CONSORCIO

C&G
ESTUDIOS V DISEOS GEOTCNICOS
VIALES V DISEO DE PAVIMENTOS

GEOTEXTILES

\
INSTITUTODE DESARROLLOURBANO- IDU
CONTRATO IDU No. 435-2002

Fortex
Loa Geotextlles

de Telas Lafayette

Una nueva generacin en Ingeniera

FORTEX

HOJA TECNICA
DESCRIPCION

METODO DE ENSAYO

RESISTENCIA MECANICA:

(3) TD Resistencialtima (KN/m)

TO Resistencia@ 2/odeformacin (KN/m)
TO Resistencia(@ 5% defonnacin (KN/m)
TO Elonaacina rotura (%)
TO ResistenciaGrab tensil (N)
TO Resistenciaal rascado traoezoidal(N)

04595(1)

04632
04533
04595(1)

04632
04533

CBR Resistencia al unzonarnientobl)

ResistenciaMullen Burst (kPa)
Resistencia a altas temperaturas(Punto
ablandamiento C)
Resistencia a UV (%Retencion)

PROPIEDADES HIDRAULJCAS:
Tamaodeaberturaaoarente (mm)
Permitividadfs-1)
Permeabilidad(cm/s)
Tasa de flujo (Vmin/m2)
PRESENTAaON ROLLO:
Ancho x largo (m.)

Comentarios

BX 60 BX 90

ASTM

(2)MO Resistencialtima (KN/m)

MO Resistencia@2/odefonnacin (KN/m)
MO Resistencia @ 5% defonnacin (KN/m)
MO Elongacina rotura(%)
MO ResistenciaGrab tensil (N)
MO Resistenciaal rasgadotrapezoidal (N)

BX40

04833
03786

Medido

62.2
10.8
18.8
14.0
1836

98.6
17.8
31.0
13.3
2898

651

904

1610

50.0
10.5
14.9
12.2
1709
799

70.6
14.8
24.8
11.7
2196
1017

96.0
18.6
31.4
12.8
2570
1315

801
5660

1092
>8000

240
75

240
75

240
75

0.18
1.70
0.19
6120

0.43
3.23
0.24
9850

0.40
217
0.22
6838

3.85x 100
6.20x80

6.20x80

539
>3500

04355
A500 horas

04751
04491
04491
04491

42.0
8.4
12.6
14.5
1354

3.80x120
6.14x80

(1) El ensayoASTM D 4595 (WideWidthTensil Properties) para geotextiles

(2) MD Direccinde la mquinaa lo largo de los rollos
(3) TD Direccintransversal a travs del largo de los rollos
Referencia:BX, resistenciabiaxial, 40, 60 90, es la resistenciamnima nominal en kN/m.
Rango de variabilidad en el ancho: En BX 40, +l- 1%. En BX 60 y BX 90 +/- 0.5%.
Los resultadosson valores promediode ensayos estadsticos llevadosa cabo en nuestro laboratorioy avalados por laboratorio
externo. CertificadoGAl-LAP por el Geosynthetic lnstiMe . Estos resultados estn sujetosa cambio de mejoramiento, sin
notificacin.

Fecha ltima de revisin: Septiembre 01 de 2002

Telast Lafuyetre

16/05 '03 15:36

Pa

FAX +5il 2920i10

e - -"-

@7--.-s-

:m

-* ..
.....
_-~'- - . --=-= ~
r

14101

FROM: LAFAYETTE

Atbu Ing. Cerios Romero

Fax. 6150012 - 6262702

MECANISMO DE FUNCIONAMIENTO

DE LOS GEOSINTETICOS

LAFAYElTE

S.A.
El presente informe contiene las consideradones y resultados para rehabilitacin de vas,
utilizando geotextiles tejidos de Alto Mdulo FORTEX.En este mtodo, se considera que el
geosinttico se comoorta como una membrana, ampliando la capacidad de distribucin de
carga de la capa granular y ejerciendo una presin vertical hacia amba al tensionarse bajo la
carga de los vehculos, la cual se da en funcin del mdulo de deformacin del geosinttico y
de la deformadn alcanzada.
1

METODOLOGA DE DISEO.
El diseo se realiz integrando utilizando el mtodo de diseo de c.arreteras no pavimentadas
desarrollado JX>r Giroud y Noiray en 1981 v los criterios para carreteras pavimentadas
presentados por Houlsby y Jewell en 1990.
El mtodo propu~
por Giroud y Noiray 1981, determina el espesor de material granular que
se debe colocar sobre un geosinttico de derto mdulo de deformacin que est en contacto
directo con la subrasante, a fin de evitar la falla por ahuellamiento en la superficie.

El procedimiento considera dos etapas bsicas que son: determinacin del espesor de material
y determinacin del espesor de material Que se ahorra al
involucrar el aporte del geosinttico. Para la primera etapa, se utilizan los resultados
presentados fX)r Webster v Alford sobre investigadones adelantadas por el Cuerpo de
Ingenieros de los Estados Unidos, para la determinacin del espesor de matertal granular
requerido para evitar la formadn de surcos o roderas de 7.5 cm de profundidad como mximo
en la superfide de la capa granular. Para la segunda etapa, se hace un anlisis en condicin de
carga cuasi esttica, en la cual se determina el espesor de material granular reauerido tara
evitar la falla de la subrasante siguiendo la teora de capacidad portante. Este anlisis se hace
para la condicin sin refuerzo v con refuerzo geosinttico. La diferencia entre los dos arroja el
ahorro de material granular aue se obtiene al considera la presencia del geosinttico.

granular en condicin no reforzada

En este mtodo, se considera que el geosinttico se comporta como una membrana, ampliando
la capacidad de distribucin de carga de la capa granular y ejerciendo una oresin vertical hacia
arriba al tensionarse bajo la carga de los vehculos, la cual se da en funcin del mdulo de
deformadn del geosinttico y de la deformacin alcanzada.
En el anlisis de la condicin pavimentada, se verifica la suficiencia de los espesores de
material granular y concreto asfltico para prevenir la ralla por capacidad portante en las

interfases carpeta asfltica - granulares y granulares - subrasante.

Otroccin Di;:ililOnal12C No. 71 1111
P.B.X. 4248881 Apsrbido P.O. f'ox 4897- P'ax: 2m110- &!gota0.C. Colombia
COl'l$(iftenos en : http://www.geosinll!ti~~~-com
E-Miil ; geo5inteliC05@telaWf"a~.com

16/05

'03

15:36

FAX

-sri

2920il0

FROM: LAFAlETTE

En este orden de ideas, en la curva anexa, es posible determinar la reduccin de espesor por
efecto de la colocacin del geotextil.EI primer paso es obtener entrar a la grfica con el CBR de
la subrasante y obtener el espesor de material granular en condicin No Reforzada (WEBSTER
Y ALFORD). Posteriormente, se repte el mismo procedimiento pero haciendo uso de la curva
especfica de BX 60. La reduccin de espesor (~)
y el espesor para la condicin reforzada.

la diferencia entre el espesor sin refuerzo

De la misma manera, es posible realizar un proceso inverso, a travs del cual, a partir de un
espesor no reforzado (obtenido del diseo de pavimento) es posible estimar el valor de un CBR
equivalente por efecto de la colocacin del geosinttico.

RECOMENDACIONES

Material granular

Se recomienda utilizar material de la mejor calidad disponible. La granulometria del material

ptreo v su anqularidad son fundamentales, pues a mayor friccin entre partculas, mayor
interaccin del geosinttico con ste y por lo tanto mejor desempeo. El material ptreo o suelo
se deber colorar en rapas de espesor no mayor a 20 cm y se deber compactar como mnimo
hasta lograr un oeso unitario mayor o igual al 98% del mnmo obtenido en la orueba de

compactacin Prctor.
Colocacin del Geotextil

Prepare el terreno
La superficie deber egar limoia de toda clase de elementos que moidan la interaccin
adecuada de la geomana con material granular, tales como ramas de rboles, troncos o trozos
de madera, piedras, etc.

Des.enrolle. la qeomaUa

Las tiras de geotextil se debern disponer de modo que se cubra el rea requerida en forma
homognea, dejando una longitud de anclaje transversal en los bordes del pavimento. se debe
evitar la formacin de pliegues o arrugas en la geomalla. En lo posible, se debe fijar al terreno
mediante grapas metlicas, clavos o estacas.
QJ.loaue Ja capq granular
Descargue el material granular apoyando la voqueta sobre una capa de material previamente

extendida, de modo que el equipo no transite directamente sobre el geotextil. Se debe

mant:ener un espesor de material granular de cobertura de 15 a 30 cm, como mnimo, entre las
ruedas u orugas de los ecuipos y el geotextil.
Espardr eJaqmoado
Distribuya el material sobre el geotextil manteniendo el espesor de acuerdo con lo prevign en

el diseo. En caso de formarse

surcos o roderas par la ooeaon de los vehculos rellnelos con

ms material granular y compacte para regularizar la superficie.

Camoacte

Compacte la capa de material granular con comoactador de rodillo liso vibratorio

Traslapas

Los traslapes debern ser de 30 cm cuando se dejan simplemente sobrepuestos los mantos de
geotextil. En caso de colocarse grapas o ganchos metlicos, estos se colocarn 1 cada 1.5 m
Dirain Diagonal 120 No. 71 98 P.l!.X. 42~
Apartido P.O. l!ox 41197rax : 2920710 l!logo D.C. Colombia
Con5~l1Q5 en ; hUp;/fwww.geointeticoilifllyette.com E-Mail : Qeosintelk:os@telaslza)el.te.com

14102

16,. 0 5 ' O3 15 : 3 6

FAX +5 i 1 2 9 2Oi 1 O

FROM: LAFAYETTE

como mximo y se dejarn traslapos de 15 cm. El traslapo se deber hacer en forma continua a
lo largo de tocia la superdede refuerzo.

3 OBSERVACIONES
L'3 informacin presentada en este documento es una solucin planteada con base en
informacin secundaria y ha sido elaborado considerando esoecficamente las caracterf stcas de
Fortex BX60, por lo tanto la aplicacin de otros materiales invalida los resultados.
Durante la construcdn, se deber dar aviso a la Subgerencia de Geosintticos de Lafayette
S.A., para adelantar la debida asesora tcnica .Lafayette S.A. no asume ninguna
resp0n.sablidadsi el proceso constructivo se adelanta en ausencia de sus asesores tcnicos.
4

REFERENCIAS
Department of The Army. US Army Corps of Engineers. Use of Geogrids in Pavement
Construction. February 2003.
GiroudJ.P., and Noiray, L (1981) ~textile
ReinforcedUnpaved RoadsDesign," Joumal of
the Geotechnical Engineering Divsion, flSCE, Vol 107, No GT9, pp 1233 - 1254.

Direeein Diagonal 12C Nti. 71 88 P.8.X. 42461388Apartido P.O. Box 4897 Fu : 2920710 Bogol3 O.C, Colombia
Corr5lmnai; en : http://vwwv.geo;inllllic:ostara.a:im E-Mail : geasinllrticos@ll!laslafa}'9tl!!.com

141 0 3

REDUCCIN DE ESPESOR DE GRANULARES.

FORTEX BX60
1

0.9

----- --

--;------

'

--------------- - .. -- ---

0.6

---------~- ----- \ --- -+------ -- -'.--- -- ---~---- -;--=--=~1oo---

-,-- ----

- 0.6
E

o
s:

--

.
i.
:

,i ---

1
1._____-

'

.
. - .

.
:
i-6-N=1,000
---1--- -

;-*-N=10,000

-------, - -------'---- --~------- --~------------- --- ----- -l~F_o_rtex_~x

0.7 -- -

.e:

P=SO KN, r=0.075m

---

---

-~------

---------

~O--- -

------------------~------

'

0.5
0.4

0.3

=
=
C'J

--- - -i-

0.2

V)

CN

------!-------i----~
:
!

0.1

,....
1IQ

1-

---------------

'

o.o

1.0

2.0

3.0
CBR%

..
lQ

>-l

lQ

-- -

4.0

5.0

6.0

Designing with Geotextiles

Sec. 2.6

Chap.2

2.5.7 Summary
Separation, the most underrated of ali geotextile [unctions. was addressed in this
section. 1 say underrated because every use of geotextiles carries with it the separation
function, yet rarely is separation designed on its own merit. Hopefully, the designs in this
section will allow the designer to determine quantitatively which fabric is suitable for a
specific situation.

~e:,orex..
:hIE. '::)

The combined use of soil (good in compression and poor in tension) and fabric (good in
tension and poor in compression) suggests a number of situations in which geotextiles
have
made existing design work better, or
developed entirely new applications.
These applications were reviewed in Section 1.3 together with a brief history of the
original applications. This section focuses on the design methods for various reinforcement applications.

1
The application in this section is for use of geotextiles in unpaved roads, in which
soft soil subgrades have stone aggregate placed directly above. No perrnanent surfacing
(i.e., concrete or asphalt pavement) is immediately placed on the stone. At most the road
is surfaced with a sandy grave! for reasonable ridability. At a later time, perhaps many
years after settlement takes place and ruts are backfilled, perrnanent pavernent may be laid
down. However, there are many thousands of miles of unpaved secondary roads, haul
roads, access roads, and the like with no perrnanent surfacing on them.
This particular application triggered the high-volurrie use of geotextiles in the l 970s,
since an immediate assessment can be made for the case of the standard thickness of stone
required without a geotextile, then with a geotextile, and the thickness of stone to be saved
calculated. By next making an economic calculation of the cost of saved stone versus the
cost of the geotextile, one arrives at an immediate conclusion as to the value of using a
geotextile. The particular design process one uses is the focus of this section.
Before beginning, however, it is important to realize that the geotextile must have its
tensile modulus or strength mobilized via deforrnation. Although this can be done intentionally by prestressing the fabric, it usually is not done, because of the high costs

OH, CH, and MH ASTM-classified soils;

A-5, A-6, and A-7-6 AASHTO-classified soils;
E-11 FAA-classified soils;
poor to very poor subgrade soils;

soils
soils
soils
soils

with ""13 lb.fin. 2 shear strength;

with "'13 Washington R value;
with ""150 cone index value;
with ;;;;()() lb./in.3 modulus of subgrade reaction; and

soils that take a moderate effort to penetrare with one's thumb.

2.6.1 Unpaved Roads

2.6.1.1 Overview

141

involved. Instead, the yielding ofthe subsoil is the triggering phenornenon. This yielding
allows for geotextile deforrnation and the mobilization of its tensile properties. How much
deforrnation is necessary with regard to the vehicular loading, the particular fabric, the
time it takes for adequate strength mobilization, and so on, are ali pressing questions, but
the quality of the soil subgrade takes precedence, A soft, yielding soil subgrade is needed
to mobilize the geotextile 's strength-but how soft? In light of the tremendous variety of
situations, one rnust use a broad generality; in others words, one must guess! Geotextiles
used with soils that have a California Bearing Ratio (CBR) lower than 3.0 will have fabric
reinforcement occurring in a typical situation. Geotextiles used with soils with a CBR
higher than 6.0 will have a negligible arnount of reinforcement occurring, and in such
cases the primary function will be separation, as discussed in Section 2.5. For soils with
interrnediate CBR values between 3.0 and 5.0, the situation is very site-specific. As
shown in Table 2.15, a CBR of 3.0 is typical of

This importan! area certainly deserves more attention than it has received to date.
Both analytic and experimental work is currently ongoing.

6 DESIGNING FOR REINFORCEMENT

Designing for Reinforcement

Furtherrnore, as the soil's strength decreases to less than 3.0, the geotextile's strength will
come into greater utilization. The lower limit is indeed low, with soil CBR values of
approximately 1/4 having had successful geotextile reinforcement-no,
geotextiles will
not work on water, but alrnost!

1
2.6.1.2 Manufacturers'

1
f.
!

Methods

Ali of the larger geotextile manufacturers have an unpaved road design method for
use with their particular fabrics. They usually show CBR (or other soil strength values) on
the x-axis and the required stone thickness (with and without fabric) on the y-axis. Ali
result in logical behavior, with greater savings in stone aggregate as the soil subgrade
becomes softer. Since most manufacturers have a range of fabrics available for reinforcement of unpaved roads, it is also seen that the heavier and stronger fabrics result in greater
stone savings than the lighter and weaker ones. Because each manufacturer's set of curves
has its own background theory (based on laboratory tests, field observations, or of
unknown origin), it is nearly impossible to compare one technique with another. Yet they
have served the industry well and with many notable successes. Their use is certainly
acceptable and if only one fabric is available, its rnanufacturer's method should continue to
be used. If, however, a number of geotextiles are available, a method that views them on

T
Designing

142

Chap.

with Geotextiles

TABLE 2.15 CORRELATION CHART FOR ESTIMATING SOIL STRENGTH VALUES

CBA

1
1

OH

PT

5
CH
MH

ASTM Soil Ctassificauon

OL
CL

1
1
1

A5
A-6
A75

A76

Federal Aviation Admin.

Soil Classification

E-9
E-10

1
1

E-11
E-12

Very Poor Subgrade

6

o
2

17

5
100

510

10

1~
150
1

290

10
100
2

Approximate

CBR

Less than 2
2-3

3-6
6-16
Over 16

R, Value (California)

ldentification

+ 2h

p - 2(8

+ 2h

tan

0<0)

(L

+ 2h

tan a0)

Po= -nc

R Va1ue

25

35 (Washington) 318
Cone lndex (CI) - Using 0.5 in~ Probe

310

250

300
1400
450
500
1
1350
Bearing Value, psi, 12" dla. Plate, 0.2' Oeflection, 10 Repetitions
30
140
148
Bearing Value, psi, 30" dia. Ptate, 0.1" Oeflection
2,0
Modulus of Subgrade

5
Procedure

Aeaction,

B
Group
Symbols

Easily penetrated
wlth thumb
Moderate effort
to peoetrate
with thumb
lndented by thumb
lndented by
thumbnail
Oifficult to indent
with thumbnail

Source: After Ponland Ccment Association and E. l. Du Pont literature.

ML
MH
OL
CL
CH
OH

PT

psi/in.

290
10

p
tan a) (L

CBA

Soil Group

tan a)

+ -yh

(2.30)

(2.31)

-Y

+ -yh0

(2.32)

and that with fabric the limiting pressure can be increased to the ultimate bearing capacity
of the soil, that is,

p = (rr + 2)c + -yh

(2.33)

These assumptions reasonably agree with the earlier findings of Barenberg and Bender
(48] using small-scale laboratory tests. On a deformation basis, they found that largescale ruts began al a 3.3c with no fabric reinforcement, versus 6.0c with fabric.
Thus for the case ofno fabric reinforcement, Equations 2.30 and 2.32 can be solved,
resulting in Equation 2.34, which can result in the desired aggregate thickness response
curve without the use of a geotextile.

Na me
Si!t
Micaceous silt
Organic silt
Silty clay
High plastic clay
Organic clay
Peer and muck

+ 2h

P in both equations is the axle load, and -y is the unit weight of the stone aggregate.
Knowing the pressure exerted by the axle load through rhe aggregate and into the soil
subgrade, shallow foundation theory of geotechnical engineering can now be utilized.
Assumed throughout in the analysis is that the soil is functioning in its undrained condition
and thus its shear strength is represented completely by the cohesion (i.e., T = e). Critica!
in this design method are the assumptions that without fabric the maximum pressure that
can be maintained corresponds to the elastic limit of the soil, that is,

Group lndex

150
4

Good
subgrade

40

S, Soil Support Value

210

Shear Strength, psi

30

25

Medium Subgrade

21

10

20

CBA

Fair Subgrade

4
15

. 2(8

1
1

20

3
20

Subgradel

13

10

p
Po=

IPoor

E-6

E-7

1
E-B

the basis of a specific, well-defined property is needed. Such a property could well be the
fabric's modulus, which is the basis of design in the procedure to follow. It should be
noted, however, that a number of techniques are available, and that Hausmann (45] has
assessed and compared them to onc another.

Giroud and Noiray (47] use the geometric model shown in Figure 2.34 for a tire
wheel load of pressure P.e on a 8 by L area, which dissipates through h thickness of stone
base without geotextile and h thickness of stone base with a geotextile. The geometry
indicated results in a stress on the soil subgrade of p0 (without geotextile) and p (with
geotextile) as follows:

A26

A4

143

Designing for Reinforcement

2.6.1.3 Analytic Method

ML

AASHTO Soil Classification.

~ 1

10

CBA

Sec. 2.6

e=

2-rr(Vii'ic

where

e = the soil cohesion,

P = the axle load,

+ 2ho tan

Oto)

c'\/'Pi2:Pc + 2ho tan <Xo)

(2.34)

Designing with Geotextiles

144

Pe
h

=
=

a,.=

Chap.2

the tire inftation pressure,

the aggregate thickness, and
the angle of load distribution (=26 deg.).

For the case where fabric reinforcement is used, p* in Equation 2.33 is replaced by
p - Ps- where p, is a function of the tension in the fabric, hence its elongation is significant. On the basis of the probable deftected shape of the fabric-soil systern,

P = a\11

EE
+ (a1s2

Designing for Reinforcement

Sec. 2.6

figure also considers the effects of traffic. In this case, the required thickness (h')
becomes h' = h'0 - 6.h, which is also given in the curves by subtracting the two ordinate
values of h' 0 and 6.h. Note should be made that the effect of traffic takes the form of
number of vehicle passages.
Two examples follow: one (in SI units) illustrating the general design procedure [47]
and the other (in English units) showing a spccific example with an economic analysis
included.

(2.35)
80 kN
r 0.3m

P = P, =

~t~

where

=
E =
a=
S =

the elongation (strain),

the geometric property (see Figure 2.34). and
the settlement under the wheel (rut depth).

E=

450kN/m

E=

400 kN/m

E 300 kN/m

M
By combining Equations 2.31, 2.33, and 2.35 using p* = p - p,, Equation 2.36 results,
where h is the unknown aggregate thickness. lt can be plotted for various rut-depth thickness and various moduli of fabrics.

+ 2)c

2(8

+ 2h

tan a) (L

+ 2h

tan a)

E E
-;:::=:===
aYI + (a/2S)2

(2.36)

With these two sets of equations, the design method is essentially complete, since
6.h = h - h can be obtained, which represents the savings in aggregate dueto the presence of fabric. For convenience, however, it can be read directly from Figure 2.35. This
(al

(bl

Gectexrite
modulus

E 200 kN/m

E lOOkN/m
E=

(11"

p~ = 480 kPa

tJ.h for:

1~

the modulus of fabric,

145

e
E

lOkN/m

13%}
= 10%

Elongaton of
geotexti1e

'=8%

Q4

h~ for:

~
~-------

: ~ :.::00
N = 100

Ql

N =

30

60

90

120

~:s:~:~of

10
e (kPa)
"

o
Subgrade soil

Figure 2.34 Load distribution by aggregate laycr (after Giroud and Noiray [47}). (a) Case without geotextile.
(b) Case with geotextlle.

Figure 2.35 Rcducing aggregate thickness with a geotextile (after Giroud and Noiray
[47)). Aggregate thickness h~. without geotexrile when traffic is taken into account; possible change in aggregate thickness (L1h)resulting from the use of a geotextile rather than
relying on subgrade soil cohesion. Chart related to an on-highway truck with standardaxle load.