1. Development of Durable Jute Geotextile for Erosion control of River bank
Dr. S. K. Chakrabarti
INDIAN JUTE INDUSTRIES’ RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
17,Taratala Road, Kolkata

2. Brief Background
Jute Geotextile (JGT) for its typical functional characteristics and eco-concordance has emerged out as a potential natural Geotextile for many civil engineering applications
For commercial exploitation of Jute Geotextile in addressing various geotechnical issues, there is a need to improve its end use specific functional properties
River bank erosion being a recurrent problem in our country demands appropriate measures for its prevention wherein Jute Geotextile can be used with minimum adverse impact
Existing practices of use copper and bitumen based compounds for enhancing life seems to be inadequate both technically and environmentally
For wider acceptance of JGT in erosion control of river bank comprehensive durability of woven JGT under combined soil and water ambience has to be ensured by an ALTERNATE ROUTE.

3. Specification of woven Jute Geotextile
Weight gsm
Width : metre
Ends x Picks : 85x32/dm
Tensile strength (kN/m), MD x CD: 20 x 20
AOS (micron) O95 : 150 – 400µ
(Designed and developed by IJIRA- NJB)

4. Development of durable woven Jute Geotextile
Organic Biocide: Isothiazolinone derivative
Water Repellent Compound: Fluorocarbon derivative
Wet pick up : 80-90%
Drying : 100ºC
Curing : ºC
Pad –Dry –Cure Method
Fabric
Padding Mangle
Trough (Bath)
Drying zone
Curing zone

5. Water Repellency of Specially Treated woven Jute Geotextile
Water repellency of specially treated Jute Geotextile has been measured by Spray Test Method : As per IS , R.A in 2003 ,Cone Test: IS 7941: 1976, R.A in 2004, Bundesmann Test: ISO 9865: 1991
Spray test method
Untreated JGT
Specially Treated JGT
Durable JGT : 90% water repellent

6. Durability of woven Jute Geotextile under soil
Sr. No.
Woven Jute Geotextile
% Retention in Strength
( Under enriched soil after 21 days) 1.
Untreated JGT
17.0 2.
Specially Treated JGT
88.0
Soil Burial Test : As per IS: 1623, 1992

7. Characteristics of specially treated durable woven Jute Geotextile
Sl. No.
Test Parameters
Untreated JGT Fabric
(Control)
Specially treated JGT Fabric (Experimental)
ASTM /
IS Standard 1
Weight (g/m2) at 20% MR
631.7
638.4
D 5261 – 1996 2
Ends x Picks /dm
86.0 X 31.4
85 X 32
IS: 1963 – 1981 3
Tensile strength (kN/m) / Elongation at break (%) MD CD
24.39 ( 7.08 )
20.59 ( 8.04 )
22.25 ( 7.14 )
19.74 ( 8.16 )
D 4595 – 94 4
Permittivity at 50 mm constant water head per sec
0.50
0.43
D 4491 – 99a 5
Apparent Opening Size(μm) (O95)
251
234
D 4751 – 99a 6
Rod Puncture Resistance(N)
386.3
373.8
D 4833 – 2000 7
Water Repellency (%)
0.0
90.0
IS: 8
% Retention in Strength (Under enriched soil after 21 days)
17.0
88.0
IS: 1623, 1992

8. Durability of specially treated JGT in Water Ambience
Durability of both untreated and specially treated JGT in water ambience have been examined in the laboratory by putting the JGT fabrics on static water for different periods (up to 150 days) and finally their loss in tensile strength have been measured.
Experiment on durability of treated JGT in Water Ambience

9. Loss in Strength of Durable Woven Jute Geotextile under Water Ambience
Warp
Weft

10. Durability test of JGT in combined Soil-Water Ambience at IJIRA
Durability of Specially Treated woven JGT in Combined Water and Soil Ambience
Both untreated and treated JGTs were put in simulated experimental river bank conditions and finally % loss in tensile strength of both untreated (control) and specially treated JGT under combined soil and water ambience were measured up to 150 days.
Durability test of JGT in combined Soil-Water Ambience at IJIRA

11. Loss in Strength of Durable Woven Jute Geotextile under combined
Soil-Water Ambience
Warp
Weft

12. Microbial Analysis: As per Agar plate technique (AATCC 100, AATCC 30)
Microbial profile of soil & water used in durability test of treated JGT
(Microbial Count)
(CFU/gm)
Soil
Water
Bacteria
2.0x 107
2.7 x 102
Fungi
3.2 x104
Negligible
Microbial Analysis: As per Agar plate technique (AATCC 100, AATCC 30)
Textural class of Soil used : Silt loam as tested by NBSS

13. Environmental Impact of durable woven Jute Geotextile
Sample
BOD5
(mg/L)
COD
Water 12 20
Water + untreated woven JGT 18 30
Water + specially treated woven JGT 16 26
Biological Oxygen Demand ( BOD) : IS 3025 (Part 44): 1993
Chemical Oxygen Demand ( COD) : IS 3025 (Part 58): 2006

14. Life Prediction of Specially treated woven
Jute Geotextile
LIFE PREDICTION of specially treated woven Jute Geotextile (627 gsm ) had been carried out at IJIRA both under soil ambience and soil-water ambience and compared with untreated grey Jute Geotextile fabric. At different interval, loss in tensile strength was monitored and finally a statistical life prediction model as represented in has been suggested.

15. Statistical Life Prediction of specially treated woven Jute Geotextile

16. Statistical Life Prediction of specially treated woven Jute Geotextile

17. ( Bhagirathi, Shantipur, Nadia, West Bengal )
Field Trial of Durable Woven JGT has been carried out at the left bank of the river
( Bhagirathi, Shantipur, Nadia, West Bengal )
In association with:
1. National Jute Board (CFC-IJSG-21 Project)
2. Department of Irrigation and Water ways, Nadia
Division Govt. of West Bengal
Site of trial
Performance Assessment of JGT
Bulk production of durable JGT

18. Field Trial on Specially Treated durable
Woven Jute Geotextile

19. Salient features of Durable Woven JGT
Identified chemical additives used to improve durability of woven JGT are aqueous based and readily available
The effective add-on of the chemicals is low (0.5 %, w/w, approx.) and the weight gain of JGT fabric is negligible
The loss of strength of the JGT fabric after treatment is within normal range (around 5%)
Fabric characteristics of woven JGT are not affected much due to special treatment
Specially treated woven JGT is rot-resistant & water repellent
Improved functional properties is likely to increase the effectiveness of using such durable JGT in river bank protection
Contd…

20. Salient features of Durable Woven JGT
The treated JGT does not increase much the BOD and COD of water indicating no negative environmental impact
Formulation developed for special treatment of JGT is user friendly
Predicted life of durable JGT is about two years in combined water-soil ambience
May be considered as a cost effective alternative of copper and bitumen treatment in woven JGT
For large scale production of specially treated woven JGT, current cost of chemical is Rs /- per sq.mt excluding its processing cost

21. Conclusion
Durable woven Jute Geotextile with improved anti-microbial and water repellent properties and useful life under combined soil-water ambience may be used for erosion control of river bank.
Short and long term performance evaluation of durable woven JGT in erosion control of river bank are in progress.

22. acknowledgement
National Jute Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India for
sponsoring the Project activity
CFC-IJSG-21 PROJECT for providing support in field level
performance evaluation of durable JGT in erosion control of river
bank

23. Thank you