APPLICATION OF GEO-

SYNTHETIC MATERIALS IN
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Faculty: Samirsinh .P.Parmar
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Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Technology,
Dharmasinh Desai University,
Nadiad
Mail Add: samirddu@gmail.com
RETAINING WALLS

Function Of
Geosynthetic is :
To reinforce, retain,
and protect
backfill/soil for
improving stability

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Schematic diagram of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall.
COMPONENTS OF GEOSYNTHETIC-
REINFORCED RETAINING WALL

A geosynthetic-reinforced retaining wall has thus

three basic components:
1. Backfill, which is usually specified to be
granular soil;
2. Reinforcement layers, which are generally
geotextile or geogrid layers;
3. Facing element, which is not necessary but
usually used to maintain appearance and to
avoid soil erosion between the reinforcement
layers.
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COMPONENT OF E.R. WALL

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Reinforcing Strips

Facing Elements 5
Side views of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls:
(a) with wraparound geosynthetic facing; (b) with gabion facing; (c) with 6
full-height precast concrete panel facing; (d) with segmental or MCBs
facing.
 EMBANKMENTS

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Embankment over weak foundation soils: (a) embankment on uniform weak
foundation soil; (b) embankment on locally weak foundation soil with lenses of
clay or peat, or with sinkholes (after Bonaparte and Christopher, 1987).
Functions of GT: To keep embankment materials separated from soft
foundation soil Separation from not being changed in behaviour over the service
period . To improve stability of embankment edges, to bridge soft foundation
Reinforcement soils, to make steep-sided slopes

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Embankment over weak foundation soil: (a) with basal drainage layer;
(b) with vertical drains and basal drainage layer.
SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Functions of GT:
To improve load-bearing
capacity, to reduce settlement.
To prevent erosion and scouring
around underwater foundations
using Containment, screening
bags, tubes, and mattresses
filled with soil,
To form underwater
foundations

Reinforced foundation soils supporting footings of structures.

 ROADS

Functions of GT:
To prevent/control water
infiltration Fluid barrier
To prevent/control reflective
cracking
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CONCEPT OF GEOSYNTHETIC SEPARATION
IN PAVED ROADWAYS

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EFFECT OF CYCLIC LOAD ON GT

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 GEOTEXTILE FOR EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTION

Concept of membrane-encapsulated soil layer (MESL) as a base/sub base course

in paved roadways.

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RAILWAY TRACKS

Functions of GT:

To prevent ballast contamination Separation

To dispose of water to side drains Filtration, drainage
To prevent contamination in railroad refuelling areas,
to prevent Fluid barrier, protection upward
groundwater movement in a railroad cut 15
To reinforce track systems and distribute loads.
 Principal functions when a properly designed geosynthetic is installed
within the track structure.
Separation, in new railway tracks, between soil subgrade and new ballast;
Filtration of soil pore water rising from the soil subgrade beneath the
geosynthetic, due to rising water conditions or the dynamic pumping action
of the wheel loadings, across the plane of the geosynthetic;
Lateral confinement-type reinforcement in order to contain the overlying
ballast stone;
Lateral drainage of water entering from above or below the geosynthetic 16
within its plane leading to side drainage ditches.
FILTERS AND DRAINS

(a) A use of geotextile filter; (b) a use of drainage geocomposite. 17

FILTER LAYERS USING GEOTEXTILE.

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COMPARISON OF GRANULAR AND GEOTEXTILE
FILTERS (MODIFIED FROM PILARCZYK, 2000)

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(a) (b)

(c)
In filter applications, the design must
be prepared so as to avoid,
throughout the design life, the
following three phenomena causing
decrease of the permeability of the
geotextile filter in course of time:
1. Blocking
2. Blinding
3. Clogging
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Schematic views of (a) blocking; (b) blinding; (c) clogging mechanisms

 SLOPE EROSION PROTECTION

(a) conventional revetment system consisting wholly of granular Materials.

(b) revetment system containing a geotextile filter.

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Erosion control using geosynthetic mat and geotextile along with vegetation.

Geogrid
with soil
nailing.

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STABILIZATION

Role of reinforcement in slopes:

(a) increase factor of safety.
(b) stabilize steepened portion of slope (after Simac, 1992).

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REINFORCEMENT ORIENTATIONS:
(A) IDEALIZED(B) PRACTICAL ( I AFTER NGOLD, 1982A).

Functions of GT:
To protect soil slope against erosion along with slope
armour Filtration
To protect earthen slopes against erosion while vegetation
is being Vegetative reinforcement, established surface
stabilization
To prevent erosion and scouring using bags, tubes, and
mattresses Containment, screening filled with soil
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To prevent soil slope against movement/sliding
GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS FOR A SURFACE STRIP
FOUNDATION ON GEOGRID-REINFORCED CLAY SLOPE
(AFTER DAS ET AL., 1996).

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CONTAINMENT FACILITIES: LANDFILL

Types of solid waste landfill geometry: (a) area fill; (b) trench fill; (c) above 26
and below ground fill; (d) valley fill (after Repetto, 1995).
 CONTAINMENT FACILITIES: LANDFILL

Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL)

Functions of GT:
To prevent leachate from
infiltrating into soil Fluid
barrier, protection
To drain leachate
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PONDS, RESERVOIRS, AND CANALS

Typical cross-sections: (a) liquid pond/reservoir; (b) canal. 29

EARTH DAMS

Functions of GT:
To reduce seepage through the dam.
embankment, to provide Fluid barrier, protection
upstream face infiltration cut-off
To prevent internal erosion/piping Filtration,
protection
To drain seepage water.
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TUNNELS

Functions of GT:
To prevent seepage

To provide drainage
of seepage water

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QUESTION S??

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