Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas
Section 4: Geosynthetic Product Information
- General Notes
- Geotextiles
- Geonet (Geonet Composites)
- Sheet Drains
- Geogrids
- Geocells
- Proprietary Materials
General Notes
The listed manufacturers and products were obtained from the Geotechnical Fabrics Report, 1995 Specifier's Guide. The products listed meet the physical properties shown for each type of geosynthetic. These physical properties were selected to meet typical muddy trail construction conditions. These properties are on the "low end" of those available since trails applications are much less demanding than geosynthetic applications in road construction where heavy machinery and large angular boulders require heavier products. These products are lighter, easier to work with, and also cost less.
Phone numbers and web sites have been updated using the Geotechnical Fabrics Report, 2000 Specifier's Guide. However, we have not updated the product numbers, prices, and specifications. Geosynthetic products that have entered the market since 1995 are not described here. For a copy of the newest Specifier's Guide, contact the Industrial Fabric Association International.
The products listed are ones that are readily available. Many other products from these and other manufacturers may be appropriate. There are literally hundreds of products available from manufacturers and even home improvement centers. Most manufacturers and Geotechnical/Materials Engineers can assist in selecting products if you provide details on soil and moisture conditions and expected loads (light loads for trails).
Price ranges shown are approximate and vary throughout the country due to shipping costs. Call the listed phone numbers for current prices delivered to your area, or for the local sales representative. For comparison, price ranges shown are in dollars per square meter for all products. Price ranges in parenthesis are in dollars per square yard. Manufacturers may provide prices by the square meter, square yard, square foot, or for full roll quantities. Unit costs decrease as the amount ordered increases. Prices shown are based on the minimum one roll quantity, FOB the manufacturing location.
All geosynthetic products can be either field cut or precut by the manufacturer to meet your width requirements and weight handling capability.
Geotextiles
| Manufacturers: | |
|---|---|
| COMPANY | PRODUCT |
| AMOCO Fabrics & Fibers | 4545 |
| Phone: 800-445-7732 | |
| TC Mirafi | 140N |
| Phone: 888-795-0808 | |
| Web site: http://www.tcmirafi.com | |
| Linq Industries | 1300EX |
| Phone: 800-543-9966 | |
| Web site: http://www.linqind.com | |
Price Range: $0.63 to $0.72 per square meter ($0.53 to $0.60 per square yard)
Typical Product Unit Weight: 0.13 kilogram per square meter (0.25 pound per square yard)
Critical Physical Properties for Trail Construction:
Material structure: Nonwoven.
Polymer composition: Polypropylene.
Apparent opening by ASTM D 4751-87: Less than 0.297 millimeters (greater than No. 50 mesh).
Permittivity by ASTM D4491-92: Greater than 4060 liters per minute per square meter (Greater than 100 gallons per minute per square foot).
Puncture strength by ASTM D48833-88: Greater than 0.245 kilonewtons (greater than 55 pounds).
Mullen burst by ASTM D 3786-87: Greater than 1275 kilopascals (more than 185 pounds per square inch).
Trapezoid tear strength by ASTM D4533-91: Greater than 0.18 kilonewtons (more than 40 pounds).
Grab tensile at 50 percent elongation by ASTM D4632-91: Greater than 0.40 kilonewtons (Greater than 90 pounds).
Ultraviolet degradation: Greater than 70 at 150 hours.
Notes: The products listed are nonwoven, felt-like materials that are easier to work with than heat bonded or slit film products that have a slick surface texture. Physical property requirements are minimum average roll values where applicable. Compare desired widths with standard roll widths and consult with manufacturers for field or factory cutting. Costs are based on one roll quantities which normally cover 400 to 500 square meters (475 to 600 square yards).
Geonet (Geonet Composites)
| Manufacturers: | |
|---|---|
| COMPANY | PRODUCT |
| Tenax | TNT 204042 |
| Phone: 800-356-8495 | |
| Web site: http://www.tenax.net | |
| Tensar Corp. | DC4205 |
| Phone: 800-836-7271 | |
| Web site: http://www.tensarcorp.com | |
Price Range: $3.50 to $4.60 per square meter ($2.97 to $3.87 per square yard)
Typical Product Unit Weight: 0.89 kilograms per square meter (1.64 pounds per square yard)
Critical Physical Properties for Trail Construction:
Polymer composition of core (net or mesh): Medium or high-density polyethylene.
Geotextile: Must be attached to both sides of the Core, and meet or exceed the requirements of AASHTO M 288 Subsurface Drainage Class B with permeability greater than 0.0001 centimeters per second, and an apparent opening size less than 0.297 millimeters (greater than the No. 50 U.S. Standard Sieve).
Core thickness: Greater than 5 millimeters by ASTM D5199.
Compressive strength of core: Greater than 500 kilo-pascals by ASTM D1621.
Transmissivity with gradient at 0.1, pressure at 10 kilo-pascals: Greater than 0.0009 meters2 per second (greater than 4 gallons per minute per foot).
Notes: Discuss the roll width and length requirements for your project with manufacturers.
Sheet Drains
| Manufacturers: | |
|---|---|
| COMPANY | PRODUCT |
| TC Mirafi | Miradrain 6000 |
| Phone: 800-445-7732 | |
| Web site: http://www.tcmirafi.com | |
| Contech | C-Drain 15K |
| Phone: 800-338-1122 | |
| Web site: http://www.contech-cpi.com | |
| Presto | Amerdrain 500 |
| Phone: 800-548-3424 | |
| Web site: http://www.prestogeo.com | |
Price Range: $6.50 to $8.50 per square meter ($5.40 to $7.11 per square yard).
Typical Product Unit Weight: 2.3 kilogram per square meter (4.25 pounds per square yard).
Critical Physical Properties for Trail Construction:
Structure: Single- or double-dimpled core.
Core polymer composition: Polystyrene or polypropylene.
Attached geotextile: Nonwoven on one side if core solid, on both sides if core perforated. Geotextile must meet or exceed the requirements of AASHTO M 288 Subsurface Drainage Class B with permeability greater than 0.0001 centimeters per second, and an apparent opening size less than 0.297 millimeters (greater than the No. 50 U.S. Standard Sieve).
Core thickness by ASTM D5199: Greater than 10 millimeters (greater than 0.40 inches).
Core compressive strength at yield by ASTM D1621: Greater than 650 kilopascals (greater than 95 pounds per square inch).
Notes: Compare desired width with standard sheet width and consult with manufacturers for field or factory cutting. Various core thicknesses are available. For example, Presto makes a product called Akwadrain that has a 25-millimeter core thickness, with fabric on both sides. It has significantly greater bending strength which helps limit the amount of settling in soft soils, and reduces the amount of fill material required.
Geogrids
| Manufacturers: | |
|---|---|
| COMPANY | PRODUCT |
| Contech | BX1100 |
| Phone: 800-338-1122 | |
| Web site: http://www.contech-cpi.com | |
| or | |
| Tensar Corp. | BX1100 |
| Phone: 800-836-7271 | |
| Web site: http://www.tensarcorp.com | |
| Carthage Mills | FX-3000 |
| Phone: 800-543-4430 | |
| Web site: http://www.carthagemills.com | |
| Tenax | MS300 |
| Phone: 800-356-8495 | |
| Web site: http://www.tenax.net | |
| Huesker | Fortrac 35/20-20 |
| Phone: 800-942-9418 | |
| Web site: http://www.huesker.com | |
| TC Mirafi | Miragrid 5T |
| Phone: 800-445-7732 | |
| Web site: http://www.tcmirafi.com | |
Price Range: $2.15 to $4.75 per square meter ($1.80 to $4.00 per square yard). Low-cost products are made from polypropylene, higher cost products are made from coated polyester. Both product types are adequate for trails.
Typical Product Unit Weight: 1.75 kilograms per square meter (0.34 pounds per square yard).
Critical Physical Properties for Trail Applications:
Polymer type: Polypropylene or polyester with acrylic or PVC coating.
Mass per unit area by ASTM D5261-92: 175 grams per square meter (greater than 5.5 ounces per square yard).
Maximum aperture size: Machine direction (MD): 25 centimeters (1 inch). Cross direction (XD): 33 centimeters (1.3 inches).
Wide-width strip tensile strength at 5-percent strain by ASTM D4595-86: Machine direction (MD): 8 kilonewtons per meter (550 pounds per foot). Cross direction (XD): 6 kilonewtons per meter (410 pounds per foot).
Notes: Specify desired product widths and lengths for the project application.
Geocells
| Manufacturers: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded Dimensional Properties | |||
| COMPANY | PRODUCT | Individual Cell Depth x Length |
Whole Sheet Length x Width |
| Presto | Geoweb | 100 x 200 mm | 6.10 x 2.44 m |
| Phone: 800-548-3424 | (4 x 8 in) | (20 x 8 ft) | |
| Web site: http://www.prestogeo.com | |||
| AGH | Envirogrid | Same | Same |
| Phone: 800-434-4743 | |||
| Web site: http://www.aghindustries.com | |||
| WEBTEC | TerraCell | Same | Same |
| Phone: 800-438-0027 | |||
| Web site: http://www.webtecgeos.com | |||
Price Range: $7.50 to $11.30 per square meter ($6.30 to $9.45 per square yard).
Typical Product Unit Weight: 1.55 kilograms per square meter (2.9 pounds per square yard).
Similar Physical Properties for Listed Products:
Composition: Polyethylene or high-density polyethylene
Geocell weight expanded: Greater than 1.4 kilograms per square meter (greater than 45 ounces per square yard).
Minimum cell seam peel strength by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Technical Report G-86-19 Appendix A: 800 newtons (180 pounds).
Expanded dimensional properties: As specified by the designer-see dimensions listed for the products shown above.
Notes: Specify desired product widths for the project application. The 100-millimeter (4-inch) cell depth should be adequate for trails-depths from 50 to 200 millimeters (2 to 8 inches) are available. Consult manufacturers for availability of different section widths and alteration of standard section widths to fit your project needs.
Proprietary Materials
| Manufacturers: | ||
|---|---|---|
| COMPANY | PRODUCT | APPROXIMATE COST |
| GroundMaster | TrailMaster | $16 per sq m |
| Phone: 800-968-2930 | ($13.50 per sq yd) | |
Physical Property Description: This is a proprietary product, and no standards for testing and acceptance are available. When specifying or ordering, describe the product as follows:
TrailMaster-
Polypropylene sheet thickness: Greater than 3 millimeters (one-eighth-inch).
Extruded hole diameter (nominal): 16 millimeters (five-eighths-inch).
Percent open area (nominal): 12 percent.
Space between extruded holes (nominal): 32 millimeters (1¼-inches).
Minimum product weight: 2.8 kilograms per square meter (5.13 pounds per square yard).
Notes: Consult the manufacturer for appropriate widths and lengths of product desired prior to placing order.
