DRAINTUBE is a next generation geosynthetic drainage solution for infrastructure projects requiring high-performance drainage. But what exactly is this innovative product?
Introduced to Australia by Reinforced Earth in partnership with AFITEX-Texel, DRAINTUBE combines the advantages of traditional drainage geosynthetics, while resolving common limitations like long-term creep, geotextile intrusion and delamination. Designed to offer mechanical protection, filtration, drainage and leak detection, the solution is especially suited for mining and construction projects where dynamic conditions and high loads necessitate a robust, adaptable drainage system.
Technical Composition and Design
At its core, DRAINTUBE is a drainage geocomposite. The product features perforated polypropylene drainpipes encased in woven or needle-punched polypropylene or polyester geotextiles. These pipes provide efficient drainage, while the surrounding geotextile serves as a filter, preventing soil particles from entering the system and allowing water to flow directly to the drainpipes.
The space between the drainpipes can vary from 250 mm to 2 meters, depending on the specific drainage requirements of the project.
DRAINTUBE also presents itself in a version featuring a conductive grid of stainless-steel cables integrated within the geosynthetic material, allowing for geo-electrical leak detection.
Advantages of DRAINTUBE
DRAINTUBE offers several distinct advantages over conventional drainage solutions:
Enhanced Drainage Capacity: the unique design ensures a higher drainage capacity compared to traditional methods. It maintains excellent performance over time, even under heavy loads, with the ability to withstand pressures up to 2,500 kPa.
Environmental Sustainability: One of the key environmental benefits of DRAINTUBE is its reduction in the need for traditional granular materials. By replacing bulky aggregate layers with geosynthetics, it reduces the volume of materials transported to a construction site, thereby lowering carbon emissions and decreasing the environmental footprint of a project.
Economic Efficiency: The economic benefits of DRAINTUBE stem from its lower material costs and faster installation. With standard rolls covering a 30% more area than competing products and no need for complex net tying this delivers reduced labour and material expenses. Additionally, the flexibility of the product simplifies installation, further reducing project time and costs.
Social Impact: By shortening construction times and minimising the transportation of heavy materials like aggregates, DRAINTUBE contributes to less traffic and disruption in surrounding communities. This makes it an attractive option for projects in urban or densely populated areas.
Applications in Construction and Mining
DRAINTUBE is highly versatile, making it suitable for a range of applications:
Construction: DRAINTUBE is ideal for under-paving drainage in infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and sports fields. It can also be used for drainage in polluted sites and contaminated ground reclamation, where effective filtration and drainage are critical.
Landfills: DRAINTUBE plays a key role in landfill projects by providing efficient drainage at the bottom of landfill cells, during the filling phase, and as part of final cover drainage. Its ability to detect leaks under a geomembrane is particularly valuable for environmental protection.
Hydraulic Structures: In hydraulic engineering, DRAINTUBE can be used for embankment drainage, drainage under basins and to control leaks beneath waterproof geomembranes.
Mining: DRAINTUBE offers solutions for drainage in tailing ponds, mud mangling and the containment of dry mining waste. Its ability to handle high loads and offer rapid drainage makes it ideal for the challenging environments found in mining operations.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The replacement of granular drainage layers with DRAINTUBE not only enhances performance but also provides significant environmental and economic benefits. By reducing the quantity of aggregates needed, DRAINTUBE cuts down on material transport, minimising energy use and emissions. From an economic standpoint, the reduced material and transportation costs, combined with faster installation times, result in a cheaper overall project cost.
Conclusion
DRAINTUBE represents the next generation of geosynthetic drainage technology, offering a unique combination of mechanical protection, filtration, drainage and leak detection. Its innovative design addresses many of the shortcomings of traditional drainage systems while providing superior long-term performance under heavy loads. With its wide range of applications in construction, landfills, hydraulic structures and mining, DRAINTUBE is poised to become a popular solution for infrastructure projects across Australia.
For more information on how to incorporate DRAINTUBE into your next project, contact your local Reinforced Earth office or speak with our geosynthetics specialist to explore the full potential of this cutting-edge product.
