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Properties and Testing of Geosynthetics in Construction

Properties and Testing of Geosynthetics

To facilitate the engineering design or the selection of the appropriate geosynthetic for a particular application, you need to know the properties of the geosynthetics.The use of geosynthetics in civil engineering projects mean they are exposed to a wider range of stress, soil, water, environmental, and other conditions. Although it is not possible to test their properties under all such conditions, a number of tests have been developed over the years for determining the properties of geosynthetics under standardized conditions to facilitate the design and the selection of an appropriate geosynthetic.

Geosynthetics cover a wide range of products, and they are used for a variety of applications. For example, they can work as basal reinforcement for constructing road embankments on soft ground; as filters and drains behind retaining walls for the fill material; as separators for constructing roads on poor roadbed soils (subgrades); and as liquid barrier-lining material for preventing or controlling leakage in ponds, water channels, and canals, as well as barriers to prevent contaminated leachate from landfills from getting into the ground water system. Hence, depending on the application, relevant properties, determined from appropriate testing methods are used for their design or for selecting the most suitable geosynthetic for that use.

Sampling, testing protocols, and reporting of test results are performed in accordance to the relevant standard such as the American Standard of Testing Materials (ASTM),Australian Standard (AS), or British Standard (BS). The tests that are commonly carried out are briefly summarized in, and they fall into the following categories:

  • Tensile properties and testing
  • Geosynthetic-fill (soil) interaction properties and testing (i.e., mainly for reinforcement function). This typically involves the testing of geosynthetic soil interface shear and geosynthetic pull out behavior characteristics.
  • Hydraulic- or flow-related properties and testing (i.e., mainly for filtration and drainage functions)
  • Endurance, integrity, durability, and long-term performance-related properties (including puncture, tear, and other installation damage properties) and testing.

To facilitate the engineering design or the selection of the appropriate geosynthetic for a particular application, you need to know the properties of the geosynthetics.The use of geosynthetics in civil engineering projects mean they are exposed to a wider range of stress, soil, water, environmental, and other conditions. Although it is not possible to test their properties under all such conditions, a number of tests have been developed over the years for determining the properties of geosynthetics under standardized conditions to facilitate the design and the selection of an appropriate geosynthetic.

Geosynthetics cover a wide range of products, and they are used for a variety of applications. For example, they can work as basal reinforcement for constructing road embankments on soft ground; as filters and drains behind retaining walls for the fill material; as separators for constructing roads on poor roadbed soils (subgrades); and as liquid barrier-lining material for preventing or controlling leakage in ponds, water channels, and canals, as well as barriers to prevent contaminated leachate from landfills from getting into the ground water system. Hence, depending on the application, relevant properties, determined from appropriate testing methods are used for their design or for selecting the most suitable geosynthetic for that use.

Sampling, testing protocols, and reporting of test results are performed in accordance to the relevant standard such as the American Standard of Testing Materials (ASTM),Australian Standard (AS), or British Standard (BS). The tests that are commonly carried out are briefly summarized in, and they fall into the following categories:

• Tensile properties and testing

• Geosynthetic-fill (soil) interaction properties and testing (i.e., mainly for reinforcement function). This typically involves the testing of geosynthetic soil interface shear and geosynthetic pull out behavior characteristics.

• Hydraulic- or flow-related properties and testing (i.e., mainly for filtration and drainage functions)

• Endurance, integrity, durability, and long-term performance-related properties (including puncture, tear, and other installation damage properties) and testing.

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