Specifications for Geotextiles in India

1. Specifications for Geotextiles in India byR. P. Indoria Secretary General, Indian Roads Congress 19 November 2010

2. ABOUT IRC • Indian Roads Congress is a Society of Highways Engineers established in 1934 • Frames Codes of Practice , Standards, Guidelines, Manuals etc. on various subjects for Roads and Bridges • Identification of research topics and Institutions • Collection of data on research done and utilization there of (Cont…)

3. ABOUT IRC • Dissemination of Research findings for revision of IRC Codes and Special Publications • Holding Workshops and Seminars on Crucial Topics for dissemination of knowldge • Promoting Usages of New Materials and Technologies

4. IMPORTANCE AND USAGES OF GEOTEXTILE IN ROAD SECTOR • Use as Separator to Improve Pavement Performance • Use as reinforcement and drainage layer • Use for Ground Improvement • Use for drainage of ground (PVD/piped drains) • Jute Geogrid for Erosion Control of Denuded Slopes • Jute Geotextile for Drainage and Filtration Application • Jute is low cost, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly natural product (Cont…)

5. IMPORTANCE AND USAGES OF GEOTEXTILE IN ROAD SECTOR • Construction of road embankments in water logged area • Soil Nailing • River Bank Protection • Embankment slope protection

6. TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES • Geotextile: Non Biodegradable Synthetics Woven / Non Woven Fiber and perform discrete function i.e. separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage and moisture barrier (when impregnated). • Geogrids:Open, grid like configuration, i.e., they have large aperturesand used for the purpose of separation, but invariably they are being used in some form of reinforcement. ( Cont…)

7. TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES • Geonets: another specialized segment of Geosynthetics and Geonets are used for the purpose of drainage. It is to be noted that geonets are always used with a geotextile. Geonets used in protective works for highway structures • Geocomposite: A geocomposite consists of a combination of geotextile and/or geogrid and/or geomembrane or any of these three materials with another material in laminated or composite form and used for accelerating the consolidation of soft soils. (Cont…)

8. TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES • Geomembranes : Geomembranes are also synthetic materials but they are impervious and made of thin sheets of rubber or plastic materials used primarily for lining and cover of liquid-or solid-storage facilities • Geocell : A three dimensional structure with interconnected cells which can be filled with soil/granular material forming a mattress for increased bearing capacity and manoeuvrability on loose or compressible subsoil of base or sub-base in pavements and slope protection (Cont…)

9. TYPES OF GEOTEXTILES • Natural Geotextiles: Natural fibres are extracted from plants and are then converted into yarns by spinning. These fabrics are sometimes treated with rot resistance materials or reinforced with synthetic fibres to enhance their durability under different soil conditions without affecting its strength and other properties. Natural fibres such as jute, coconut and coir fabrics are used to improve soil erosion control and drainage applications.

10. USE OF GEOTEXTILE FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF ROADS • Geosynthetics for Highway Pavements • Geosynthetics Over Existing Bituminous Surface • Provision of Geotextiles Against Subgrade and Embankment Erosion • Geotextiles In Sub-surface and Composite Drains • Geogrid Applications For Reinforced Soil Slope Protection

11. USE OF GEOTEXTILE FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF ROADS • Road pavementas a drainage layer, Bioengineering measure for shoulders and earthen slopes, Improving the pavement performance and Reducing the pavement crust (?) • Construction of road embankments in water logged area • Soil Nailing , Soil Stabilization

12. IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES • IRC has one document titled “State of the Art: Application of Geotextiles in Highway Engineering” published by IRC in 1994 • It is a compilation of available literature (at the time of preparation of the report) • Since then a lot of developments have taken place in manufacturing and preparation of geotextiles, their usage and applications etc.

13. IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES • IRC has another document titled SP:59 – 2002 `Guidelines for use of Geotextiles in road pavements and associated works` • Being a Special Publication, this document does not have the status of a ‘Code of Practice” per se but nevertheless covers the following: • Scope • Raw Material and types of Geotextiles • Functions of Geotextiles

14. IRC DOCUMENTS ON GEOTEXTILES • Handling and storage of geotextiles • Geotextiles properties and test methods • Geotextiles property requirements for various applications • Construction guidelines for use of geotextiles in various applications • References have been made to ASTM standards for test methods

15. GEOTEXTILES SPECIFICATIONS • More comprehensive specifications are included in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways book of Specifications, popularly known as the “Orange Book” • The current edition of this book is also very old (2001) and a revision of the book has been almost finalised and is likely to be published soon

16. GEOTEXTILES SPECIFICATIONS • The proposed specifications(section 700) cover the following: 1 GEOSYNTHETICS IN ROAD AND BRIDGE WORKS • Scope • Testing, handling, certification, and acceptance

17. Minimum Geotextile strength property requirements

18. Geotextile Requirements for Ultra Violet Light Degradation

19. Properties for Prefabricated Vertical Drains

20. Typical Specifications for Geocells

21. Typical Specifications of Natural Geotextile

22. 2 GEOTEXTILES IN SUB SURFACE DRAINS • Scope • Materials • Construction requirements • Measurement for payment • Rate

23. Geotextile Requirements for Subsurface Drainage

24. Recommended Permittivity for Different Soils

25. 3 Use of Geosynthetics in Composite Drains • Scope • Material • Installation • Measurement for payment • Rate Apparent Opening Size for Geo-composite Drains

26. 4 GEOTEXTILES FOR EROSION CONTROL • Scope • Materials • Construction requirements • Slope protection placement • Seams • Repair • Measurement for payment • Rates

27. Erosion Control Geotextile Requirements

28. 5 GEOGRID APPLICATIONS FOR REINFORCED SOIL SLOPE PROTECTION • Description • Material • Installation • Measurement and basis for payment • Rates

29. 6 GEOSYNTHETICS FOR HIGHWAY PAVEMENTS • Scope • Materials • Certification • Installation • Measurement for payment • Rate

30. Separation/Filtration Property Requirement for subgrade Soil with LL < 35 (such as ML, CL, CL-ML etc) ** ** The soil classification shall be as per BIS-1498 – 1970 (Re-affirmed 1987)

31. Separation/Filtration Property Requirement for subgrade Soil with LL > 35 (such as CL, CH, MH etc)** ** The soil classification shall be as per BIS-1498 – 1970 (Re-affirmed 1987)

32. Requirements for Geogrid for Sub-Base/base of Flexible Pavements Note 1) All numerical values in the Table represent MARV in the specified direction. 2) All geogrids shall be placed along machine direction parallel to the centre line of roadway alignment. 3) Junction strength is required to maintain dimensional stability of the geogrid during deployment. It is not applicable to geogrid/geotextile composite products.

33. 7 GEOSYNTHETICS OVER EXISTING BITUMENOUS SURFACE • Scope • Paving Fabrics • Material Requirement • Specifications for bitumen coated fiber glass fabric • Placement • Measurement • Rate

34. Physical requirements for Paving Fabrics

35. Properties for Glass Grid Fiber

36. Framework for promoting usages of Geotextile • Majority of the National Highway Development Programme to be implemented on PPP mode on BOT basis • The use of geotextile for road structure i.e. part of new or existing pavement does not bring the desired reduction in crust thickness since the pavement has to be designed as per IRC:37 • There is a strong need to establish relationship between use of a type of geosynthetic and corresponding reduction in crust thickness

37. Framework for promoting usages of Geotextile • This can only be achieved by concerted research (may be industry sponsored) with the involvement of research institutes and academia • This could lead to formulation of definitive specifications and design methods using geotextiles/ geosynthetics • For the interim, the Government has created an enabling environment for the Concessionaire to use any material / technology / equipment as long as it meets any of the established international standards

38. Framework for promoting usages of Geotextile • The Manuals for four and six laning of highways, which form part of the Concession agreement, have been published by IRC containing this provision • Industry need to come out with ways and means to demonstrate to the prospective users (Concessionaires) the cost effectiveness (short term and long term) of the use of geotextiles • Industry also to come out with other innovative usage of geosynthetics besides the existing ones

39. Framework for promoting usages of Geotextile • On our part in IRC we have started a process of accreditation of new material / technologies / equipment etc. for use in the design and construction of highways • The proposals are examined by an Accreditation Committee constituted within IRC and comprising of experts from public as well as private sector • Upon satisfaction, the Committee issues an Accreditation Certificate which acts as a confidence measure with the prospective buyers

40. Framework for promoting usages of Geotextile • We also insist on field trial / usage reports from clients • In case of satisfactory performance reports, the new material, technology or equipment will then be suitably incorporated in Codes of Practices / Specifications

41. Conclusion • Need to establish relationship with cost (crust) reduction with usage of geosynthetics • Concerted research to have road crust design methods and formulate specifications • Concessionaires to be apprised of benefits of geosynthetics

42. Thank You for your kind attention