GEOCOMPOSITE

Cain, A., Dela Vega, L., Geñoso, K.J., Penetrante, J., & Pimentel, K.
GEOCOMPOSITE

Geocomposites are created by combining

several individual geosynthetics or by
combining a geosynthetic with other
materials. As most of the individual
components are thermoplastic they can be
thermally laminated, but adhesive bonding
and needle punching are also used. The
result is a particularly high-performance
multi-functional geosynthetic composite.
 GEOSYNTHETIC MATERIALS
Comparative Review:
Types of
Geosynthetics Separation Reinforcement Filtration Drainage Containment

Geotextile YES YES YES YES

Geogrid YES

Geonet YES

Geomembrane YES

G. Clay Liners YES

Geocells YES YES

Geofoam YES

Geocomposite YES YES YES YES YES

 GEOCOMPOSITE

• Geocomposite can provide

separation, reinforcement, filtration,
drainage, and containment.

• The goal of a geocomposite is to

combine the best properties of the
different types of materials to find
an optimal low-cost solution to
a specific problem.
 EXAMPLES OF GEOCOMPOSITE

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
FUNCTIONS
FUNCTIONS

• mainly used for separation,

drainage and filtering functions
• been utilized to intercept and
transport leachate in landfills, as
well as to transmit vapor or water
beneath various types of pond
liners

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
FUNCTIONS
• provide greater resistance to
puncture, tear propagation, and
sliding friction, as well as tensile
strength in and of themselves, in
the reinforcing area.
• can channel water or leachate away
from direct contact with the
geomembrane
• can be used in order to minimize the
risk of uplift of concrete structures
during freeze-thaw cycles.

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
 FUNCTIONS
• Geomembranes and geogrids
made from the same material (e.g.
high-density polyethylene) that are
bonded together to form an
impervious barrier with enhanced
strength and friction
capabilities.

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
 FUNCTIONS
• Those geotextile with less
modulus, less strength, and/or
higher elongation at failure can be
extremely improved by forming a
composite material with a geogrids,
or also with a woven fabric scrim.
• Used for internal drainage of low-
permeability backfill soils for
reinforced walls and slopes.

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
Geosynthetic – Soil Composites FUNCTIONS

• As materialized by the
geosynthetics clay liners, many
other varieties of geosynthetics
products and soil can be
advanced.

Geotextile- Geotextile- Geomembrane- Geotextile- Other

Geonet Geomembrane Geogrid Geogrid Geocomposites
Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite Geocomposite
ENGINEERING
APPLICATIONS
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

• Reinforcing and stabilizing

soils in construction
Soil Stabilization
projects, such as road,
slopes and railway
subgrades.

Pavement Systems
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Soil Stabilization

• Improving the
performance and
Pavement Systems
durability of pavements
by distributing loads
and reducing cracking.

Waste Containment
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Pavement Systems

• Constructing landfill
liners and caps to
Waste Containment
prevent the leaching of
contaminants into the
environment.

Drainage
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Waste Containment

• Managing and
controlling water flow
Drainage
in landfills, retaining
walls, sports fields, and
agricultural drainage
systems
Tunneling and Mining
 ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Drainage

• Managing and
controlling water flow
Tunneling and Mining
in landfills, retaining
walls, sports fields, and
agricultural drainage
systems
LABORATORY
TESTING
 Typical Geocomposite Tests
Performed

• Compression Test ASTM D1621 / D6364

• Transmissivity ASTM D4716
• Thickness ASTM D5199
• Peel Strength Test ASTM D7005
• Compression Test ASTM D1621 / D6364
ASTM D1621 is a test method used to determine the compressive properties of rigid cellular
materials, particularly expanded plastics. The calculations that can be derived from this method
include compressive strength, compressive strain, compressive stress and Modulus of Elasticity.

Compression
eXpert 2600 eXpert 7600
Platens
 • Transmissivity ASTM D4716
Laboratory testing for In-Plane Flow and Transmissivity

ISO 12958 Test Method for In-Plane Flow

In-plane flow is measured in accordance with EN ISO 12958 and it
is the recommended method for measuring water flow within a
drainage geocomposite. The test involves measuring water flow
through a sample of the drainage geosynthetic at a specific
hydraulic head

ASTM D4716 Transmissivity Test Method

The test method for measuring transmissivity (or hydraulic
transmissivity to give it its full name) is defined by ASTM
D4716 and the test method is effectively the same as EN ISO
12958. The difference between these two methods is in the
reporting of the results.
• Thickness ASTM D5199
Standard Test Method For Measuring The
Nominal Thickness Of Geosynthetics

Thickness ASTM D5199

ASTM D5199 is a standard test method used
to determine the thickness of geosynthetic
materials in civil engineering and
construction applications.
 • Peel Strength Test ASTM D7005
Recommended Test machines:
The Peel Strength Test (ASTM
D7005) is a standardized procedure
used to measure the adhesive bond
strength between two layers of a
geocomposite material. It involves 200 Series Electromechanical 100 Series Electromechanical

preparing specific test specimens, Universal Test Machines Universal Test Machines

using specialized testing equipment

to apply a controlled force to peel the
layers apart, and recording the force
required. 300 Series Electromechanical
Universal Test Machines
 FIELD
APPLICATIONS
 FIELD APPLICATIONS OF GEOCOMPOSITES
•In vertical applications like retaining walls,
foundation, and chimney drainage, they reduce
hydrostatic pressure. The geocomposites convey
groundwater towards designated exit points.
•In horizontal applications such as roof drainage,
parking decks, balconies, and planting beds, also,
geocomposites direct water to the exits and obliterate
pooling and damage.
•Drainage Geocomposites are a modern and cost-
effective substitute to the expensive traditional
aggregate drainage systems.
•They are ideal for drainage on slopes.
•Geocomposite form a drainage layer in a multi-liner
system.
•They find utility as drain layers in landfills and ponds.
•Drainage in landfill cap applications.
•Excellent for gas vents under ponds.
•Drainage in dam cores.
•Geocomposites act as a leak detection layer.
Suppliers in the
Tenax offers a series of traditional
and innovative drainage
geocomposites. The high-
performing Tenax HD and Tenax
HF geocomposites are used
when high flow rates are required or
when the interface friction angle
needs to be higher than traditional
products.
 Collection and removal of leachate
in landfills
• The leachate collection and removal system (LCRS) is
usually installed on top of the primary liner layer inside
the landfill.
• TENAX TENDRAIN is a geocomposite consisting of a
drainage core with a texture of three overlapping
intersecting series of strands.
 Municipal Solid Waste
Landfill Grotte San
Giorgio(CT)
• high transmissivity
• safe and efficient substitutes for
granular materials
• TENAX geonets and
geocomposites allowing much
steeper slopes with increased
slope stability in comparison to a
traditional mineral drainage layer.
Tenax HF: High Friction Geocomposite
• combination of drainage-protection geonet made with
HDPE/EVA bipolymers and one layer filtering nonwowen
geotexile in PP.
• The EVA component (Etil Vinil Acetate) spread on the
geonet surface with no geotexile and placed in contact
with the waterproof geomembrane, allow a remarkable
improvement of the friction characteristics against
interface drainage geonet/geomembrane of any kind
SISTEMA DI COPERTURA
DELLA DISCARICA DI CERRO MAGGIORE (MI)
La Glacier Veolia landfill (Francia): capping system with
High Friction drainage layer for meteoric water
 Group 5: Geocomposite

Cain, A., Dela Vega, L., Geñoso, K.J., Penetrante, J., & Pimentel, K.

Thank You!