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Geonets

Also see Geosynthetics.


A geonet is a geosynthetic material consisting of integrally connected parallel sets of ribs overlying similar
sets at various angles for in-plane drainage of liquids or
gases. Geonets are often laminated with geotextiles on
one or both surfaces and are then referred to as drainage
geocomposites. They are competitive with other drainage
geocomposites having dierent core congurations.

Manufacturing
Various categories of geonets.

Geonets are formed by a continuous extrusion process


into a netlike conguration of parallel sets of homogeneously interconnected ribs. There are three categories
of geonets. The following are illustrated:

2 Properties
Since the primary function of a geonet is to convey liquid
within the plane of its structure, the in-plane hydraulic
ow rate, or transmissivity, is of paramount importance.
However, other features, which may inuence this value
over the service lifetime of the geonet, are also of importance. Thus, a number of physical, mechanical, endurance, and environmental properties will also be mentioned.

Biplanar geonets: These are the original and most


common types and consist of two sets of intersecting ribs at dierent angles and spacings. The ribs
themselves are of dierent sizes and shapes for different styles.

Triplanar geonets: These have parallel central ribs


with smaller sets of ribs above and beneath mainly 2.1 Physical properties
for geometric stability.
The tests for physical properties are either covered in
ASTM, ISO or GRI Standards.
Other geonets: These newer geonet structures have
either box shaped channels or protruding columns
density or specic gravity
from an underlying support network.
mass per unit area (weight)
rib dimensions

Each of the above categories have variations within themselves (mainly thickness) and new product development
by various manufacturers is quite active.

planar angles

junction characteristics
All geonets that are currently available are made from
polyethylene resin. The density varies from 0.94 to
aperture size and shape
0.96 mg/l, with the higher values forming the more rigid
products. In this regard, the resin is true high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) unlike the density used in HDPE 2.2 Mechanical properties
geomembranes that is really medium density. The resin
tensile strength and elongation
is formulated with 2.0 to 2.5% carbon black (usually in
a concentrated form mixed with a polyethylene carrier
compression strength and deformation
resin), and 0.25 to 0.75% additives that serve as process shear strength
ing aids and anti-oxidants.
1

4 CONSTRUCTION METHODS

2.3

Hydraulic properties

planar transmisivity

2.4

Endurance properties

type of resin
creep behavior
intrusion of adjacent materials

W = width (m), and


t = thickness (m).
As seen in the equation, q/W and carry the same units
and are directly related to one another by means of the
hydraulic gradient i. At a hydraulic gradient of 1.0, they
are numerically identical. At all other values of hydraulic
gradient they are not equal. Also note that the system
should be saturated and ow must be laminar in order to
use transmissivity. When in doubt, it is usually best to use
ow rate per unit width.

extrusion of clay materials

2.5

Environmental properties

A series of environmental related issues can have impact


on the ow-rate performance of geonets.
temperature eects
permeating liquid properties
biological growth within geonet structure
resistance to light and weather

4 Construction methods
Geonets are supplied in rolls from 2.0 to 6.7 m wide.
They should be placed and covered in a timely manner.
While UV and heat eects are not as severe in geonets as
they are in geotextile (because of thicker ribs in contrast
to thin yarns and bers), it is good practice not to leave the
material exposed and subjected to accidental damage or
contamination of any variety. Contamination can occur
from soil, miscellaneous sediment, construction debris,
ingrowing vegetation, and so on.

Theoretical concepts

The rolls are usually placed with their roll directions oriented up-and-down slope, rather than along (or parallel
Design-by-function requires the formulation of a factor to) them. There are two reasons for this: First, the machine direction has the greatest strength and ow rate;
of safety as follows:
second, such orientation eliminates seams along the ow
value (test) allowable
F S = value (design) required
direction. If triplanar or boxlike channel geonets are beFor geonets serving as a drainage medium, the targeted ing used for their high ow in the machine direction, the
value is ow rate and the above concept becomes:
proper orientation is critical during placement. For very
qallow
long slopes or along the base of a facility, ow must conF S = qreqd
tinue unimpeded from one geonet to the next. When
where
geotextiles are liminated to the geonet, the geotextiles
must be stripped back from the overlapped area such the
a = allowable ow rate, and
upgradient geonet is directly on the downgradient geonet
q = required ow rate
in shingled manner. There can be no geotextile sandAs stated previously, if we desire an alternative to the ow wiched within this overlap area.
rate, calculations can be based on Darcys formula (as- The seaming or joining of geonets is dicult. Assuming
suming saturated conditions and laminar ow) obtaining stress does not have to be transferred from one roll to the
the transmissivity, . This important concept is repeated. next, plastic electrical ties, threaded loops, and wires have
q = kiA
q = ki(W t)
q = (kt)iW
kt =

q
iW

where q = volumetric ow rate (m3 /s),


k = coecient of permeability (m/s),
i = hydraulic gradient (dimensionless),
A = ow cross-section area (m2 ),
= transmissivity (m2 /s),

all been used with a relatively small overlaps of 50 100


mm. Metal hog rings should never be used when geonets
are used adjacent to geomembranes. There are questions
as to what inuence overlapping has on the geonets ow
rate. The connection of geonets to perforated drainage
pipes is dicult and extremely important. The geonets
outlet must be free draining at all times even in winter
under freezing conditions.
Nothwithstanding the above concerns, geonets are very
impressive with respect to their ow-rate capability, ease
of construction, savings in airspace, and overall economy
in many facilities where drainage must be accommodated.

References
Austin, R. A., The Manufacture of Geonets and
Composite Products, Proc. GRI-8 on Geosynthetic
Resins, Formulations and Manufacturing, IFAI,
1995, pp. 127238.
Eith, A. W. and Koerner, R. M., Field Evaluation
of GEonet Flow Rate (Transmissivity) Under Increasing Load, J. Geotextiles and Geomembranes,
Vol. 11, Nos. 5-6, 1992, pp. 153166.
Koerner, R. M. (2012), Designing With Geosynthetics, 6th Edition, Xlibris Publ. Co., 914 pgs.
Koerner, R. M. and Koerner, G. R., Geocomposite
Drainage Material Connections and Attachments,
Proc. GRI-22 Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, GSI
Publ., Folsom, PA, 2009, pp. 5765.
Kolbasuk, G. M., Lydick, L. D. and Reed, L. S.,
Eects of Test Procedures on Geonet Transmissivity Results, J. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol.
11, Nos. 4-6, 1992, pp. 153166.
Narejo, D. and Allen, S., Using the Stepped
Isothermal Method for Geonet Creep Evaluation,
Proc. EuroGeo3, Munich, Germany, 2004, pp. 539544.
Ramsey, B. and Narejo, D., Using Woven and
Heat-Bonded Geotextiles in Geoent Geocomposites, Proc. GeoFrontiers, GSP 130-142, ASCE,
2005 (on CD).
Thornton, J. S., Allen, S. R., Siebken, J. R., Long
Term Compressive Creep Behavior of High Density
Polyethylene Geonet, Proc. of the 2nd European
Geosynthetics Conference and Exhibition, October
118, 2000, Bologna, Italy, pp. 869874.
Zagorski, G. A. and Wayne, M. H., Geonet
Seams, J. of Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol.
9, Nos. 4-6, 1990, pp. 207220.

6 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

6.1

Text

Geonets Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geonets?oldid=722583795 Contributors: BD2412, Salix alba, Malcolma, TLSuda, Ohnoitsjamie, Lamro, Niceguyedc, Canis Lupus, Marilyn475, LilHelpa, Erik9bot, Triploid, Nbuergers, Gridproquo, Research475, BattyBot and
Anonymous: 1

6.2

Images

File:Various_geonets.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/Various_geonets.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors:


Own work
Original artist:
Research475

6.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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