Geo Textiles
KAVITHA RAJAN,
Lecturer in Textile and Apparel Fashion Technology,
Ethiopian Technical university
Ethiopia
GEOTEXTILES
Geotextiles are technical textiles which will lead the future textile market.
Geotextiles have great impact on protecting natural disaster. Now a
day’s countries are very much vulnerable to the influence of climate
change. Due to climate change and other causes there are significant number
of disasters is happening day by day.
Geotextiles can protect our bridges, roads and soil from natural disaster by
making embankments and retaining walls. Erosion control can be
occurred by this. By using geotextiles, it is made temporary roads or
permanent roads .
So, at the time of natural disaster it cannot be damaged. The application of
geotextiles is huge.
Not only disaster time but also the solution of drainage system and
reinforcement of road is done by geotextiles. Actually, geotextiles are
mixing branch of textile engineering and civil engineering.
F i g u r e 1 : T h e h is t o r ic a l p ic t u r e a b o u t in n o v a t io n o f g e o t e x t i le s .
Fibres used in Geotextiles
Natural Fibres
Natural fibers are obtained from plant, animal and mineral origin and large
quantities of these fibers are available worldwide.
Natural fibres provide high strength, high modulus, low breaking
extension and low elasticity. Yarns and fabrics produced from natural
fibres exhibits low levels of creep during applications.
Mineral fibres are brittle and not have suitable strength and flexibility.
The important plant fibres that can be employed in geotextile fabrication
are jute, sisal, flax, hemp, abaca, ramie and coir.
Geotextiles produced from natural fibre are biodegradable, so these textile
products could be specifically employed for short term functions.
Moreover, the prime merits of employing natural fibres in geotextiles are
low cost, robustness, strength/durability, availability, good drapeability
and biodegradability/environment friendliness.
Synthetic fibres
Synthetic or man-made fibers are the major raw materials for the production
of all types of geotextiles. There are four major polymer families employed as
raw materials for geosynthetics, i.e. polypropylene, polyester, polyamide and
polyethylene.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene has been the most widely used polymer for the manufacture
of geotextiles because of its low cost, suitable tensile properties and
chemical inertness.
Polypropylene has low density, which results in very low cost per unit
volume. The demerits of polypropylene are its sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV)
radiation and high temperature and poor creep and mineral oil resistance.
Hence, geotextiles made form polypropylene should be employed under
suitable installation and environmental conditions.
Polyester
Polyester or PET is also an important polymer applied in
the production of geotextiles.
It displays superior creep resistance and tenacity values
and is used in applications where the geotextile is
subjected to high stresses and elevated temperatures.
The major demerits of polyester is susceptibility to
hydrolytic degradation in soils exceeding pH 10.
Polyamide
Polyamides (nylon 6,6 and nylon 6) are employed in small
quantities as traditional geotextiles. It can be noted that
parameters such as fabric structure, finishing treatments
applied to the fabric and the confining effect of any
surrounding soil could also influence their characteristics .
Fabric Based Geotextiles
Woven geotextiles
Woven geotextiles are most preferable geotextiles which is
used in 70% cases. Woven geotextiles are textile materials
consisting of planar structure by using interweaving of
number of threads (both warp and weft). It shows strong
mechanical properties. It is divided into two groups:
monofilament polyester fabrics and polypropylene based
woven geotextiles straps. Its main functions are
reinforcement, separation and filtration
Woven geotextile Non-woven geotextile
Knitted geotextiles
Knitted geotextiles are used only 25% cases. The demand of knitted geotextile is less
but it is increasing day by day due to its light weight. For this reason, handling is
easier, and cost of transportation is easier. The demand of knitted geotextile is
increasing in our Asian subcontinent
Non-woven geotextile
Non-woven geotextiles are made from bonding materials together . It is done by
chemical or heat, needle punching or other methods. They are mainly made by synthetics
fibers. They are used in separation and filter application. They are suitable to use
geomembranes lining systems from interior and exterior penetrations. When it is
necessary to take pulling water , the non- woven geotextiles are the best option. Non-
woven geotextiles are used only 5% cases according to its application
Geo Synthetics
Geo synthetic is a product of
which at least one
component is made from a
synthetic or natural polymer,
in the form of a sheet, strip
or three dimensional
structure, and which is used
in contact with soil and/or
other materials in
geotechnical & civil
engineering"
10
Types of Geosynthetics:
Geotextiles is a permeable textile structures made of polymeric
materials and are used mainly in civil engineering applications in
conjunction with soil, rock or water.
Geogrids are plastic materials formed into a very open grid like
configuration with very large apertures.
Geomembranes are impervious sheets of rubber or plastics, used
as a moisture or vapor barrier.
Geonets are structures formed by continuous extrusion of
polymeric ribs placed at acute angles to one another, which on
opening will give net like configuration and used to convey fluids.
Geocomposites are usually composed of two geosynthetics
Geogrids
Geomembranes
Geo nets Geo composites
Geosynthetics – Functions:
1. Separation
2. Stabilization
3. Reinforcement
4. Filtration
5. Drainage
6. Erosion Control
Separation
Between the two soil layers like coarse material and fine soil geotextile acts
as a separator. It sets apart the different materials and prevent mixing under
application of load. It can be said that preventing pebbles mixing with
subgrade and penetrating the barrier is the function of geotextile .
Separationis the introduction of a flexible porous geotextile located
between different materials so that the integrity and the functioning of both
materials remains intact for the life of the structure or is enriched
Application of geotextiles in constructing pavements, intermixing of two
adjacent layers is prevented.
For example, the major cause of roads and highways failure is constructing
over insufficiently strong foundation which gradually gets contaminated by
mixing of aggregate base layers with the adjacent soft underlayer subgrade
soil .
A geo textile is subjected between these two layers which minimizes the
contamination of aggregate base by the subgrade,working as a separator
Separation
Filtration
Filtration is defined as the equilibrium of a geotextile-soil system
that permits for adequate liquid flow with limited soil loss across
the plane of the geotextile over a service lifetime compatible with
the application under consideration. A common application
showing the filtration function is the use of a geotextile in a
pavement trench drain .
The geosynthetic-soil system should achieve an equilibrium that
allows for adequate liquid flow under conditions of consideration.
Another important property relevant to filtration is apparent
opening size (AOS) - the opening size larger than 95% of the geo
textiles pores - which is compared to soil particle size
characteristics.
The coarser-sized particles eventually create a filter bridge, which
in turn retains the finer-sized particles, building a stable upstream
soil structure.
Drainage: Due to different reasons, liquid and gas can be stocked up gradually. A
geotextile material can gather and redirect the liquid or gas towards the vent channel,
i.e. the transmission of fluid is in the direction of in-plane flow of fabric without any
loss of soil particles . Any geotextile material exhibiting good filtration and
permittivity properties can be used in drainage applications .
Reinforcement: When insufficient stability and strength of subgrade soil is
complimented, geotextiles with higher tensile strength acts as reinforcement
materials. The principle of employing geotextiles as reinforcement is to introduce the
geotextiles into the soil structure that increase the cohesion between the grains . This
modifies the transmission of the load and the resulting composite is able to sustain
higher loads.
The forces exerted on the structure as a result of different loads are transferred into
tensile stresses, which further influences other mechanical properties, such as
puncture resistance . The reinforcement is a complex phenomenon and results from
the combined behavior of soil geotextile interactions .
Reinforcement is the synergistic improvement in pavement strength created by the
introduction of a geotextile into a pavement layer.
Essential Properties
Physical Properties:
WEIGHT:
This is usually given in GSM (g/m2)
Tested in circular specimens, which is not less than 100 cm2
For geo-synthetics, the values vary from 100-1000 g/m2
Unit weight of geotextiles < Unit weight of geomembranes
THICKNESS:
This is the distance between the upper and lower surfaces, measured normal to the surfaces at a specified normal
compressive stress
Measured to the accuracy of .02 mm, and thickness varies from .25mm to 7.5mm
It is important to determine the permittivity and transmissivity.
STIFFNESS (FLEXURAL RIGIDITY):
It is the ability to resist flexure under its own weight
Can be measured by its capacity to form a cantilever beam without exceeding a certain amount of downward
bending
The stiffness of a geosynthetic indicates the feasibility of providing a suitable working surface for installation
Mechanical properties:
A . Compressibility:
Its very important for non-woven geotextiles, because they
are often used to convey liquid within the plane of their
structure.
Tensile strength:
The tensile properties of a geotextile are generally
determined through strip or grab test methods , but
these should be measured in a manner which
simulates the operational conditions of geotextiles,
i.e. under confined stresses.
Filtration properties
Filtration is one of the most important functions of textiles used in civil engineering earthworks. It is without doubt the
largest application of textiles and includes their use in the lining of ditches, beneath roads, in waste disposal facilities, for
building basement drainage and in many other ways
The permeability of geotextiles can vary immensely, depending upon the construction of the fabric. Various national and
international standards have been set up for the measurement of permeability that is required, most often at right angles
to the plane of the textile (cross flow), but also along the plane of the textile (in-plane flow, called transmissivity).
Internal soil filter zone generated by a geotextile
Hydraulic properties:
A . Porosity:
It is the ability of geosynthetics to allow fluid to flow right
through it
Voids or holes on the material act as pores
B . Permeability:
Dependent on the fabric materials as well as construction of fabric
Non wovens have minimal permeability
Knitted fabrics have most permeability
Mostly hydrophobic geosynthetics are a best choice for slow flow
of water with greater strength
Chemical resistance
Although the chemical mechanisms involved in fibre
degradation are complex, there are four main agents of
deterioration: organic, inorganic, light exposure and time
change within the textile fibres.
Organic agents include attack by micro- and macro faunas.
This is not considered to be a major source of deterioration
.Geotextiles may be damaged secondarily by animals, but
not primarily. For example, few animals will eat them
specifically, but in limited instances, when the textile is
buried in the ground, it may be destroyed by animals
Microorganisms may damage the textiles by living on or within the fibres and
producing detrimental by-products.
Inorganic attack is generally restricted to extreme pH environments. Under most
practical conditions, geotextile polymers are effectively inert. There are particular
instances, such as polyester being attacked by pH levels greater than 11 (e.g. the
byproducts of setting cement), but these are rare and identifiable.
Geotextiles can fail in their filtration function by virtue of organisms multiplying and
blocking the pores, or by chemical precipitation from saturated mineral waters blocking
the pores. Ultraviolet light will deteriorate geotextile fibres if exposed for significant
periods of time, but laboratory testing has shown that fibres will deteriorate on their
own with time, even if stored under dry dark cool conditions in a laboratory.
Frictional resistance of geotextiles
The frictional shearing resistance at the interface
between the soil and the geotextile is of paramount
importance since it enables the geotextile to resist pull-
out failure and allows tensile forces to be carried by the
soil/geotextile composite.
Geo Textiles in Road Industry
In the road industry there are four primary uses for geotextiles:
1) Separation
2) Drainage
3) Filtration
4) Reinforcement.
In separation, inserting a properly designed geotextile will keep layers of different sized particles separated
from one another.
In drainage, water is allowed to pass either downward through the geotextile into the subsoil, or laterally
within the geotextile which functions as a drain.
In filtration, the fabric allows water to move through the soil while restricting the movement of soil particles.
In reinforcement, the geotextile can actually strengthen the earth or it can increase apparent soil support. For
example, when placed on sand it distributes the load evenly to reduce rutting.
Geotextiles now are most widely used for stabilizing roads through separation and drainage. When the native
soil beneath a road is very silty, or constantly wet and mucky then its natural strength may be too low to
support common traffic loads, and it has a tendency to shift under those loads. Geotextiles keep the layers of
subgrade and base materials separate and manage water movement through or off the roadbed.
Geo textiles in retaining Walls
Retaining walls help to maximize their land use. However, building a
concrete gravity or crib wall is often impractical because of their high
construction cost.
Geotextiles are used for a wide assortment of reinforcement applications,
including embankments over soft soils, levees and retaining walls.
Geotextiles are well-suited to construction of walls with timber, precast
panel and segmental block facing. In fact a geotextile retaining wall can
be built for less than half the cost of a conventional wall. Woven
geotextiles offer other significant advantages
over conventional methods, such as simplified installation and
construction, and the ability to use on-site backfill material.Polypropylene
geotextiles cost approximately half the amount of polyester and
polyethylene geogrids, and they require considerably less labor to install.
Geo textiles erosion Control
The selection of geotextiles for permanent erosion control
is similar to subsurface drainage. However, permanent
erosion control applications usually require higher
geotextile strength properties.
The geotextile must survive placement of possibly very
large, angular riprap, plus be able to endure severe wave
action.
Geo textiles waste Containment:
Waste containment and environmental cleanup projects
demand geotextiles with uncompromising physical
properties and consistent product quality. In environmental
applications, geotextiles must retain these critical properties
while exposed to harsh chemical environments.
Waste containment fabrics serves in a variety of
environmental applications, including filtration of fluid and
gas collection systems, protection of geomembrane liners,
waste daily covers and reinforcement. geotextiles are
specified for municipal waste and hazardous waste landfills,
heap leach pads, sewage treatment lagoons, as well as waste
containment ponds and other surface impoundments.
Geo textiles railroad Stabilization:
Maintaining track bed geometry is critical for efficient railroad
operation. Subgrade pumping into the overlying ballast can create an
uneven track bed, resulting in delayed arrivals and even derailments.
Geotextiles perform multiple functions in railroad applications.
Nonwoven fabrics are used to stabilize both new and rehabilitated
tracks. They prevent contamination of new ballast with underlying
fine-grained soils and provide a mechanism for lateral water drainage.
Using nonwoven geotextiles beneath track beds ensures that the
ballast can sustain the loads for which it was designed. These
geotextiles are used in all track applications, including switches,
turnouts and grade crossings. High-strength woven geotextiles can
also be used to reinforce weak subgrade soils and reduce required
embankment fill materials.
Geo textiles railroad Stabilization:
