protection works impact.
and choosing
the performance of restoration work is still to be observed 4. Satisfying the filter & drainage criterion for conventional
the products, due care has to be taken for proper design, structural integrity of the system, experienced
in coming years as a long term measures and thereby graded granular design is extremely expensive,
designer and contractors who installs the system in order to avoid negative criticism.

Fig.
fig. 7:7Implementation
: Implementationof
of Geosynthetics
Geosynthetics materials,
materials,Gabions
Gabionsand
andPSC
PSCPorcupine
Porcupineworks
works
Following advantages of Geosynthetics materials with this application can be outlined:
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
1. Filling, transportation and installing the Geo-textile bags and Geo-mattress is quick, simpler &
 Engineered Anti Erosion Works Along the Banks of Brahmaputra River in Sonitpur District, Assam
difficult to obtain, time consuming to install and
problem of segregation during placement. The
conditions can easily and cheaply be achieved using
a Geotextile to perform filtration. Specially, a single
layer of Geotextile fabric can replace a graded filter
comprising of two or three layers.
5. Being light in weight, it is easy to handle and install
them quickly. Also working under water becomes
much easier because the bags and filter system can
be assembled above the water and lowered into
position.
6. They are made up of Polypropylene materials, so they
are durable and chemical resistant. Since they are
factory manufactured products, high quality can be
assured. Also uniformity in material specification can
be achieved and maintained throughout project.
7. Restoration and maintenance work is easier than
other conventional methods.
8. Construction of bank revetment can be used to restrict
the flow towards habitat area, thereby delaying the
problem to complete the permanent structure to
safeguard the land against erosion.
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the contributions of the Tezpur
Water Resources Division, Assam and CSMRS team
by way of active cooperation at the time of laboratory
investigation and testing.
REFERENCES
Bhuyan, D.K. (2013). Flood Management activities in
Assam, Assam Water Conference 2013, Assam, India,
15-20.
23
CWC (2012). Hand book for Flood Protection, Anti-
Erosion & River Training Works, New Delhi, India. CSMRS
(2015). Report on Laboratory testing of Geosynthetics
materials and Gabion for Protection of Biswanath Panpur
including areas of upstream Silamari and far downstream
Bhumuraguri to Borgaon against erosion of River
Brahmaputra, New Delhi, India.
Gupta, M., Chitra, R. and Ratnam, M. (2012). Geosynthetics
in River Bank Erosion Control, Conf. on Geosynthetics in
Infrastructure – Issues and Challenges, Aug. 25-26, 2012,
Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, 383-394.
ASTM D 5261. Test Methods for Measuring Mass per Unit
Area of Geotextiles, American Society for Testing and
Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA.
ASTM D 4595. Test Method for Tensile properties of
Geotextiles by the Wide-Width Strip Method, American
Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken,
Pennsylvania, USA.
ASTM D 6241. Test Method for the Static Puncture
Strength of Geotextiles and Geotextile-Related Products
Using a 50 mm Probe, American Society for Testing and
Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA.
ASTM D 4751. Test Method for Determining Apparent
Opening Size of a Geotextile, American Society for Testing
and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania,
USA.
ASTM D 4491. Test Methods for Water Permeability of
Geotextiles by Permittivity, American Society for Testing
and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania,
USA.
IS 1608. Metallic Materials –Tensile Testing at Ambient
Temperature, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi,
India.
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
 Land Reclamation Using Geotextile Tubes
Filled With Fine Grained Soil
Kiran Kumar Rumandla and C. Nanda Kishore
Ten Cate Protective India Pvt. Ltd.
Rajib Bhattacharjee
Bhumi Geosynthetics Pvt. Ltd., India
ABSTRACT
Land reclamation was proposed by a private realty developer in East India along River Hooghly to reclaim
the land lost due to erosion occurred by tidal courses along the river. The project site is situated at Raichak,
50 km east of Kolkata. The total length of the bank proposed for reclamation was around 500 m. The
initial phase of the project involved reclamation of eroded land and armour protection of the newly formed
bank slopes on river side and thereafter to proceed develop the property. Geotextile tubes were selected
for its technical efficacy and cost effectiveness besides quicker construction.Geotextile tubes are inflated
using sand slurry and the quality of sand is very important to determine the shape of the tube and inflated
height. This paper focuses on critical engineering aspects associated with design of the geotextile tube,
methodology to pump the tubes in a successful manner while using fine grained soil fills usually available
from the alluvial deposits of the Gangetic plane.

1. INTRODUCTION stones. The project authority soon realized the difficulties

in logistics to transport such huge quantities of rubble
An upcoming private owned holiday resort is planned
stone by small boats. The engineer has contemplated
along the pristine banks of River Ganges. The project is
several engineered options and finalized to implement
situated at Raichak, 50 km east of Kolkata (see Figure
Geotextile tube dykesolution for its sustainability over
1). The total length of the bank is around 500 m and the
other options. It is decided to have geotextile tubes
highest tidal level is +4.99 m and the lowest tide level
installed to achieve aheight of +5.4 m, which is then
is -0.89 m. A large variation in the tidal level within the
overlain by a thick layer of boulders (Figure 3).
frequency of the tide causes erosion at the project site
and deposition across the banks. The fi rst construction Fill is dredged from the river to fill the geotextile tube and
phase of the project involves reclamation of eroded bank land reclamation works in the construction of the bund.
and armor protection of the newly formed bank slopes in The project has a greater challenge in the form of the
river side to reclaim the lost land in erosion (Figure 2). available fill material, which is quite fine (silty) and not
The project consultant has proposed to construct a dyke ideal to act as fill material for tubes. The main challenge
of level of +6.20 m using
LandaReclamation
conventional rubble
Using
Land mounds.
Geotextile
Reclamation Tubes is to
Using Filled withcontain
Geotextile the with
Fine Grained
Tubes Filled fine particles
SoilFine Grainedwithin
545 the tube 545
Soil and yet
This is estimated to consume around 75000 cum of rubble achieve the desired inflated height.

Raiichak Village Raiichak Village

Geottextile tube Dyk

ke
Geottextile tube Dyk
ke

Fig. 1 : Project Location Fig. 2 : Dyke plan

fig. 1: Project Location
fig. 1: Project Location fig. 2: Dyke planfig. 2: Dyke plan

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 24

 Geottextile tube Dyk
ke

Land
fig. 1:Reclamation Using Geotextile Tubes Filled withfig.
Project Location Fine2:Grained Soil
Dyke plan 25

Fig.fig.
3 :3: Cross-section of
Cross-section of the
the geotextile
geotextiletube dyke
tube dyke

2. GEOTEXTILE Fill is dredged

TUBEfrom the river to ll the geotextile tubeapplied
TECHNOLOGY and landtoreclamation
the strength works in the
of the fabricconstruction
used forof the fabrication
the bund. The project has a greater challenge in the form of theavailable ll material, which is quite ne
of the geotextile tube to allow possibility of burst during
Geotextile tubes,
(silty)are
andtubular
not idealcontainers
to act as llthat are formed
material for tubes. The main challenge is to contain the ne particles
filling due to un-regulated pumping pressures, longer
in situ on land or in
within thewater
tube and where massthegravity
yet achieve desiredbarrierinated height.
exposure to abrasion, ultra violet rays etc.
type structures546 are required. The tubes are laid Kiran Kumar
out andRumandla, et al.
2. GeotextIle tuBe technoloGy
filled onsite to their required geometrical form. Geotextile The geotextile tube shall be fabricated in factory to
tubes range in Geotextile
compacted,
size from tubes,
1 mare
stable mass
to tubular
6m incontainers
within the tube. that
diameter, For
and areupformed
hydraulic and in marine
achieve situ higher
onapplications,
land or seamin water
the where
type
efficienciesof mass ingravity
ll used is
order to provide
barrier
sand, type
or a structures
signi cant are required.
percentage
to 50 m in length. The size of a geotextile tube may be of The
sand. tubes
The are laid
geotextile out and
tube
adequate lled
units onsite
will
safety be to their
subjected
against required
to hoop
bursting geometrical
stresses
at the filling port/
duringGeotextile
form. lling. The tubeshooprange
stresses
in willfrom
size be larger1 m as
to them
6 diameter
in diameter,
circumferential of the tube
and up
seams increases
to 50 m
during andlength.
in the strength
The
filling/pumping size the tube.
classifi ed in terms of its length and circumference. As an
ofofathe tube selected
geotextile tube may may be be critical
classito edresist
in terms the stresses.
of its lengthIt is recommended
and circumference. to haveAs a factor of safety to
anefficiency
alternative
alternative to circumference,
which ranges from a3geotextile
to 5 depending tube may also ofInlling the present case the seam is about 80% of
circumference, a geotextile tube mayonalso the method
be classi ed based chosen
on an to equivalent
ll the tubes, parameters
diameter wherebyof thethe
be classified based on ancriticality
ll material, equivalent diametersoil,
of foundation whereby
typepi.ofThe the
structure tensile strength. Further, it is critical
armor into design the
diameter equals the circumference divide by typical(temporary/permanent)
features of a geotextile andtubetypeare of shown
the diameter Figure4.Hydraulic
equals thelayer.
circumference divide by opening size of the tube in such a ofway, that it should
protection Ahigher factor
ll is pumped isinto
appliedthepi. to Thethe strength
geotextile tube of the fabric
through used for
specially the fabrication
manufactured lling the
ports
typical features of aatgeotextile
geotextile
located tube toc allow
speci tube
intervals are
possibility
along shown of top
the inofFigure
burst during allow
lling due
the geotextile
discharge
to un-regulated
tube. During lling,
ofwater
pumping but retains
pressures,
the geotextile
the
longer
tube, being
soil particles.
4. Hydraulic fill is pumped
exposure
permeable, to into the
abrasion,
allows theexcess
geotextile
ultra violetwatertube
rays etc.
to pass through This depends on the type
through the geotextile skin while the retained ll attains a of filling method and relative
specially manufactured
The geotextile filling
tube shallports be located
fabricatedat specific
in factory discharge deployed for filling
to achieve higher seam efciencies in order to provide the tube which shall be a
intervals along the top
adequate safetyof against
the geotextile
bursting at the tube. lling During balance between time of
port/circumferential seams during lling/pumping the tube. filling and rate of sedimentation.
filling, the geotextile tube,case
In the present beingthe seampermeable,
efciency allows is about 80% the ofOnce the tensile filled, the Further,
strength. geotextile tube tobehaves
it is critical design as a mass-
excess water to pass through the geotextile skin while the
the opening size of the tube in such a way, that it gravity
should allow unit.The
discharge geotextile
ofwater butskin
retainsperforms
the soil three functions
particles. This depends on
retained fill attains a compacted, stable mass within the the type of  lling method that
and are
relative critical
discharge to the performance
deployed for  lling of
the the
tube filled geotextile
which and
tube. For hydraulic shall marine
be a balance between time
applications, theoftypellingofand tube. rate of Firstly,
sedimentation. Once lled,
the geotextile skinthe must
geotextilehave the required
tube behaves as a mass-gravity
fill used is sand, or a significant percentage of sand. The unit.The geotextile skin
tensile performsstrengththree functions
and that
stiffness are to critical
resist tothe mechanical
the performance of the lled geotextile tube. Firstly, the geotextile skin must have the required tensile
geotextile tube units will be subjected to hoop stresses stresses applied during filling and throughout the life of
strength and stiffness to resist the mechanical stresses applied during lling and throughout the life of
during filling. the
Theunits,
hoop the units, and must not continue to deform so that the
and stresses
must not continue will beto larger
deform so asthat thethe geotextile tube changes shape over time. Secondly,
diameter of the thetube increases
geotextile skin must andhavethe thestrength
required hydraulicof the properties geotextile tube
to retain thechanges
sand ll andshape preventover erosion time. Secondly,
tube selected under
may abe critical
variety to resistconditions.
of hydraulic the stresses. Thirdly, It the the geotextile skin must
is geotextile skin must have the required durability to have the required hydraulic
recommendedremain to have intacta over
factor the of safety
design which
life of the units.ranges properties to retain the sand
Where there is potential for foundation scour during the fill and prevent erosion under
from 3 to 5 depending on the method of filling chosen to
life of the geotextile tube structure it is common a
practice variety
to of
install hydraulic
a scour apronconditions.
during Thirdly,
construction. the geotextile
The scour apron
fill the tubes, parameters of consists
the fill of a geotextile
material, lter anchored
criticality of skin at the must have by
extremities themeans
required
of a small durability
diameterto remain intact
geotextile tube manufactured
foundation soil, type of structure (temporary/permanent) as an integral part of the geotextile
over the  lter
design base. Geotextile
life of the tubes
units. are
Whereused for there is potential
range hydraulic and marine
and type of armor protection layer. A higher factor is applications such as revetments,
for offshore
foundation breakwaters,
scour protection
during the dykeslife and
of the geotextile
containment dykes.

fig. 4: Typical features of geotextile tube

Fig. 4 : Typical features of geotextile tube
3. sIte condItIons and InvestIGatIons
The silt content in the estuarine waters of river Hooghly generally varies from season to season in a year
and also from ood to ebb tides. During monsoon season the silt content in the watersVolume 8v
is usually No. 2 v July 2019
high
when compared to non-monsoon season.
26 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

tube structure it is common practice to install a scour Table 2 : Geotextile tube specifications
apron during construction. The scour apron consists of
a geotextile fi lter anchored at the extremities by means Property Test Method Value
of a small diameter geotextile tube manufactured as an Material Polypropylene
integral part of the geotextile fi lter base. Geotextile tubes Wide Width Tensile Strength ISO 10319 200
are used for range hydraulic and marine applications (Wrap) (kN/m)
such as revetments, offshore breakwaters, protection
dykes and containment dykes. Wide Width Tensile Strength ISO 10319 200
(Weft) (kN/m)
3. SITE CONDITIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS Strain at nominal tensile ISO 10319 11
The silt content in the estuarine waters of river Hooghly Strength (Wrap)(%)
generally varies from season to season in a year and also Strain at nominal tensile ISO 10319 11
from flood to ebb tides. During monsoon season the silt Strength (Weft)(%)
content in the waters is usually high when compared to
Factory Seam Strength ISO 10321 160
non-monsoon season.
(kN/m)
3.1 Grain Size of Dredged Material CBR Puncture (KN) ISO 12236 22
The grain size analysis of the bed sample is shown in Abrasion resistance (%) ASTM D 4886 80
the Table 1. From Table 1 it may be seen that median
UV resistance (500 hrs) ASTM D 4355 90
sediment size (D 50 ) is 0.24 mm. The percentage
(%)
distribution of medium sand is about 13%, and fine sand
is 83%. Hence it can generally be assessed that most of Permeability (50 mm head) ISO 11058 20
the sediment to be fine sand. (l/m2/s)
Table 1 : Sampling Results Opening size(O90)(μm) ISO 12956 350
4.2 Retention and Containment of Finer Sediments
Classification D50 Medium Fine Silt and
of Soil (mm) Sand % Sand % Clay%
within the Geotextile Tube
The geotextile designed for the tube shall necessarily
Medium Sand 0.24 13.157 83.053 3.790 have an opening size which accommodates sufficient
to Fine Sand water flow rates while pumping the tube to prevent risk
of tube bursts. However, such opening sizes may not
4. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY be able to contain the finer sediments pumped. The
The selection and design of the tube becomes very concept of stokes law is applied to enhance sedimentation
critical for this project for the reason that containment of which states that the rate of sedimentation is inversely
finer sediments within the tube itself is difficult besides proportional to the flow velocity of the sediments which
inflation of the tube. This required the engineer to look is shown in equation 1.
at the materials of the geotextile tube as well as the Vsed = r2(ρs– ρo)g ...[1]
processes deployed for filling of the tube while dealing
18ηw
with the two aspects of retention of the sediments in the
tube and achieving desired height. Where Vsed is the settling velocity, ρ is density (the
subscripts sand o indicate particle and fluid respectively),
4.1 Materials g is the acceleration due to gravity, r is the radius of the
Geotextile tube products selected for this project are particle and ηw is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid. The
made out of polypropylene engineered to offer higher formula can be used to estimate the sedimentation rate
tensile strengths within very low elongation in both at the start of the filling of the geotextile tube. Once the
circumferential direction and longitudinal directions. geotextile tube is largely filled, the flow of water through
Polypropylene fabrics offers resistance against the geotextile tube becomes significantly larger and
salinity besides higher robustness to endurance. The erosion will occur and the sedimentation rate will decrease
containment bund was constructed with one tube unit causing the filling speed to fall significantly.
stacked on top of two base tube units. Geotextile tube 4.3 Achieving Filled Height
unit of length 25 m and circumference 15.7 m is used.
The properties of the geotextile tube can be referred in The fill particles trapped within the tube will have greater
Table 2. tendencies to laterally spread for its lower angle of

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Land Reclamation Using Geotextile Tubes Filled with Fine Grained Soil
internal friction thus having risks of lowered inflation/flat
tubes. Hence the tubes selected should necessarily have
relatively higher lateral restraint which implies that the
geotextile fabric shall exhibit the tensile strength with in
lower range of elongations (within the order of 10~12%).
From the authors’ experience one of the key factors infl
uencing the inflated height is that higher the elongation
of the fabric the more with be the lateral spreading and
consequently the less will bet he inflated height and
vice-versa.
4.4 Stability Analysis
The geotextile tube design needs to fulfill the following
requirements (Yee, 2002):
• Internal stability
• External stability
• Durability
The critical stressing period for a geotextile tube is movements and hence needs guide posts to hold it in
during the pumping of slurry into the geotextile tube. its dyke alignment and position.
The hydraulic pressure will put the geotextile tube in
circumferential as well as longitudinal tension. Designs
oft wares (Geo Co PS, SOFFTWIN) that will determine
tensions and geometry of geotextile tube are available.
The geotextile stresses of the tube during hydraulic filling
were analyzed using TUBEWIN geotextile tube program
Land Reclamation Using Geotextile Tubes Filled with Fine Grained Soil losses due
refer to Figure 5.
fig. 5: Analysis of geotextile tube using Tube Win Software
Fig. 5 : Analysis of geotextile tube using Tube Win Software
27
5. CONSTRUCTION
The construction procedures deployed at site are in line
to the design philosophy. A hopper is designed at around
50 m away from the tube and erected at a height which
causes flow by gravity refer to Figure 6. The hopper is
connected to the geotextile tube by 6” dia. pipe so that
it doesn’t get choked. Sufficient river water is drawn
during the high tides and incorporated in to the system
almost at the bottom of the hopper to take advantage of
the gravity force to allow its flow to the tube. The sand
thus poured manually in the hopper gets mixed with
water and allowed to flow in to the tube. The distance
of the hopper and the tube is critical to regulate the
velocity of flow. Hence the distance is designed by trial
and error method to achieve optimum effectiveness in
pumping. The most critical aspect of construction is to fill
the tube during high tides to draw water to the pumping
system. The tube in high tide will be subjected to lateral
Thus the construction is planned in such a way that
tube is aligned in position during low tides and filling
commences as the tide rises. This allows a 4 hour filling
window. Sufficient time is allowed for withdrawal of water
from the tube. Sufficient allowance is made for sediment
549to internal erosion. The filling of the tube of
15.7 m circumference and 25 m length to the design
height took 72 hours that including intertidal stoppages.
Though the filling of the tube has taken relatively longer
time, an inflated height ranging from 2.55 m ~2.75 m
is achieved. Scour apron is placed prior to the placing
of the geotextile tubes, which would help in reducing
erosion below the tubes. When the filling of geotextile
tube with sand is completed, all filling ports are then
closed. A parallel geotextile tube is then laid side by
side and filled in the same manner refer to Figure 7.
When the two bottom tier geotextile tubes have been
installed, the gap in-between is filled with sand bags and
leveled. The uppertier geotextile tube is then installed
following the same process refer to Figure 8. Once the
tubes are filled and attained the desired height and the
entire segment of the temporary construction platform is
completed, earth fill is deposited within and subsequent
construction of the dyke with sand bags and boulders is
done as per cross-section refer to Figure 9. A non-woven
geotextile of mass 500g/m2 is placed at the interface of
the sandbags and the boulders. Completed picture of
the structure after installation of geotextile tubes and
associated works can be seen in Figure 10.
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
28 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
fig. 5: Analysis of geotextile tube using Tube Win Software
fig. 5: Analysis of geotextile tube using Tube Win Software

fig.6 6:
Fig. :fig. 6: Slurry
Slurry
Slurry mixing
mixing mixing
tank fig.
Fig. 7fig. 7:7:Installation
Installation
: Installation of
of bottom fig.
fig.
Fig. 8 :8:8:Installation
Installation
Installation of of
of second Fig. 9 fig.
fig. :9: 9: Boulders
Boulders
Boulders placement on
tank tank
used used
at at
the the project
project
used at the project site bottom
bottom tier
tier geotextile
geotextile
tier geotextile tubes second
second tier
tiergeotextile tube
geotextile
tier geotextile tube tube placement on theontube
placement
the geotextile the
site site tubes
tubes geotextile tube
geotextile tube

fig.
Fig.10:
10 Completed
: Completedstructure
structureafter
afterinstallation
installation
fig. 10: Completed structure after installation
6. CONCLUSION REFERENCES
It’s often challenging to make use of locally available of GRI (1991). GRI Test Method GT11: Standard Practice
marginal quality used in design & construction of long- for “International of Geotextile Tubes used as
term structures. However, efforts to design structures Coastal and Riverine Structures”.
which may allow usage of such marginal quality materials
will make projects economically viable and sustainable. Laws on, C.R. (2006). Geotextile containment for
In the present paper, it is concluded that the locally hydraulic and environmental engineering, Proceedings
available materials, such as fine sand, along the banks of the Eighth International Conference on Geosynthetics,
of River Ganges can be effectively used as fill materials Yokohama, Japan, Vol. 1, pp 9 – 48.
in to filling geotextile tubes by engineering the geotextile Yee, T.W.(2002). Construction of underwater dykes using
tube materials & adopting well designed construction geotextile containment systems, in Proceedings of the
techniques suitable to the site conditions without the risk Seventh International Conference on Geosynthetics,
of tube bursting, lateral spreading and internal erosion. Nice, France, Vol. 3, pp. 1161-1164.
Optimum hydraulic characteristics, low elongation of
geotextile tube material, higher seam strengths andwell-
designed construction techniques are key contributors to
the performance of the geotextile tubes to achieve desired
shape and height when filled with fine sand.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Use Of Geosystems For Coastal And Marine
Structures To Combat Erosion Problems -
Case Reference – Geosystems At Lng Petronet
Terminal, Kochi, Kerala (India)
Anilkumar Gopinath, Shruthi A. Solshe and Balraj S. Shevade
Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt Ltd., India
ABSTRACT
In the recent years the usage of Geosystem has been accepted as an alternative to the conventional
protection measures for coastal structures. The failure mechanisms that lead to instability of stacked
geosystems are complex. Presently design of Geosystem structures is carried out merely based on data
from offshore coastal environment. However the field observations during the execution process of a break
water and protective bund undertaken for LNG Kochi, Kerala in S-W coast of the India showed that the
externalities caused due to the upland riverine environment effect the stability of the offshore structure.
The above work is treated as a case study to further analyze the effect of the externalities due to the
riverine systems on the engineering properties of Geotextile tubes. The in-situ solution methods adopted
to overcome these externalities which ensure stability of the structure and measures taken for long term
UV protection are brought out through a case study.

1. INTRODUCTION due to the inherent upstream riverine characteristics

The riverine flow on reaching the sea reduces the
Rubble mound structures are widely used for coastal
underwater visibility and thereby causes the following
protection works in the Indian coast. But these methods
externalities like (i) difficulties in filling the geotextile
are facing many challenges in the recent years due to
tubes and maintaining the profile of the tubes leading
various factors such as (i) Restricted mining of Quarry
to caterpillar effects (ii) Deposition of finer materials and
stones due to ban from district administration, (ii) Excess
decayed aquatic weeds in the sea bed, which in turn
conveyance cost, (iii) Quarry owners preference for
effects the grainsize distribution of dredged material
production of lower size stone, (iv) Executing agencies
obtained offshore for filling the tubes, which in turn
not able to supply design specifi ed stone, thereby early
results in movement of finer sand material from the
collapse of the structure.
tubes (iii) Hypoxia condition for the divers caused by
As per the coastal statistics (National Hydrographic the decay process of aquatic weeds and algae during
Survey, Dehradun, India), out of the 5421 km length deposition in the sea bed, (v) Movement of weeds and
of Indian coast 48.8 percent of the west coast and 38 algae into the suction system of the dredger pumps.
percent of east coast of the Indian coast length of 5421 km All these externalities cause instability to the stacked
have been assessed as sandy coasts. Sandy coasts are Geotextile tube structure affects the engineering
considered as highly promising in the use of geosystems properties of the Geotextile tubes.
for coastal protection. Hence protection measures using
This paper highlights the importance in considering
geosystems for offshore and onshore structures are now
the site specific externalities caused due to the upland
considered as a better alternative over the conventional
riverine systems during the planning and design phase.
methods used in the Indian Coast.
The case study pertains to a work undertaken for LNG,
In the SW Coast of India, many big and small rivers Petro, Kochi, Kerala, India to divert silt deposition and to
originating mostly from the Western Ghats empty into improve the navigational facility of vessels reaching their
the Arabian Sea facilitating a break in the shoreline to trestle by constructing an offshore breakwater. The study
produce an estuary. The mouth of the estuaries gets brings out the solution methods which can be adopted
opened and closed due to the river fl ow and/or tide during the execution process so that the stability of the
- induced flow. These rivers discharge large quantity structure is ensured. Certain guidelines for better design
of silt laden sediments, aquatic weeds mainly Salvinia of Geosystems are proposed based on the case study.
Molesta (Kariba weed) and other algae into the sea just Measures are also suggested for long term UV protection
after the monsoon period. This phenomenon is mainly of the geosystem.

29 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Use of Geosystems for Coastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problem
Reference – Geosystems at LNG Petronet Terminal, Kochi, Kerala (India
30 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
4. methodoloGy adopted
2. EARLIER STUDIES USING GEOSYSTEM
The predominant engineering real life system in
properties ofcomparison
Geosystemwith an ideal in
as reported system. Theare iden
literature
discrepancies thereon, theoretical justification for these
Comprehensive understanding ofcriteria and the
Geosystems forces acting on an ideal geosystem under calm water conditions are st
in Coastal
Engineering was brought outinbyliterature.
Pilarczyk A case
(2000). studydiscrepancies
is conducted to and effective strategies to be adopted
verify the performance of a real life system i
during real life situation are brought out.
Laboratory studies for tube shape at different
an ideal fillingdiscrepancies thereon, theoretical justication for these discrepan
system. The
percentages has been studiedstrategiesand an approximate
to be adopted during4.1 Engineering Properties
real life situation are brought out.
base width and height to the theoretical radius of the
Engineering properties of geosystem filled with sand and
tube has been derived for field 4.1useengineering
and has been properties
their effect on the hydraulic stability of a multilayered
reported by CUR 217 (2006)). Extensive physical model
Engineering properties
testing of Geosystems to test the hydraulic stability and
of geosystem
geotextile sandfilled
lled with sand and their
tube breakwater effect
structure andonthe
the hydra
multilayered geotextile interrelationship of the properties of Geotextile sand
performance of single and multi-layered structures were sand lled tube breakwater structure and the interrelationship o
Geotextile sand containers containers
reportedreported by (Darshana
by (Darshana T. Dassanayke
T. Dassanayke (2013).)
(2013).) are given in
undertaken. The research at the Leichtwei β Institute in
are given in Figure 1.
Germany (by various researchers mainly by Recio (2008),
van Steeg and Breteler (2010), Kriel (2011), das. Neves
(2011) are reviewed. The effects of the most important
engineering properties of Geotextile Sand Containers on
the hydraulic stability under different still water conditions
have been reported by Darshana T. Dassanayke (2013).
Geotextile containment unit as a serious alternative
to the conventional methods using armour stones for
coastal structures in India has been reported by Kudale
(2013). Recent publication by A.I. Anton (2015) reports
that the designs adopted for the stability of Multi-layered
geosystems assume that the underwater placement of
Geotextile tubes in the sea are in calm conditions without
giving allowance for uncertainty about their behaviour
under the action of unprecedented strong waves.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Fig. 1 : Interrelationship of engineering properties of
Few studies reported in literature have addressed fig. 1:theInterrelationship of engineering properties of Geotextile Sand Conta
Geotextile Sand Containers
effect of inherent upstream riverine characteristics in the
Predominantly six properties are identified to have
placement of Geotextile tubes for off shore structures.
Predominantly six Site
properties are identi ed on
to have signicant impact on the
significant impact the geosystems. They are (i) geosys
specific externalities are not considered
Propertiesby of
researchers
the Geotextile,Properties of the Geotextile, (ii) Properties of the fillfriction,
(ii) Properties of the ll material, (iii) interface
and scientific community while designing sand filled
of sand lled Geotextile tubes,material, (v)(iii)movement of sand(iv)
interface friction, inside the Geotextile
Deformability tube, (vi)
of sand
multilayered geotextile tube breakwater structures.
filled Geotextile tubes, (v) movement of sand inside the
The impact of site specific externalities
The designmodifies the geosystem under ideal condition stipulates denite safe limits in
of stacked Geotextile tube, (vi) Sand fill ratio.
engineering properties of the Geosystem
properties forbreakwater
ensuring stability of the structure. But variations in the value of properties
structures mainly the shape of the Geosystem. Also the The design of stacked geosystem under ideal condition
situations which may occur in a real life condition would in turn affect the stability of
additional forces and the shift in the line of action of the stipulates definite safe limits in the value of these
4.2 structures
forces on the multilayered Geosystem due toon properties
forces acting an Ideal Geosystem for ensuring stability of the structure. But
change in shape of the Geotextile tube caused by the variations in the value of properties due to unforeseen
externalities are not accounted for either in model studies situations which may occur in a real life condition would
or theoretical considerations. in turn affect the stability of the structure.
The objective of the study is formulated to analyze how 4.2 Forces Acting on an Ideal Geosystem
the site specific externalities have a significant impact on
The forces and the line of action of the forces acting
the design of multilayered geotextile tube systems through
on an ideal geosystem at different still water levels in
field observations.
calm water condition are depicted in Figure 2(a), 2(b),
4. METHODOLOGY ADOPTED 2 (c) respectively. Figure 2 (a) corresponds to force
acting at the base of the crest tube, 2(b) corresponds
The predominant engineering properties of Geosystem to force acting between the base and the crest of the
as reported in literature are identified. The stability criteria tube and 2(c) corresponds to force acting at the crest
and the forces acting on an ideal geosystem under calm of the tube. The main vertical forces is the force due to
water conditions are studied from reports in literature. A gravity (self-weight) and the horizontal forces are the
case study is conducted to verify the performance of a pressure forces.
fig. 2: (a) At the base of the crest tube fig. 2: (b) Between the ba

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 The design of stacked geosystem under ideal condition stipulates denite safe limits in the value of these
force
properties for ensuring stability of due to gravity
the structure. (self-weight)
But variations in theand theofhorizontal
value properties forces are the pressure forces.
due to unforeseen
situations which may occur in a4.3 real life condition
stability would in
criteria forturn
anaffect
Idealthe stability of
Geotextile the structure.
system
4.2 Use of Geosystems
forces acting onfor
anCoastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problems - Case Reference
Ideal Geosystem 31

in turn depends on sandfill ratio. These relations for

ineering properties of Geotextile Sand Containers
d to have signicant impact on the geosystems. They are (i)
of the ll material, (iii) interface friction, (iv) Deformability
ent of sand inside the Geotextile tube, (vi) Sand ll ratio.
al condition stipulates denite safe limits in the value of these
ure. But variations in the value of properties due to unforeseen
ndition would in turn affect the stability of the structure.
em
Fig. 2 : (a) At the base of the crest tube
fig. 2: (a) At the base of the crest tube
different sand filling percentages are consolidated and
shown in tabular form along with definition sketch for
different parameters used in (Figure 3).The main findings
are (1) When the hypothetical angle alpha has a variation
of more than 5 degree, the process of sliding sets in. (2)
When the variation of the base width of the crest tube is
beyond 15% the structure slides.
fig. 3: Base width calculation for different sand ll ratio
fig. 2: (b) Between the base and the crest

fig. 4: Stability against sliding

Fig. 4 :for singleagainst
Stability crest sand lled
sliding for multi-layered geotextile
single crest sand filled tube brea
multi-layered geotextile tube breakwater structure
Physical Model studies have been undertaken for single crest sand lled multilayered
4.4 Case
(Kriel 2012). A hypothetical angle Study
alphaSite
has been used in this study to dene the proc
given in Figure 4. This The location of the casetostudy
angle is further related base undertaken
width of crestfortube
LNG which in
Anilkumar Gopinathsand
et al. ll ratio. These relations for different sand lling percentages are 0 consolidated and s
Fig. 2 : (b) Between the base and the crest Kochi, Kerala, India lies between Latitude 9 58’ 28.43”
fig.
554 2: (b) Between the base andform
the along with de
crestAnilkumar nition
N andsketch
Gopinath al. for different
Longitude76
et 0 parameters
13’ 34.88”E in theused
S-Wincoast
(Figure 3).The main
of India
When the hypotheticalFigureangle alpha
3. The work was for executing 500 m lengthprocess
has a variation of more than 5 degree, the of of sl
When the variation of Multi
the base widthGeotextile
layered of the crest tube
tube is beyond structure
breakwater 15% the andstructure
a slide
150 m length groyne to divert sand deposition away from
4.4 case study site
the navigation channel leading to the trestle used by LNG
The location of the case study
ships. undertaken
Also for LNG
500 m length Kochi, Kerala,
of protective bund wasIndia
donelies
to between
28.43” N and Longitude76
protect
0
13’
the34.88”E in the
reclaimed S-W
land coast 5).
(Figure of India Figure of
The design 3. The
the work w
break water was undertaken by Central Water and Power
Research Station (CWPRS) Pune, India, a Govt of India
research institution and the execution was undertaken by
fig. 2: (c) At the crest of the structure Coastal wing of Maccaferri-India.
Fig. 2 : (c) At the crest of the structure
4.5 Problem Description
4.3 of
and the line Stability
action ofCriteria
the forcesfor an Ideal
acting idealfig.
on an Geotextile 2: (c) At at
geosystem thedifferent
crest of the
stillstructure
water levels
are depicted in Figure 2(a), 2(b), 2 (c) respectively. FigureIn2the
ater condition System (a) case study chosen
corresponds to at LNG Petro site, an estuary
The forces and the line of action of the forces acting on an idealabout
is located geosystem
200 matondifferent still water
the southern levels
side, which is the
g at the base of the crest tube, 2(b) corresponds to force acting between the base and the crest
Physical in
Model
calmstudies have been
water condition are undertaken for single
depicted in Figure 2(a), 2(b), 2 (c) respectively.
6 rivers into the Arabian sea.toFrom the
Figure 2 (a) corresponds
e and 2(c) corresponds to force acting at the crest of the tube. The maindischarge mouthisof
vertical forces the
crest sand filledacting
force multilayered geotextile
at the base tubes
of the crest (Kriel
tube, 2012).
2(b) corresponds to force acting between the base and the crest
to gravity (self-weight) and the horizontal forces are the pressure forces.southern side of the estuary, five rivers namely Pamba,
A hypothetical angleand
of the tube alpha
2(c) has been used
corresponds in this
to force studyat the
acting crest of theManimala,
Achenkoil, tube. The main vertical forces
Meenachal is the
and Muvattupuzha
bility criteria for force
to define an
theIdealdueGeotextile
processto gravity system
of sliding as given in
(self-weight) andFigure 4. This forces
the horizontal are the pressure forces.
rivers and from the northern side a tributary of Periyar
angle is further related to base width of crest tube which river discharge into the Arabian sea. There is also a
4.3 stability criteria for an Ideal Geotextile system

fig. 3: Base width calculation for different sand ll ratio

fig. 33:: Base

Fig. Basewidth
width calculation
calculation for
for different sand fillll ratio
different sand ratio

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 ngth of Multi layered Geotextile tube breakwater structure and a 150m length groyne to divert
position away from the navigation channel leading to the trestle used by LNG ships. Also 500m
f protective bund was done to protect the reclaimed land (Figure 5). The design of the break water
dertaken by 32Central Water and Power Research Station
Indian (CWPRS)
Journal Pune, India,and
of Geosynthetics a Govt of India
Ground Improvement
h institution and the execution was undertaken by Coastal wing of Maccaferri-India.
and deposition of silt and sand. When the shutters are
opened, the water polluted due to pesticides along with
weeds, silt and algae flow into the sea. These site specific
fig. 5. Structure locations for Breakwater, Groyne and Protection Bund structure LNG,
characteristics were found to have a significant impact on
4.5 problem description the engineering properties of the geosystem.

Structure locations
Fig. for Breakwater,
5 : Structure Groyne and
locations Protection Bund
for Breakwater, structure
Groyne andLNG, Kochi, Kerala, India
Protection
roblem description Bund structure LNG, Kochi, Kerala, India

salt water intrusion barrier at Thaneermukkam which is

kept operated as per the agricultural calendar for paddy
cultivation undertaken in the polders of Kuttanad which
are mainly below MSL (Figure 6). When the barrier at
Thaneermukkam is closed, the discharge from 4 rivers fig.66.
Fig. Upstream
: Upstream riverine
riverine environment
environment
Pamba, Achencoil, Manimala, and Meenachal rivers gets 4.6 Externalities Identified
stagnated forming the lake in theIn the casestretches
upstream study chosen
of at LNG Petro site, an estuary is located about 200m on the
is the discharge mouth
the barrage. During this period the upstream stretches get of
The6 externalities
rivers into the Arabian
identified sea.with
along Fromtheirthe southern
source causeside of th
effected due to excessive growth ofnamely
aquaticPamba, and
weeds, Achenkoil,
algae impact are consolidated in the Table 1.
Manimala, Meenachal and Muvattupuzha rivers and fr
a tributary of Periyar river discharge into the Arabian sea. There is also a salt wate
fig. 6. Upstream Thaneermukkam
Table 1 :riverine
Source,environment which
cause and Impact is to
due kept operated
upstream as perenvironment
riverine the agricultural calendar for paddy cu
ase study chosen at LNG Petro site, an estuary isin the polders
located about 200m of Kuttanad which
on the southern side,are mainly below MSL (Figure 6). When the barrie
which
scharge mouth ofExternality
6 rivers into the Arabian sea. is Source
From southern side of the Cause
estuary,  ve rivers Impact
closed, the discharge from 4 rivers Pamba, Achencoil, Manimala, and Meenachal
the
Eutrophication of lake Storm andwater runoff carrying
Pamba, Achenkoil, Manimala, Meenachal Muvattupuzha
forming therivers
lake andin Urbanisation
from the northern
the upstream andside Excess growth of aquatic weeds
stretches of the barrage. During this period th
water
ary of Periyar river discharge into thepollutants
Arabian sea. rich in nutrients
There economic
is also a salt water intrusionactivity
barrierinat leading to lack of underwater
mukkam which is kept operated as perSurface get
the agriculturaleffected
runoff fromcalendar due
agricultural
to excessive
for paddyupland growth
riverine
cultivation of
system
undertaken aquatic weeds, algae and deposition of silt
visibility
olders of Kuttanad which are mainly below landsMSL shutters
rich (Figure are
6).
in chemicals opened,
When the the
andbarrier water ofpolluted due to pesticides
at Thaneermukkam
Closure along withlevels
Rise in pesticide weeds,insilt and al
Achencoil,These
d, the discharge from 4 rivers Pamba, pesticides site and
Manimala, speci c characteristics
Meenachal rivers gets
Thaneermukkam were
stagnated found to have a signi cant
stagnant lake water leadingimpactto on the en
the lake in the upstream stretches of the barrage. During this period the
of the geosystem. barrage shutters upstream stretches degradation of geotextile tube
cted due to excessive growth of aquatic weeds, algae and deposition of silt and sand. When the material
are opened, the water polluted due to pesticides 4.6 along withexternalities
weeds, silt andIdentifi
algae ow edinto the sea.
Sand and Silt Erosion characteristics in the Closure
ite specic characteristics were found to have a signicant impact on the engineering propertiesof Rise in sediment associated
eosystem. movement from upstream The externalities identied along with their source cause
catchment Thaneermukkam pesticide andinimpact
levels are
stagnant consolidate
lake
upstream catchment Shutters water resulting in degradation of
xternalities Identified geotextile tube material
ernalities identi ed along with their source cause and impact are consolidated in the Table 1.
High turbidity in the Suspended fi ne silt and sand Opening of shutters based Lack of underwater visibility
sea, offshore of the in movement from lake body on Agricultural calender while filling
site to sea Geotextile tubes
Movement of aquatic weeds Clogging of suction pumps
“Salvinia Molesta” from the Degradation of geotextile tube
lake body to sea material due to its long term
Movement of pesticide rich impact
water into the sea
Hypoxia (Lack of Decay of aquatic weed Intolerance to high level Difficulty for underwater
Oxygen) Deposition of decayed weeds of salinity in the sea movement for divers
and silt in the bed of the sea When dredging of sand is
undertaken off shore possibility
of Silt and decayed matter
entering geotextile tubes

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Use of Geosystems for Coastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problems - Case Reference 33

4.7 Effect of Externalities on the Engineering 4.8 Forces Acting on the Actual System
Properties
Thefig. 7: Consolidated
Geotextile ow diagram
tubes get deformed aftershowing
laying ofthe
theeffect
crest of the ex
The above mentioned externalities have posed many tube. The deformation causes additional forces and also
practical difficulties during the execution process. Some 4.8 in forces
shift acting
line of action on the
of the actual
forces. This system
is shown in Figure
major difficulties encountered at the case study site are 8(a) and 8(b) respectively. The line of action of force due
The Geotextile tubes get deformed after laying of the crest tube
to gravity is horizontally displaced due to the change in
listed below:
and also
shape shift in line
(elongation) of Geotextile
of the action of the forces.
tubes. The This is shown in
projected
1. Unsuitability of the off shore material required for line of action of force due to gravity is horizontally displaced
area of the geotextile tube in the wave direction increases
filling of Multilayer Geotextile tube breaker water
structure
the Geotextile
and results in thetubes. The
vertical projected area
displacement of theofline
theofgeotextile
action tube
of
in the
the horizontal forces.
vertical displacement of the line of action of the horizon
2. Difficulty encountered by divers due to hypoxia
condition underwater
3. Difficulties faced in filling of the Geotextile tube to the
fig. 7: Consolidated
practical maximumow sanddiagram
fill ratio showing
and crest the effect
shape of of the externalities on the Engineering properties
the geotextile tubes.
4.8 4. forces acting
Ambiguity on the actual
in confidence system
as to whether the onshore
structure geotextile tubes would resist the high UV
The Geotextile
radiationtubes get deformed
experienced at site. after laying of the crest tube The deformation causes additional forces
and also
From shift in line of action
the consideration of the
of these forces.
practical This is itshown in the Figure 8(a) and 8(b) respectively. The
difficulties,
line is
ofevident
action that
of force due tohave
they would gravity is horizontally
a definite impact on thedisplaced due to the change in shape (elongation) of
the Geotextile tubes. The projected area of the
six engineering properties. Each externality geotextile
directly or tube in the wave direction increases and results
indirectly alters the engineering properties. Table 1 shows fig. 8: (a) Forces acting on a two layered stacked fig. 8: (
in the vertical displacement of the line of action of the horizontal forces.tube :Without
Fig. 8(a) : Forces
Geotextileacting on a two layered stacked Geotextile
deformation
the impact of each externality. This impact in turn alters
tube - With undulated profile after laying of Crest tube
layered G
the properties. For example, for the first externality namely
eutrophication of the lake leading to excess growth of
aquatic weeds, the impact identified is lack of underwater
Use of Geosystems for Coastal
visibility, cloggingand Marine Structures
of suction to Combat
pumps, Erosion
this Problems
in turn :- Case
affects 557
Reference – Geosystems at LNG Petronet Terminal, Kochi, Kerala (India)
the sand fill ratio, deform ability, movement of sand in
growth of aquatic weeds, the impact identied is lack of underwater visibility, clogging of
the geotextile tube and interface friction. This is repeated
pumps, this in turn affects the sand ll ratio, deform ability, movement of sand in the geotextile
d interface for other
friction. externalities
This is repeated forand
otherresulting interrelationship
externalities are
and resulting interrelationship are
dated in theconsolidated
Figure 7 below: in Figure 7.

fig. 8: (a) Forces acting on a two layered stacked fig. 8:8(b)

Fig. (b) :Line ofaction
Line of action of forces
of forces actingacting onlayered
on a two a two
Geotextile tube :Without deformation layered Geotextile tube
Geotextile - With
tube undulated
:Without prole after
deformation
laying of
4.9 Stability Criteria forCrest tube Geosystem
the Actual
The stability criteria is based on sand fill ratio. For the
present study Table 2 shows the base width of crest for
different filling percentage. Percent filling adopted for the
crest tube is 80 percent. Corresponding base width as
evident from the table is 3.841 m. The stability criterion
for an ideal system states that sliding will occur when
base width variation is beyond 15 percent. As such
sliding will occur when base width is 4.42 m. But field
observations proved that sliding occurred when base
width was 3.841 m itself. Hence it is clear that stability
criteria for an ideal system cannot be adopted in a real
7: Consolidated
Fig.ow
7 :diagram showing the
Consolidated effect
flow of the externalities
diagram showing the on the Engineering
effect life situation.
of the properties
externalities on the Engineering properties
orces acting on the actual system
otextile tubes get deformed after laying of the crest tube The deformation causes additional forces
o shift in line of action of the forces. This is shown in the Figure 8(a) and 8(b) respectively. The
action of force due to gravity is horizontally displaced due to the change in shape (elongation) of
textile tubes. The projected area of the geotextile tube in the wave direction increases and results Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
ertical displacement of the line of action of the horizontal forces.
34 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Table 2 : Base width for different sand filled ratio percent

Filling % r (m) b (m) h (m) Increase in width (m)

100 (Theoretical circle) 1.5 3.0 3.0 nil
80 (Practical maximum) 0.645 3.841 1.758 0.0
75 0.557 3.941 1.603 0.099
70 0.480 4.029 1.464 0.188
65 0.413 4.110 1.334 0.269
60 0.353 4.185 1.211 0.344

Percent filling adopted for Corresponding Critical base width Base width at which sliding tendency noticed
the crest tube of LNG site base width (m) causing sliding (m) after the filling process was completed
80 3.841 4.42 3.841
4.10 Justification for Variation of Stability Criteria When the shape of the crest tube changes due to
Sliding caterpillar effect, there is an increase in the projected area
of the surface of the crest tube. This results in an increase
For stability against sliding of the geotextile tube (Figure
in the drag force from that designed for the structure, since
9)
the drag force FD is proportional to the projected area as
Resisting horizontal force > Mobilising horizontal force seen from the basic equation of the drag force
α [FGSC – FL] ≥ FD+ FM ...[1] FD = 0.5 CDρwAwu2 ...[2]
Where α is the friction coeffi cient between the sand Similarly there is a subsequent increase in the Inertia
filled Geotextile tubes forces also due to the change in velocity of flow over the
crest tube. This causes an early sliding of the crest tube
FD = Drag Force; FM = Inertia force; FL = Lift force from that for an ideal situation, and results in the violation
FGSC = Force due to weight of structure of the stability criteria formulated for an ideal case.
It is clear that when Use
theofresisting horizontal
Geosystems for Coastalforces Overturning
(i.e Structures
and Marine to Combat Erosion Problems :- Case 559
force due to drag FD added Reference
with the –force due toatinertia
Geosystems As seen
LNG Petronet Terminal,from Figure10,
Kochi, the shape of the crest tube
Kerala (India)
FM) is greater the resisting horizontal forces (i.e the changes though the volume of the crest tube remains
force due to the weight of the structure FGSC minus the constant. However, the centre of gravity of the crest tube
uplift force FL and the factor α accounted for the friction moves towards the direction in which the elongation of
UseGeosystem
coefficient between the of Geosystemssliding
for Coastal
of theandsystem
Marine Structures to Combat Erosion
the geosystem occurs Problems :- Case
(wave direction) 559 that of the
from
takes place). Reference – Geosystems at LNG Petronet Terminal,
designed Kochi, Kerala (India)
situation.

fig. 9: Forces acting on a ideal situation on stacked geotextile tube

overturning
As seen from Figure10 below, the shape of the crest tube changes though the volume of the crest tube
remains constant. However, the centre of gravity of the crest tube moves towards the direction in which
the elongation of thefig.
Fig. 9geosystem
: Forces occurs
9: Forces
acting (on
actingon wave direction)
a aideal
ideal situationfrom
situation that ofgeotextile
on stacked
on stacked the designed
geotextile situation.
tube
tube
overturning
As seen from Figure10 below, the shape of the crest tube changes though the volume of the crest tube
remains constant. However, the centre of gravity of the crest tube moves towards the direction in which
the elongation of the geosystem occurs ( wave direction) from that of the designed situation.

fig.: Forces
Fig. 10 10: Forces acting
acting onon
a areal
reallife
lifesituation
situation on
on stacked
stacked geotextile
geotextiletube
tube
Stability criteria against overturning is deduced from the condition which states that
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
Stabilising Moment ≥ Destabilsing moment. For an ideal case
 Use of Geosystems for Coastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problems - Case Reference 35

Stability criteria against overturning is deduced from the 2. Due to high salinity level of the seawater the aquatic
condition which states that weed (Salvinia Molesta) gets decayed within 48 hrs
Stabilising Moment ≥ Destabilsing moment. For an ideal and settles to the sea bed along with the suspended
case silt causing hypoxia condition and lack of underwater
visibility issues for the divers during filling of off shore
Stabilsing moment (moment about point of rotation) =
offshore geotextile tubes. Additional experienced
FGSC. rs Where rs is the distance between Centre
divers were employed had to be employed and
of gravity and point of rotation in horizontal direction measures taken continuously monitor the filling
Destabilsing moment = (FD+ FM)ms + FL. rs (i.e) ...[3] process so that the sand fill ratio, and shape of the
ms = distance between centre of gravity and point of geotextile tube can be maintained at the designed
rotation in vertical direction values and thereby stop the caterpillar effect.
Thus for an ideal case FGSC. rs ≥ (FD+ FM)ms + FL. rs ...[4] 3. The decay process of aquatic weeds caused
clogging of the foot valve of the water pumps used
Now for a real life situation as mentioned in Figure 10
for preparation of the sand slurry. Additional netting
above there is shift in the centre of gravity. This in turn
around the foot valve was indigenously fabricated to
introduces new stability criteria which is defined as
prevent clogging.
FGSC.(rs - ∂ ) ≤ (FD+ FM)ms + FL. rs ...[5]
7. RESULTS
(i.e., Stabilising Moment ≤ Destabilsing moment
Figure12(a) shows the satellite imagery of the case
5. PROTECTION AGAINST UV RAYS FOR ON- study site at LNG, Kochi, Kerala, India before the
SHORE GEOTEXTILE TUBE STRUCTURES execution of the breakwater and groyne. It is clear that
erosion was prominent feature at the site. Figure 12(b)
For long term durability from UV degradation the onshore
shows the satellite imagery after 2 years of execution
protective bund constructed (Figure 11(a)) using Geotxtile
of the breakwater and groyne that erosion has been
tubes were covered with the dredged sand from the
effectively stopped and accretion has taken place. The
navigation channel (Figure 11(b)). During the erosion
accretion scenario is also shown through a corresponding
months the Geotextile tubes get exposed (Figure 11(c))
photograph taken after for the groyne (Figure 12(a)) and
to prevent erosion and after the erosion process it is
breakwater was constructed (Figure 12(b)).
again covered.
6. STRATEGIES ADOPTED AS SOLUTION 8. CONCLUSION
MECHANISM A combination of practical knowledge and Research
Each of the execution difficulties encountered at the case competency is required to give an insight to the real
study site were addressed with the technical expertise of field problems and to provide a site specific design for
the execution agency. multilayered sand filled Geotextile tube structure laid
1. During the planning stage and subsequent MOU underwater. Current structures executed in the field are
signed with the executing agency the proposal was to still young and more prototype data is required to make
dredge the material for filling of breakwater/groynes accurate predictions of design lifetime. Encapsulation
used for geotextile tubes used offshore. But at the of the tubes should increase the overall stability of the
dredging stage the sand slurry was encountered structure and significantly increase the durability of the
with silt and decayed organic matter which was not structure. Physical model studies should be undertaken
suitable for filling. Hence sand slurry was conveyed for multilayered sand filled Geotextile tube structure
560from onshore for the breakwater and used inet
groyneGopinath
Anilkumar the
al.coastal and marine environment to withstand
constructed at the case study site. conditions that are far more aggressive than the original

Fig.fig.
11(a)11:
: Geotextile tubes exposed
(a) Geotextile tubes to Fig. 11(b)
fig. 11:: (b)
Geotextiles tube covered
Geotextiles tube Fig.fig.
11(c)
11:: Geotextile tubes tubes
(c) Geotextile exposed
UV radiation with local dredged sand during the erosion season
exposed to UV radiation covered with local dredged sand exposed during the erosion season
6. strateGIes adopted as solutIon mechanIsm Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
 12(b) shows the satellite imagery after 2 years of execution of the breakwater and groyne that erosion has
been effectively stopped and accretion has taken place. The accretion scenario is also shown through a
corresponding photograph taken
36 Indian after forof the
Journal groyne (Figure
Geosynthetics 12(a))
and Ground and breakwater was constructed (Figure
Improvement
12(b)).

Use of Geosystems for Coastal and Marine Structures to Combat Erosion Problems :- Case 561
Fig.12:
fig. 12(a) Reference
: Erosion
(a)Erosion effect
effect–Before
Geosystems
Before at LNG
construction Petronet
(6/2012)
construction Terminal,
Fig.12(b)
fig.12: Kochi, effect
(b): Accretion
Accretion Kerala (India)
after
effect construction
after (4/2015)
construction (4/2015)
(6/2012)

Fig. 12(c) : Accretion on the northern side of groyne Fig. 12(d) : Accretion on northern side of Breakwater
fig. 12: ( c) Accretion on the nortehrn side of fig. 12: (d) Accretion on nortehrn side of Breakwater
groyne
intended conceived calm conditions. Cautious use and Koffler, etal, (2013), “The use of encapsulated sand elements for
design of geotextile tube structures needs to be applied beach protection, WODCON XX, The art of dredging, Brussels,
8.
as the conclusIon
durability and lifetime of the structure is uncertain. Belgium, proceedings.
The geotextile material used for the tubes need to tested Krystian Pilarczyk (2008) “Alternatives for coastal protection”
Aandcombination of practical
certified to withstand knowledge
the local ultravioletand ResearchJournal
radiation. competency
of Water is requiredand
Resources toEnvironmental
give an insight to the
Engineering,
No. 23, November 2008.
real
As a recommendation
eld problems and to provide
for future direction,a insite speci
highly roughc design for multilayered sand lled Geotextile tube
Krystian Pilarczyk (2000), A text book on “Geosynthetics and
sea water conditions and in conditions where turbidity
structure laid underwater. Current structures executed Geosystemsplays in the eld are still young
in Hydraulic andand moreEngineering”
Coastal prototype dataCRC
a critical role double crested geotextile tube at the top are press.
isrecommended
required to which
makehas accurate predictions
been confirmed in oneof ofdesign lifetime. Encapsulation of the tubes should increase the
the earlier L. das Neves; etal ( 2011),”Physical Modelling of sand filled
overall stability
studies also. So at of
thethe structure
planning stageand
itselfsigni cantly increase
the externalities the durability
Geosystems of the
for coastal structure.
protection”, Physical model
Department of Civil
that can occur due to both the coastal environment and
studies should be undertaken for multilayered sand Engineering, the lled Geotextile tube
Faculty structure used
of Engineering, in the ofcoastal
University Porto,
upland riverine environment at the site should be accounted Portugal.
and marine environment
and incorporated in the Model tostudy.
withstand conditions that Mark are far more aggressive than the original intended
Shwartz.,(2005) “Ocean ecosystems plagued by
conceived calm conditions. Cautious use and design of geotextile
agricultural tubeNature
runoff”, structures
Journal,needs to be
Stanford applied
School as
of Earth
REFERENCES sciences, Publication of Stanford University.
the durability and lifetime of the structure is uncertain. The geotextile material used for the tubes need to
A.I. Anton etal, (2015), “Geosystems as an alternative to Peter Simon (2015) “Assessment of Embodied energy and
tested and certied to withstand the local ultraviolet radiation.
conventional coastal defense” ISSN 2393-9257, Council carbon emissions of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon from a
for Innovative Research. Journal of Advances in Natural life cycle Perspective” Department of Eco-technology and
As a recommendation
Sciences,Vol .3, No.1. for future direction, in highly rough sea water
Sustainable conditions
Building and Mid
Engineering. in conditions where
Sweden University,
turbidity plays Kriel;
a critical role “Hydraulic
double crested Akademigatan 1, Östersund.
Herman Jacobus Dec 2012, stability geotextile
of Multi- tube at the top are recommended which has been
layered sand filled Geotextile tube breakwaters under wave Recio, J. (2007). Hydraulic stability of geotextile sand
con rmed in one of the earlier studies also. So at the planning stage itself the externalities that can occur
attack ” Ports and Civil engineering, Faculty of Engineering at containers for coastal structures - effect of deformations and
due to both University.
Stellenbosch the coastal environment and the upland riverine stability environment at theLeichtwei
formulae, PhD Thesis, site should be for
Institute accounted
Hydraulic
Engineering and Water Resources, Germany.
and incorporated in the Model study.
http://www.hovenvironment.com/aboutus.html Brochure ”
Sunder V. and Murali K., (2007)“ Report submitted to Govt of
Embodied Carbon and Embodied Energy by Breakwater
type”. Kerala on “Planning of coastal measures along Kerala coast
references (for dept circulation), Ocean Engg Department, IIT Madras
Ir. P. van Steeg and Ing. E.W. Vastenburg., (2010), “Large
A.I.
scaleAnton
physicaletal,(2015), “Geosystems
model tests on the stability of as tubes., van
an alternative
geotextile Steeg, P.; Vastenburg, E.W. (2010):“Large scale physical
to conventional coastal defense” ISSN 2393-9257,
Deltares report. model tests on the stability of geotextile tubes”, DELTARES.
Council for Innovative Research. Journal of Advances in Natural Sciences,Vol .3, No.1.
Volume 8 v
Herman No. 2 v July
Jacobus 2019
Kriel; Dec 2012, “Hydraulic stability of Multi-layered sand lled Geotextile tube
 INTERNATIONAL GEOSYNTHETICS SOCIETY
The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) was founded in Paris, on 10 November 1983, by a group of geotechnical
engineers and textile specialists. The Society brings together individual and corporate members from all parts of
the world, who are involved in the design, manufacture, sale, use or testing of geotextiles, geomembranes, related
products and associated technologies, or who teach or conduct research about such products.
The IGS is dedicated to the scientific and engineering development of geotextiles, geomembranes, related
products and associated technologies. IGS has 47 chapters, over 3,000 individual members and 161 corporate
members.
The aims of the IGS are:
• to collect and disseminate knowledge on all matters relevant to geotextiles, geomembranes and related
products, e.g. by promoting seminars, conferences, etc.
• to promote advancement of the state of the art of geotextiles, geomembranes and related products and of
their applications, e.g. by encouraging, through its members, the harmonization of test methods, equipment
and criteria.
• to improve communication and understanding regarding such products, e.g. between designers, manufacturers
and users and especially between the textile and civil engineering communities
The IGS is registered in the USA as a non-profit organization. It is managed by five Officers and a Council made up of
10 to 16 elected members and a maximum of 5 additional co-opted members. These Officers and Council members
are responsible to the General Assembly of members which elects them and decides on the main orientations of
the Society.
IGS Chapters
The IGS Chapters are the premier vehicle through which the IGS reaches out to and influences the marketplace
and the industry. Chapter activities range from the organization of major conferences and exhibits such as the
10th International Conference on Geosynthetics in September 2014 in Berlin, Germany and its predecessors in
Guaruja, Yokohama, Nice and Atlanta to the presentation of focused seminars at universities, government offices
and companies. Chapters create the opportunity for the chapter (and IGS) membership to reach out, to teach and to
communicate and they are the catalyst for many advances in geosynthetics. Participation in an IGS chapter brings
researchers, contractors, engineers and designers together in an environment which directly grows the practice by
informing and influencing those who are not familiar with our discipline.
Membership
Membership of IGS is primarily organised through national Chapters. Most individual members (94%) belong to the
IGS through Chapters. Chapter participation allows members to be informed about, and participate in, local and
regional activities in addition to providing access to the resources of the IGS.
IGS Offers the following categories of membership:
Individual
Individual member benefits are extended to each and every individual member of the IGS including Chapter Members. 
Additional chapter benefits are provided to Individual Members who join the IGS through a chapter.
Individual Member Benefits include:
• a membership card
• an IGS lapel pin
• on-line access to the IGS Membership Directory
• the IGS News newsletter, published three times a year
• on-line access to the 19 IGS Mini Lecture Series for the use of the membership
• information on test methods and standards
• discount rates:
- for any document published in the future by IGS
- at all international, regional or national conferences organized by the IGS or under its auspices
• preferential treatment at conferences organized by the IGS or under its auspices

37 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

38 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

• possibility of being granted an IGS award

• Free access to the Geosynthetics International journal, now published electronically.
• Free access to the Geotextiles and Geomembranes journal, now published electronically.
Corporate
Corporate Membership Benefits include:
• a membership card
• an IGS lapel pin
• on-line access to the IGS Membership Directory
• the IGS News newsletter, published three times a year
• on-line access to the 19 IGS Mini Lecture Series for the use of the membership
• information on test methods and standards
• discount rates:
- for any document published in the future by IGS
- at all international, regional or national conferences organized by the IGS or under its auspices
• preferential treatment at conferences organized by the IGS or under its auspices
• possibility of being granted an IGS award
• free access to the Geosynthetics International journal, now published electronically.
• free access to the Geotextiles and Geomembranes journal, now published electronically.
• advertisement in the IGS Member Directory and on the IGS Website
• IGS Corporate Membership Plaque
• Company Profile in the IGS News
• right of using the IGS logo at exhibitions and in promotional literature
• priority (by seniority of membership within the IGS) at all exhibits organized by the IGS or under its
“auspices”
• opportunity to join IGS committees in order to discuss topics of common interest.
Student
Student Membership Benefits include:
• Electronic access to the IGS News, published 3 times a year
• Special Student discounts at all IGS sponsored/supported conferences, seminars etc.
• Listing in a special student members category in the IGS Directory
• Eligibility for awards (and in particular the IGS Young Member Award).
List of IGS Chapters Belgium
Belgian Chapter 2001
Algeria Prof. Jan Maertens
Algerian Chapter 2018) jan.maertens.bvba@skynet.be
Zahir Djidjeli
https://jstgsba.wixsite.com/asag Brazil
Brazilian Chapter 1997
Argentina Eng. André Estêvâo Ferreira da Silva
Argentinean Chapter 2009 andre@huesker.com.br
Dr. Marcos Montoro
marcos_montoro@yahoo.com.ar Chile
Chilean Chapter 2006
Australia and New Zealand
Dr. Felipe Villalobos
Australasian Chapter 2002
avillalobos@ucsc.cl
Mr. Graham Fairhead
gfairhead@fabtech.com.au China
Chinese Chapter 1990
Austria
Prof. Chao Xu
Austrian Chapter 2016
c_axu@tongji.edu.cn
Prof. Heinz Brandl
g.mannsbart@tencate.com

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 International Geosynthetics Society 39

Chinese Taipei Iran

Chinese Taipei Chapter of the IGS Iranian Chapter 2013
Dr. Chou, Nelson N.S. Hossein Ghiassian
nchou1031@gmail.com h_ghiassian@iust.ac.ir
yuancl@mail.sinotech.com.tw
Italy
Colombia AGI-IGS, the Italian Chapter 1992
Colombian Chapter 2013 Dr. Ing. Daniele Cazzuffi
Prof. Bernardo Caicedo Hormaza agi@associazionegeotecnica.it
bcaicedo@uniandes.edu.co Japan
Czech Republic Japanese Chapter 1985
Czech Chapter 2003 Dr. Hiroshi Miki
Zikmund Rakowski miki-egri@nifty.com
president@igs.cz
Kazakhstan
Egypt Kazakhstanian Chapter 2012
Egyptian Chapter (2018) Zhusupbekov Askar Zhagparovich
Prof. FatmaElzahraa Aly Baligh astana-geostroi@mail.ru
baligh.fatma@gmail.com
Korea
Finland KC-IGS, The Korean Chapter 1993
Finish Chapter 2011 Prof. Chungsik Yoo
Minna Leppänen csyoo@skku.edu
igsfin.secretary@gmail.com
minna.leppanen@tut.fi Malaysia
Malaysian Chapter – 2013
France Dr. Fauziah Ahmad
French Chapter 1993 cefahmad@yahoo.com
Nathalie Touze
nathalie.touze@irstea.fr Mexico
Mexican Chapter 2006
Germany Dr. Rosember Reyes
German Chapter 1993 contacto@igsmexico.org
Dr.-Ing. Martin Ziegler
service@dggt.de Morocco
ziegler@geotechnik.rwth-aachen.de Morocco Chapter 2014
Houssine Ejjaaouani
Ghana ejjaaouani@ipee.ma
Ghana Chapter 2012
The Netherlands
Prof. Samuel I.K. Ampadu
Netherlands Chapter 1992
skampadu.coe@knust.edu.gh
E.A. Kwast
jkkemeh@hotmail.com
mail@ngo.nl
Greece North America
HGS, Greek Chapter 2005 North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS)
Anastasios KOLLIOS (Canada, USA) 1986
akollios@edafomichaniki.gr Dr. Richard Brachman
Honduras richard.brachman@queesu.ca
Honduran Chapter – Hon-duran Society of Geosynthetics
2013 Norway
MSc. Ing. Danilo Sierra D. Norwegian Chapter of IGS 2008
sierradiscua@yahoo.com Aina Anthi
aina.anthi@vegvesen.no
India tse-day.damtew@vegvesen.no
Indian Chapter 1988
Pakistan
M. Venkataraman
Pakistanian Chapter of IGS 2011
venkataramanm2000@gmail.com / uday@cbip.org
Lt. Col (Retd) Muhammad Raza
Indonesia colraza@syntechfibres.com
INA-IGS, the Indonesian Chapter 1992 Panama
Gouw Tjie Liong Panama Chapter 2014
amelia.ina.igs@gmail.com Amador Hassell
ameliamakmur@gmail.com amador.hassell@utp.ac.pa

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

40 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Peru South Africa

Peruvian Chapter 2001 South African Chapter 1995
Eng. Augusto V. Alza Edoardo Zannoni
administracion@igsperu.org ed-oardo.zannoni@maccaferri.co.za
aalza@tdm.com.pe inyirenda@gseworlds.com
Philippines
Spain
Philippine Chapter 2007
Spanish Chapter 1999
Mr. Mark Morales
Angel Leiro López
mark.k.morales@gmail.com
pabad@cetco.es
paul_navarro_javier@yahoo.com
aleiro@cedex.es
Poland
Polish Chapter 2008 Switzerland
Dr. Jacek Kawalec Swiss Chapter (2018)
jacek.kawalec@vp.pl Imad Lifa
svg@geotex.ch
Portugal
Portuguese Chapter 2003 Thailand
Jose Luis Machado do Vale Thai Chapter 2002
jose.vale@carpitech.com Prof. Suksun Horpibulsuk
suksun@g.sut.ac.th
Romania
Romanian Chapter 1996 Turkey
Christina Feodorov Turkish Chapter 2001
cristina.feodorov@iridexgroup.ro Dr. Fazli Erol Guler
adiol@utcb.ro eguler@boun.edu.tr

Russia United Kingdom

Russian Chapter of IGS (RCIGS) 2008 U.K. Chapter 1987
Dr. Andrey Ponomaryov Chaido Doulala-Rigby
ofrikhter@mail.ru crigby@tensar.co.uk
andreypab@mail.ru
Vietnam
Slovakia
Vietnam Chapter (VCIGS) 2013
Slovakian Chapter of IGS 2011
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang
Dr. Radovan Baslik
giangnh@nuce.edu.vn
radobaslik@gmail.com

CalEndar of Events
Event Location Date E-Mail, Website
ECSMGE 2019 – XVII European Conference on Reykjavik, 01 - 06 Sep has@road.is
Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Iceland 2019 http://www.ecsmge-2019.com
XVII African Regional Conference on Soil Cape Town, 07 - 10 Oct denis.kalumba@uct.ac.za
Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering South Africa 2019
XVI Asian Regional Conference on Soil Taipei, China 21 - 25 Oct secretariat@16arc.org
Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 2019 http://www.16arc.org
XVI Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics Cancun, Quin- 18 - 22 Nov support@panamerican2019mex-ico.com
and Geotechnical Engineering tana Roo, 2019 http://panamerican2019mexico.com
Mexico
Nordic Geotechnical Meeting Helsinki, Finland 27 - 29 May leena.korkiala-tanttu@aalto.fi
2020
6th International Conference on Geotechnical Budapest, 07 – 11 Sep huszak@mail.bme.hu info@isc6-budapest.
and Geophysical Site Characterization Hungary 2020 com
http://www.isc6-budapest.com
EuroGeo 7 Warsaw, Poland 06 – 09 Sep eurogeo7inpoland@gmail.com
2020 http://www.eurogeo7.org/

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS

Workshop on
Natural Hazard Mitigation with
Geosynthetics
11-12 January 2019, Thiruvananthapuram, (Kerala)

BRIEF REPORT

Inaugural Address by Mr. E.K. Hydru, Chief Engineer (Buildings), Kerala Public Works Department. Other dignitaries on the Dias
(L to R) Dr. JiJi C.V., Principal, College of Engineering Trivandrum; Dr. G.V. Rao, Mr. M. Venkataraman, Mr. S. Sivakumar,
Acting Head, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum and Dr. (Ms.) Ajitha Bhaskar, Secretary,
Trivandrum Chapter of Indian Geotechnical Society

Heavy rain, followed by landslide, in Kerala during August 2018, was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century. One
sixth of the total population of Kerala had been directly affected by the floods and related incidents like landslides.
Heavy rains in Wayanad, Kannur and Idukki have caused severe landslides and left the hilly districts completely
isolated.
The present workshop was organised by Indian Chapter of International Geosynthetics Society, jointly with
Geotechnical Engineering Division, Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering Trivandrum and Trivandrum
Chapter of Indian Geotechnical Society to analyse the extent of damages occurred due to landslides in Kerala and
to suggest mitigation methods, specifically by use of Geosynthetics
The Workshop was sponsored by Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Reinforced Earth India Pvt. Ltd.,
TechFab (India) Industries Ltd., and supported by Garware Technical Fibres Ltd.
About 60 participants from Department of Town & Country Planning Kerala, Kerala Irrigation Department, Kerala
Public Works Department, Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd., Local Self Government Department Kerala, National
Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA),
besides the faculty and student of College of Engineering, Trivandrum participated in the Workshop.

41 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

42 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Presentation by Dr. G.V. Rao Presentation by Mr. M. Venkataraman

The Workshop was inaugurated by Mr. E.K. Hydru, Chief Engineer (Buildings), Kerala Public Works Department.
The conduct of the workshop was unique in many ways. After the Introductory Lecture by Dr. G.V. Rao, Former
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi and An Overview of Geosynthetics Applications by Mr. M.
Venkataraman, President, Indian Chapter of IGS, representatives from Department of Town & Country Planning
Kerala, Kerala Irrigation Department, Kerala Public Works Department, Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd., and Local
Self Government Department Kerala, made the presentations on “Damages to Infrastructure in Kerala”.

Presentations by Local Departments

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 43

Presentations by Local Departments

The Session was chaired by Dr. Amit Prashant, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering and Dean (R&D), IIT
Gandhinagar and co-chaired by Dr. (Ms.) Sheela Evangeline Y. and Dr. (Ms.) Ajitha Bhaskar, Department of Civil
Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum.

Group Meeting of Academia and Industry Experts

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

44 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

After the presentations from the local departments, a

group meeting consisting of Academia and Industry
Experts was arranged, and the problems highlighted by
the local department were grouped into five broad areas,
namely, slope protection and bio-engineering, pavements,
ground improvement, flood management and natural
hazard mitigation, and each of the industry experts from
Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Reinforced
Earth India Pvt. Ltd. TechFab (India) Industries Ltd. and
Z-Tech (India) Private Ltd. were assigned the topics for
their presentations on the following day, so as to avoid
repletion.
The second day proceedings started with a presentation
on “Flood Disaster–Use of Geosynthetics” by Dr. I.S.N.
Raju, Former Chief Engineer (CDO), Irrigation & CAD Presentation by Dr. I.S.N. Raju
Department, Andhra Pradesh and Presently, Project
Director, AP Human Resources Development Institute,
followed by the presentation from Industry Experts as
decided on the previous day.

Presentations by Industry Experts, namely Ms. Dola Roychowdhury (Z-Tech India Pvt. Ltd.), Mr. Saurabh Vyas (Tech Fab India Indus-
tries Ltd.), Mr. Amrut Chand B. (Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) and Mr. Prince Joshi
(Reinforced Earth India Pvt. Ltd), respectively

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 45

Panel Discussions among the represenatives of Local Departments and Academia and Industry Experts

The proceedings of the Workshop concluded with Panel Discussions between the presenters from the local
departments and academia and industry experts.

SUMMARY OF PANEL DISCUSSION

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Amit Prashanth, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT
Gandhinagar. Engineers from Local Self Government Department (LSGD), Urban Planning Department, Kerala
State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Irrigation Department participated in the discussion. Eminent experts including
Prof. G.V. Rao, Mr. M. Venkataraman and Dr. I.S.N. Raju and representatives from geosynthetics industry -
Mrs. Dhola Roychowdhurry from Z.Tech, Saurabh Vyas from Techfab India Industries Ltd., Amruth from Maccaferri
and Prince Joshi from Reinforced Earth India Pvt. Ltd. responded to the problems and issues raised by the engineers
from various departments with their observations, suggestions and clarifications.
Local Self Government Department (LSGD)
Engineers from LSGD observed that the major problems faced by them are destruction/damages to houses, buildings
and roads due to landslides. They said that the department has only traditional solutions. They were aware of the
limitations of traditional solutions and were keen to try out innovative techniques. However, they faced some difficulties
in implementing new techniques:
• Bill of quantities is made using PRICE software based on the Schedule of Rates. If new techniques are to be
used, these must be included in the SoR
• Only registered contractors and vendors can participate in tenders
• Only item rate contracts are practiced by the Department
• If new techniques are costlier than traditional methods, there could be Audit objections
Engineers from LSGD also mentioned that presently no funds are available with the Department for rehabilitation
works and funds are expected from the World Bank. The Department has received a directive from the State
Government to prioritize works.
Independent experts including Prof. G.V. Rao and Mr. M. Venkataraman and representatives from Geosynthetics
industry responded to the concerns expressed by the engineers from LSGD regarding SoR and rate issues:
• To arrive at a concept solution, designers require reliable data including topography, subsurface characteristics,
availability of fill materials etc. The type of solution (e.g. a reinforced soil wall, reinforced soil slope, gabions
walls etc.) depends on the availability of space and fill materials. The importance of carrying out appropriate
investigations was emphasized
• Schedule of Rates can be prepared only after the appropriate concept designs are ready. Independent experts
and geosynthetic industry can support the department, however, department has to take the initiative.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

46 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

• It may not be always possible to fit a solution for a complex problem like landslide rehabilitation into the frame
work of standard costs/rates
• Rate of product depends on quantity
Independent experts and geosynthetic industry representatives gave several suggestions:
• It was strongly emphasized that rehabilitation should be taken up before the next monsoon, otherwise a different
set of problems could occur and any solutions designed earlier may no longer be valid.
• It is imperative to first prioritize and identify the works which need immediate attention.
• A step-by-step solution process starting with simple measures was recommended.
• Surface drainage measures could be taken up immediately to reduce the risk of further damages.
• Adoption of traditional techniques using locally available materials and skills was recommended.
• Importance of carrying proper topographical surveys and geotechnical investigations was emphasized
• Importance of testing of geosynthetics was highlighted.
• Codes of practice and guidelines were available for design using geosynthetics.
• Geosynthetic industry has adequate expertise and experience in design and construction. The industry is also
responsible and mature to realize the various limitations of the products and technology and to recommend only
appropriate solutions.
• Proof-checking of the designs could be done by independent experts and academic institutions
Action Items with LSGD
• Rehabilitation work should be taken up as soon as possible by prioritizing the works needing immediate attention
before next rainy season. LSGD should do this analysis and accordingly consult the experts for further action.
In some of the critical locations, short term measures can be taken up on fast track mode to avoid further
deterioration of situation in the next rainy season.
• Surface drainage measures should be taken up at immediately at critical locations. Besides the high priority
localities, special attention needs to be given to connecting roads which acts as a lifeline during flood type
situation.
• Experts are available in industry and academia, and they are willing to support the efforts jointly too. LSGD can
entrust CET to help in coordinating the effort.
• High priority issues should be referred to the experts with available data about specific cases so as to preempt the
process of finding solutions. Requirement of additional data can be worked out through mutual consultation.
Urban Planning Department
Mr. Antony from Urban Planning Department Palakkad, raised two issues:
• Safe disposal of municipal solid waste is a serious issue. Can geosynthetic solutions be considered for this
problem?
• Can waste materials be used as fill materials for landslide restoration?
Experts replied that geosynthetic lining systems are extensively used for municipal and also hazardous waste
landfills. However, this topic is not relevant to the agenda of the workshop. It may be possible to use some type
of waste materials like construction and demolition waste as fill materials for landslide restoration. However waste
materials containing significant quantity of organic and other degradable or unsuitable materials may not be suitable
as fill materials.
Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB)
Engineers from KSEB discussed two problems they faced at the Upper Kallar Small Hydro Electric Project site:
• Foundations of the anchor blocks for the penstock
• Stabilization of a 10 m high near vertical cut
They also discussed their concern the possibility of soil piping in the area.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 47

The response of the experts was that this was a site specific problem and a suitable advice could be given only
after a thorough examination of the available data and site visits. KSEB engineers were advised to approach CET
or other reputed academic institutions for their expert advice.
Action Items for KSEB
• KSEB engineers can contact CET and other academic institutions with the site specific details of the issues in
Upper Kallar Small Hydro Electric Project. The required technical support will be made available.
Irrigation Department
Engineers from Irrigation Department discussed two problems they were facing and requested solutions to these
problems:
• Many canals have the problem of heavy seepage loss. Is there a geosynthetic solution for this?
• Solutions for downstream apron for cross-drainage works
Experts responded by saying that there are excellent solutions using geosynthetics. However, a suitable design can
be formulated only after proper investigations and site visits. Dr. I.S.N. Raju suggested that in such cases the best
approach is to have a site visit by the concerned Chief Engineer along with the geosynthetic experts and develop a
site-specific solution through mutual consultations.
Action Items for Irrigation Department:
• It is suggested that the concerned Chief Engineer along with Geosynthetics experts visits site of the mentioned
canal to discuss details of the issues in different stretches of canal. Accordingly, they should develop site specific
solutions through mutual consultation.

Student Volunteers with Faculty Members and Faculty Members of COE Trivandrum & CBIP Representative

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 18th General Body Meeting of
Indian Chapter of International
Geosynthetics Society
07 March 2019, IIT Gandhinagar

Mr. M. Venkataraman, President, Indian Chapter of IGS, chairing the meeting. Others are (L to R): Dr. G.P. Patel, Treasurer, Indian
Chapter of IGS and Director, CBIP; Mr. Vivek Kapadia, Vice President, Indian Chapter of IGS and Chief Engineer, Water Resources
Department, Government of Gujarat; Mr. V.K. Kanjlia, Member Secretary, Indian Chapter of IGS and Secretary, CBIP; Dr. G.V. Rao,
Hon. Member, Executive Board of Indian Chapter of IGS and Mr. Uday Chander, Chief Manager, CBIP

18th General Body Meeting of Indian Chapter of IGS was convened at IIT Gandhinagar 07 March 2019 during the
Symposium of IACMAG

Members present during the meeting

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 48

 Symposium of
International Association for Computer
Methods and Advances in Geomechanics
(IACMAG) – Special Session of
Indian Chapter of IGS
7 March 2019, IIT Gandhinagar
During the Symposium of IACMAG, a Special Session of Indian Chapter of IGS, was organised on 07 March
2019.

Dr. Amit Prasant, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Gandhinagar, highlighting in brief the objectives of iGrip.

The Session started with launch of iGrip - Initiatives for Geotechnical Research & Innovative Practice.
The main purpose of the iGRIP is to develop a unique repository serving as a single source of information on
Geotechnical Engineering. It aspires to promote Geotechnical research with notable contribution from academia and
industry by providing high quality engineering knowledge and expert advice in Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics,
Rock Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, Ground Improvement, Geosynthetics and Geoenvironmental engineering.
The centre helps to spread the awareness from undergraduate level to research level by providing collection of
authentic resource material containing modern techniques and practices applied in Geotechnical Engineering. This
platform pledges global awareness by conducting curricular & professional workshops, symposiums and short courses
on Geotechnical Engineering. The key aim of this initiative is to make available various resource material such as
design codes, case studies, academic presentations and lectures for teaching and learning purposes.
The platform also aspires to help various organisations and industries interested in conducting workshops and short
courses. This amalgamation of academia and industry would spread knowledge, expertise and documentation through
various case studies and design standards for various new technologies, which via workshops; would create awareness
leading to implementation of this technologies in turn generating various case studies. Through these sequence of
events iGRIP visions to bring an avalanche of copious confidence for geotechnical practitioners, researchers and
students. The platform will provide expert consultancy and advice for critical and complicated geotechnical issues in
testing and application. It will provide a perfect platform for students, faculty, industry and experts to interact about
accomplishing the research of high quality. iGRIP aims at fulfilling the purpose of creating an ambient atmosphere
and to provide a space for free and unconventional thinking.

49 Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

50 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Mr. Kamlesh Kumar, Former ADG, MoRTH, Government of India, addressing the participants

Heritage Lecture by Mr. M. Venkataraman Heritage Lecture by Mr. Vivek Kapadia

This was followed by Heritage Lectures by Mr. M. Venkataraman, President Indian Chapter of IGS and Mr. Vivek
Kapadia, Chief Engineer & Additional Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat & Vice
President, Indian Chapter of IGS.
Representatives of following industries shared the Case Studies and range of their products:

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 51

• Garware Technical Fibres Ltd.

• Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd.
• TechFab (India) Industries Ltd.
Following Individuals and Representatives of Industry were presented Appreciation Award in recognition of their
contribution to the activities of Indian Chapter of IGS:
1. Mr. Atanu Adhikari, Vice President, Terre-Armee
2. Mr. Sharookh Bagli, Chief Technical Officer, Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt. Ltd.
3. Dr. K. Balan, Vice Principal and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Trivandrum
4. Mr. C.R. Devaraj, Managing Director, Charankattu Coir Mfg. Co. (P) Ltd.
5. Dr. Anil Dixit, Managing Director, Landmark Material Testing and Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd.
6. Dr. Sheela E.Y., Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Trivandrum
7. Dr. Mahuya Ghosh, Scientist, Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association
8. Dr. Manish Gupta, Scientist, Central Soil and Materials Research Station
9. Ms. Minimol Korulla, Vice President, Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
10. Mr. Tiru Kulkarni, President, Garware Technical Fibres Ltd.
11. Mr. Satish Naik, CEO, Best Geotechnics Pvt. Ltd.
12. Dr. K. Rajagopal, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
13. Ms. Dola Roychoudhury, Vice President, Z-Tech (India) Private Ltd.
14. Dr. Jimmy Thomas, Consultant
15. Mr. Saurabh Vyas, Head – Technical Services, TechFab (India) Industries Ltd.
Ms. Prajakta Jadhav, PhD. Research Scholar, IIT Gandhinagar, was presented with “Special Recognition Award” for
her contribution to Geosynthetics.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

52 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

Award to Mr. Sharookh Bagli, by Mr. M. Venkataraman Award to Dr. Sheela E.Y., by Mr. Vivek Kapadia

Award to Dr. K. Balan, by Mr. M. Venkataraman Award to Ms. Minimol Korulla, by Mr. Vivek Kapadia

Award to Mr. C.R. Devaraj, by Mr. M. Venkataraman Award to Mr. Satish Naik by Mr. Kamlesh Kumar

Award to Dr. Anil Dixit, by Mr. M. Venkataraman Award to Dr. K. Rajagopal, by Mr. Kamlesh Kumar

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Activities of Indian Chapter of IGS 53

Award to Dr. Jimmy Thomas, by Dr. G.P. Patel Award to Mr. Saurabh Vyas, by Dr. G.P. Patel

Special Recognition Award to Ms. Prajakta Jadhav Vote of Thanks by Mr. Uday Chander, Chief Manager, CBIP
by Dr. G.V. Rao

A view of the participants

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 IGS News
G eosynthet i cs – S usta i nable S olu -
tions for Infrastructure Development
– Message from President
The term “sustainability” has become a key word in our
daily life. Sustainable development is often described
as enhancing quality of life and enables people to live
in a healthy environment and improve social, economic
and environmental conditions for present and future
generations. Sustainability is about meeting our present
needs without compromising the ability of our future
generations to meet their own needs. As the former
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon
put it, “Sustainable development is the pathway to the
future we want for all.”
Despite the increased popularity of the use of the term
“sustainability”, the possibility that human societies will
achieve environmental sustainability has been and
continues to be questioned – in light of environmental
degradation, climate change, over-consumption,
population growth and societies’ pursuit of unlimited
economic growth in a closed system.
The construction industry has been a bit slow
in responding to the industry’s responsibility for
sustainability. However, recent regulations in areas
such as carbon emissions and waste are forcing
industries to adopt responsible approaches for design
and construction. Sustainable solutions are needed to
deliver infrastructure that supports a desired quality of
life for current and future generations while conserving
resources and energy. The engineering response to this
challenge relies significantly on innovative materials
and design and construction technologies.
Geosynthetics engineering has made phenomenal
advances during the last decade in areas of
manufacturing as well as practical applications. As
a result, geosynthetics have become essential and
regular construction materials that can be used to
facilitate construction, ensure better performance of
the structures and reduce the long-term maintenance
in routine civil engineering works. The creative use of
geosynthetics in geo-engineering practice is expected
to continuously expand as innovative materials and
products are becoming available.
Geosynthetics are now being recognized as fundamentals
to sustainable infrastructures development as they can
satisfy sustainable development goals, such as economic
development, social development and environmental
protection. In order for us to take full advantage of this
momentum, we, the members of IGS, must be more
proactive in collaborating with relevant parties such as
planners, developers, and even construction engineers
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
to raise awareness of geosynthetics and to further
discuss how geosynthetics can bring sustainability into
the infrastructure developments for future generations.
I am confident that these efforts not only add significant
value to the IGS membership but also enable us to lead
our society to the next level. I believe that it is our duty
as members of IGS to become active ambassadors of
the society and geosynthetics industry by delivering
our message to others – Geosynthetics and related
technology can pave the way our paths forward by
bringing sustainability into the construction industry.
Your active participation can make difference!
Chungsik Yoo, Ph.D.
President – International Geosynthetics Society
Source : IGS, April 1, 2019
Introducing the Zornberg Lecture
The IGS is pleased to announce the
creation of the “Zornberg Lecture,”
established in recognition of IGS Past
President Dr. Jorge Zornberg’s major
contributions to the geosynthetics
discipline, of his leadership in
conceiving and organizing the first
IGS GeoAmericas conference, and
of his continued fostering of the IGS
presence across the Americas.
The IGS Pan-American Activities Committee (PAAC),
in its meeting of 21 September 2018 in Seoul, Korea
decided to initiate the “Zornberg Lecture” series, which
includes a lecture by a prominent geosynthetics expert,
to be delivered after the opening of IGS Pan-American
Conferences on Geosynthetics, starting at GeoAmericas
2020, in Rio de Janeiro. During its meeting of 22
September 2018, this PAAC initiative was presented
to the IGS Council, which endorsed the Committee
decision.
A Selection Task Force has been appointed to solicit
and vet nominations for the 2020 Zornberg Lecturer.
The Zornberg Lecture will recognize an individual whose
work resulted in significant advances in concepts or
technologies that had a significant impact on the practice
of geosynthetics engineering in the Americas.
The criteria for selection of the Zornberg Lecturer includes:
(1) having a demonstrated pursuit of excellence; (2) having
contributed to the development of the geosynthetics
discipline at large; and (3) having advanced, either directly
or indirectly, to the appropriate use of geosynthetics in
the Americas.
Source : IGS, April 4, 2019
54
 IGS News
Dr. Richard Brachman To Present The
Inaugural Zornberg Lecture
The Zornberg Lecture Selection
Task Force, comprised of the
Presidents of IGS Argentina, IGS
Brazil, IGS Mexico, IGS North
America and the Chair of the
IGS Pan-American Activities
Committee, has appointed Dr.
Richard Brachman, from Queen’s
University, Canada, as the first
Zornberg Lecturer.
The Zornberg Lecture was established in recognition
of Dr. Jorge Zornberg’s major contributions to the
geosynthetics discipline, his leadership in conceiving
and organizing the first GeoAmericas conference, and
his continued fostering of the IGS presence across
the Americas. The Task Force was consistent with this
selection criteria, since Dr. Brachman was recognized by
the pursuit of excellence in his work, his contributions to
the development of the geosynthetics discipline and his
help in advancing the appropriate use of geosynthetics in
the Americas, as well as his recent importance for pushing
IGS in North America.
Dr. Brachman will be delivering the inaugural Zornberg
Lecture at GeoAmericas 2020, the fourth Pan-American
Conference on Geosynthetics, which will be held in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil in April 2020.
Source : IGS, May 28, 2019
Student Award Paper Spotlight: FE Study
of Failure Mechanisms of Modular Block
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Retaining
Wall – From Centrifuge Tests to Numeri-
cal Analysis
Carmine Gerardo Gragnano presented a paper
to investigate the failure mechanisms of modular
block geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) retaining
wall using finite element analysis, and won the
student award competition at EuroGeo6. This paper
presented a numerical study to investigate the effect
of reinforcement vertical spacing and reinforcement
length on the internal stability of GRS retaining walls,
including failure modes of reinforcement breakage
and reinforcement pullout. In the numerical analysis,
the backfill soil was simulated using a nonlinear
hyperbolic model to account for the stress-dependent
soil stiffness. The geogrid was simulated using elasto-
plastic elements that can only sustain tensile forces.
The numerical model also considered the interaction
between different components using interface elements.
Strength reduction method was used to investigate the
internal stability of GRS retaining walls, in which the
55
reinforcement ultimate tensile strength was reduced
to check the reinforcement breakage failure mode
and the soil-reinforcement interface shear strength
was reduced to check the reinforcement pullout failure
mode. For the reinforcement breakage failure mode,
the factor of safety for a GRS wall with a reinforcement
vertical spacing of one-block-height is three times that
for a GRS wall with a reinforcement vertical spacing of
two-block-height. Reinforcement pullout was observed
for the GRS walls when the soil-geogrid interface
strength was reduced to 21% of the initial strength
for reinforcement length = 0.7H (H = wall height) and
to 15% of the initial strength for reinforcement length
= 0.9H. Simulation results in this study indicate that
reinforcement vertical spacing has a more important
effect on reinforcement breakage, while reinforcement
length has a more important effect on reinforcement
pullout.
Source : IGS, April 1, 2019
Mercer Lecture Dates An-
nounced
Dr Kerry Rowe will present the
next Mercer Lecture at three major
conferences in Iceland, South
Africa and the USA, in 2019 and
2020.
Dr Rowe will discuss the use of
geosynthetics in construction on
soft soils at the 17th European
Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering in Reykjavik (1-6 September 2019), before
travelling to Cape Town to speak at the South African
Institution of Civil Engineering Geotechnical Division’s
17th African Regional Conference (7-10 October 2019).
He will complete his tour in the USA, presenting at the
Geo-Congress 2020 (25-28 February 2020).
Dr Rowe, who holds the Canada Research Chair in
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering at
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, is a past president
of the International Geosynthetics Society, a Fellow
of the Royal Society and a world-renowned expert in
geosynthetics and geonvironmental engineering.
The Mercer Lecture aims to promote co-operation
and information exchange between the geotechnical
engineering profession and the geosynthetics industry.
The lecture series, sponsored by Tensar International,
was established in 1992 in memory of the inventor of
geogrids, Dr Brian Mercer, who was an advocate of
innovation, research and development. Endorsed by the
International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical
Engineering and the International Geosynthetics Society,
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
56 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
the lecture tour gives individuals who have made a
significant technical contribution to the advancement of
geosynthetics the opportunity to present their work at
three major conferences on three continents.
Source : IGS, November 15, 2018
IGS Students Awards: 2018 to 2021
The success of the IGS Student Award program will
continue, now with its 8th award period of 2018 to 2021.
The Awards will be assigned in the years 2020-2021 and
all successful candidates will be invited to attend one of
the IGS regional conferences in 2020, i.e., GeoAmericas
2020, EuroGeo7 or Geosynthetics Asia 2021, or
Geoafrica 2021. The IGS student award was established
to disseminate knowledge and to improve communication
and understanding of geotextiles, geomembranes and
associated technologies among young geotechnical and
geoenvironmental student engineers around the world.
The IGS student award will consist of US$1,000 to be
used to cover travel expenses of each winner to attend a
regional conference. The US$1,000 will not be distributed
without such attendance. If the student receives funding
and subsequently does not attend the conference the
Student’s IGS Chapter will be responsible for the refund
of the award. This award amount will be assigned to only
one student per IGS Chapter. The selected student should
have been an undergraduate, M.Sc. or Ph.D. student
during the period 2016-2019.
The IGS is interested in encouraging the involvement
of the students during the selection process. To ensure
student representatives form each chapter participate in
the program to the fullest extent possible, the chapters
must accomplish the following:
• Chapters must organize a contest or conduct a
nomination process to select the student candidate
to represent the chapter. The process should include
submission by the student candidates of abstracts
and preparation of a technical paper for one of the
IGS regional conferences in 2020 or 2021.
• While the IGS chapters are free to define the
characteristics of the nomination/competition process,
this process should be documented and provided to
the IGS.
• Chapters must notify the IGS of the name of the
student selected. Communication will be made by
the IGS to all chapters as regards the deadlines for
those two actions.
• The winner student should provide the IGS
Secretariat’s office (IGSsec@GeosyntheticsSociety.
org) with copy to IGS Students Awards Chairs: Laura
Carbone (carbone@huesker.de ) and Lucía Davila
Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019
(ldavila85@hotmail.com) in parallel to the conference
organizers with the abstract and paper submitted.
The IGS Education Committee is available to help in the
preparation of such process.
The IGS will transfer US$1,000 to the student upon
receipt of the draft paper. IGS Student Award winners will
participate in dedicated sessions at the corresponding
regional conference, where they will present their paper.
IGS Student Awards recipients will be required to submit
a written report to the IGS on the regional conference
and on the IGS-related conference activities. This report
should also be provided by the Student Awards winners
to their own chapter.
In recognition of the IGS Student Award winners and to
maximize benefits to the students, the organizers of the
regional conferences are required to hold a dedicated
session in which the student papers will be presented.
They must also provide the students with a free copy of the
proceedings and free admission to the sessions and the
exhibition. In addition, a comprehensive student program
will be organized in each regional conference to maximize
their exposure to geosynthetics and the IGS. This includes
a recognition ceremony during the conference as well as
their participation in corporate receptions, social functions,
and activities specific to each conference.
Source : IGS, November 5, 2018
Case Studies: Kaytech’s Megaflo Chosen
for SA Eastern Cape’s R56
April 2018 saw the commencement of a special
maintenance project in the Eastern Cape, South Africa,
where over 100 000 metres of Kaytech’s Geocomposite
Megaflo Panel Drain System was used. This 30-month
long upgrade project by SANRAL (South African National
Roads Association Limited) required construction of
approximately 100 km of subsoil drains, to be installed
directly along the edge of the existing sealed road surface,
on Provincial Route R56 Section 6: Indwe to Elliot and
Section 7: Elliot to Maclear.
Due to limited working space as well as the urgent need to
drain the road prism and preserve the layers, contractor,
Tau Pele Construction, investigated alternatives
to conventional drainage construction. Kaytech
representative, Julian Maastrecht gave his assurance
that, “using this unique drainage system will not only
reduce installation time, but will eliminate the need for 19
mm stone aggregate”. Using a Ditch Witch or road saw,
the contractor was able to excavate rapidly constructed,
extremely narrow trenches one metre deep by 120 mm
wide in preparation for the drainage system installation.
Megaflo is a geocomposite drainage system manufactured
from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) panel drainage
 IGS News 57

spacer core, wrapped in bidim geotextile, and provides

the optimum combination of high strength and superior
filtration. Bidim is a continuous filament, nonwoven,
needlepunched geotextile. Advantages derived from the
needlepunching process include appreciable thickness,
high porosity and a high drainage capacity both transverse
and normal to the plane.
Of concern to consultants, KBK Engineers, was the
long-term performance of geotextiles placed in contact
with the dispersive silty/sandy soil when constructing a
conventional stone drain. This was addressed by the
geocomposite drainage system being installed in a narrow
trench surrounded by a -7.1 mm washed crusher sand
with no more than 4% passing 0.075 mm. The sand acts
as a pre-filter to protect the geotextile against clogging.
While the high strength structural core of the drainage
system is sufficiently rigid to prevent buckling during
installation, its flexibility in the horizontal plane allows for
bending around any protrusions. Since it is also rigid in the
vertical plane, a consistent invert gradient is maintained
during installation even if laid at very flat gradients. This
system can be installed with minimal bedding as the were installed at regular intervals. As an alternative
ribbed structure and minimum obstruction internal support to conventional drainage, this geocomposite system
lugs provide superior crush resistance (>200 kPa). provided a number of environmental benefits including
Maastricht explains the design of the drain, “The design the eco-friendly geotextile, minimal exploitation of natural
was based on a soil permeability of 5 x 10-6 m/s. Varying quarried material, minimal spoil and lower emissions due
heights of the product were installed for draining of long to overall lower usage of diesel.
cuttings, up to one kilometre (500 m in each direction) Installation of this unique drainage system also benefitted
and at relatively flat gradients (1%). Using long wooden the contractor due to several factors: the elimination of 19
wedges, it was either secured in the middle of the trench mm stone, reduction on drainage media quantity, use of
or along the excavation edge adjacent to the road excess material from the crushing process, construction
layers. The trench was then backfilled with the specified of very narrow trenches, minimal spoil of excavated
washed crusher sand, directly from a modified truck, material, minimal disturbance to the existing road and the
and hydraulically compacted. Varying sizes of the panels speed and ease of installation. These factors significantly
were used.” increased production speed and reduced construction
Subsoil drains were installed along the road edge while space thereby minimising disruption to traffic, and overall
transverse drains were installed through all the cuttings achieving a reduction in costs for the complete system.
and entrances to the cuttings. To allow for maintenance Source : IGS, March 21, 2019
and upkeep of the drainage system, rodding eyes

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 Indian Chapter of IGS
In the year 1985, Central Board of Irrigation and Power, (CBIP) as part of its technology forecasting activities identified
geosynthetics as an important area relevant to India’s need for infrastructure development, including roads. After
approval of IGS Council for the formation of Indian Chapter in October 1988, the Indian Chapter of IGS was got
registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 of India in June 1992 as the Committee for International Geotextile
Society (India), with its Secretariat at Central Board of Irrigation and Power. The Chapter has since been renamed
as International Geosynthetics Society (India), in view of the parent body having changed its name from International
Geotextiles Society to International Geosynthetics Society.
The activities of the Society are governed by General Body and Executive Board.
Executive Board of Indian Chapter of IGS
The Executive Board of the IGS (India) consists of President, elected by the General Body, two Vice-Presidents
and 16 members. The Secretary and Director (WR) of the CBIP are the as the Ex-Officio Member Secretary and
Treasurer, respectively, of the Society.
The present Executive Board is as under:
President:
• Mr. M. Venkataraman, Geotechnical and Geosynthetic Consultant and Guest Professor, Department of Civil
Engineering IIT Gandhinagar
Vice-Presidents:
• Dr. R. Chitra, Scientist E, Central Soil and Materials Research Station
• Mr. Vivek Kapadia, Chief Engineer & Additional Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of
Gujarat
Immediate Past President:
• Dr. G.V.S. Suryanarayana Raju, Former Engineer-in-Chief, Roads & Buildings Department, Government of
Andhra Pradesh
Hon. Members:
• Dr. G.V. Rao, Former Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi and Guest Professor, Department
of Civil Engineering, IIT Gandhinagar
• Dr. K. Rajagopal, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
Member Secretary
Mr. V.K. Kanjlia, Secretary, Central Board of Irrigation & Power
Treasurer
Dr. G.P. Patel, Director (WR), Central Board of Irrigation & Power
Past Presidents
The presidents of the society in the past were:
• Dr. R.K. Katti, Director, UNEECS Pvt. Ltd. and Former Professor, IIT Bombay
• Mr. H.V. Eswaraiah, Technical Director, Karnataka, Power Corporation Ltd.
• Dr. G.V. Rao, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
• Dr. D.G. Kadade, Chief Advisor, Jaiprakash Industries Ltd.
• Dr. K. Rajagopal, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
Indian Representation on IGS Council
• Dr. K. Rajagopal, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
• Dr. G.V. Rao, Former Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
IGS Student Award Winners from India
The IGS has established Student Paper Award to disseminate knowledge and to improve communication
andunderstanding of geotextiles, geomembranes and associated technologies among young geotechnical
andgeoenvironmental student engineers around the world. The IGS student award consists of US$1,000 to be used
tocover travel expenses of each winner to attend a regional conference.

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 58

 59

Following from India have been honoured with IGS Student Paper Award:
• Dr. J.P. Sampath Kumar, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad
• Dr. K. Ramu, JNTU College of Engineering, Kakinada
• Mrs. S. Jayalekshmi, NationalInstitute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli
• Dr. Mahuya Ghosh, IIT Delhi
• Dr. S. Rajesh, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
• Mr. Suresh Kumar S., Department of Textile Technology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of
TechnologyJalandhar
Publications/Proceedings on Geosynthetics
In addition to the proceedings of the events on Geosynthetics, following publications have been brought out since
1985:
1. Workshop on Geomembranes and Geofabrics (1985)
2. International Workshop on Geotextile (1989)
3. Use of Geosynthetics – Indian Experiences and Potential – A State of Art Report (1989)
4. Use of Geotextile in Water Resources Projects - Case Studies (1992)
5. Role of Geosynthetics in Water Resources Projects (1993)
6. Monograph on Particulate Approach to Analysis of Stone Columns with & without Geosynthetics Encasing
(1993)
7. 2nd International Workshop on Geotextiles (1994)
8. Directory of Geotextiles in India (1994)
9. An Introduction to Geotextiles and Related Products in Civil Engineering Applications (1994)
10. Proceedings of Workshops on Engineering with Geosynthetics (1995)
11. Ground Improvement with Geosynthetics (1995)
12. Geosynthetics in Dam Engineering (1995)
13. Erosion Control with Geosynthetics (1995)
14. Proceedings of International Seminar & Techno Meet on “Environmental Geotechnology & Geosynthetics” (1996)
15. Proceedings of First Asian Regional Conference “Geosynthetics Asia’1997”
16. Directory of Geosynthetics in India (1997)
17. Bibliography – The Indian Contribution to Geosynthetics (1997)
18. Waste Containment with Geosynthetics (1998)
19. Geosynthetic Applications in Civil Engineering- A Short Course (1999)
20. Case Histories of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects (2003)
21. Geosynthetics – Recent Developments (Commemorative Volume) (2006)
22. Geosynthetics in India – Present and Future (2006)
23. Applications of Geosynthetics – Present and Future (2007)
24. Directory of Geosynthetics in India (2008)
25. Geosynthetics India’08
26. Geosynthetics India’ 2011
27. Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures - Design & Construction (2012)
28. Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects (2013)
29. Applications of Geosynthetics in Railway Track Structures (2013)
30. Silver Jubilee Celebration (2013)
31. Directory of Geosynthetics in India (2013)
32. Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects (2014)
33. Geosynthetics India 2014

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60 Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement

34. Three Decades of Geosynthetics in India – A Commemorative Volume (2015)

35. History of Geosynthetics in India - Case Studies (2016)
36. Proceedings of 6th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics (2016)
37. Coir Geotextiles (Coir Bhoovastra) for Sustainable Infrastructure (2016)
Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
The Indian Chapter of IGS has taken the initiative to publish Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground
Improvement(IJGGI), on half yearly basis (January – June and July-December), since January 2012.The aim of the
journal is to provide latest information in regard to developments taking place in the relevant field ofgeosynthetics
so as to improve communication and understanding regarding such products, among the designers,manufacturers
and users and especially between the textile and civil engineering communities.The Journal has both print and
online versions.
Events Organised/Supported
1. Workshop on Geomembrane and Geofabrics, September 1985, New Delhi
2. Workshop on Reinforced Soil, August 1986
3. International Workshops on Geotextiles, November 1989, Bangalore
4. National Workshop on Role of Geosynthetics in Water Resources Projects, January 1992, New Delhi
5. Workshop on Geotextile Application in Civil Engineering, January 1993, Chandigarh
6. International Short Course on Soil Reinforcement, March 1993, New Delhi
7. Short Course on Recent Developments in Design of Embankments on Soft Soils, Nov./Dec. 1993, New Delhi
8. 2nd International Workshop on Geotextiles, January 1994, New Delhi
9. Short Course on Recent Developments in the Design of Embankments on Soft Soils, January 1994, Kolkata
10. Workshop on Role of Geosynthetics in Hill Area Development, November 1994, Guwahati
11. Workshop on Engineering with Geosynthetics, December 1994, Hyderabad
12. Short Course on Recent Developments in the Design of Embankments on Soft Soils, May 1995, New Delhi
13. Seminar on Geosynthetic Materials and Their Application, August 1995, New Delhi
14. Short Course on Recent Developments in the Design of Embankments on Soft Soils, October 1995, New Delhi
15. Short Course on “Ground Improvement with Geosynthetics”, October 1995, New Delhi
16. Workshop on “Environmental Geotechnology”, December 1995, New Delhi
17. Workshop on “Role of Geosynthetics in Hill Area Development”, February 1996, Gangtok
18. Workshop on “Engineering with Geosynthetics”, March 1996, Visakhapatnam
19. Workshop on “Ground Improvement with Geosynthetics”, March 1996, Kakinada
20. Workshop on “Engineering with Geosynthetics”, May 1996, Chandigarh
21. International Seminar & Technomeet on “Environmental Geotechnology with Geosynthetics”, July 1996, New Delhi
22. Seminar on “Fields of Application of Gabion Structures”, September 1997, New Delhi
23. First Asian Regional Conference “Geosynthetics Asia’1997”, November 1997, Bangalore
24. Short Course on “Waste Containment with Geosynthetics”, February 1998, New Delhi
25. Symposium on “Rehabilitation of Dams”, November 1998, New Delhi
26. Training Course on “Geosynthetics and Their Civil Engineering Applications”, September 1999, Mumbai
27. Seminar on “Coir Geotextiles-Environmental Perspectives”, November 2000, New Delhi
28. Second National Seminar on “Coir Geotextiles – Environmental Perspectives”, April 2001, Guwahati, Assam
29. National Seminar on “Application of Jute Geotextiles in Civil Engineering”, May 2001, New Delhi
30. International Course on “Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering”, September 2001, Kathmandu, Nepal
31. Workshop on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects”, November 2003, New Delhi
32. Geosynthetics India 2004 – A Seminar Workshop on “Geotechnical Engineering Practice with Geosynthetics”,
October 2004, New Delhi
33. Introductory Course on Geosynthetics, November 2006, New Delhi
34. International Seminar on “Geosynthetics in India – Present and Future” (in Commemoration of Two Decades
ofGeosynthetics in India), November 2006, New Delhi

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 Indian Chapter of IGS 61

35. Workshop on “Retaining Structures with Geosynthetics”, December 2006, Chennai

36. Special Session on “Applications of Geosynthetics” during 6th International R&D Conference, February 2007,
Lucknow (U.P.)
37. Workshop on “Applications of Geosynthetics – Present and Future”, September 2007, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
38. International Seminar “Geosynthetics India’08” and Introductory Course on “Geosynthetics”, November 2008,
Hyderabad
39. Special Session on “Applications of Geosynthetics” during 7th International R&D Conference, February 2009,
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)
40. Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics”, July 2010, New Delhi
41. International Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics”, November 2010, New Delhi
42. Geosynthetics India’ 2011, September 2011, IIT Madras
43. Seminar on “Slope Stabilization Challenges in Infrastructure Projects”, October 2011, New Delhi
44. GEOINFRA 2012 – A Convergence of Stakeholders of Geosynthetics, August 2012, Hyderabad
45. Seminar on “Ground Control and Improvement”, September 2012, New Delhi
46. Workshop on “Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures - Design & Construction”, October 2012, New Delhi
47. Seminar on “Landfill Design with Geomembrane”, November 2012, New Delhi
48. Seminar on “Slope Stabilization Challenges in Infrastructure Projects”, November 2012, New Delhi
49. Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects”, June 2013, Bhopal
50. Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Railway Track Structures”, September 2013, New Delhi
51. Silver Jubilee Celebration, October 2013, New Delhi
52. Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects”, July 2014, Agra
53. Geosynthetics India 2014, October 2014, New Delhi
54. Seminar on Geotextiles: A Big Untapped Potential, September 2015, New Delhi
55. Three Decades of Geosynthetics in India – International Symposium Geosynthetics - The Road Ahead, November
2015, New Delhi, India
56. North Eastern Regional Seminar on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects”, June 2016,
Guwahati
57. Workshop on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Projects”, June 2016, Thiruvananthapuram
58. Training Course on Geosynthethics, November 2016, New Delhi
59. Workshop on Coastal Protection, November 2016, New Delhi
60. 6th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthethics, November 2016, New Delhi
61. Training Course on "Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Structures", February 2017, New Delhi
62. Training Course on “Applications of Geosynthetics”, December 2017, Dharwad (Karnataka)
63. Workshop on “Design and Construction of Pavements using Geosynthetics”, January 2018, New Delhi
64. IGS Educate the Educators Program, February 2018, IIT Madras
65. Training Course on “Applications of Geosynthetics”, February 2018, Trichy (Tamil Nadu)
66. Training Course on Design and Construction of Pavements with Geosynthetics and Geosyntheics Reinforced
Soil Slopes and Walls, 15 June 2018, New Delhi
67. Seminar on Slope Stabilization Challenges in Infrastructure Projects, 21-22 June 2018, New Delhi
68. Training Programme on “Applications of Geosynthetics in Dams & Hydraulic Structures”, August 2018, Bhopal
69. Training Course on “Slope Stabilization Challenges in Infrastructure Projects”, October 2018, Dehradun
70. Seminar on “Geosynthetics Applications for Erosion Control and Coastal Protection”, October 2018,
Bhubaneswar
71. Workshop on Natural Hazard Mitigation with Geosynthetics, 11-12 January 2019, Thiruvananthapuram,
(Kerala)
72. Symposium of International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG) –
Special Session of Indian Chapter of IGS, 7 March 2019, IIT Gandhinagar

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground
Improvement

Guidelines for Authors

This journal aims to provide a snapshot of the latest research and advances in the field of Geosynthetics. The journal
addresses what is new, significant and practicable. Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement
is published twice a year (January-June and July-December) by IndianJournals.Com, New Delhi. The Journal has
both print and online versions. Being peer-reviewed, the journal publishes original research reports, review papers
and communications screened by national and international researchers who are experts in their respective fields.
The original manuscripts that enhance the level of research and contribute new developments to the geosynthetics
sector are encouraged. The work belonging to the fields of Geosynthetics are invited. The journal is expected to
help researchers, technologist and policy makers in the key sector of Geosynthetics to improve communication
and understanding regarding geotextiles, geomembranes and related products among designers, manufacturers
and users The manuscripts must be unpublished and should not have been submitted for publication elsewhere.
There are no Publication Charges.
1. Guidelines for the preparation of manuscripts for publishing in “Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and
Ground Improvement”
The authors should submit their manuscript in MS-Word (2003/2007) in single column, double line spacing as per
the following guidelines. The manuscript should be organized to have Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Material &
Methods, Results & Discussion, Conclusion, and Acknowledgement. The manuscript should not exceed 16 pages
in double line spacing.
Take margin as 1.” (Left, Right, Top & Bottom) on A4 paper.
The Title of the paper should be in bold and in Title case .
The next item of the paper should be the author’s name followed by the co-authors.
Name of the corresponding author should be highlighted by putting an asterisk, with whom all the future
correspondence shall be made.
This should be followed by an affiliation and complete official addresses.
Providing e-mail id is must.
Please keep the title, author’s name and affiliation center aligned.
Use the following font sizes:
Title: 14 point bold (Title Case), Author’s name(s): 12-point bold, Author’s Affiliations: 10-point normal, Headings:
11-point bold & caps, Sub-headings: 11-point normal & caps, Body Text: 10-point normal.
The manuscript must be in English.
Manuscripts are accepted on the basis that they may be edited for style and language.
Use Times new roman as the font.
Words used in a special context should appear between single quotation marks the first time they appear.
Lines must be double-spaced (plus one additional line between paragraphs).
Tables and figures must be included in the same file as the text in the end of the manuscript. Figures must be inserted
into the document in JPEG or Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) format.
Abbreviations should be spelt out in full for the first time they appear and their abbreviated form included in brackets
immediately after.
Communicating author will receive a soft copy of his/her published paper at free of cost.

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 Guidelines for Authors 63

Diagrams and Figures: Only black & white figures are accepted. Figures should be entered in one column (center
aligned) and should not exceed 6-inch total width. A minimum line width of 1 point is required at actual size. Annotations
should be in Times New Roman 12 point with only the first letter capitalized. The figure caption should be preceded
by ‘Figure’ followed by the figure number. For example, ‘Figure 10.
Photographs and illustrations: No color photographs are allowed. Image files should be optimized to the minimum
possible size without compromising the quality. The figures should have a resolution of 300 dpi.
Equations: Using the appropriate editor, each equation should appear on a new line. The equations referred to in
the text, should be numbered sequentially with their identifier enclosed in parenthesis, right justified. The symbols,
where referred to in the text, should be italicized.
E = mc2 (1)
References: The papers in the reference list must be cited in the text in the order in which they appear in the text.
In the text, the citation should appear in square brackets “[]”. References of Journals, Books and Conferences must
be written as shown in the example below.
Jones B., Brown, J., and Smith J. 2005, The title of the book. 1st edition, Publisher.
Jones B., Brown, J., and Smith J. 2005 The title of the conference paper. Proc Conference title 6: 9-17.
Jones B., Brown, J., and Smith J. .2005 The title of the journal paper. Journal Name. 3(4): 101-121.
Submission of Manuscript:
The manuscript must be submitted in doc and pdf to the Editor as an email attachment to uday@cbip.org. The
author(s) should send a signed declaration form mentioning that, the matter embodied in the manuscript is original
and copyrighted material used during the preparation of the manuscript has been duly acknowledged. The declaration
should also carry consent of all the authors for its submission to Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground
Improvement. It is the responsibility of corresponding author to secure requisite permission from his or her employer
that all papers submitted are understood to have received clearance(s) for publication. The authors shall also assign
the copyright of the manuscript to the Indian Chapter of International Geosynthetics Society.

Peer Review Policy:

Review System: Every article is processed by a masked peer review of double blind or by three referees and
edited accordingly before publication. The criteria used for the acceptance of article are: contemporary relevance,
updated literature, logical analysis, relevance to the global problem, sound methodology, contribution to
knowledge and fairly good English. Selection of articles will be purely based on the experts’ views and opinion.
Authors will be communicated within Two months from the date of receipt of the manuscript. The editorial office will
endeavor to assist where necessary with English language editing but authors are hereby requested to seek local
editing assistance as far as possible before submission. Papers with immediate relevance would be considered for
early publication. The possible expectations will be in the case of occasional invited papers and editorials, or where
a partial or entire issue is devoted to a special theme under the guidance of a Guest Editor.
The Editor-in-Chief may be reached at: uday@cbip.org

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019

 INTERNATIONAL GEOSYNTHETICS SOCIETY
(INDIA)
OBJECTIVES
• to collect and disseminate knowledge on all matters relevant to geotextiles, geomembranes and
related products, e.g. by promoting seminars, conferences etc.;
• to promote advancement of the state-of-the-art of geotextiles, geomembranes and related products
and of their applications, e.g. by encouraging, through its members, the harmonization of test methods,
equipment and criteria; and
• to improve communication and understanding regarding such products, e.g. between designers,
manufacturers and users and especially between the textile and civil engineering communities.

MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Membership is open to individuals/institutions, whose activities or interests are clearly related to the
scientific, technological or practical development or use of geotextiles, geomembranes, related products
and associated technologies.

Membership Categories and Subscriptions:

• Individual Membership for 01 Calendar year : Rs. 2,500.00
• Individual Membership for 10 Calendar years : Rs. 12,500.00
• Individual Membership for 20 Calendar years : Rs. 25,000.00
• Institutional Membership for 01 Calendar years : Rs. 25,000.00
• Institutional Membership for 02 Calendar years : Rs. 45,000.00
• Institutional Membership for 03 Calendar years : Rs. 60,000.00

For membership and other details, please contact

Mr. V.K. Kanjlia

Member Secretary
International GeosyntheticsSociety (India)
C/o Central Board of Irrigation and Power
Plot No. 4, Institutional Area
Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110 021

Tel. : 011 2611 5984/2611 1294

Fax : 011 2611 6347
E-mail : uday@cbip.org, cbip@cbip.org

Volume 8 v No. 2 v July 2019 64

 Profile of Institutional member of Indian Chapter

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar

IIT Gandhinagar known as IITGN is the public Engineering Sciences and Humanities
institution located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The 400 Acre permanent campus to which
the institute shifted on July 8, 2015 is located in Palaj, on the banks of river Sabarmati
and has an easy access to Ahmedabad International Airport and Ahmedabad railway
station as well. The Institute offering various courses preserves an extremely peppy
ambience through its master-planned infrastructure which not only catches eyeballs but
also facilitates functional convenience to foster an effective interaction among students
and faculty.
Another amazing feature of IITGN aiming at expanding extremities of research and
development is the diverse research area, The Research Park, which is a not-for-profit
company with an objective of carrying out projects by establishing an interrelationship
between industry and academia. The Research Park set up by the Department of
Science & Technology stimulates collaborative Research and Development through
which both the companies and the students reap benefits. The companies can utilize
institute’s resources for R&D, whereas the students avail the golden opportunity to work
with these companies, thus boosting innovation and professional growth for researchers
in companies. In addition to all the significant researches being conducted, IITGN lays
particular emphasis on carrying out researches pertinent to the society, focuses keenly
on Industry connect and joint researches which are of public interest.
Apart from the first-rate hostel blocks endowed with basic amenities like air-conditioned
rooms, LAN connection, 24×7 electricity, sick rooms, hot water supply, dining, a general
store, canteens, grocery, sports facilities and security services, the institute also has
provision for medical facilities at the campus.
There is a strong group in Geotechnical Engineering at the Institute with Prof. Amit
Prashant, Prof. Ajanta Sachan, Prof. G.V Rao, and Prof. M. Venkataraman as faculty
members and Post-doc and doctoral students in the team working in this area. In the
recent years there have been sundry workshops and conferences, short courses on
applications of Geosynthetics in various sectors and also on Geotechnical investigations.
The Conference of Deep Foundation Institute and the IACMAG 2019 symposium was
also organized in the Institute. Moreover, we have undertaken several projects for various
departments like Water Resources Department in Maharashtra and Gujarat and for R&BD
of Gujarat.
IITGN spares no effort to educate, cultivate intellectual potential and skills, nurture research
and development to the fullest and incessantly head towards pinnacle of success with a
firm belief in the lines-
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”
-Chris Grosser