10/10/2024

Nowadays, geo composites are employed in many different ground and civil engineering applications due to their versatility. They are made by procedures including lamination, needle punching, and adhesive bonding. This frequently results in multifunctional materials with various uses including filtration, drainage, separation, strengthening, and erosion control.

For example, drainage geocomposites contain a core that is designed to encourage liquid flow and are often fit between one or two layers of nonwoven geotextiles. Another example is geosynthetic clay liners that are made by covering sodium bentonite, which then forms a sealed layer upon hydration.

Geo composites are versatile materials that are essential for construction and environmental protection projects. These materials consist of various types of geosynthetics that can be customized to meet specific project requirements. These materials also emphasize strengths in areas such as drainage, reinforcement, and environmental sealing. 

Common components used in geo composites include:

• Geotextiles: Permeable textiles made of synthetic materials like polyester or polypropylene are used for erosion control, filtering, and separation.
• Geomembranes: Impermeable sheets that are used to block liquids or gasses from flowing. They are constructed using synthetic materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• Geogrids: Grid-like structures made of polymers that are used to increase slope and foundation stability and strengthen soil.
• Geonets: Three-dimensional constructions composed of overlapping tubes or rib-like strands that serve as a drainage channel and let gasses or liquids pass through their open structure.

Now let us understand how many types of Geo composites are available.

Types of Geo Composites

Geotextile – Geomembrane Composites 

Geocomposites can be attached on one or both ends of the geomembrane. In the rest of the areas with geotextiles, they demonstrate a very high resistance to tearing, puncturing and sliding friction. These composites find various applications in mining operations, pond and landfill liners and caps.

Geotextile – Geonet Composites

Geotextile and geogrid parts are combined in these composites. The geotextile offers support to the separation and filtration, and drainage functions are facilitated by the geogrid within this combination. This type of geo composit0e is mostly appropriate for use in subsurface drainage, in road and railway construction applications, and related practices.

Geotextile- Geogrid Composites

These geocomposites consist of geotextile and geogrid. Geotextiles perform the filtering or the separating function and Geogrids serve the purpose of soil reinforcement or soil stabilization. They have common usage in a number of tasks such as soil reinforcement works, fighting off erosion, and reinforcements of slopes and retaining walls.

Geocomposite Drainage System 

These geocomposites are drainage purpose oriented and have been used in combination with geotextiles, geonets and/or geomembranes for effective transport and discharge of water. Its drainage system can also be applied in various areas such as in landfills, highways, athletics fields and even in farming drainage.

Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs)

A GCL is a clay-rich geocomposite with two bonded geotextiles known as geosynthetics. When hydrated, the interior bentonite clay layer swells to create a nearly water-tight seal as the superabsorbent polymer. As a result, GCLs have been extensively employed as containment systems, landfill linings, and layering.

Applications Of Geocomposites

In geotechnical and civil engineering projects, geo composites are used in many different ways. The following are some applications of geocomposites:

Refinement and Separation: 

Refinement and separation geocomposites are prepared to avoid the mixing of different soil layers, hence minimizing soil erosion and thus ensuring stability. These can be used in many applications such as on roads, railway embankments, landfill site liners, and structures controlling erosion.

Drainage Systems: 

Geocomposites are widely utilized in drainage systems because they allow for the proper flow of water besides managing gases or liquids flow. They can be installed either in roads, athletics fields, airport runways, retaining walls, and landfills to maintain and direct water flow to prevent excessive moisture concentration.

Reinforcement and Stabilization: 

Geocomposites contain a geogrid applied in them to reinforce and stabilize the soil. They can increase the load-carrying capacity for foundations, slopes, and retaining walls. Geocomposites spread loads more uniformly and reduce the settling of the soil, thereby improving overall structural stability.

Gas Collection and Venting Systems: 

Geocomposites with geonets or geotextiles are employed for gas venting and collection systems. It provides channels for the efficient collection and recovery of underground gases from buildings, brownfield sites, and landfills, including radon and methane.

Marine and Coastal Engineering: 

Geocomposites can be employed in coastal and marine engineering activities. These materials ensure that coastal structures are stable and the shorelines are maintained while promoting beaches.

Environmental Protection: 

Geocomposites act as a highly impermeable barrier when they form landfill liners, caps, and coverings to avoid soil and groundwater contamination. They also help in cleaning operations for polluted sites. 

Pavement Systems: 

Pavement systems combined with geocomposites enhance both service life as well as functionality. It enhances separation between the base and subgrade layers, prevents particles from passing through them, and provides reinforcement that reduces scratching and cracking.

Functions of Geocomposite Materials

The functions of geocomposite materials vary based on their particular composition and intended use. Among the main purposes of geocomposite materials are the following:

Filtration: 

The geo composites tend to act as good filters because they trap the soil particles, thus not allowing them to travel any further while letting the fluid pass. They help in providing separation between different layers of the soil stabilize slopes and thus prevent soil erosion.

Drainage: 

Geo composites ensure there is free flow of the liquid in soils via drainage channels in avoiding trapped water within the structures. They are most common in application such as landfills, sports fields, and roads.

Separation: 

Geo composites are used to separate different layers or materials of the construction without weakening the overall integrity of the system. They are intended for separation of the two types of soils, which are granular fill and soft subgrades. These kinds of soils may lead to settlement and mixing.

Reinforcement: 

Geo composites with reinforcement elements, such as geogrids, provide strong and stable soils and structures. The geotechnical capabilities for load support in dams, retaining walls, and foundations are improved.

Containment:

For barriers to stop liquid or gas and protect the environment from nearby waste, geo composites with impermeable layers, including geomembranes or geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), are used. They are utilized in landfill liners, pond liners, and the storage of hazardous material.

Protection: 

Geo composites provide abrasion, punctures, or wear protection for the materials buried beneath buildings from external forces; these also act as barriers, eliminating sharp objects.

Erosion Control: 

Geo composites are used to stabilize coastal areas, riverbanks, and slopes in order to reduce erosion. By serving as a barrier against wind, water flow, and waves, they prevent soil erosion and create space for plants to thrive and preserve the soil.

Gas Venting and Collection: 

Geo composites can collect and vent various types of gasses like radon or methane from landfills, brownfield sites, or subterranean buildings. They provide channels through which these gasses may be effectively collected and disposed.

Why Choose Deevin?

Deevin Drainage Composites are known for their sophisticated, multi-functional design, which improves drainage efficiency and soil preservation. Deevin ensures optimal performance by providing solutions to fit our client’s project objectives. 

The entire range of geo composites is called Deevin Drainage Composites. All types of Geo composites are available at Deevin Seismic Systems. Every month, we can generate 3 lac square meters of various geo-composite materials with unique properties.

Deevin Drainage Composites are composed of a plastic drainage core that is thermally connected to either a waterproofing layer or a geotextile on one or both sides. They provide a variety of important functions, such as filtration, drainage, separation, barrier, and protection, which makes them a flexible option for efficient water management and soil stability.