Reinforced Earth

Reinforced Earth

The Primary purpose of reinforcing a soil mass is to improve its stability, increasing its bearing capacity and reduce Settlements and Lateral deformations.

Reinforcing materials: stainless steel, aluminum, fiberglass to nylon, polyster, polyamides, and other synthetics in the form of strips.

Geosynthetics, geotextiles, geogrids and geocomposits.

Basic Functions

·        Drainage

·        Filtration

·        Separation

·        Reinforcement

Drainage:

Collecting and redirecting seepage water within a soil mass or adjacent to retaining walls culverts and tunnel linings .

Ex - Non-woven fabrics or composits have sufficient  inflow capacity to fulfill this function.

Geotextiles acts as a filter if it allows seepage from a water bearing layer while preventing most soil particles from being carried away by the water flow.

Separation

It is achieved if the fabric prevents mixing of adjacent dissimilar soils which may occur during construction or may be caused by repeated external loading of a soil layer system Most fabrics can act as separators provided they have adequate strength.

Reinforcement

Means the inclusion of the fabric to provide tensile strength, redistribution of stresses and / or confinement, thereby increasing the stability of a soil mass, reducing earth pressures, or decreasing deformation or susceptibility to cracking.

Fabrics are used to provide containment if they are used to form soil or concrete filled bags, tubes, or mattresses. Fabrics are used to act as a tensioned membrane if it supports loads across a gap or plastic zone of soft soil Fabrics may be required to provide cushioning against localized stresses which may cause puncturing or abrasion

If placed on the surface of a slope the geotextile may prevent erosion and dispersion of soil due to wind, surface runoff or wave action.