Jute Geotextiles for Civil Engineering Applications

Jute Geotextiles for Civil Engineering Applications

ABSTRACT:

Jute Geotextiles (JGT) produced in Bangladesh which may be used as an alternative to synthetic Geotextiles in civil engineering applications. Four types of untreated and three types of treated JGT samples were obtained from Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI). Laboratory tests were performed on these treated and untreated JGT samples to determine their physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties. An attempt has been made to compare these test results with the data related to synthetic Geotextiles available in Bangladesh. Based on these test results, some design examples have been presented using the design methods developed for synthetic Geotextiles applications. An economic aspect related to synthetic Geotextiles and JGT is also presented. It is appreciated that if synthetic Geotextiles are replaced with JGT in civil engineering applications as exemplified, significant economic benefit can be obtained. However, quality control of the JGT products at factory level and the installation effects at site are likely to play an important role in choosing the design parameters.

INTRODUCTION:

Jute Geotextiles (JGT) has emerged as a strong alternative to synthetic Geotextiles for many civil engineering applications. Synthetic Geotextiles being made from non-biodegradable polymer based constituents such as polypropylene, polyester or polyethylene, have inherent advantage over natural fibre based biodegradable JGT for long-term applications. Due to their short life span, JGTs are used as separator, vegetation growing mesh on slopes or as vertical drains. Recently, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) have developed some treatment techniques for JGTs which may enhance their life up to or even more than twenty years, Table 1. Development of such durable JGT materials is likely to allow them to be used in short-term to medium-term soil reinforcement applications, e.g. rural roads, construction access roads, flood and road embankments etc.

Besides development of enhanced durability of JGT, it is equally important to set widely acceptable testing standard for these materials. Currently, in absence of any such recognized testing standard, the ASTM, BS, DIN or ISO methods of testing usually employed for synthetic Geotextiles are most commonly adopted for the determination of the properties of JGT. Apparently there seems to be no reason why the standards used for synthetic Geotextiles should not be applicable for JGTs. However, as the industry gains further momentum and use of JGT gets wider acceptance, the issue may be settled based on technical and construction experiences.

TEST RESULTS OF SOME JGT PRODUCED IN BANGLADESH: Untreated samples of Jute were obtained from BJRI and untreated Canvas, DW Twill and Hessian were selected from BJMC for the purpose of this study. It should be appreciated that Jute is a densely woven fabric in which relatively flat type of yarn is used. It is manufactured in BJRI loom mainly for research purpose. However, if ordered Jute can be produced in all the jute mills for commercial purpose as well. Canvas is a very densely woven fabric, woven by round twisted yarns. Canvas used to be produced mainly in ABC Mill of Adamjee Jute Mills. After the layoff of Adamjee Jute Mills, all the machines were transferred to Latif Bawany Jute Mills situated at Derma of Dhaka. Canvas is the least porous out of the four and is now produced in Latif Bawany Jute Mills. DW Twill is also woven by using relatively flat type yarns like Jute. It is manufactured in many jute mills of Bangladesh. Hessian is the most porous amongst four and produced in all the jute mills of Bangladesh. Both DW Twill and Hessians are extensively used in the country mainly for packaging purpose.

Amongst the untreated JGT samples, Jute, Canvas and DW Twill samples were treated with bitumen by BJRI. The treatment procedure involved following steps:

Preparation of carbon black with required quantity of volatile oil

Addition of bitumen emulsion with paste followed by stirring

After mixing homogenously, the emulsion was laminated on the jute fabrics by brush and dried in sunlight or open area at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

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