An Introduction to Geosynthetic Engineering

Geosynthetics, primarily made from synthetic polymers, provide efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for civil, geotechnical, and environmental challenges. Enhancing infrastructure performance with soil and rock, they are integral to global construction standards. Beyond civil engineering, their applications extend to mining, agriculture, and aquaculture. This book explores the principles, properties, and applications of geosynthetics, offering tailored solutions for innovative and sustainable infrastructure development.

This updated second edition of An Introduction to Geosynthetic Engineering provides a comprehensive introduction to geosynthetics, meeting the needs of senior undergraduate and postgraduate students, practising engineers, and professionals. It includes expanded content, updated chapters, new sections, detailed site photographs, revised standards and guidelines, additional examples, and practice questions. Tailored to support both learning and practical application, this textbook is an essential resource for understanding and utilizing geosynthetics in sustainable infrastructure development.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Shukla is a world-renowned expert in Civil (Geotechnical) Engineering. He serves as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering and is the Founding Leader of the Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Research Group at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.

Dr. Shukla holds Distinguished Professorships at several prestigious universities, including Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India, and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Engineers Australia, as well as a Life Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and the Indian Geotechnical Society.

Dr. Shukla has made significant contributions to academic literature, authoring/editing 28 books and publishing over 320 research articles. His widely acclaimed textbooks, Core Principles of Soil Mechanics and Core Concepts of Geotechnical Engineering are extensively used in geotechnical courses and have ranked #1 on Amazon. In 2024, he received the Distinguished Honour from the Consulate General of India, Perth, in recognition of his outstanding academic contributions to Geotechnical Engineering.

Dr. Shukla has received several prestigious awards, including the 2021 ECU Aspire Award and the 2018 IGS Award from the International Geosynthetics Society, USA. His groundbreaking contributions, such as the generalized expressions for seismic active thrust (2015) and passive resistance (2013), along with the innovative Shukla’s wraparound reinforcement technique, developed during 2007-2008, are recognized as a sustainable ground improvement method for strengthening foundations. These contributions have become integral components of engineering education worldwide and are widely applied by engineers globally. In addition, Dr. Shukla is regularly invited to deliver talks and short courses worldwide and is frequently approached by researchers and practicing engineers for his expertise in adding value to practical engineering solutions.