Industrial Ground Stabilization with Ocean Non Wovens Geotextile 3 MM at Reliance Project, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Introduction

At the Reliance Project in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Ocean Non Wovens supplied 1950 SQM of Ocean Non Wovens Geotextile 3 MM for ground stabilisation, separation and drainage support under industrial pavements and working areas.

Industrial pavements carry heavier and more repetitive loads than most commercial developments: trucks, machinery, equipment vibration and continuous operational traffic. On weak or wet subgrade, those loads push the aggregate base into the soil below. The base loses thickness and stiffness, and the surface shows it as rutting, cracking, settlement and repeated repairs. A geotextile between the subgrade and the aggregate keeps the two layers apart.

Project overview

• Project Type: Industrial Infrastructure Project
• Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
• Product Used: Ocean Non Wovens Geotextile 3 MM
• Quantity: 1950 SQM
• Application Area: Ground stabilization and separation

The project needed a geotextile that would keep the subgrade and aggregate separated, and keep water moving, under continuous industrial loading.

What the geotextile does under an industrial pavement

Without a separation layer, repeated wheel loads work the aggregate down into soft soil and pump fines up into the base. Both reduce the effective thickness of the base course. The 3 mm geotextile was supplied to provide:

• Soil and aggregate separation
• Improvement of load distribution
• Drainage enhancement
• Reduction of subgrade contamination
• Improvement of pavement durability
• Long-term structural stabilization

The 3 MM in the product name is the fabric’s thickness, not its mass per unit area. Geotextile thickness is measured under a small normal pressure (2 kPa) per ASTM D5199. A thick geotextile also carries water within its own plane, so it can relieve pore pressure at the subgrade surface and drain water that would otherwise soften the soil beneath the base. In India, IRC SP:59 covers the use of geosynthetics, including separation geotextiles, in road pavements.

Why ground stabilisation matters on industrial sites

Industrial pavements often look sound when handed over and then deteriorate as the subgrade gives way. Common symptoms are:

• Rutting
• Differential settlement
• Surface cracking
• Water accumulation
• Aggregate displacement

Keeping the layers separate and the subgrade drained limits that deformation.

Site conditions the design has to handle

Weak subgrade conditions

Industrial zones often have variable soils, and areas with higher moisture content have lower bearing capacity.

Monsoon-related soil softening

Monsoon rainfall raises subgrade moisture across much of India, including coastal Andhra Pradesh. Wetter soil is weaker and settles more under load.

Aggregate contamination

Without a separation layer, aggregate punches into soft soil and fines migrate upward. The base loses structural thickness and needs more maintenance.

Construction traffic during installation

Other site work usually continues while the geotextile is being laid. Equipment running directly on exposed fabric can tear or displace it unless traffic is controlled.

Installation methodology and quality control

The installation process included:

1. Surface grading and preparation
2. Removal of protrusions and sharp objects
3. Controlled roll placement
4. Overlap alignment management
5. Wrinkle reduction
6. Supervised aggregate placement

Aggregate placement is where geotextiles are most often damaged. Tipping stone straight onto the fabric or running vehicles on it before the first lift is spread can shift or tear it. Standard practice is to end-dump onto previously placed aggregate and push the fill forward over the fabric, keeping a minimum cover thickness between tyres and geotextile. Overlaps between rolls are typically 300 mm or more, increased on softer ground. Quality control inspections on this project focused on alignment and on protecting the material during placement.

Long-term performance

How well the system holds up depends on:

• Traffic loading intensity
• Drainage efficiency
• Aggregate quality
• Compaction standards
• Subgrade consistency
• Installation quality

Drainage deserves particular attention. Water trapped beneath an industrial pavement softens the subgrade and is a common cause of deterioration, so the geotextile works best alongside proper surface falls, side drains and outlets.

Material and maintenance savings

A separation geotextile reduces the aggregate lost into the subgrade. That gives:

• Lower aggregate consumption
• Fewer truckloads of stone to haul
• Less future repair work
• Longer pavement life
• Less material used in maintenance

Other industrial uses of geosynthetics

The same principles apply across industrial sites. Geosynthetics are used in:

• Industrial pavement stabilization
• Working platforms
• Storage yards
• Access roads
• Drainage systems
• Reinforced embankments
• Soil stabilization applications

On very soft ground, a geotextile is often combined with a biaxial geogrid: the geotextile separates and drains, the geogrid confines the aggregate and spreads load. Biaxial geogrid was also supplied to a Reliance project in Vijayawada: see the Ocean Biaxial Geogrid 30 kN case study.

About Ocean Non Wovens

Ocean Non Wovens supplies geosynthetics for industrial, environmental, transportation, irrigation, landfill and infrastructure projects across India. See more case studies.