earth construction

1. Soil is weak in tension. To strengthen the soil to take the tensile
forces generated in soil structures, soils are reinforced using metal
strips or geosynthetic materials - geogrids, geotextiles or
geocomposites. Geosynthetic reinforcement is economical and
also resistant to corrosion.
Reinforcing Materials:
 The reinforcing materials can be natural or man-made
 They can be in the form of textile, fibers, grids, pipes or cells
Types
Natural reinforcement
Man-made reinforcement:
Made of glass fibers, high density
polyethylene, polypropylene
or polyester
Applications of Reinforced Earth
Reinforced Earth
Geotechnical Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
Coir fibers
Jute Geotextile
Jute mesh
Uniaxial geogrid
Controls erosion
Geocells
Serve as a
reinforcing
mattress in
embankments
and controls
erosion of side
slopes
Geocomposites
Serve as a separator and
reinforcement in pavements when
used at the interface of subgrades
and base course
Geonets
Net like configuration and
enable easy drainage in soil
Fiber
reinforcement
improves the
strength of
the soil
Glass fibers Plastic fibers
Prefabricated Vertical
Drains
Enables easy drainage of
water
Geopipes
Used for
leachate
collection
Geosynthetics as reinforcement
in Retaining Walls
Geosynthetics for enhanced
drainage of embankments (PVD)
Geosynthetics as Reinforcement
Foundation
Geosynthetic
layers
Landfills
Contains solid
waste without
contaminating
ground water
 Biodegradable
 Made of coir or jute
Solid Waste
Geosynthetic ECM
GG
CoverSoil
GCL GM
GC orGN
GT
GG
GN
GCL
GM
CCL
Gravel /
perforated
pipe
Geomembrane (GM)
Geosynthetic clay liner (GCL)
Geonet (GN)
Geotextile (GT)
Geogrid (GG)
Geopipe (GP)
Geocomposite (GC)
Geosynthetics for Filtration
Geosynthetics as separator and
reinforcement in Pavements
Geosynthetics as reinforcement
and erosion controllers in slopes
Sand