IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
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Volume: 03 Issue: 02 | Feb-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 379
which use of geotextiles gained initial recognition as novel
geotechnical materials. More recently, geotextiles have been
used to enhance tensile and mechanical properties of civil
engineering materials themselves, such as road surfaces and
sub-surfaces in both construction of new and renovation of old
highways. However, their behaviour in soils and the
characteristics of soils enable geotextile functions and
applications to be more readily appreciated. Thus, the detailed
review reveals that there is a dire need of designing and
engineering an innovative jute fabric to suit the requirements
of different geotechnical applications.
2. JUTE GEOTEXTILES (JGT)
The application area of geotextiles is increasing continuously
with the development of modern scientific and technological
innovation. Geotextiles particularly, jute geotextiles (JGT) are
emerging technical textiles in geotechnical and bio-
engineering fields. These are fabricated by both manmade and
natural fibres with different designs, shapes, sizes and
compositions according to site specific conditions and as well
as functional needs. These are a group of commodities, which
are used for solving problems related to geotechnical, bio-
engineering, agronomic and horticultural requirements by way
of consolidation, filtration, separation and management of soil
along with agricultural mulching. In respect to their physical,
mechanical, hydrological properties, natural geotextiles
particularly JGT are getting increasing acceptability due to
their environmental complementary [8] support. However,
non-environment friendly nature for most of synthetic fibres,
particularly polyolefines stand against their continued use.
Therefore, the growing consciousness regarding environment
preservation has changed the situation in the recent years.
Some major plus points regarding jute in this context are
include agro-origin, annually renewability, soil friendly
organic criteria and complete biodegradable nature, eco-
compatibility and improvement of soil fertility and texture, as
stated earlier. Therefore, use of JGT, as a geotextile material
can be capable for overall survival of old-age jute industry as
well as jute cultivators. A vast range of diversified jute
products along with JGT can be manufactured through vertical
and horizontal modification of existing technology and
machineries for the use of different civil engineering
applications. Jute Geotextiles is an engineering fabric which,
when placed in or on soil, helps to improve its engineering
performance against extraneous loads by acting as a change
agent or a catalyst. Independent research in the laboratory and
field trials has shown jute geotextiles to be technically “fit for
purpose”, especially in the fields of soil erosion control and
vegetation management. There is also potential use of these
products in the stabilization [8] of rural earth roads.
Functionally there is no difference between man-made
geotextile and JGT, though life of man-made geotextile is
much longer. But as geotextile acts as a change agent for a
limited initial period, shorter life of JGT is not a technical
deterrent. Interestingly, it has also revealed from the
laboratory studies [9] that the rate of gain in strength in soil is
compensated by the rate of degradation of JGT. Extensive
laboratory studies and field trials with JGT have substantiated
its efficacy in addressing a number of soil related problems in
the field of civil engineering [10] construction.
The earliest example of jute woven fabric geotextiles for
subgrade support was in the construction of a highway in
Aberdeen in the 1930‟s. Jute Mesh was probably first used in
Erosion control in USA in the early 30‟s, where soil
conservation were said to have taken a modified form of jute
mesh used to wrap bales of cotton [11] and laid on slopes to
prevent wash-off from newly seeded grounds. These types of
construction however are more comparable to reinforced
concrete than today‟s reinforced earth techniques, because of
the rigid way in which stress was transferred to the tensile
elements and the „cemented‟ nature of the fill. Ramaswamy
and Aziz [12] reported on the economical design and
construction of haul roads on poor subgrades with jute fabrics.
It is reported that JGT had also been used for mine spoil
stabilization, hill slope protection and sand dune stabilization
in 1987 and 1988. It has been observed that JGT performed
satisfactorily in controlling soil erosion and helped in growth
of vegetation. Bitumen [13] treated JGT has been used on the
bank slope of Nayachar Island, in the river Hooghly, West
Bengal, India for erosion control in 1992. The undisturbed
bank after 11 years implies that JGT performed its designed
functions and helped in natural consolidation of the bank soil.
Application of treated woven jute geotextiles along with
appropriate engineering measures was also done for
prevention of riverbank erosion in the river Ichamati, West
Bengal, India.
Jute accounts for less than 1 % of total geotextile use, despite
the technical advantages and low cost of it. A promotion
programme, which aims to provide product information in
readily useable form, has been initiated by UNITC, UNDP and
NJB (erstwhile JMDC). Conservation land managers,
landowners and landscape architects who use jute in
environment projects have gained immediate improvements in
the rate and quality of vegetation growth, at reduced material
costs. Two seminars [14] in London and Geneva held in 1997
brought together key jute producers with researchers,
environmental consultants, suppliers, contractors and other
relevant policy making authorities, where some draft
specifications were agreed on jute geotextiles would need to
meet to satisfy environmental and geotechnical engineers. A
lot of successful field applications with JGT in different areas
of civil engineering construction such as Erosion Control,
River / Canal Bank Protection, Road Construction,Railway
Slope Protection / Track Subsidence, Jute Agro textile,
Horticulture and Forestry have been carried out in India and
Bangladesh principally for the purpose of strengthening of
subgrades and roadside drainage [15]Before describing the
