The term geosynthetics refers to all fabricated synthetic (usually polymeric) materials used in various geotechnical applications such

as drainage, reinforcement, erosion control, and lightweight fill. There are many potential uses for geosynthetics in highway projects. This document describes various geosynthetic materials that are potentially useful in highway construction applications.

TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS
The description of the various geosynthetic terminology adopted in the following is from ASTM ,IGS and Cancelli and cazzuffi, (1991). The textile terminology and manufacturing process are detailed in subsequent sections.

Geotextile:
Geotextile, a generic member of the geosynthetic family, is a planar,permeable,polymeric or natural fibre textile material, used in contact with soil/rock and/or any other geotechnical material in civil engineering applications. A geotextile could be woven by interlacing two or more sets of yarns,fibres,filaments,tapes or other elements. It could be non-woven , obtained in the form of manufactured sheet sheet,web or batt of directionally or randomly oriented fibres, filaments or other elements, with either mechanical or thermal or chemical bonding. It could also be knitted, interlacing one or more yarns, fibres or filamants. Generally, woven geotextiles exhibit high-tensile, high modulus and low elongation. Non woven geotextiles have high permeability and conformability because of their high elongation characteristics. The properties of knitted geotextiles are different from the other two. They are many types of non woven geotextiles now available in market, eg Continuous filament, needle punched. Polypropylene or polyester Staple fibre,needle punched polypropylene Continuous filament thermally bonded polypropylene Staple fibre needle punched,calenared on one side ,propylene and polyethylene The woven geotextiles available in the market are generally: Slit film tape woven Mono-filament, and multi-filament woven

Geogrids:
Geogrid is planar, polymeric structure consisting of a regular open network of integrally connected tensile elements, which may be linked by extrusion, bonding or interlacing, whose openings are larger than constituents.the geogrids differ from the geotextiles in that they facilitate of soil or aggregate particles with in their opening.

Extruded geogrid
is geogrid produced by extruding polymers and by stretching Uniaxially or biaxially extruded integral structure.these are generally rigid in nature compared to more flexible types of bonded geogrids or woven geogrids of knitted geogrids.

Bonded geogrid
is a geogrid produced by bonding usually at right angles, two or more sets of strands or other elements.

Woven geogrid
Woven geogrid: a geogrid produced by interlacing, usually or right angles, two or more sets of fibres,yarns,filaments of other elements.

Glasstex or glassgrid:
Glasstex or glassgrid, made of fibre glass, designed for use in asphaltic pavements.being non-corrodible, it will not be affected by slippage of oils and fuel or to be attacked bydeicing salts. It is also thermally stable and can be safely installed with in asphalt to at least 165 degrees Celsius without significant change in geometry and physical properties. Geonet is planar, polymeric structure consisting of a regular dense network of integrally connected overlapping ribs; constituent elements are linked by knots of extrusions and whose openings are much larger then the constituents. Geomembrane is relatively impermeable, polymeric, sheet used in contact with soil or rock. It could be of bituminous, elastomeric or plastomeric materials. Geocomposite membrane liner is an assembled structure of geosynthetics products, in the form of manufactured sheet,consisting at least of one layer geomembrane among the components, used in geotechnical, environmental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications, performing barrier function. Geocomposite is a generic name adopted to define an assembled structure of geosynthetic products, in the form of manufactured sheet or strip as illustrated. They are used in geotechnical, experimental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications, for performing a specific function. Prefabricated vertical drain useful in the consolidation of soft soil, has a geotextile filter sleeve with a central drainage core. Geosynthetic clay liner is an assembled structure of geosynthetic products and low permeability earth materials (clay, bentonite and so on), needle punched in the form of manufactured sheet,used in geotechnical,environmental,hydraulic transportation engineering applications,performing barrier function.

Geomat has a structure in the form of manufactured sheet, consisting of a non regular network of synthetic fibres,yarns,filaments,tapes or other elements whose openings are usually larger than constituents,used in geotechnical,environmental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications.it consists of flexible three dimensional polymer mat which initially stabilizes the surface whilst assisting vegetation to establish. It then goes on to provide long-term,tenacious reinforcement of the root system. Geocell Is of a cellular structure consisting of a regular open network of synthetic strips,linked by extrusion or adhesion or other methods,used in geotechnical,environmental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications. Biotextile: a permeable textile material,made by biodegradable natural fibres,in the form of manufactured sheet,usually woven,used in geotechnical,environmental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications.in india they are commonly referred as woven natural fibre geotextiles. Biomat: it has a structure ,in the form of manufactured sheet,consisting of a non-regular network of biodegradable natural fibres,yams,filaments or other elements,whose openings are larger than constituents, used in geotechnical, environmental, hydraulic and transportation engineering applications. Biocell:a cellular structure,consisting of a regular open network of biodegradable Natural strips, connected by various methods, used in geotechnical, environmental, hydraulic and transportation engineering applications. Biocomposite: generic name adopted to define as assembled structure of biodegradable natural products, in the form of manufactured sheet or strip, used in geotechnical,environmental ,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications. Biocomposite drain: an assembled structure of biodegradable natural products, in the form of manufactured sheet or strip, used in geotechnical,environmental,hydraulic and transportation engineering applications,for performing drainage function.

Functions:
Geosynthetics serve the following five principal functions: Separation- in which a geosynthetic placed between two dissimilar geotechnical materials,prevents intermixing. Filtration- in which a geotextile allows passage of fluids from a soil while simultaneously preventing the uncontrolled passage of soil particles. Drainage- in which a geosynthetic may collect and transport fluids in its own place. Reinforcement- in which by virtue of the tensile characterictics, a geosynthetic resists streeses and contains deformations in geotechnical structures. Barrier- in which a geosynthetic acts a barrier to mitigation of fluids. Geosynthetics serve as a secondary function in the following way: Protection: the ability of a geosynthetic to prevent local damage to a geomembrane due to concentrated mechanical stresses. Cushion: the ability of a geosynthetic to control and eventually to damp dynamic mechanical actions. This function has to be emphasized particularly for the applications in canal revetments and in shore protections incorporating geotextiles and also for the applications in geosynthetic strip layers as seismic base isolation of earth structures. Surficial erosion control: in which a geotextile may prevent the surface erosion of soil particles due to surface water run-off and wind forces.

Raw materials used in geosynthetics:

The sailient features of most commonly used polymeric materials in the manufacture of geosynthetics are described Polyster(PET) : polyster is made up of synthetic linear molecules having in chain at least 85% of an ester of adiol terphthalic acid. The shape and luster of the fibre can be changed as per requirement. The tenacity of PET varies from 2.5 to 9.5 gpd and therefore ,is very suitable for geotechnical application.the fibre is highly resilient and demonstrates superior elastic properties. The density of the fibre is 1.38 g/cc and its moisture regain at standard condition is 0.4%.thus the fibre is hydrophobic and also shows excellent dimensional stability, once given the heat-setting treatment. PET is very resistant to common solvents.it shows very good resistance to weak alkalies even at high temperatures. Microorganisms do not have any effect on PET.prolonged outdoor exposure to sunlight weakens the fibre,but applications where direct exposure is not required lioke geotechnical,the fibre stands well. Polypropylene(PP): Polypropylene is a manufactured fibre in which the fibre forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% of propylene units.the pure polymer shows poor resistance to heat and light,therefore,has to be compounded with thermal and light stabilizers. The granules or chips are sold to fibre producers who melt and extrude these fibres. Property manipulation is also possible. The shape and luster of PP is modified and desired. These are the lightest of all the important fibres, having a density of 0.91g/cc.tenacity can be manipulated and ranges from 3.5 to 9.0gpd.the fibre is purely hydrophobic nad does not absorb any moisture.the moisture regain practically zero.its shows excellent resistant to acids,alkalies and microorganisms. Polyethylene(PE): Polyethylene is made from ethylene monomer from naptha and depending up on nature of polymerization.two varieties are usually obtained,low density polythene and high density polythene.these fibres have a tenacity ranging between 2 to 4 gpd and a density of about 0.95g/cc.

The axiom that there is nothing new under the sun regarding geosynthetics is simultaneously true and totally false. The truth is that the geotechnical problems that engineers use geosynthetics to solve are timeless: erosion, slope failure, poor bearing capacity etc. The products used to solve these problems could also be described as timeless as they derive from textile manufacturing techniques that date into antiquity. The falseness of this premise is revealed by the incremental advancements in the creation of geosynthetic solutions in the form of both product and geotechnical design. But what are the areas of incremental improvement in soil reinforcement and environmental applications? As the following capsules illustrate there is no end in sight for innovative application of geosynthetics. For example, there are many developments in mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls and slopes and in basal stabilization. The MSE concept is essentially a uniaxial force problem and is served by the insertion of tensile members whose principal strength is uniaxial and that property is oriented to the expected forces of failure in the design. In 1993 a textile geogrid was employed using an ultra high strength polymer (the aramid known as Kevlar) to construct a road over karst terrain, as schematically shown in Figure 3. In 2001 a 15 meter wide sinkhole opened under the road which remained intact for more than one hour against a specification time of 15 minutes. Another textile geogrid application technology advance is the development of construction techniques that permit bridge abutments to be constructed where the sill beam rests directly on the GRS (geosynthetic reinforced soil) block while the GRS does not require a stiffening facing (Alexiew 2008). Textile geogrid reinforcement techniques are combined with other geosynthetic systems to build steep slopes on columns and piles, over geosynthetic encased stone columns and in piled embankments (Brokemper et al. 2006). Textile geogrid constructions mitigate landslides and debris flow and withstand storm surge exposure in a working platform. Yet another polymer, PVA, works in textile grid applications to withstand high alkali environments and especially the combination of lime and cement stabilizers and PVA grids in cohesive soils where there appears to be a synergistic effect resulting in higher strength and higher resistance to pullout failure (Aydogamus et al. 2006).