QUALITY & TESTING OF

GEOSYNTHETICS

V.K.PATIL &
A.N.DESAI

BOMBAY TEXTILE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

L.B.S.MARG, GHATKOPAR (W),MUMBAI-400086.
WEB : btraindia.com e-mail : btra@vsnl.com

INTRODUCTION
In the past 25 years many applications of
geosynthetics have proved their value in civil
engineering projects and this new class of material
has added entirely a new dimension to the world of
geotechnical engineering. Geosynthetic materials like
Geotextiles, Geogrids, Geonets, Geocell, and
Geomembranes are used in various civil engineering
activities especially in highway engineering to
facilitate construction, ensure better performance of
the structure and reduce maintenance.
To know the performance of these products,
performance evaluation is to be done & to meet the
requirements, quality has to be maintained.
 * NEED FOR TESTING
* NABL Accreditation
* GEO-TECHNICAL PRODUCTS
* GEO-TEXTILE TESTING
* VARIOUS TESTS &
TEST STANDARDS

NEED FOR TESTING

Products are tested for the following reasons.
* Quality assurance and control
* Setting and maintaining performance standards
* Investigation of complaints
* Product developments and research
* Testing can be classified into two categories,
1. Quality testing 2. Performance assessments
1. Quality Testing
Individual characteristics are measured against required specification.
specification.
e.g.Constructional
e.g.Constructional details of woven geotextile
* Fabric mass, density and thickness
* Threads per inch
* Type of weave
* Cloth cover factor
* Other physical properties
e.g.Constructional
e.g.Constructional details of Geogrid
* Aperture Size
* Density
* Melt flow index & other physical properties
2. Performance Assessments
Prediction of behaviour of Product in use conditions.
 Factors affecting the
Quality of Testing
• Variation in the material
• Variation caused by the test
method
• Environment
• Type of instrument & its
accessories
• Conditions of testing such as
speed, pressure and duration

QUALITY ASSURANCE
• What is QUALITY ?
• Quality is a quantifiable attribute based on product performance,
satisfies the customer and meets the requirements or specifications.
• Quality of design, conformance, application and customer service.
• Quality control is the process of maintaining the current standards &
product quality by the regular inspection carried out on limited no.of
items. The results are recorded on control charts and monitoring the
sample means & ranges to give warning of the process moving out of
control.

• What is Quality Assurance ?

• The system by which one can give assurance of quality of products,
process, testing, design/development, installation & servicing and
assessment. The system consists of guide lines. Quality
management system ( ISO 9000 ).
• ISO 9000 is the guide line for quality control i.e totality of features and
characteristics of product or service that bear on the ability to satisfy
stated or implied needs.
The standard is not directly concerned with the actual
properties or design of product but with gaureenting that
the product is always manufactured in the same way, to the
same specifications, that no substandard raw material used
in the production and that any rejects do not find their way
into the output. The concerns of the standard are really with
good organizational practice and it involves complete
documentation of the whole process together with internal
and external checks to ensure that everything is being run
according to these written instructions.

QUALITY ASSURANCE OF
TESTING

SKILLED & EXPERIENCED

TESTING STAFF
CALIBRATED EQUIPPMENTS
NABL ACCREDITED & ISO
17025 CERTIFIED LAB
Testing staff having skill in sample preparation, handling
of test equipments, knowledge of quality system and test
standards. Experience in testing of similar products &
various tests will have better influence on quality of
testing. The staffs are trained time to time for various
tests, quality control systems and interpretation of
results.
Calibration of test equipments is done periodically
( every year ).
Quality audit is carried out by NABL every year.
The Laboratory implements new or revised test
standards.

The system consists of following areas.

• Enquiries and orders

• Purchased material or services
• Inspection & testing
• Calibration of test equipment
• Organizational structure
• Quality audit
• Training
• Monitoring the production
• Assessing the final product
• Investigation of faulty material
• Product development & research
 Accreditation
Laboratory accreditation is a procedure by which an
authoritative body gives formal recognition of technical
competence for specific tests/ measurements, based on third
party assessment and following national /international
standards
WTO recognises that non acceptance of test results and
measurement data is a Technical Barrier to Trade.
Global sourcing of components calls for equivalence of
measurement, which can be facilitated by a chain of accredited
calibration laboratories.
Accreditation is considered as the first essential step for
facilitating mutual acceptance of test results and measurement
data.

Benefits of Accreditation
• Increased confidence in Testing/ Calibration Reports
issued by the laboratory.
Better control of laboratory operations and feedback to
laboratories as to whether they have sound Quality
Assurance System and are technically competent.
Users of accredited laboratories enjoy greater access for
their products, in both domestic and international
markets.
Customers can search and identify the laboratories
accredited by NABL for their specific requirements
from the NABL.
• Savings in terms of time and money due to reduction or
elimination of the need for re-testing of products.
 GEO-TECHNICAL PRODUCTS:
GEOTEXTILES
GEONETS
GEOGRIDS
GEOMEMBRANES
GEOCOMPOSITES
Geosynthetic Clay Liner ( GCL )
Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM)
GEOFOAMS
Rigid Cellular Polystyrene Geofoam
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam
DRAINS
Geocomposite Pavement Panel Drains
Vertical Strip Drains
Prefabricated Vertical Drains ( PVD )
Erosion Control Blankets ( ECB )
Alternative Daily Covers (ADC)
Prefabricated Bituminous Geomembranes (PBGM)

GEO-
GEO-TECHNICAL PRODUCTS:
GEOTEXTILE : A flexible, permeable fabric used with foundation, soil, rock,
earth, or other geotechnical engineering related material as an integral part of a man
made project, structure, or system.
GEONET: A netlike polymeric material formed from intersecting ribs integrally
integrally
joined at the junctions used for drainage with foundation, soil, rock, earth or any
other geotechnical-
geotechnical-related material.
GEOGRID: An open grid structure of polymeric material used primarily for
tensile reinforcement.
GEOMEMBRANE : An essentially impermeable membrane.
GEOCOMPOSITE : A manufactured material using geotextiles,geotextiles, geogrids and/or
geomembranes in laminated or composite form.
GEOCELL: A three- three-dimensional structure filled with soil, thereby forming a
mattress for increased stability when used with loose or compressible
compressible soils.
Geosynthetic Clay Liner : Factory-
Factory-manufactured hydraulic barriers consisting of a
layer of bentonite clay or other very low permeability material supported by
geotextiles and/or geomembranes and mechanically held together by needling,
stitching or chemical adhesive.
• Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM) : cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative
to hard armor erosion protection solutions such as concrete and riprap. UV and chemical
resistant synthetic polyolefins are manufactured to create a flexible
flexible three-
three-dimensional matrix.
Seed and soil are held in place within the matrix. As the vegetation
vegetation matures, roots and stems
inter-
inter-twine with the matrix, creating a "Biotechnical Composite" that is permanently
anchored to the soil greatly enhancing the turfs’
turfs’ ability to withstand high shear stresses and
flow velocities.
• GEOFOAMS :
• Rigid Cellular Polystyrene Geofoam: block or planar rigid cellular foam polymeric
material used in geotechnical engineering applications
• Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam : EPS geofoam is a lightweight, rigid foam
plastic that is approximately 100 times lighter than most soil and and at least 20 to 30 times
lighter than other lightweight fill alternatives
• DRAINS
• Geocomposite Pavement Panel Drains
• Vertical Strip Drains
• Prefabricated Vertical Drains ( PVD ): A geotextiles constructed from specially
conditioned geotextile fabrics and plastic cores used for consolidation
consolidation of soil & ground
improvement
• Erosion Control Blankets ( ECB ) : A temporary protective blanket laid on top of bare
soil vulnerable to erosion, commonly made of mulch, wood fibre or or synthetics.
• Alternative Daily Covers (ADC): A cover material other than earthen material placed on
the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill
landfill at the end of each operating
day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging.
scavenging.
• Prefabricated Bituminous Geomembranes (PBGM) : A geotextile impregnated & coated
with bituminous binder.

GEOTECHNICAL PRODUCTS

• GEOTEXTILE
GEOTEXTILE IN USE FOR ROAD

GEONET
GEOGRID

GEOMAT
• GEOFOAM • GEOCOMPOSITE

• GEOSYNTHETIC • PREFABRICATED
CLAY LINER VERTICAL DRAIN
• TURF • EROSION CONTROL
REINFORCEMENT BLANKET
MAT

• GEOCELL
• ALTERNATE DAILY
COVERS
 T E S T I N G S E R V I C E S AT BTRA

Geomembranes Geogrids

• Peel and Shear • Aperture Size

• Thickness • Density
• Density
• Melt Flow Index
• Melt Flow Index
• Carbon Black Content • Carbon Black Content & Dispersion
• Tear & Puncture Resistance • Rib & Junction Strength
• Tensile Properties • Wide Width

Geonets and Geocomposites Geosynthetic Clay Liners

• Mass per Unit Area • Bentonite Mass per Unit Area

• Thickness • Swell Index & Fluid Loss
• Density
• Internal Shear
• Melt Flow Index
• Carbon Black Content • Index Flux or Permeability
• Transmissivity
• Compression Behavior
• CBR Puncture

Geotextiles Interface Friction by Direct Shear

• Mass per Unit Area • Geosynthetic to Geosynthetic

• Thickness • Geosynthetic to Soils
• Grab Strength
• Geosynthetic to GCL's
• Trapezoidal Tear
• Puncture Resistance • Soil
• Permittivity
• Apparent Opening Size (AOS)
• CBR Puncture

Common Tests of Geotxtile

• Mass : gms per meter square

• Thickness at specified pressure

• Tensile strength : Strip / Grab / Wide Width

• Tear Strength : Trapezoid

• Water Permeability : Vertical / Horizontal

• Apparent Opening Size : Sieving method

• Puncture Resistance : CBR / Index / Cone

STANDARD TEST METHODS FOR GEOTEXTILES / GEOSYNTHETICS

Sr.No.
Sr.No. TEST PARAMETERS ASTM ISO
1 Apparent Opening Size D 4751 12956
2 Mass per unit area D 5261 9864
3 CBR Puncture Resistance D 6241 12236
4 Index Puncture Resistance D 4833
5 Grab breaking load & elongation D 4632 13934
6 Trapezoid Tearing Strength D 4533 13434
7 Tensile Properties of Geotextiles by D 4595 10319
the Wide-
Wide-Width Strip Method
8 Nominal Thickness of Geosynthetics D 5199 9863-
9863-1

9 Water Permeability by Permittivity D 4491 11058

10 Hydraulic Transmissivity of a D 4716 12958

Geosynthetic Using a Constant Head

STANDARD TEST METHODS FOR GEOTEXTILES / GEOSYNTHETICS

Sr.No.
Sr.No. TEST PARAMETERS ASTM ISO
11 Dynamic peroration by Cone Drop 13433
12 Biological Clogging of Geotextiles D 1987
13 Bursting Strength-
Strength-Hydraulic D 3886
14 ,, ,, - Ball D 3887

15 Tensile Properties of Geogrids by D 6637 13426

the Single or Multi-
Multi-RibTensile Method
16 Strength of Sewn or Thermally D 4884 10321
Bonded Seams of Geotextiles 13426
17 Deterioration of Geotextile by D 4355
Exposure to Light, Moisture & Heat

18 Microbiological degradation 12961

 STANDARD TEST METHODS FOR GEOTEXTILES / GEOSYNTHETICS

Sr.No.
Sr.No. TEST PARAMETERS ASTM ISO
19 Interface Friction between Soil & D 5321 12957
Geotextile by Direct Shear Method
20 Bond Strength (Ply Adhesion) of D 7005
Geocomposites
21 Oxidative Induction Time of D 5885 11357
Polyolefin Geosynthetics by High
Pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry
22 Effect of Temperature on stability D 4594
of Geotextile
23 Permittivity of Geotextiles Under Load D 5493

24 Ply Adhesion Strength of Reinforced D 6636

Geomembranes

STANDARD TEST METHODS FOR GEOTEXTILES / GEOSYNTHETICS

Sr.No TEST PARAMETERS ASTM ISO
25 Filtering Efficiency and Flow Rate D 5141
of a Geotextile for Silt Fence
Application Using Site-
Site-Specific Soil
26 Pyramid Puncture Resistance of D 5494
Unprotected and Protected Geomembranes
27 Soil-
Soil-Geotextile System Clogging D 5101
Potential by the Gradient Ratio
28 Determination of tensile creep and D 5262 13431
creep rupture behaviour
29 Determining the resistance to Oxidation 13438

30 Chemical Resistance of D 5322

Geosynthetics / Geotextile to Liquids D 6389
31 Strip Tensile Properties of D 7003
Reinforced Geomembranes
STANDARD TEST METHODS FOR GEOTEXTILES / GEOSYNTHETICS
Sr.No.
Sr.No. TEST PARAMETERS ASTM ISO
32 Microscopic Evaluation of the
Dispersion of Carbon Black in D 5596 11420
Polyolefin Geosynthetics
33 Hydraulic Transmissivity of a
D 6574
Geosynthetic by Radial Flow
34 Pore Size Characteristics of
D 6767
Geotextiles by Capillary Flow Test
35 Grab Tensile Properties of
D 7004
Reinforced Geomembranes
36 Determining Geonet Breaking Force D 7179
37 Abrasion Resistance of Geotextiles
D 4886 13427
(Sand Paper/Sliding Block Method)
38 Tensile Creep & Creep rupture behaviour
13431
of geo-
geo-textile

Wide Width Tensile Strength

ASTM D 4595
Index Puncture Resistance
( ASTM D 4833 ):

CBR ( static ) puncture resistance

ASTM D 6241 / ISO 12236
Trapezoid Tear Strength
Of Geotextile
( ASTM D 4533 )

CREEP & RUPTURE

BEHAVIOUR Of Geotextile
ASTM D 5262
Cone Drop Test
( EN 918, ISO 13433 )

SEAM STRENGTH
Of Geotextile
ASTM D 4884
 Water permeability by
permittivity method
( ASTM D 4491 )

In-plane Permeability
( Hydraulic Transmissivity ):
Of Geotextile
ASTM D 4716

DIscharge Capacity
Load
Head Loss

geotextile
 Bursting Strength
( Mullen / Hydraulic )
ASTM D 3786

Where to test
• In Accredited Laboratories
Like BTRA
• Benefits of testing in accredited Labs :
• User is confident about the test report issued by
accredited laboratory & sure that the same results
will be obtained if tested in any other accredited
laboratory within specified limits.
• Users of accredited laboratory enjoy greater access
for their products in both domestic as well as
international market.
• Savings in terms of time & money due to reduction
or elimination of the need for re-testing of products
NON-WOVEN PLANT- NEEDLE PUNCHING WITH HOT AIR BONDING
AND THERMAL CALENDERING