The gravel has been used from the first Century before our era like a drainage system. Is an efficient drainage system but there are also many disadvantages such as transport (voluminous material and limited resources) and installation costs.
It has been observed a considerable increase in using geosynthetics materials in civil engineering from all over the world. So that it was developed a new drainage system: Drainage geocomposites composed from a drainage geonet with one or two thermal-bonded geotextiles on one or both sides with specific functions of filtration, drainage and separation.
The specific functions of the geocomposites are: filtration, drainage, separation and protection for the waterproofing layer against possible damages.
https://iridexplastic.ro/en/solutions/geosynthetic-materials/drainage-geocomposites#sigFreeId1d0a8dd1e1
Functions
- Protection:The drainage geocomposites provides an effective protection for insulated coverings or waterproof materials (membrane, paint, bentonite mattresses etc.) for embankments and constructions (heavy vehicles traffic, compaction processes and so on).
- Filtration: Nonwoven geotextiles perfectly filter the fluids, stopping the passing of fine materials and preventing clogging of the collecting pipes.
- Drainage: The geocomposites have high capacity drainage even on slopes with small inclination and when are tried to hard loads.
- Waterproofing: Some geocomposites contain a sealant film, adding the waterproofing function to that mentioned above.
- Separation: The geocomposites include one or two geotextiles whose role is to separate different types of natural or geosynthetic products.
Properties
- high drainage capacity even on slopes with small inclination and when are tried to hard loads.
- high wear resistance that allows it to act at great depth without diminishing the performances.
- tensile strength.
- excellent performance to compression and flow.
Features
- Very robust, allowing them to withstand damage during installation
- Lightweight and flexible.
- Easiness in transportation and storage
- Capacity of isolation between structure and ground
- Durables
- Non-fragile
- Chemically inert
- Resistance to microorganisms
- Resistance to oxidation
- Resistance to atmospheric agents
- Resistance to salt water
|
Gravel |
Drainage geocomposite |
|
Is the traditional system |
The drainage geocomposite is chosen using technical studies demonstrating that you will be able to eject 1.5 times more water than the traditional solution. |
|
High transport costs (bulky materials) Its installation is difficult and expensive (heavy materials) |
A product easy to be transported and stored
|
|
Labor achieving affects the infill material compacting because gravel it's a non-cohesive material. |
An economical product easily and quickly to install (because it is light and flexible). Increases the performance of the layers all over the area. Increased installation performance. |
|
Gravel is not uniformly distributed over the surface (heterogeneous properties) |
The product is spread out all at once, without interrupting the compaction of the filling material. |
|
Gravel can damage structures and waterproofing systems, thus requiring protection for elements (geotextiles) |
Is a material with homogeneous properties, in contrast with gravel |
|
Gravel produce useless pressure on concrete or municipal wastes (in case of landfills) |
The drainage geocomposite incorporates the protection and separation functions without the need of new |
|
Environmental problems: it is a valuable, rare, expensive product |
Without environmental problems: polypropylene and polyethylene are not harmful, don’t pollute and are 100% recyclable |
|
A more expensive solution |
Savings of at least 60% compared to traditional drainage |
Vertical drainage
- Retaining structures
- Abutment bridges and other structures
- Vertical structures
- Retaining structures of reinforced soil
- Permanent closure
- Expansion joints
https://iridexplastic.ro/en/solutions/geosynthetic-materials/drainage-geocomposites#sigFreeId766aa16763
Horizontal drainage
- Foundations
- Open spaces drainage
- Terraces
- Green spaces (gardens, golf courses)
- Backfills drainage
- Drainage of road and rail beds
- Trams
- Underground parking
https://iridexplastic.ro/en/solutions/geosynthetic-materials/drainage-geocomposites#sigFreeId4ef04e9709
