What is Geotextile Fabric?
Geotextile fabric is a branch of technical textiles that deals in sustainable construction and environmental protection. Primarily synthetic materials such as polypropylene or polyester are used in construction. Geotextile fabric is permeable that is used in association with soil and can separate filter, reinforce, drain, or protect. Geotextile fabrics are used in the ground to cover the soil, called the geo prefix. Also, it is used in railroads, highways, dams, retaining walls, and houses.
It comes in two basic forms woven geotextile fabric and nonwoven geotextile fabric. Geotextile Composites have been developed products and produced such as geo-mesh and geogrid. These geotextile fabrics are used in technology named geotechnical, environmental engineering, and geosynthetics with well-to geonets, geosynthetic clay liners, geotextile tubes, geogrids, and much more.
The First Steps Towards Geotextiles
In ancient times textiles were used to strengthen and protect structure. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used woven natural fabric to reinforce their structures. These early textiles served as a foundation for the development of geotextile fabric later. In the 18th century, the invention of power looms opened a new way to utilize textile and civil engineering with improved manufacturing techniques and stronger fabric. During the 19th and 20th centuries, geotextile used woven fabric made from natural fibers like jute and cotton in applications such as road stabilization, erosion control, and slope protection.
An alternative to granular soil filters is considered originally geotextile. In modern terms called filter fabrics. Work was originally done in the 1950s when R.J. Barrett used a geotextile on a wall of precast concrete seawall. He applied a variety of erosion control applications. As behind the precast concrete wall, under the precast blocks, and above large stone riprap and erosion control. He used a relatively high open area about 6 to 30%. He discussed permeability, strength and elongation, and tone setting used in geotextile use filtrations.
Applications of Geotextile Fabrics
Geotextile fabrics are used in many applications. Geo fabric used multiple functions, including draining water, reinforcing soil, and separating different soils from each other. Below are examples of some uses:
Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization
Geotextile is used for erosion control on riverbanks. Geofabric is placed between the large rocks on top of the soil. It reduces the amount of soil that has the potential for erosion. Geofabric plays a crucial role in preventing soil loss and stabilizing slopes. Geotextile plays a vital role in erosion control, preventing soil loss and stabilizing slopes. Geotextile fabrics with erosion-prevention capabilities are geogrids and erosion prevention geogrids, are commonly used in embankments retaining walls, and coastal structures. This fabric allows vegetation growth and water drainage effectively obtaining erosion control.
Drainage Systems and Filtration
Geotextile fabrics are mostly used in the ground to cover the soil, called the geo prefix. Also, it is used in highways, railroads, dams, retaining walls, and houses. Permeability and filtration properties make geotextile an excellent choice for drainage systems. It is used in dams as a soil filter. In applications such as driveway geotextile fabric, landfills, and agricultural fields, geotextiles are used to separate different soil filters. Which allows water to pass through while preventing the migration of fine particles. This prevents water clogging and ensures proper water flow. since the result of enhancing the overall performance of the drainage system.
A geotextile can be placed in the French drain’s bottom to keep free of soil and stone in the trenches as clean. If soils migrate into the stone or drain, it clogs the stone and obstructs its ability to transmit water. Geotextile is used around highway drainage pipes. When rains on the highway, some rainwater seeps below the surface of the pavement. This water flows through the soil, then gathers and gets stored on the side of the highway and needs to be diverted. Geotextiles are placed surrounding the pipes. This will prevent soil from migrating into the pipe to the away side.
Land Reclamation and Soil Stabilization
Geotextile fabric is widely employed in land reclamation projects. Where it helps stabilize and strengthen soil in areas with poor load-bearing capacity. Due to its high tensile strength and by distributing loads reinforcing weak soils. This application is used in highways to protect asphalt pavement if the soil is weak and soft soil.
Another application of geotextile is in railway lines. It is used beneath the ballast. Ballast are stones placed below the ties. The geotextile fabric prevents stone from penetrating soft soils and prevents from deformation of railroads.
Think about building a house over weak and migratory soil. Leaving this weak soil below the foundation causes problems for houses over time. And if you think replacing this layer is an expensive one. By placing a geotextile layer between weak soil, the sandwich-looking soil is stronger than the weak soil alone.
Environmental Protection and Remediation
Environmental protection and remediation efforts with geotextile fabric are possible. In contaminated sites, it can prevent underground water from being polluted. Additionally, during remediation processes, geotextiles assist in soil stabilization. Treatment and removal of contaminated materials to secure the foundation of soil. resulting in controlling the ecosystem.
Reinforcement of Concrete and Cement Structures
Geotextile textile fabric is particularly used in construction sites when specifically designed for cement and concrete. So, by adding polypropylene to cement mixture engineers can enhance the tensile strength, reduce cracking, and improve impact resistance. These fibers act as reinforcement, which causes stresses to disperse throughout the concrete structure to prevent the formation of cracks.
3 Types of Geotextile Fabrics
Geotextile fabric is made from yarn from polymer fibers, geotextile can be manufactured in two types: woven geotextile,non-woven textile, and composite geotextile. The manufacturing process of the three types is different in terms of fiber types and styles. These types and processes are described in more detail below.
Woven Geotextile Fabric
The woven geotextiles are made of interlocking yarn giving stability and strength to the project where are needed geotextiles. Woven geotextiles are made of polypropylene that can withstand a large amount of tension. They are ideal for reinforcement and separation because they’re nearly impermeable.
Woven geotextile fabric can be made using monofilament, slit film, or multifilament fibers. The woven geotextile fabric or geotech fabric is made using the conventional ways of textile weaving or knitting. This one-up and one-down technique is called sometimes time one by one and is the most common type of weaving. This geotextile fabric is characterized by its biaxial resistance. So, can make it suitable for reinforcing roads, slopes, walls, and foundations.
Non-woven Geotextile Fabric
The process of making a geotextile fabric non-woven is much different than the woven geotextile fabric. The non-woven geotextile fabric is manufactured from either short-staple fibers or continuous filament yarn. These are either needle-punched or heat-bonded. Usually bonded these fibers or filaments using chemical, thermal, or mechanical techniques, or by combining all methods. Polymer fibers form a web that is bonded together Also, various post-treatments are applied to the fabric.
The geotextile fabric obtained from thermal or mechanical techniques usually has a width of 0.5 to 1mm, and a chemically bonded width while chemically bonded up to 3mm. They are usually used for protection, separation, and filtration purposes in the areas of landfills, roadways, and railroads. Non-woven geotextile fabrics are resistant to all biological and chemical degradation occurring in the construction and soil materials. This material cannot be dissolved by water and UV light, so, making it safe for groundwater.
The main uses of geotextile fabric nonwoven are erosion control, filtration, and drainage. This is done when it keeps the soil from eroding, while water seeps through the fabric. It is used in drainage, and in dams too.
Composite Geotextile Fabrics
Monofilament Woven Geotextiles
Monofilament woven geotextiles are used in conditions where high water flow rates are required. These are manufactured from extruded polypropylene monofilaments and woven to create a highly permeable geotextile. As filters, they have resistance to soil clogging, separators, and stabilizers. This allows only water to pass while preventing soil erosion.
Woven monofilament geotextile or geo cloth has two perpendicular or diagonal monofilaments that are weaved to form a window screen-like fabric. Monofilament geotextile has a high tensile strength and high water filtration rate.
It is used in coastal shorelines below rocks to separate filters, allowing a large amount of ocean water to pass through it during tides while controlling the sand at the shores. In dam spillways to protect the soils from erosion is another use. Also, used such as gravel rip-rap. They can function by moderate soil particles but allow liquids and gases to pass through them.
Spun Bound Geotextiles
Spun-bonded geotextile fabrics are used in landscaping, to separate the soil and prevent weeds and shrubs from growing. So, it allows water to pass through the fabric.
Innovations and Advancements in Geotextile
Some of the ongoing advancements in the field of geotextile fabric include:
- Integration of smart materials: To collect real-time data and monitor structural health researchers are using sensors and actuators embedded within geotextiles. This data can be used for real-time maintenance and optimization.
- Biodegradable geotextiles: Researchers are using geotextiles with biodegradable material which aims to be environmentally sustainable. These biodegradable fabrics made from natural fibers or biodegradable polymers offer temporary stabilization and erosion control. But the advantage of this fabric is that decomposes over time and saves the environment.
- Nanotechnology in geotextiles: The application of nanotechnology in geotextiles to enhance fabric properties such as strength and durability. Nanofibers and nanoparticles can be incorporated into geotextile material to improve their performance. And hence use for specific applications.
What is geotextile fabric?
Is geotextile fabric necessary?
Geotextiles are important because, in many applications in construction, it is adaptable. Its fabrics are used in driveways, houses, retaining walls, dams, and railroads.
Is geotextile fabric waterproof?
Does geotextile fabric let water through?
Geotextiles allow water to pass through it. While providing filtration and separation of soil and other fine particles. It is the most commonly used name geo prefix in construction and landscaping projects to control erosion control and improve drainage.
Is geotextile fabric expensive?
The initial cost of geotextile fabric may be higher compared to traditional materials. However, it is long-term benefits to cost. It can increase the lifespan of structures, reduce maintenance, and provide environmental sustainability.
