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Geosynthetics: concept, benefits, functions and classification
- Category: Geosynthetics
Index
CONCEPT
What are geosynthetics?
The word geosynthetic se refiere a un producto que está hecho de materiales poliméricos, sintéticos diseñados para su aplicación en la construcción. Sus aplicaciones son elementos clave en una estructura o sistema para propósitos de ingeniería civil.
El prefijo “geo” sugiere que su aplicación tiene que ver con la tierra, el suelo o las rocas, aportando o modificando propiedades naturales del suelo.
Los geosintéticos tienen una amplia gama de aplicaciones de ingeniería civil, como en infraestructuras y vías de comunicación terrestre, protección medio ambiental, conservación del agua y en otras muchas industrias.
Los geosintéticos pueden sustituir soluciones y materiales tradicionales para la construcción, como el cemento, la grava, la cal, la arena y la arcilla, entre otros. Y poseen grandes ventajas respecto a estos que varían de acuerdo con cada tipo de aplicación.
BENEFITS
Why use geosynthetics?
The use of geosynthetics has many benefits, such as:
- Reduction of hauling and use of material banks, which translates into:
- Reduction of construction costs and times, as well as in the
- Reduction of the carbon footprint, by minimizing the use of natural resources. Thus contributing to the conservation of the environment and a more sustainable world.
- Increase in the quality and duration of engineering works.
- Reduction of qualified personnel, since geosynthetics are easy to apply.
- Provide the soil with properties that it does not have.
- Allow the realization of works that without geosynthetics are practically impossible or not economically feasible.
- Its application generates measurable and consistent results.
- They are manufactured under standardized quality controls, which has an impact on their properties and performance, promoting the use of engineering design methodologies and challenging the creative capacity of professionals from various branches of civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering.
FUNCTIONS
What are geosynthetics used for?
It is important to know what they are for and how you could apply them in your projects:
- Separation: Geosynthetics prevent the mixing of two layers of materials that have different particle distributions, such as gravel and sand, for example, to avoid contamination between them.
- Reinforcement: the geosynthetic increases the bearing capacity of the land, acts in conjunction with the structural soil to produce a composite or “geo-soil”, which works under tension and improves the resistance and deformation properties of the soil.
- Filtration: the permeability of geosynthetics allows the circulation of water through the material, but retaining the soil particles that the flow brings.
- Sewer system: it is the function of geosynthetics that allows to collect and transport fluids. They act as drains to conduct flow through less permeable soils.
- Barrier (or Containment of fluids): geosynthetics act as an impermeable barrier to the flow of liquids and gases.
- Lockdown (or containment): the geosynthetic material acts by preventing the movement or lateral displacement of materials, either by friction or mechanical interlocking mechanisms depending on their coefficient of interaction.
- Protection: Geosynthetics act as a layer that protects a material that acts as an impermeable barrier from drilling or punching. They fulfill the function of receiving, absorbing and mitigating forces exerted on a surface that can cause damage to it.
- Erosion Control Superficial- Geosynthetics prevent surface erosion of soil particles caused by surface water runoff and / or wind forces.
- Humidity control: Geosynthetics made with special fibers provide a draining action through the horizontal plane of the filament without the need for a hydraulic gradient, stabilizing the soil and controlling its water content.
CLASSIFICATION
What types of geosynthetics are there?
The classification of geosynthetics can vary depending on the source, however, we can classify them into:
- Geotexiles: woven and non-woven.
- Geogrids: axial and uniaxial
- Erosion control mantles
- Geomembranes
- Geotubes
- Geocells
- Geofoam
- Geocomposites: Geodrenes, geosynthetic clay liners (GCL's) or geosynthetic cement mantles (GCCM's).
G & G® is an expert in products and solutions with geosynthetics, we can advise you on how to implement them in your engineering projects.
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