BEHAVIOR OF GEODRAINS IN FILTRATION AND DRAINAGE (GEOTEXTILE AND GEORED)

Subsurface water flow generally threatens the useful life of pavement structures, affecting them in various ways. Precipitation that flows superficially on the slopes can accumulate and infiltrate the ground, producing its saturation, affecting the load-bearing capacity of the structure, generating settlements that threaten its stability and contribute to the formation of cracks and subsidence. The proper implementation of subdrainage systems in pavements can mitigate these adverse effects, guaranteeing better durability and resistance to hydrological conditions. Pavement subdrainage systems play a crucial role in protecting against damage caused by subsurface water, providing an effective solution to maintain structural integrity and extend the life of roads.

 

Possible water ingress into the pavement structure is associated with seepage through the surface through cracks and joints at the edges of the road, seepage from sections adjacent to the cut or embankment, and rise in the water table (see Figure 1). Since the specific locations where water can enter the layers of the structure cannot be predicted, subdrainage systems capable of protecting the entire width of the pavement are needed. 

 

The purpose of subdrain systems is to reduce damage caused by excess water. The excess water generates an internal flooding condition of the structural section of the pavement, which produces hydrostatic pressures in cracks or voids; and also, causes detrimental changes in the support capacity of the structure. Road subdrainage is a system of vital importance to guarantee the durability of pavement structures. By intercepting subsurface water, it prevents it from causing irreversible damage to the project. Additionally, good water management in this type of structures significantly reduces maintenance costs.

 

Figure 1. Subdrainage system in pavement structures.

 

In practice, longitudinal subdrainage systems are placed along the edge of the road, and/or transverse subdrains at the base of the pavement section. 

The subdrainage that is placed on the edges of the road captures the ascending water flows and conducts them longitudinally (see Figure 2), while the transverse subdrainage placed at the interface between the subgrade and the granular substructure, conducts the flows transversely towards the longitudinal subdrain (see Figure 3) complementing the system, so that water access to the layers of the pavement structure is prevented, keeping the water table of the subgrade soil lowered. 

 

Figure 2. Yeahtheme of Longitudinal Horizontal.

 

Figure 3. Geodrain PERMADRAIN for lowering subgrade water table

 

 

The geodrain PERMADRAIN is a geocomposite that presents in a single product an integral drainage system, made up of an HDPE drainage medium (geonet) that offers high resistance to compression, maintaining its thickness constant under high load requests and a non-woven geotextile filter medium. which allows the efficient passage of water while retaining soil particles. The geodrain for the longitudinal subdrainage system has a lower sleeve in which a perforated corrugated pipe for subdrainage is housed. DRAINPIPE which is in direct contact with the geogrid, guaranteeing the direct delivery of the captured water and its efficient evacuation