Retaining wall drainage with geocomposites

Behind the retaining walls we need drainage and filter layers to carry the water to the drainage holes or to the drainage pipes at the bottom.

In traditional methods we generally use gravel or sand as drainage layers.

Especially in residential areas the leakage water coming out off the holes of retaining wall doesn't wanted. It is not very good to see some muddy water and the stains of water.

Geocomposite drains are used behind the retaining walls to carry the water from the soil to the drainage pipe.

Geocomposite drainage products replaces the drainage and filter layers. So, it is better to transport to construction site a lightweight material and install it.

Geosynthetic drainage sheets should be manufactured by good quality filters to prevent clogging and also there should be a three dimensional drainage layer between the filters.

Composites for sport pitches

In artificial football pitches or other sport areas generally they need shock absorbtion layers.

There are composites especially designed as a shock absorption layer under artificial sport pitches, thereby combining a long term resilience layer with good shock absorption characteristics and drainage capacity. These products sometimes even being re-used under the renewed carpet / topping for a second life.

Basement, cellar drainage, waterproofing

In the basements of buildings generally we have moisture problems. Even we have waterproofing water may enter the building. A good waterproofing system should be supported by drainage materials.
Geocomposites can intercept incoming water and drain it away from the structure towards the collector pipe.
To use a geocomposite drain is much easier and generally cheaper than conventional drainage systems like mineral drains. Forexample you should carry a lot of gravel to the construction site or building. It is also difficult to use heavy gravel. It is also necessary to cover the drainage pipe with a nonwoven geotextile to prevent clogging.
But a composite drainage sheet with a filter bothsides and only about less than half a kilograms per square meter you can make a better drainage system. Also the inside core of the drainage sheet should be elastic and the core should have a structure to let water go easily to all directions.

A good composite drainage system:

• Keeps wet soil away from walls
• collects and removes groundwater
• Protects the waterproofing on walls
• Relieves hydrostatic pressure

Advantages of composite drains:

• Ventilates - Prevents wall sweating and fungal growth
• Light and flexible-Readily adaptable to irregular wall configurations
• Economical - No extra accessories needed (i.a. strips, special fastenings, etc.)
• Reliable and durable

The composite drains can be used as do it yourself type of applications also.

Geosynthetics

We can simply devide geosynthetics in below groups.

1)Geotextiles:

• Woven fabrics
• Geogrids
• Nonwoven fabrics (Thermally, mechanically, chemically bonded)
• Nets
• three dimensional mats

2)Geomembranes:

• HDPE , LDPE liners

3)Geosynthetics clay liners, (bentonite mats)

4)Geocomposites

Geocomposites are made by using above product with each other. For example a drainage composite can be made by joining 2 filter fabrics (nonwovens) and a 3 dimensional mats in the middle.

Drainage in Tunnels with geocomposites

Bored Tunnels

The world's biggest tunnel projects are being executed in mountainous regions by means of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM). Providing adequate drainage is an essential factor in making these tunnels a safe and extending their service life. With bored tunnels, especially with the New Austrian method, geosynthetic drainage and protection layers are a permanent feature. They are applied directly to the unfinished spray concrete coating of the rock face to drain off water and provide protection to the tunnel liners.One product requirement in this particular application is that it must be capable of following the irregularities of the tunnel walls.Geocomposites Enkamat and Enkadrain are used as drainage and protection layers in tunneling,

Cut and Cover Tunnels
With cut and cover tunnels, as with other structures, a long and safe service life is a high priority and is influenced by the design of the drainage system. The installation of geocomposites at tunnel projects is a proven method to drain off water safely and protect the tunnel sealing system. For the use in tunnelling, the Enkadrain product range offers a number of proven and tested drainage mats. Enkadrain can be installed quickly and easily over large areas and be adapted to the most complex geometries. For many years now, different types of Enkadrain have been proving their capabilities in terms of runoff capacity, compression resistance and protection in tunnels and galleries all over the world.

Soil consolidation

Civil Engineers, planners and contractors aim for direct economic highways, airports and other traffic routes using natural resources as efficiently as possible in their construction: this often means having to build on poor soils and sometimes even to reclaim land. In many cases, the sub-grade is too weak to allow construction to proceed at a normal rate. Soft, cohesive soils are very slow to consolidate. 90% settlement often takes 20-25 years without the use of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD's).
Prefabricated vertical drain (PVD), provides an economical solution to this issue. The principle feature of prefabricated vertical drain (Colbonddrain) lies in providing much shorter and highly permeable drainage paths for the dissipation of excess porewater pressure, allowing 90% consolidation in a time period of months, rather than years.

Geocomposites - Drainage of roof gardens

For many years now, green roofs are well accepted as a visually attractive and cost-effective method of roof construction, and are becoming increasingly used on account of their advantages in terms of aesthetics, ecology and physical characteristics. Due to their added value related to energy efficiency, the improvement of the microclimate and cutting the peaks of rainstorm runoffs, many city authorities and councils are more and more promoting the use of green roofs. Green roofs can give architects and building engineers more scope for aesthetic design and environmental improvement by reducing the number of hard surfaces in built–up areas.
Green roofs retain anything up to 50% of precipitation, spreading the runoff over much longer periods of time. As a result, green roofs can reduce the need for expensive drainage extension works, this helps to the civil engineer cut back construction costs significantly.
Roof Garden of Grand Azur Hotel with Enkadrain, a multifunctional layer for the drainage of surplus water, protection and filtration without the risk of clogging. The nonwoven filter layer serves both to protect the sealing layer and as a separator from the substrate. The choice of the right Enkadrain product type depends on the specific roof structure and use. The Enkadrain product range covers a large number of different drainage mats, each designed for a specific purpose. Certain types of Enkadrain are designed for use in extensive or intensive green roofs; others offer effective solutions for construction projects where roof gardens are intended to take vehicular traffic or other heavy loads, making compression resistance essential.
Enkadrain could be used also to drain long planters