The Modern Essential in Road Construction: Geotextiles

Geotextiles are an vital component of road construction. The permeable nature of geotextiles permits the flow of liquids through it. When used in the foundations of structures, geotextiles prevent wind and water erosion of the soil and thus bolster structural stability.

Uses of Woven Geotextiles
These geotextile fabrics are designed using parallel strands interlaced with each other much like burlap. Varying weave patterns affect the properties of the fabric such as porosity and strength. In general, woven geotextiles do not permit water to flow as freely as non-woven geotextiles. This aids in filtration, since the fabric does not allow soil particles to move around freely. As a result, roads made with woven geotextile materials erode less and last longer.

Uses of Non-Woven Geotextiles
Non-woven geotextiles can be prepared using a variety of procedures and look like felt fabrics. The non-woven material has a greater likelihood of stretching when compared to its woven counterpart. This allows water to flow along the plane of the fabric, which is particularly important when using geotextiles for draining water away from the soil or the road.

Reinforcement Applications on Road Construction
Geotextile materials can be used to increase the strength and stability of the underlying soil in a roadway. As an example, the fabric can be used with sand in order to evenly distribute the load. This reduces the process of rutting and ensures that no sudden grooves are formed in the road.

Particle Separation
One of the most significant uses of geotextile fabrics is to maintain separation between layers of different sized soil particles. The fabric helps restrict the upward flow of water and finer soil particles into the gravel, which would otherwise drastically reduce the strength of the gravel.