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AN OVERVIEW OF GEOSYNTHETICS
Design example
Sustainability using geosynthetics
Application of sustainable geosynthetics in infrastructures
Major Applications of Geosynthetics:
Geosynthetics applications for railroads
Geosynthetics to deal reflection cracking in pavements
Geosynthetics applications for hydraulic structures
Geosynthetics to mitigate coastal and riverbank erosion
Geosynthetics applications for food and agriculture
Geosynthetics applications in mining engineering
Geosynthetics applications in tsunami
Geosynthetics applications for waste water treatment
Geosynthetic for landfills
As early warning system for rain-triggered landslides and debris flows
Geosynthetics applications as noise barrier
To combat or mitigate the acts of terrorism and/or natural disasters
Geosynthetics applications for railroads:
Geosynthetics (geogrids, geotextiles, geocomposite,
geocells, and geotextile tubes) can be effectively used for
separation, filtration, drainage and reinforcement for railway
rehabilitation and new railway track construction.
Geosynthetics can be placed between the subgrade and
ballast. In railway, it is needed to provide very good drainage
and filtration.
Improve the load bearing capacity and reduce the
settlement.
The geosynthetics should be designed properly so as it
can resist the tear, puncture and burst.
Also Geofoams can be used to construct railway tunnels.
Geosynthetics in railways
Geosynthetics applications for reflection cracking
The reflection cracking is a great concern in highways
and roads of any country. Geosynthetics act as barrier. In
many projects the use of geosynthetics does not give
satisfactory results.
The proper selections, specifications and installation of
geosynthetics are very much needed based on the types of
crack patterns.
If the geosynthetic is introduced as reinforcement and
barrier, it reduces the thickness of pavements, costs as well
as improves the life time or durability and performance of
pavement
Geosynthetics to mitigate reflection cracking of an
existing pavement
Geosynthetics applications for hydraulic structures
Geosynthetics can be effectively used in hydraulic
structures such as for the construction of new dams, canals
and retrofitting of ageing concrete dams.
Particularly, geomembranes or geosynthetics clay liners
as impervious material can be used on the upstream face of
dams as hydraulic barrier.
Geomembrane can also be used to prevent the bank
erosion of canals. Sometimes, geomembranes may be
damaged due to puncturing.
In such case, geotextile can be placed over and/ or below
the geomembrane to prevent the puncturing. Here geotextile
acts as a cushion.
Geosynthetics in hydraulic structures
Geosynthetics applications for coastal and riverbank erosion
Geosynthetics can be effectively used for erosion control to
replace conventional graded granular filters. Geosynthetics
must retain soil particles (filtration) and allow water to pass
(drainage).
It can be used below hard armor or riprap in coastal,
revetments, lake shore line, and channel; for scour protection
around structures such as bridge piers and abutments as well
as for slope protection to prevent erosion from surface runoff
and for bank protection.
Three dimensional geosynthetic erosion control mats are
also used to retain the soil and moisture to promote
vegetation growth. Roots can grow from the vegetation and
reinforced the mats.
Cross-section of stream bank revetment
Geotextile concrete mattress for slope protection
Prof. J. N. Mandal, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay
Geosynthetics applications for food and agriculture
The seepage loss in pond, canals, concrete tanks and
ditches is about 30 to 50 percent.
Water is costly and scarce particularly in drought region.
The surface waters and ground waters become polluted
due to animal wastes.
In arid regions, farmers need water to preserve or store
in reservoirs, ponds, canals, storage tanks and water
harvesting catchments in order to supply for farm use.
The use of geosynthetics can save valuable water and
environmentally control the polluted ground water and
surface water. Geomembranes or geosynthetic clay liner
can also be used to replace or repair the old cracked
concrete canals to prevent water seepage loss.
Biogas is generated from the animal waste and used to
produce electricity for farmers. Geosynthetics can be used
to cover the lagoon for biogas collection.
Application of geosynthetic in agriculture
Geosynthetics applications for mining engineering
Geosynthetics can be effectively used in mining industry for
bulk storage system and handling. It can also be used in slot
storage system as well as to prevent landslides.
Liner design for mining Reinforced earth arch (After
application (After Lupo and Behnia, 1972)
Morrison, 2007)
Geosynthetics applications for tsunami
Geosynthetics have a very important role for the
protection, mitigation and rehabilitation of the coastal areas
damaged by recent devastation due to tsunami.
Geosynthetics can act as reinforcement, filtration,
drainage, protection and barrier.
Geosynthetics can perform erosion control, strengthen the
retaining walls and embankment as well as resist the
catastrophic failures occurred due to strong earthquakes
associated with tsunami.
Geosynthetics applications for waste water treatment
Geosynthetics can be used in various projects for waste water
treatment such as
Dewatering municipal and industrial sludge,
Liner and cover system,
Evaporation system, and
Animal waste and marine waste
Geotextile tube (Woven and non woven) is a permeable
membrane and can be used for sludge dewatering. The
geotextile tube has a very good filtration property.
The sludge with high water content can be inserted in to the
geotextile tube and dry them rapidly to a solid state. The
geotextile tube with dredged sands can also be used to build
dykes and groynes.
Typical geotextile tube
Geotextile tube dewatering gravel pad
Geosynthetics applications for sustainable waste
management and landfills
70 percent to 90 percent of landfills are open dumping in
India (Visvanathan et al., 2003). It creates environmental
pollution in water, land and air.
During heavy rain it also causes the drainage difficulties
and leachate.
Proper plan, liner and monitoring wells systems are
needed to check gas or water quality. It is also required
leachate detection, collection, removal and treatment
system.
Only in Mumbai, municipal solid waste generated is
about 6,500 metric tons per day. 5 percent of total waste is
segregated by rag-pickers. Only 7% is treated and
disposed of scientifically.
Each year e-wastes generated in India are more than 1,
46, 000 tons. Mumbai generates 23000 metric tons of e-
waste per year. It leaves behind carbon.
Central Pollution Control Board-CPCB (2012) and
Ministry of Environment and Forests (2010) reported that in
India total plastic generation is 5.6 million tons/year.
- Out of which 60% i.e., 3.36 million tons/year will be
collected as plastic waste for recycling process, and
- 40% i.e., 2.26 million tones/year will be remained as
uncollected plastic waste.
Central Pollution Control Board-CPCB (2012) and
Ministry of Environment and Forests (2010)
Total plastic Plastic waste Uncollected
City waste collected for plastic waste
generated recycling (tons/day)
(tons/day) (tons/day)
Kolkata 425.35 255.21 170.14
Chennai 429.30 257.58 171.72
Mumbai 421.01 252.60 168.40
Delhi 688.84 413.30 275.536
It is a major threat to environment and health hazard to
the humanity and animals.
In modern landfills, geosynthetics can provide cost
effective long term environment-friendly engineering
solutions.
Need for proper rules and regulations governing the
construction of different type of landfill systems.
“pay-as-you-throw” (PAYT).
Leachate formation causing contamination of ground
water and surface water
Applications of geosynthetics in landfills
Wet Landfilling (Bioreactor Landfills)
Rate of decomposition of organic waste in a dry landfill is not
satisfactory and the leachate will continue to contain significant
amounts of contaminants many years (viz. more than 20 years)
after a landfill is encapsulated.
Many researchers also expressed skepticism regarding the
longevity of the liner and leachate collection system. It is required
to flush out the contaminants faster using bio-degradation of the
wastes.
Wet landfilling where liquid is purposely added to the waste
mass, can enhance the degradation process.
The wet landfilling strategies are:
Leachate recirculation
Anaerobic bioreactor
Aerobic bioreactor
Leachate recirculation
Geosynthetics applications for protection against
falling stone
The mechanically stabilized reinforced soil walls can
protect the falling stone.
Protection against falling stone
Geosynthetics applications for noise reduction barrier
The mechanically stabilized reinforced soil walls can act
as noise barrier
Noise reduction barriers
Geosynthetics applications to combat or mitigate acts of
terrorism and/or natural disasters
Geosynthetics can be used as retrospective. Geotextile
tubes filled with sand can be dumped from trucks into the
emergency sealing of levee breaks.
The military people can use geotextile tube filled with soil
as blast-resistant barrier walls. The fiber reinforced soil tube
can be used as resistant to blasts. The polyurea liner can be
used for retrofitting building.
Geosynthetics based barrier can be used for building
security. The biological agent can be added to the slurry to
obtain potable water.
Geosynthetics can be used as camouflage. Geosynthetics
net can be used to evacuate people from building roof top.
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