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GEOSYNTHETICS

    WHAT ARE GEOSYNTHETICS?

    They are materials primarily manufactured from petroleum-derived products, originally used in geotechnical engineering applications, employed to enhance, alter, or maintain the characteristics of the soil they interact with.

    TYPES OF GEOSYNTHETICS

    There is a wide variety of geosynthetic products that have been developed to fulfill different functions, and the trend in their usage has been increasing and will continue to rise due to technological innovation and sustainability.

    Geomembranes

    Synthetic barriers of very low permeability, made from a thermoplastic polymer, primarily used for lining surfaces. Their main function is to contain materials and/or substances, preventing the flow of liquids and vapors out of it. Classification (by their main component).

    • Polyethylene (HDPE, LLDPE, VLLDPE)
    • Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride (F-PVC)
    • Polypropylene (FPP, FPP-R)
    • Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE-R)
    • Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM, EPDM-R)
    • Ethylene Interpolymer Alloy (EIA-R)

    Composite

    It's the combination of two or three geosynthetics (except GCLs, which are the combination of a geotextile with a natural material, expansive clay), which combine their multiple functions in their application.

    • Geotextile - Geored
    • Geotextile - Geogrid
    • Geotextile - Geored - Geotextile
    • Geotextile - Geored - Geomembrane
    • Geotextile - Polystyrene core
    • Geotextile - Flat tubular structure
    • Geotextile - Expansive clay (GCLs)
    • Geomembrane - Clay

    Geotextiles

    They are textiles that, when used with soil, rock, or any earthen material, enhance performance and reduce the cost of civil works. They are generally classified into:
    • Non-woven
    • Woven

    Geogrid

    They are elements composed of filaments, which can be extruded (a single piece), woven, or welded, forming a mesh that, in combination with a filler element, provides tensile strength. Their function is to increase the load-bearing capacity of a terrain, achieved through the distribution of loads, resulting from the interaction or friction to which it is subjected.

    • Uniaxial
    • Biaxial
    • Triaxial

    Erosion control blankets

    Also called 'erosion control blankets', they are systems for controlling surface erosion. Their sheet-like elements, of two or three dimensions, are used for storing organic material, which promotes vegetation, and this, in turn, serves to confine or contain the fines of a substrate.

    • Degradable
    • Photodegradable
    • Biodegradable
    • Permanent

    Geonet

    They are three-dimensional elements that in their structure present a hydraulic area, allowing the passage of fluid between two compressed or loaded strata.

    Geocell

    Three-dimensional structures, honeycomb-shaped, of high resistance, interconnected, and performing the function of confinement. Their function is to reinforce the soil by laterally confining the material particles and increasing its tensile strength, forming a rigid plate.

    GCL Bentonite

    The GCL (Geosynthetic Clay Liner) is an artificial hydraulic barrier with low hydraulic conductivity, self-sealing, and self-healing properties, composed of a layer of sodium bentonite supported between two layers of geotextiles or a geomembrane layer, bonded together by needling or chemical adhesives.

    • Reinforced
    • Unreinforced

    WHAT ARE GEOSYNTHETICS USED FOR?

    Geosynthetics serve various functions. To properly categorize them, we can divide them into:

    funcion-de-los-geosinteticos-separacion

    Separation

    They prevent the mixing of two different strata or materials, avoiding contamination between them, thus preserving the physical and mechanical qualities of each.

    Funciones de los geotextiles-02

    Filtration

    In the presence of water between two different strata or materials, it allows the passage of fluid, preventing the migration of fines or the mixing or contamination of particles between them, even when subjected to a load or compression work.

    Funciones de los geotextiles-03

    Drainage

    It allows a flow regime between two strata, transporting fluids or gases through the plane of the geosynthetic, even when subjected to compression or loading work.

    Funciones de los geotextiles-04

    Reinforcement

    The load-bearing capacity of a terrain is increased, resulting in a more stable surface. This is achieved through the distribution of loads, which is a result of the interaction or friction to which the geosynthetics are subjected.

    Funciones de los geotextiles-05

    Protection

    Receive, absorb, and mitigate a force exerted on a surface against elements that may cause damage to it.

    Funciones de los geotextiles-06

    Waterproofing

    An impermeable boundary or barrier is placed, isolating two different strata, preventing the impregnation of one with the other.

    SPECIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS OF GEOSYNTHETICS

    These may vary depending on the type of geosynthetic and its specific application.

    Therefore, when selecting geosynthetics for a project, it is essential to consult the relevant specifications and regulations and work with trusted suppliers that offer products meeting the specific project requirements.

    Some of the most common specifications and certifications used internationally for geosynthetics include:

    • ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
    • ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
    • GRI (Geosynthetic Research Institute)
    • EN (European Norms)
    • Manufacturer quality certifications

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