Geosynthetics in erosion control — the principles

The principles of erosion control are basic, but geosynthetic materials manufactured and marketed for erosion control applications have varied significantly in the last decade. The problem of soil retention, protection, revegetation, and turf reinforcement can be solved with many different materials, both organic and synthetic. Specific material properties must, however, be met to achieve proper performance.

This paper provides a review of the primary geosynthetic materials used for erosion control and their basic applications, including blankets for ground cover, geotextiles for filter protection beneath armor, geotextiles for silt control, synthetic mats and blankets used for erosion control/revegetation and turf reinforcement. The paper also includes several generic, physical-property criteria for the materials to be used in the primary applications discussed.     

浅谈土工合成材料在路基边坡防护中的应用

实践表明,一种新型的土工合成材料主要有：土工织物、土工薄膜、复合型土工合成材料、特种土工合成材料等,在应用于竖直挡土墙及陡坡等的排水系统、加固、大坝、侵蚀控制等方面后,则明显改善了路基边坡的稳定性,提升了路面质量。     

Soil erosion by rainfall and runoff—state of the art

The processes of soil detachment and sediment transport by rainfall and overland flow and resulting sediment transport are described. The results of past research on the role of raindrop impact in detaching soil, experimental studies of erosion, and erosion modelling are presented. Studies of soil loss from experimental field plots led to the development of the Universal Soil Loss Equation and to its subsequent modification for use in quantifying erosion by individual storms. Systems to produce rainfall for erosion studies in the laboratory are described. A system which is currently being calibrated and used for erosion control system testing at Drexel University's Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) is described. Preliminary spatial rainfall distributions and runoff measurements are presented. Experimental results obtained by others on the performance of natural and geosynthetic erosion control systems are discussed along with a proposed experimental program for the GRI system.     

Geosynthetics used to stabilize vegetated surfaces for environmental sustainability in civil engineering

Geosynthetics, factory-manufactured polymer materials, have been successfully used to solve many geotechnical problems in civil engineering. Two common applications are earth stabilization and erosion control. Geosynthetics used for earth stabilization include but are not limited to stabilized slopes, walls, embankments, and roads. Geosynthetics used for erosion control are mostly related to slopes, river channels and banks, and pond spillways. To enhance environmental sustainability, vegetation has been increasingly planted on the facing or surfaces of these earth structures. Under such a condition, geosynthetics mainly function as surficial soil stabilization while vegetation provides green appearance and erosion protection of earth surfaces. Recently, geosynthetic or geosynthetic-like material has been used to form green walls outside or inside buildings to enhance sustainability. Geosynthetics and vegetation are often integrated to provide combined benefits. The interaction between geosynthetics and vegetation is important for the sustainability of the earth and building wall surfaces. This paper provides a review of the current practice and research in the geosynthetic stabilization of vegetated earth and building surfaces for environmental sustainability in civil engineering with the emphases on geosynthetic used for erosion protection, geosynthetic-stabilized slopes, geosynthetic-stabilized unpaved shoulders and parking lots, and geosynthetic-stabilized vegetated building surfaces.     

Controlling strain in geosynthetic liner systems used in vertically expanded landfills

According to relevant new regulations in China,a composite liner system involving geosynthetic materials must be installed at the bottom of an expanded landfill.The deformation and integrity of the composite liner under a variety of factors are important issue to be considered in the design of a landfill expansion.In this paper,we investigate the strain distribution in geosynthetic materials within the composite liner system of expanded landfills,including strains in geosynthetic materials resulting from overall settlement and lateral movement of landfills,localized subsidence in landfills,and differential settlement around gas venting wells.The allowable strains of geosynthetic materials are discussed based on the results of tensile tests,and the corresponding design criteria for composite liner systems are proposed.Meanwhile,practical measures allowing strain control in geosynthetic materials used in landfill engineering are proposed.     

Three-dimensional polyethylene geocells for erosion control and channel linings

As construction budgets tighten and environmental concerns rise, synthetic materials used to prevent soil transport have seen a rapid gain in popularity. Since natural surfaces are susceptible to large soil loss due to the kinetic energy generated by precipitation impact and flowing water, the magnitude of the erosion damage is a function of the surface's resistance to transport. Certain geosynthetic products have been developed specifically to strengthen the soil surface for these types of applications. These materials vary in size, shape and composition, but are all designed to decrease soil disturbance and increase soil moisture. After all, synthetic material usage in civil engineering has, after years of research and successful installations, gained a level of confidence with the engineering community.

Since any increase in the tensile strength and/or density of the soil results in a greater resistance to applied forces, a dimensionally stable containment system is an attractive way of protecting a slope. Geocells are three-dimensional polyethylene structures that physically contain the infill material desired and resist the soils' natural weakness to detach and move downslope. These products are economical, aesthetically pleasing and quite easy to design and work with when involved in erosion control and channel lining projects.     

筋箍碎石桩桩–土界面摩擦特性试验研究及离散元模拟

筋箍碎石桩复合地基桩–土界面摩擦特性对其荷载传递机理极为重要。首先通过室内大型直剪试验,研究了法向应力、软土含水率、碎石料相对密实度、筋材设置等因素对筋箍碎石桩桩–土界面摩擦特性的影响。在此基础上,采用离散元方法分析了筋材设置、筋材开孔率、筋材抗拉刚度等因素对界面摩擦特性的影响。室内试验及数值分析结果表明:桩土界面抗剪强度随法向应力、碎石料相对密实度、筋材开孔率、筋材抗拉刚度的增大而增大,随软土含水率的增加而降低;界面摩擦系数则随法向应力、软土含水率的增大而减小,随碎石料相对密实度、筋材开孔率的增大而提高,筋材抗拉刚度对其影响较小。     

Liner system design for heap leach pads

Heap leach pads are used in the mining industry as an integral component for metal extraction and processing. The design of modern heap leach pads utilize an engineered liner system that often is a blend of natural and geosynthetic materials in order to achieve a desired performance, such as ore heap stability, solution drainage, and efficient recovery. An important issue that is often overlooked in the design of heap leach pad liner systems is the compatibility between geosynthetic materials (e.g. geomembrane, geopipe, geotextile, etc), native materials, ore, and operational conditions/restrictions. This issue becomes more pronounced as heap leach pads are constructed in steep terrain, harsh climates (wet, cold, etc), and subjected to high ore loads (exceeding 4 MPa). This paper discusses design approaches for heap leach pad liner systems, with a focus on compatibility with geosynthetic materials.     

土工合成材料约束碎石桩承载特性研究

土工合成材料约束碎石桩作为一种新型软土地基处理技术在工程中广泛应用,其单桩承载力取决于土工合成材料抗拉强度和土的工程性质。通过对土工合成材料、碎石桩及地基土的相互作用机理进行分析,提出了考虑土工合成材料约束拉力与土体围压的桩身强度计算方法,进而推导出考虑上部荷载作用的,由桩身强度控制的单桩极限承载力计算方法,并采用MATLAB编写了计算程序,根据得出的单桩极限承载力计算了土工合成材料拉力沿深度的分布,结合一算例说明了计算所需要的参数及计算过程,成果可为土工合成材料碎石桩的设计提供计算依据。     

Soil–geosynthetic interaction: Modelling and analysis

Interaction between soils and geosynthetics is of utmost importance in applications of these materials as reinforcement in geotechnical engineering. That is also the case for some applications of geosynthetics in environmental protection works. The mechanisms of soil–geosynthetic interaction can be very complex, depending on the type and properties of the geosynthetic and the soil. This paper presents and discusses some experimental, theoretical and numerical methods for the study and evaluation of interaction between soils and geosynthetics, with particular reference to the applications of these materials in soil reinforcement. The main advantages and limitations of some traditional experimental and theoretical methods for the study of soil–geosynthetics interaction are presented and new applications of these methods are addressed. The need for improvements in experimental and theoretical techniques for a better understanding of soil–geosynthetic interaction is highlighted.     

膨润土防水毯在渗滤液环境下防渗性能的测试应用研究

膨润土防水毯作为一种优异的防渗材料,国内暂无其在渗滤液环境下的渗透性能报道。本文拟配置性能组分稳定的代表性合成渗滤液作为实际渗滤液的替代试验介质,研究合成渗沥液对膨润土原料膨胀性能和滤失性能的影响,测试在合成渗滤液环境中,不同压力和温度条件下膨润土防水毯的渗透系数,以此为垃圾填埋工程和其他固废填埋工程使用膨润土防水毯作为防渗衬垫提供指导。     

Geosynthetic-wrap around revetments for shore protection

Geosynthetic structures for shore protection have demonstrably lower construction and lifetime costs than those of hard structures. This paper outlines the recent development of a geosynthetic structure that is commonly used for shore protection: geotextile wrap-around revetments (GWRs). Its advantages are also explained. Model tests described in this paper show that these structures are stable against wave action and that their stability can be increased with some simple modifications. Additionally, GWRs have been shown to adapt extremely well against differential settlement and scour erosion. Knowledge obtained from model tests has facilitated the creation of modified design charts. Efficiency of these systems against storm surges, rising sea level, and tsunami is also discussed. Analyses show that many uncertainties involving these structures remain, but that geosynthetic structures should not be regarded as an alternative shore construction method. Rather, they are a preferable solution for numerous coastal problems.     

Geosynthetic reinforced piled embankment modeling using discrete and continuum approaches

Understanding the load transfer mechanism can support engineers having more economical design of geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments. This study aims to investigate the load transfer mechanisms by two different numerical methods including the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Finite Difference Method (FDM). The DEM model adopts (a) discrete particles to simulate the micro-structure of the granular materials and (b) coupled discrete element – finite element method (DEM-FEM) to capture the interaction between granular materials and geotextiles. On the other hand, the FDM model uses an advanced constitutive soil model considering the hardening and softening behaviour of the granular materials. The numerical results show that the geotextiles can only contribute to the vertical loading resistance in cases where the soils between piles are soft enough. In terms of design, an optimum value of the geotextile tensile stiffness can be found considering the load, the soft soil stiffness and the thickness of the embankment. Both the DEM and the FDM show that a high geotextile tensile stiffness is not required since an extra stiffness will slightly contribute to the efficiency of the geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments. Nevertheless, both models are useful to optimize the design of geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments.     

Drainage principles and the use of geosynthetics

Drainage is defined as the process of transporting liquid from one location to another. The focus of this paper is to examine basic subsurface drainage principles, and demonstrate how and why liquids are effectively transported from one location to another using geosynthetic materials in place of traditional construction materials.     

福州海西动漫园人工搿防渗工程施工技术

摘要：介绍了LAKEMAT膨润土防水毯应用于福州海西动漫园人工湖的施工技术,对基面处理、材料性能、施工工艺、细部节点处理等重要环节进行了详细阐述,指出LAKEMAT膨润土防水毯是一种特别适用于人工湖等水工建筑的防水材料。     

Biostabilization and erodibility of cohesive sediment deposits in wildfire-affected streams

The erosion characteristics and bed stability of wildfire-affected stream sediment were measured in an annular flume. Biofilms were grown in the flume on cohesive streambed sediments collected from a wildfire affected stream and a reference undisturbed stream in southern Alberta, Canada. Examined factors that influence sediment erosion, settling and bed stability included applied shear stress, geochemical and physical properties of the sediment, floc structural characteristics and consolidation period (2, 7, 14 days). Erosion characteristics and sediment properties were strongly influenced by wildfire, consolidation period and bed biostabilization. The fire-modified sediment was more resistant to erosion than the reference unburned sediment. Settling velocities were lower in the burned sediment due to higher organic content and porosity. The critical shear stresses for erosion were 1.6 and 1.8 times higher for the burn-associated sediment after 7 and 14 days of consolidation. The differences are related to the greater degree and spatial extent (depth) of biofilm attachment in the burned sediment. Erosion depths were 4-8 times higher in burned sediment as a result of wildfire-associated biostabilization.     

Numerical evaluation of a granular column reinforced by geosynthetics using encasement and laminated disks

Structures built on soft strata may experience substantial settlement, large lateral deformation of the soft layer and global or local instability. Granular columns reinforced by geosynthetic materials reduce settlement and increase the bearing capacity of the composite ground. Reinforcement is more common in the form of geosynthetic encasement, but laminated disks can also be used. This paper compares these two forms of reinforcement by means of unit cell finite element analyses. Numerical results were initially validated using field and experimental data, and parametric studies were subsequently performed. The parametric studies varied the geosynthetic interval and the geosynthetic tensile stiffness of the laminated disks as well as the length of the reinforced column. The analyses showed that in both modes; encasement and laminated disks; the geosynthetic increases the vertical stress mobilized on the reinforced column and reduces settlement on soft soil. It was also observed that in order to achieve the same performance as with encased column, the optimum interval between laminated disks is dependent on the stiffness of the geosynthetics and the column reinforced length.     

Electrically conductive geosynthetics for consolidation and reinforced soil

The concept of electrically conductive geosynthetics (EKG) materials has recently been introduced. These materials extend the traditional functions of geosynthetic materials by incorporating electro-kinetic phenomena. Electro-kinetic geosynthetics offer technical benefits over conventional electrodes in that they can be formed as strips, sheets, blankets or three-dimensional structures. They are light and easy to install and can be structured so as not to be susceptible to electro-chemical corrosion, whilst continuing to provide conventional functions of filtration, drainage, separation, reinforcement or to act as impervious membranes. This paper describes initial laboratory tests on different types of EKG materials which can be used as combined electrodes/drains in electro-osmotic consolidation and as conductive geosynthetic reinforcement used to improve and reinforced weak cohesive soil. Results of the consolidation tests showed that the EKG electrodes were as efficient as a copper electrode and that the filtration and drainage characteristics did not deteriorate under electro-osmotic conditions. Results of the reinforced soil tests showed that EKG reinforcement can be used to increase the undrained shear strength of cohesive fill and that reinforcement/soil bond increases in proportion to the increase in shear strength.     

Factors affecting the down-slope erosion of bentonite in a GCL

Leaving a composite liner exposed for an extended period can sometimes lead to down-slope bentonite erosion from geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs). This laboratory study examines a number of factors that can affect the erosion of bentonite particles with an imposed flow of water for one particular geotextile-encased, needle-punched GCL. The factors examined include the effect of an initial wet/dry cycle, water chemistry, flow rate, slope, prior cation exchange, and the effect of no-drying phase in the test cycle. No erosion was observed unless the GCL had been hydrated and dried to create a wet/dry cycle. The most critical factor was found to be the water chemistry. No erosion was observed with tap water (39 ppm calcium) with up to 360 cycles and a flow of 3 L/hour. Tests simulating the evaporation and condensation of water below an exposed composite liner by imposing deionized water on the GCL surface developed erosion holes within 5–6 cycles.