Geotechnical Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore Reinforced Earth Soil is weak in tension. To strengthen the soil to take the tensile forces generated in soil structures, soils are reinforced using metal strips or geosynthetic materials - geogrids, geotextiles or geocomposites. Geosynthetic reinforcement is economical and also resistant to corrosion. Reinforcing Materials: The reinforcing materials can be natural or man-made They can be in the form of textile, fibers, grids, pipes or cells Types Natural reinforcement Man-made reinforcement: Made of glass fibers, high density polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester Applications of Reinforced Earth Geosynthetics for Filtration Geosynthetics as Reinforcement Foundation Sand Geosynthetic layers Biodegradable Made of coir or jute Geosynthetics as separator and reinforcement in Pavements Coir fibers Jute Geotextile Jute mesh Geosynthetics as reinforcement and erosion controllers in slopes Geosynthetics as reinforcement in Retaining Walls Fiber reinforcement improves the strength of the soil Plastic fibers Glass fibers Geonets Net like configuration and enable easy drainage in soil Geosynthetics for enhanced drainage of embankments (PVD) Geocomposites Serve as a separator and reinforcement in pavements when used at the interface of subgrades and base course Geocells Serve as a reinforcing mattress in embankments and controls erosion of side slopes Landfills Solid Waste Geosynthetic ECM GG Cover Soil GCL GM GC or GN GT GN CCL Gravel / perforated pipe Uniaxial geogrid Controls erosion Contains solid waste without contaminating ground water Geomembrane (GM) Geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) Geonet (GN) Geotextile (GT) Geogrid (GG) Geopipe (GP) Geocomposite (GC) Geopipes Used for leachate collection Prefabricated Vertical Drains Enables easy drainage of water