--- title: "Geocomposite Materials" date: 2022-10-31 author: "Sales Team" url: https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geo-composites/ --- # Geocomposite Materials ![Picture of Geocomposite Material](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMAGE-3-1.webp) Ocean Geosynthetics manufactures drainage geocomposites in India: a [geonet](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/ocean-geonet/) drainage core laminated on both faces with a nonwoven polypropylene filter geotextile. One layer does the work of a filter fabric plus a granular drainage blanket. We supply two standard grades, a 7.2 mm railway geocomposite and a 5.5 mm, 700 GSM geocomposite to MoRTH project specifications, with full test data below. ## Table of Contents ## What is a geocomposite? A geocomposite is any product made by combining two or more geosynthetics, or a geosynthetic with another material, so the combination performs better than either part alone. Common pairings are geotextile with geonet, geotextile with geomembrane, geotextile with geogrid, and geosynthetics combined with other materials such as formed plastic sheets or steel cables. Between them, geocomposites cover all the main geosynthetic functions: separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage and acting as a liquid barrier. The most widely used type, and the one Ocean manufactures, is the drainage geocomposite. The geonet core is a net of HDPE ribs that leaves open channels for water to flow along the plane of the sheet. The nonwoven geotextile bonded to each face acts as a filter: it lets water into the core but keeps soil out, so the channels do not clog. A bare geonet on its own is not a geocomposite; it becomes one once the geotextile is bonded to it. ## Ocean geocomposite grades ### Railway geocomposite 7.2 mm A 7.2 mm thick composite, 900–1000 g/m², for railway formation drainage and capillary cut-off. Its in-plane flow rate is measured at 20 kPa normal stress, which reflects the moderate confining pressure in a railway formation layer. The filter geotextile has an AOS of 0.150 mm. ### MoRTH geocomposite 5.5 mm, 700 GSM A 5.5 mm, 700 GSM composite for highway and structure drainage. Its in-plane flow is measured at 100 kPa and 200 kPa, the higher pressures found behind retaining walls and abutments and under deep fill. The filter geotextile has an AOS of 0.220 mm and is supplied in 2 × 25 m rolls. ## Technical Specifications Ocean Geocomposite is a geonet drainage core laminated with a nonwoven PP filter geotextile on both faces, combining drainage, filtration and separation in a single layer. Variants are available to Railway and MORTH specifications. ### Railway Geocomposite 7.2 mm (Composite) | Property | Unit | Test Method | Value | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Mass per Unit Area | g/m² | | 900-1000 | | Thickness | mm | EN ISO 9863-1 | 7.2 | | Wide Width Tensile Strength (MD/CMD) | kN/m | EN ISO 10319 | 20.0 [±2] | | Tensile Elongation (MD/CMD) | % | EN ISO 10319 | 35.0 [±15] | | CBR Puncture Resistance | N | EN ISO 12236 | 3500 [-350] | | In-plane Flow Rate (i=1 @20 kPa) | L/m.s | EN ISO 12958 | 2.1 | | UV Resistance @500 Hrs (CBR) | % | ASTM D4355 | >70 | | Resistance to Weathering | % | EN 12224 | >50 | ### Railway Geocomposite 7.2 mm (Filter Geotextile) | Property | Unit | Test Method | Value | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Type of Product | | | Nonwoven | | Raw Material | | | Polypropylene (PP) | | CBR Puncture | N | EN ISO 12236 | 1500 | | Water Permeability | L/m²/s | ASTM D4491 | 70 | | Apparent Opening Size (AOS) | mm | ASTM D4751 | 0.150 | | UV Resistance @500 Hrs (CBR) | % | ASTM D4355 | >70 | ### MORTH Geocomposite 5.5 mm, 700 GSM (Composite) | Property | Unit | Test Method | Value | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Thickness | mm | EN ISO 9863-1 | 5.50 (-0.50) | | Wide Width Tensile Strength (MD/CMD) | kN/m | EN ISO 10319 | 16 (±2) | | Tensile Elongation (MD/CMD) | % | EN ISO 10319 | 35 (±15) | | CBR Puncture Resistance | N | EN ISO 12236 | 3000 (-350) | | In-plane Flow Rate (i=1 @100 kPa) | l/m.s | EN ISO 12958 | 0.55 | | In-plane Flow Rate (i=1 @200 kPa) | l/m.s | EN ISO 12958 | 0.45 | | UV Resistance @500 Hrs (CBR) | % | ASTM D4355 | >70 | | Resistance to Weathering | % | EN ISO 12224 | >50 | ### MORTH Geocomposite 5.5 mm, 700 GSM (Filter Geotextile) | Property | Unit | Test Method | Value | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Type of Product | | | Non Woven | | Raw Material | | | Polypropylene (PP) | | CBR Puncture | N | EN ISO 12236 | 1500 | | Water Permittivity | s⁻¹ | ASTM D4491 | 0.50 | | Apparent Opening Size (AOS) | mm | ASTM D4751 | 0.220 | | UV Resistance @500 Hrs (CBR) | % | ASTM D4355 | >70 | | Roll Dimension | m | | 2 x 25 | ## Key Applications - Subsurface and in-plane drainage - Drainage behind retaining walls, abutments and basements - Railway formation and highway capillary cut-off and drainage - Landfill and reservoir drainage layers - Combined drainage, filtration and separation in one layer ## Key Features - Geonet core laminated with nonwoven filter geotextile on both sides - High in-plane flow capacity under load - High CBR puncture resistance - Replaces a separate drainage aggregate and filter layer - UV and weathering resistant [Download Railway Geocomposite Brochure (PDF)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ocean-geocomposite-railways.pdf) [Download MORTH Geocomposite Brochure (PDF)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ocean-geocomposite-morth-700gsm.pdf) ## Key properties and test standards - **Thickness** (EN ISO 9863-1): thickness of the composite under a specified pressure. A thicker core usually carries more water. - **In-plane flow rate** (EN ISO 12958): litres per second per metre width flowing along the core at a hydraulic gradient (i = 1) and a set normal stress. This is the main design property. Flow drops as normal stress rises, so compare products at the pressure your design will apply. - **Wide-width tensile strength and elongation** (EN ISO 10319): strength for handling, installation and resisting strain in service. - **CBR puncture resistance** (EN ISO 12236): resistance to puncture from aggregate or ballast placed against the composite. - **Filter properties**: AOS (ASTM D4751) must be small enough to retain the adjacent soil, and permeability or permittivity (ASTM D4491) high enough that the filter passes water faster than the soil supplies it. - **UV resistance** (ASTM D4355) and **resistance to weathering** (EN 12224): strength retained after exposure, relevant while the material sits uncovered on site. For long-term design, laboratory flow rates are reduced by factors for creep of the core, intrusion of the geotextile into the core, and chemical and biological clogging. GRI-GC8 and ASTM D7931 set out this method for calculating the allowable flow rate of a drainage geocomposite. ## Other types of geocomposite ### Geotextile-geonet composites Placing a geotextile over or under a geonet, or making a geotextile-geonet-geotextile sandwich, keeps the separation and filtration functions of the geotextile and adds much higher drainage capacity than a geotextile alone. Laid horizontally, they form a capillary break that stops water rising from the subgrade where frost heave or salt migration is a problem. Water entering the core flows sideways and away. These composites are also used to collect and carry leachate in landfills and to vent gas or drain water beneath pond liners. ### Geotextile-geomembrane composites Geotextiles laminated to one or both sides of a [geomembrane](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/ocean-geomembrane/) add puncture resistance, tear resistance, interface friction and tensile strength. The geotextiles are usually heavy needle-punched nonwovens, which can also carry water or leachate away from the geomembrane along their plane. ### Geomembrane-geogrid composites Some geomembranes and geogrids are made of the same polymer (for example, HDPE), so the two can be bonded into an impervious barrier with added strength and interface friction. ### Geotextile-geogrid composites Bonding a [geogrid](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geogrid-manufacturers/) (or a woven scrim) to a geotextile improves the low modulus and high elongation of the geotextile alone. The result filters and separates like a geotextile and reinforces like a geogrid. ### Geosynthetic-soil composites Some geocomposites include soil or mineral material. A [geosynthetic clay liner](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geosynthetics-clay-liner/) encloses bentonite between geotextiles. [Geocells](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geocells/) are HDPE strips welded into a honeycomb that, filled with soil or aggregate, forms a stiff mattress used to support embankments and roads over weak ground. Fibre-reinforced sand, made by mixing continuous polymer fibres into sand, gives the soil apparent cohesion and allows steeper slopes. ### Geotextile and polymer-core composites A formed plastic core wrapped or faced with a geotextile filter makes a high-capacity drain. This group includes: - **Prefabricated vertical drains (wick drains):** a fluted polymer core in a geotextile sleeve, typically 100 mm wide, installed into soft clay to speed up consolidation. They have largely replaced sand drains for this job. - **Sheet drains and dimpled drain boards:** a vacuum-formed dimpled or studded core with a geotextile on one side, used behind retaining walls and basement walls and on plaza decks. Some include a thin membrane facing the wall as a vapour barrier. See our [dimple drain board](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/dimple-drain-board/). - **Prefabricated edge drains:** narrow panels, typically about 45 cm deep, installed in a trench along a highway or railway to drain water laterally out of the pavement or formation. ## Applications - **Retaining walls, abutments and basements:** placed against the back of the wall to relieve hydrostatic pressure and carry groundwater to weep holes or a collector pipe. It can replace a thick granular filter layer behind the wall, which saves material and excavation. - **Highways:** subsurface drainage and capillary cut-off under pavements, and drainage behind structures. Ocean geocomposite was used on [NHAI work in Patna, Bihar](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/nhai-infrastructure-ocean-geocomposite/). - **Railway formation:** beneath the blanket or ballast, where it drains water out of the formation, cuts off capillary rise and separates the layers. Ocean’s 700 GSM geocomposite was used on a [railway project in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/railway-infrastructure-maharashtra-700-gsm/). See also our [railways](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/railways/) sector page. - **Landfills:** leachate collection layers, leak detection layers between primary and secondary liners, and drainage in landfill caps. See our [landfill leachate drainage project in Odisha](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/drainage-geocomposite-55-mm/). - **Ponds and reservoirs:** gas venting and leak detection beneath geomembrane liners. - **Slopes, dams and embankments:** slope drainage and chimney or blanket drains in embankment dams. - **Roofs, decks and landscaping:** drainage under green roofs, parking decks, balconies and planters, carrying water to outlets so it does not pond. ## How to choose a geocomposite - **Required flow:** estimate the inflow per metre width, then select a product whose allowable flow rate (after reduction factors) at the design normal stress and gradient exceeds it with a margin. - **Normal stress:** use flow data measured at the pressure the product will see. The MoRTH grade is tested at 100 and 200 kPa for walls and deep fill; the railway grade at 20 kPa for formation layers. - **Filter compatibility:** choose the filter AOS to suit the adjacent soil gradation; finer soils need a smaller AOS. - **Puncture risk:** where ballast or angular aggregate bears directly on the composite, check CBR puncture resistance. ## Installation basics - Unroll on a smooth, prepared surface with the core channels running in the direction of flow (usually downslope or towards the outlet). - Overlap adjacent geonet cores and secure them with plastic ties; lap the top geotextile over the joint so soil cannot enter the core. - Behind walls, fix the geocomposite to the wall face and connect its base to a perforated collector pipe or weep holes. - Place backfill or aggregate carefully so equipment does not run directly on the composite, and cover it promptly to limit UV exposure. ## Related products - [Geonet](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/ocean-geonet/): the HDPE drainage core, also supplied on its own. - [Dimple drain board](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/dimple-drain-board/): sheet drain for basements and walls. - [Geotextiles](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geotextile-manufacturers/): filter and separation fabrics. - [PVC geo pipes](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/pvc-geo-pipes/): perforated collector pipes for geocomposite drains. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between a geonet and a geocomposite? A geonet is a bare HDPE net that provides the drainage channels. A drainage geocomposite is a geonet with a nonwoven geotextile bonded to one or both faces, so it also filters soil out of the water. ### Can a geocomposite replace a gravel drainage layer? Yes, where the design flow is within the geocomposite’s allowable flow rate at the design pressure. It is commonly used in place of a granular filter behind retaining walls and as a drainage layer in landfills. ### What does in-plane flow rate mean? It is the volume of water the core carries along its plane per second per metre of width, measured to EN ISO 12958 at a stated gradient and normal stress. ### Which grade should I use for a railway formation? The railway geocomposite 7.2 mm is designed for formation drainage and capillary cut-off. Confirm the required properties against your project specification. ### Which grade suits retaining walls and highway structures? The MoRTH geocomposite 5.5 mm, 700 GSM, which is tested for in-plane flow at 100 kPa and 200 kPa. - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8857-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8857.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8842-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8842.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8844-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8844.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8859-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8859.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8861-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8861.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8864-1024x683.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_8864.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-1-1-1.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-1-1-1.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-2-2.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-2-2.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-3-2.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMAGE-3-2.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/00003-Agru-1024x682.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/00003-Agru.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geocomposite-2-.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geocomposite-2-.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geocomposite-2.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geocomposite-2.webp) - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_0859.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_0859.webp) Suitable For - [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/agriculture.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/agricultures/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Defence.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/defence/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/industries-and-buildings.svg.svg)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/industries-and-buildings/) ## Related Case Studies [![Workers installing a drainage geocomposite against a concrete retaining wall at an industrial plant construction site](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/drainage-geocomposite-bcgcl-jharsuguda-300x225.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/drainage-geocomposite-bcgcl-project-jharsuguda-odisha/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/), [Geocomposites](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geocomposites/) October 15, 2026 [Keeping a Landmark Plant Dry: Ocean Geo Composite at the BCGCL Project, Jharsuguda, Odisha](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/drainage-geocomposite-bcgcl-project-jharsuguda-odisha/) [![Advanced Leachate Drainage Infrastructure with Ocean - Detailed view of drainage pipe construction in a trench, Elk Grove, Ca](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/advanced-leachate-drainage-infrastructure-with-1781258951177-300x168.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/drainage-geocomposite-55-mm/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/), [Geocomposites](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geocomposites/) June 12, 2026 [Advanced Leachate Drainage Infrastructure with Ocean Drainage Geocomposite 5.5 MM in Odisha Landfill Project](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/drainage-geocomposite-55-mm/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Landscaping-with-Geocomposite-in-Rewari-300x200.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/retaining-wall-landscaping-with-geocomposite-in-rewari/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/), [Geocomposites](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geocomposites/) January 23, 2026 [Retaining wall and landscaping works, geocomposite supplied and installed, quantity 1,000 SQM](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/retaining-wall-landscaping-with-geocomposite-in-rewari/) [View More Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/case-studies/?_categories=geocomposites) ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tom-barrett-OQL4DLy3Nys-unsplash-1.webp) ## Need More Information? 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