What is the Geonet?

Geonet is a geosynthetic materials like geogrid. Geonets are coated with the geotextile material on either side of the geonet and are called drainage geocomposites.

Geonets are made using the analogous manner as the geogrid, but the ribs are interconnected in a homogenous way through the extrusion process. This process continuously creates a net.

Geonets are used at road construction as a surface course for both rehabilitation and new construction.

Geonets are a mesh structure consisting of overlapping threads/bands (from 3 to 15 mm) at a permanent angle (60-90°). This creates equal holes with a width from 10 to 200 mm. They are obtained by press forming of high-strength polyethylene or welding of threads/bands.

Geonets can be categorized in three ways

1. Biplanar: These are the original and most common types and consist of two sets of intersecting ribs at different angles and spacings.
2. Triplanar: These have parallel central ribs with smaller sets of ribs. These geonets have more stability, because the gaps between the ribs are small.
3. Other types: These have parallel central ribs with smaller sets of ribs

Uses of Geonet

Geonets can be used in a wide range of areas such as in road construction, road widening, and asphalt work, building construction and foundations, retaining walls, dams, artificial ponds, and water reservoirs, and many more. geosynthetics materials are transforming highway construction work.

Due to its multifunctional structure, geonet applications have been widely preferred in the construction industry all around the world. 

In addition to all these advantages, these innovative products can be installed at every phase of the construction in order to improve road design, conserve water, control evaporation, minimize the possibility of erosion, increase the durability of structures, and make them last longer. 

Why do we need to use Geonet?

The reason for the usage of geonet is ground reinforcement. These products empower the carrying potential of the current system due to the effects of friction and locking in any element of structure or road.

Also read: What are SCMs in concrete, what are the importance of SCMs?

Applications of the geonet:

1. Geonets can be used in the road construction
2. Patch works and pot holes fixing on the roads
3. Reinforcement can be given to the joints in asphalt road,
4. Acts as a layer to drain off the water behind retaining walls,
5. Used as a blanket for drainage beneath the surcharge fill, and building foundation.
6. Reinforcement of joints of asphalt concrete pavement:
7. Preventing cracking
8. Construction of high load platforms (container terminals, port buildings, airports, warehouse etc)

Geonets are often laminated with geotextiles on one or both surfaces and are then referred to as drainage geocomposites. geosynthetics materials transform the construction industry. there are many types of geosynthetic materials using in the construction industry.

Debarati Gupta

Debarati Gupta is a civil engineer intern and content writer at PIGSO Learning. Her passion to write and explore the topics in-depth helps learners to get detailed knowledge of the subject. Read more blogs written by her in the pigso learning blog.