About Geotextiles
Geotextiles are in great demand as these are extensively used in new, upgrade or maintenance works. These products are ideal for use in anything like construction works, landscapings, land and water management, infrastructure works ( airports, bridges, harbors, landfills, recreational facilities, commercial complexes, pavements and parkings, housing units, oil fields and pipes, water treatment plants, agricultural lands, drainage units ) and a whole lot of other civil and commercial projects.
Almost all of these type of works are continually ongoing in any city, town or village. Infrastructure upkeep and maintenance is critical. While doing so, it is very crucial to care for the environment, safety, health and community, particularly in these times of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, waste hazards, pollution and last but not the least resource depletion. Quality of work as such is of paramount significance.
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What are Geotextiles?
Geotextiles are textile materials applied on earth’s surfaces like land, soil, foundations, construction works and civil engineering projects.
Applications of geotextiles are very common on embarkments, pavements, pipings, roads, coasts, dams, roofs, hillsides, lakes, rivers, ponds, trenches, green areas, landscapings, fields and landfills.
There are an array of geotextile products available in the markets in the form of mats, grids, meshes, fabrics, knitted cloth, liners, nets, support layers, base layers, blankets etc. They come in different materials and finishes. Depending on the materials’ characteristics they are chosen and applied for the appropriate purposes. Newer geotextile products including custom ones are also being continuously introduced.
Functions of Geotextiles:
Some important functions of geotextiles are explained herein:
Separation: example is in road construction, you will need geotextile to separate different layers of soil.
Filtration: the specific kind of filtration geotextiles depending on porosity allow water to pass through either side or laterally like the ones required in drainage works.
Control: in case of landslides or soil erosion, geotextiles can be applied to the concerned area to allow water to pass over the surface without carrying the soil underneath it.
Restoration: typically geotextile materials are put on poor earth surfaces to provide extra support and load as in certain embankment and shallow lands helping the earth to settle in.
Reinforcement: not just helping with support, friction or movement restraint, the right kind of geotextiles can improve earth along steep slopes, walls, hillsides, pavements or concrete.
Soil upgradation: natural geotextiles are the ideal choice for soil upgradation, soil conservation and soil enrichment. This is explained in the later part of the article.
Drainage: permeable wovens or non-wovens with good tensility which are sufficiently porous for the work find several applications in pipings, sewages and ducts.
Barrier: for bank protections, specialty impermeable geotextiles can be used to act as barrier and halt the pollutants from flowing into the water.
In a nutshell, from the case examples provided above, we can see how geotextile products play significant roles in so many ways.
Types of Geotextiles:
Based on manufacturing process, geotextiles can be classified as wovens, non-wovens or composites.
Woven-geotextiles are manufactured by weaving the fibers resulting in mesh or screen-like appearance. These are available in a variety of sizes depending on tightness of weave and mesh openings. This class of geotextiles can be used where there is need for high tensile strength (load capacity) and low strain. However, woven geotextiles have poorer friction resistance and dimensional stability.
Non-wovens, in their natural form are bonded together by application of chemicals or heat. These materials have high strain capabilities, and are good for resisting damage and frictions. The tensility however is lower than wovens. These are available in various geometric shapes and compositions depending on their application.
Knitted geotextiles are manufactured in a variety of shapes, like the typical warp-knitted geotextiles, and have good tensile strengths.
A further class called geosynthetics or geocomposites are a blend of different materials. Among synthetic geotextiles, polypropylene is the most commonly-used material. Polypropylene is chemically inert, can withstand UV, is water and rot resistant and does not breakdown. These are of lighter weight and can be used for many applications. For example, areas requiring high puncture resistance as in road, rail and civil projects can make use of synthetic geo-products like geogrids. PVC-impermeable plastic geomembranes are applied as separation fabrics and specialty fabrics. In water-logged places such membranes are put in place for averting moisture seeping underneath and damaging fine soil sediment structure.
Natural and Biodegradable Geotextiles:
Natural geotextiles are very popular due to the fact there is no damage, or adverse impact to the environment. Being natural, sustainable and biodegradable, these breakdown over a course of time (couple years) and return the fine nutrients back to soil. The earth thereby is enriched with the nutrient base. Natural geotextiles need no disposal. Moreover, there is no compromise to environment or health.
Jute Geotextiles:
Jute, coir, straw are among the best natural geofabrics. Biomats are commonly used natural geotextiles, composed of layers of jute, straw, coir, sisal or others in tightly made sheets or with open meshes. Jute, coir and straw’s natural earthy looks blend well with the surroundings.
Along slopes and steep hillsides, water run-down, wildfires and strong winds pose grave threat to slope slability. Jute biotextiles are extensively used in controlling soil erosion and aiding with revegetation. The fibers of jute naturally coalesce with soil particles, creating a conducive microclimate for vegetation growth. Once vegetation is established, jute naturally break-downs in two years’ time gradually. Erosion control blankets made of jute are widely regarded as the best, most economical, effective environmental and geotechnical solution.
Soil quality degrades over time due to erosion, run-offs, wildfires, storms or just overuse. Soil conservation and soil enrichment are of paramount importance in the era of climate crises all over the globe. Not only economical in cost, jute is devoid of any chemicals, dyes, bleaches, pesticides, is easy to install and use. Due to its good water absorption capacity, flexibility and drapability, jute geotextile products are best as solution for managing slopes, hillsides, shorelines, stream banks and wetlands.
Coir is sturdy, fibrous and tough like jute, and also finds application in averting erosion damage, soil conservation projects, in certain civil and bioengineering works. Due to its insulating nature, coir mats are used in construction. Used coconut fibers, straws, jute, coir – all of these can be recycled and used as beneficial landscaping fabrics.
Summary:
Given an array of geotextile products, choosing the right kind of geotextile for a given project/work is crucial. At Madi Décor, we are able to take the requirements and provide the best fit product with the required technical knowledge and support, whether for commercial, civil, construction supply, oil field, engineered environmental solutions, general landscaping, erosion control or geotextile needs. Contact or email on wholesale geotextile inquiries to info@madidecor.com.
Madi Décor is a premier consultant, designer, wholesaler distributor of diversified, natural and sustainable products, headquarted in Brea, Southern California, USA.