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Chp4 - The Use of Geosynthetics As Separators

Separator geotextiles are used in civil engineering projects to separate dissimilar materials like soil and aggregate. They must be able to deform under rolling loads without rupturing, have high elongation, and withstand mechanical stresses. Proper selection involves considering factors like subgrade strength, puncture resistance, and drainage properties. The geotextile must be placed smoothly with sufficient overlap to prevent soil from migrating through.

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92 views71 pages

Chp4 - The Use of Geosynthetics As Separators

Separator geotextiles are used in civil engineering projects to separate dissimilar materials like soil and aggregate. They must be able to deform under rolling loads without rupturing, have high elongation, and withstand mechanical stresses. Proper selection involves considering factors like subgrade strength, puncture resistance, and drainage properties. The geotextile must be placed smoothly with sufficient overlap to prevent soil from migrating through.

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The use of

geosynthetics as
separators
in civil engineering
Learning Outcome
• What is the main function of separator geotextile?
• What are the separator geotextile property requirements?
• What are the installation/ placement requirements of separator geotextile?
• What are the design requirements of separator geotextile?
• What are the applications of separator geotextile?
The separator must have the following
characteristics:
• Must follow the deformation under rolling loads.
• Must have a high elongation, to allow rutting without the
layer rupturing.
• Must possess sufficient strength to prevent a local collapse.
• Must be robust enough to withstand mechanical stresses
during installation and under traffic.
Separation different from Reinforcement

• Reinforcement aims to reduce the depth of


ruts through tensile strength
• The only function of the separator is to
preserve the inner friction of the granular
layer, but it also helps to consolidate the
underlying soft soil.
For Highway Applications:
AASHTO M288-06 (2011)
PERMEABILITY? PERMITTIVITY?
• On any project requiring permeable separation, a geotextile's ability to pass water
through its plane is an important consideration.
• The index test method, ASTM D-4491, measures a product's ability to pass water
normal to the geotextile.
• While this index test method provides relevant cross plane flow data for
specification/ certification purposes, it has been, on occasion, misused by modifying
the resulting permittivity value, in units of sec-1, to obtain permeability in cm/sec.
• This is done so that one can compare the geotextile's permeability to a soil's
permeability, but this destroys the credibility of the "index" value.
Permittivity is expressed in units of reciprocal time (sec-1) and is derived from Darcy’s law as follows:

ψ = geotextile permittivity
Permittivity should be used to specify geotextiles because the coefficient of
permeability of geotextile is govern by the thickness of geotextile. Thus, not a constant

As an example:

Flux /Flow Rate, q = 1 gal/min/ft2


=40.7447 l/min/m2

,q Thickness, t = 1 mil
= 0.0254 mm
AASHTO M 288 specification uses permittivity to distinguish
geotextiles for varying applications and conditions.
- For separation (geotextile is used to separate dissimilar materials where
subgrade soils are > 3 CBR and water seepage through the geotextile is
not a critical function)
- The default permittivity value is 0.02 sec-1 but the permittivity of the
geotextile should be greater than that of the soil.
- The maximum apparent opening size (AOS) value should be 0.60 mm or
#30 sieve.
- In most cases, proper selection of the geotextile AOS will eliminate
clogging or piping potential.
Mirafi 600x- Woven geotextile
Mirafi 180N - Nonwoven geotextile
Mirafi 550x- Woven geotextile
Mirafi 160N - Nonwoven geotextile
Choice of Woven or Nonwoven Geotextiles as
Separator
• The only function of the separator is • In this case, a separation layer with
to preserve the inner friction of the high elongation that can adjust to the
granular layer, but it also helps to ruts without rupturing is needed,
consolidate the underlying soft soil.
• or the depth of the ruts should be
• However, consolidation takes time kept to a minimum through
and, when the soft soil cannot reinforcement.
consolidate, e.g. when the water
permeability is too low or when there
is not enough time between vehicle
passes, then rut development is faster.

Geotextiles with a low elongation can compensate the elongation requirement by having higher tensile strength
characteristic and vice versa
Rutting

Rutting is when pavement


deform due to sub grade strain
and mix design issue that
cause surface depression in the
wheel path.
Woven Geotextile
If it is a woven geotextile, then terms such as “weft”
(cross machine direction) and “warp” (machine
direction) are more commonly used.
Where the separator should be put???
Requirements for fill material

• The fill material must be resistant against weathering


for the length of time that it will be used,
• the grain size distribution must guarantee good
water permeability,
• the angularity and grain size distribution must
provide a good inner friction.
Requirements for fill material

• The fill material must be resistant against weathering


for the length of time that it will be used,
• the grain size distribution must guarantee good
water permeability,
• the angularity and grain size distribution must
provide a good inner friction.
Driving directly on the
fabric is not allowed,
because of the vulnerability
of the products and
the risk that the web
will drift apart
Typical Section of Separator Geotextile
Placing of the separation layer
• placed evenly and smoothly
• must be sufficient overlapping that the soft soil under pressure beneath cannot
erupt through any gaps (range from an overlap of 30– 50 cm)
• Overlapping should be in the direction of the work, like tiles on a roof.
• the web should be placed across the direction of the work because, when unrolled
lengthwise there is a high risk that the webs will drift apart when distributing the fill
• the layer can be unrolled lengthwise when the overlaps are fixed
Seams in nonwoven geotextiles should be sewn 1 to 2
inches from the edge. Woven geotextiles often have
finished edges, or selvedge. As such, woven geotextile
seams should be sewn 1-1.5 inches from the edge of the
fabric. If a woven has no selvedge, the geotextile should
be folded and the seam sewn within this area.
Seam is a line where two pieces of fabric are sewn
together in a garment or other article.
Design of separation geotextiles
in road structures
• Resistance to installation and construction
damage,
• Adequate drainage and filtration properties of
the geotextile.
Resistance to installation
and construction
damage
• Construction damage due to
stone aggregate puncturing
through the geotextile is the
most critical form of damage
likely to occur.
• The geotextile must fulfil
minimum puncture resistance
criteria.
The following influencing parameters must be
evaluated to determine the anticipated puncture
force
• Initial thickness of fill above the geotextile which is a function of
sub grade CBR,
• Presence of stones in the fill especially in laterite soil (i.e. > 50mm
mean diameter),
• Type of constructions vehicle, wheel load and contact area and
thus the pressure exerted at the elevation of the geotextile.
Vertical stress caused by a point load

Figure:
Variation of
vertical stress
due to
point load
The vertical force exerted on the geotextile
Werner, G., "Design Criteria for the Separation Function of Geotextiles on the
Basis of Mechanical Test Procedures," Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. on Geotextiles, Vienna,
Austria, 1986.
retention—the geotextile should retain the base soil to prevent the piping
phenomenon,
permeability—ensuring the passage of water to guarantee flow and preventing
excessive water pressure alongside the filter.
Conclusion

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