Geosynthetics for building over soft subsoils

Building over soft subsoils

Building over soft subsoils with geosynthetics

Geosynthetics can be used in a variety of ways for capping, covering, sealing and reinforcement of soft soils. They offer an economic, lightweight solution to different environmental conditions.

Building over soft subsoils solution

Reinforcement

When reinforcing large areas of very soft subsoils, one of the most challenging engineering aspects is to make the area suitable for traffic or construction. Combigrid® can be placed directly on soft subsoils to immediately improve soil bearing capacity. Combigrid® offers the advantages of two materials with the simplicity of installing a single product, as it is a composite product combining the reinforcing properties of Secugrid® geogrids with the separation and filtration properties of Secutex® nonwoven geotextiles.

 

Road construction over softsoil withSecugrid and Secutex

When used in conjunction with a nonwoven geotextile, the robust monolithic flat bars of the Secugrid® geogrids distribute point loading homogeneously through the grid to a larger surface area. This load distribution results in a reduction in local deformation and improves the bearing capacity of the soft subsoil.

 

 

Building over soft subsoils solution-with Secugrid® and Secutex®

The load distribution characteristic (snow shoe) of Combigrid®, enables placement of a mineral soil cover layer, while at the same time the separation properties of the integrated Secutex® geotextile ensure that two differing soil types do not intermix.

Road construction over soft subsoils solution with Combigrid

Sealing

In sludge lagoon capping applications where highly contaminated substances must be controlled, geosynthetic solutions by Naue will ensure their long-term containment. Similar in concept to soft soil applications, Combigrid® products offer load-distributing characteristics, enabling lightweight equipment to traffic the liquid surface.

 

Parking lot with Combigrid geogrid

High density polyethylene (HDPE) Carbofol® geomembranes provide a virtually impermeable seal to water and gases. They are inert to the aggressive chemicals that are most often present and can be securely welded to form a uniform barrier to the intrusion of rainwater or the escape of gases. To protect Carbofol® geomembranes from excessive deformation as well as the possibility of puncture by sharp edged stones present in the mineral cover soil/drainage layer, a heavy weight mechanically bonded nonwoven cushion geotextile (1,200 g/m² or above) can be installed directly over the geomembrane.

 

 

Access road over soft subsoils

Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners are well suited to sealing subsoils that are susceptible to large settlement. Bentofix® uses high quality, natural sodium bentonite encapsulated between two geotextiles. Once hydrated, the high swelling bentonite creates a seal against liquid and gas flow. Using high elongation, mechanically bonded cover and carrier nonwoven geotextiles, the uniform needle-punched structure of the Bentofix® can endure deformation of over 30 %. The installation of Bentofix® in a rain-lap orientation will ensure that the seal is not compromised, even after consolidation induced settlement.

Road-construction with Combigrid over soft subsoils

Vertical drains

Consolidation is a slow process where excess pore water is released in relationship to an applied stress. However, as the pore water must have a path to escape, Secudrain® vertical drains are commonly installed into the consolidating soil. Secudrain® vertical drains are approximately 100 mm wide and are made from a coarse-fibre nonwoven geotextile drainage core encapsulated between two nonwovens. With this flexible composite structure, Secudrain® vertical drains have longterm filter stability, and are especially suitable for use in soft subsoils that may be susceptible to settlement. With installation equipment termed “stitchers”, Secudrain® vertical drains are rapidly positioned and “stitched” into the saturated soil. Secudrain® vertical drains substantially reduce the consolidation time of soft, relatively impermeable soils.

 

Storage area solution for building over soft soils

Gases beneath the sealing system can also be collected and discharged with a cost-efficient Secudrain® drainage system. Secudrain® is effortlessly unrolled by one man and can be covered with Carbofol® or Bentofix® liner. When used above the Carbofol® or Bentofix®, Secudrain® is also a cost efficient alternative, offering protection, separation, filtration and drainage – all in one product.

Conclusion

With their superior soil reinforcement characteristics, Secugrid® and Combigrid® products improve soil bearing capacity, permitting traffic and construction to occur over soft subsoils. Secutex® nonwoven geotextiles offer excellent protection for Carbofol® geomembranes. Where differential settlement is expected, the more flexible, Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners can be used in place of Carbofol® geomembranes. To accelerate consolidation, filter-stable, flexible Secudrain® vertical drains can be “stitched” into the soil. Gas as well as rainwater can be discharged by Secudrain® synthetic drainage systems depending on where it is deployed. Geosynthetic solutions are often the only option for the rapid capping and sealing of soft subsoils. Naue is the ideal choice when geosynthetic solutions are required.

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