1. 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