GEOSYNTHETICS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The present century is marked by a dramatic increase of the total World population, tending to be progressively, concentrated into large, urban and industrial areas; as a consequence, tremendous infrastructure and building constructions are in progress. Therefore this book was prepared to serve as a quick guidance to civil engineers and academician as well as provide basic knowledge to undergraduates and postgraduates on the application of geosynthetics. The author has well managed the writing style so that it will be semi technical and easy, which incorporates history, concept, design, construction methods and applications of geosynthetics in the field civil engineering. The following five (5) chapters are presented thoroughly and systematically to elucidate the basic concepts of geosynthetics.

1. Geotextiles (two-dimensional fabrics and non-wovens, made of syntheties fibres matted together by standard weaving machinery or in a random manner, also by knitting, used for drainage, filtration, separation and also for reinforcement).

2. Geomembranes (“impervious” liners, made of sheets of rubber or plastic material, used as liquid or gas barriers):

3. Geogrids (two-dimensional, geometrically defined, high tensile resistant structures, composed of extruded and stretched plastic

sheeting, with a regular distribution of elliptic or rectangular openings, used for reinforcement of soil;

4. Geocomposites (three-dimensional combinations of two or more basic types, such geotextile and gconet, geotextile and geo-

membrane, geonet and geomembrane, or others), used for various application in waste landfill and other fields of civil engineering

5. Geonets (three-dimensional, geometrically defined, bulky structures, composed of thermally or mechanically bonded synthetic filaments used mainly for drainage and transport of liquids or gases); some types (made of profiled rigid plastic