Geosynthetics
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Glossary of geosynthetics

Geosynthetics is a general term which identifies a broad range of products, such as geogrids, geonets, geomats, geocomposites, geocells, geotextiles, geomembranes that are used in environmental, civil and geotechnical engineering.

GEOGRIDS

Geogrids are manufactured with polymeric materials and are mainly used for the reinforcement; thanks to their structure the soil particles fit in the openings of the geogrid with an improvement of the tensile strength. There are three types of geogrids: extruded, woven and bonded. Geogrids are used for retaining structures (reinforced steep slopes, retaining block walls, panel walls) or roads, railways, large areas and parkings.

Uniaxial geogrid for retaining structures: Tenax TT, Tenax Flexa

Three dimensional geogrids for roads and railways: Tenax 3D GRID

Geogrid for ballast reinforcement: Tenax LBO 370

High Modulus biaxial geogrids for base reinforcement: Tenax LBO HM

Biaxial geogrids for base reinforcement: Tenax LBO

Geogrid with fire retardant for tunnel e mines: Tenax FR 270

 

Extruded geogrids

Extruded geogrids are manufactured with polymers (usually high density polyethylene or polypropylene) through an extrusion process and a following stretching phase (mono-directional or bi-directional); the stretching phase increases the strength of the geogrids in one direction (longitudinal) or in two directions (longitudinal and transversal).
Extruded grogrids don’t need an additional protection because they are not subject to chemical or biological attack or electrolysis process.

Bi-directional geogrid Tenax LBO

Woven geogrids

Woven geogrids are manufactured with synthetics fibers (usually polyester), are covered with a protective layer that preserve the material from water electrolysis and chemical attack.

Bonded geogrids

Bonded geogrids are manufactured with two or more fibers (usually in polyester) regularly connected with a bounding process; to protect the material they are covered with polyethylene.

GEONETS

Geonets are products manufactured with two or three ribs with variable thickness forming a regular mesh structure. They are manufactured for extrusion of thermoplastic polymers (usually high density polyethylene).
Geonets are used for drainage and are ususally laminated with one or two geotextiles with filter function or with geomembranes for waterproofing. The typical application is the drainage in landfills.

Three ribs geonet for drainage Tenax

GEOCELLS

Geocells are honeycomb shaped structures manufactured for extrusion or assembling of strips of synthetics materials.
The main application is the soil confinement and are usually used for the erosion control. After the installation are filled with soil that, being confined inside the cell, cannot slide. It is very important that geocell have an aperture between the junctions so to allow hydraulic connection of the cells. Geocells are used for the erosion control in slopes and embankments and as a collector of the biogas in landfills.

Geocells for erosion control: Tenax TENWEB

 

Tenax geocells Tenweb

GEOMATS

Geomats are composed of two layers of geogrid above and below a single central layer mechanically folded together; they are used for erosion control of the slopes.

Geomats for erosion control: Tenax MULTIMAT

Reinforced geomats: Tenax MULTIMAT R

Pre-seeded geomat: Tenax MULTIMAT P

Three dimensional geomat for erosion control Tenax Multimat

BIOTEXTILES

Biotextiles are manufactured with natural fibers and are used to protect temporarily slopes and banks from the erosion.

 

Biomat Tenax Geojuta for erosion protection

GEOCOMPOSITES

Geocomposites are manufactured with geonets or geogrids laminated with one or two geotextiles; in the first case are used for drainage (e.g. in landfills), in the second for base reinforcement and separation (e.g. roads or large areas).

High Drainage geocomposites: Tenax HD

High Friction geocomposites: Tenax HF

Triplanar drainage geocomposites: Tenax TENDRAIN

Standard Drain Geocomposites: Tenax SD

High Modulus geocomposites for base reinforcement: Tenax GT HM

Traditional geocomposites for base reinforcement: Tenax GT

Triplanar geocomposite for drainage Tenax Tendrain

GEOTEXTILES

Geotextiles are manufactured with synthetics fibers and are used for separation, filtration, protection and reinforcement; they can be woven, nonwoven and knitted.

Woven geotextiles

Woven geotextiles are manufactured by interlacing, ususally at right angles, two or more sets of fibers, filaments, tapes or other elements.

Nonwoven geotextiles

Nonwoven geotextiles are manufactured by bonding of directionally or randomly oriented fibers.

 

Knitted geotextiles

Knitted geotextiles are manufactured by interlooping one or more fibers, yarns, filaments or other elements.

GEOMEMBRANES

Geomembranes are waterproofing materials and can be synthetics, bituminous or bentonitic.