The geosyntethics use to increase the general slope stability of soils and rocks.
Is noted that the geosyntethics use, specially the geotextiles, geogrids types and some geocomposites ones, make a increasing in the earth slope stability.
There are many situations were the geosyntethics insertions in the slope stabilization constructions have been a good solution, with a considerable efficiency, durability and with considerable decreasing of global costs. For these synthetics inclusions is possible to considerate your tensile strenght increasing in near or over of the rupture line, or parallel to the reinforcement insertion direction. Is possible, too, the utilization of littles global safety factors, were a new tensile force by the geosyntethics are addicted.
Some of these synthetics materials can to be used as the object in the slope reinforcement, in a big compacted embankments or as a part of the retains walls or fraturated rock slopes stabilization where the tensile strenght of the geosyntethics inclusions are necessary. The global slope stability dimentionating should be realized, making some considerations such as the tensile strenght of the syntethics samples mobilized and the slip surface probable studied through somes simulations with the syntethic inclusions.
The costs of these syntethics solutions adding, in the most cases, is low when it is compared with the final (or total) geotechnical construction cost. However, this benefit is very important when take into the consideration of the economy obtained during the soil moving or mixing in the slope earth construction, as a product of the that can to reduce the design safety factors used in the slope project. Take a good relationship “cost x benefit” is very important to the correct dimensionating of these syntethics used in the general slope stabilizations.
Thus, is possible to afirmate that the geosyntethics use as tensile strenghts inclusions in the earth and rock slopes, already are a normal procedure under a comproved efficiency in the most geotechnicals constructions. The convince power to put on mind of the a lot of traditionals constructions that these products present a new engineering reality, is a barrier that can be won with big investments in scientific studies, marketing, behavior analysis for these materials, praticitty of instalations, for others. The presentation for these procedures should be realized with otimism and sincerity, for all technicals and executives community, directly or not, linked in the geosyntethic practice in the brazillian geotechnical engeneering community.
Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos is a Technical Consultant in Constructions Engineering .