Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Civil and Environmental Applications
of Geosynthetics
Hoe I. Ling
Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
1 INTRODUCTION
Geosynthetics include exclusively manmade polymeric products
such as geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay
liners, and geocomposites. The term “geosynthetic” is used in favor of
geotextiles and geofabrics because (1) additional polymeric products are
being developed and used with soils and (2) the application is becoming
more diversified.
Polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinyl choride,
and polystyrene are the major polymers used to manufacture geosynthetics. It
is not the properties of the polymers, but the properties of the final polymeric
products that are of interest to civil and environmental engineering
applications. Geosynthetics are used as part of the geotechnical,
transportation, and environmental facilities. Geosynthetic products perform
five main functions: separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage, and
containment (hydraulic barrier). However, in most applications, geosynthetics
typically perform more than one major function.
2 TESTING STANDARDS AND DESIGN
2.1 Testing Standards
Some basic standards used for geotextiles are adopted from the textile industries.
However, geotechnical engineers realized the deficiencies and started to develop
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