Functions of Fibertex Geotextiles
Fibertex Geotextiles have important functions for separation, filtration, drainage, protection and reinforcement.
Our geotextiles perform at least one of these functions, regardless of the type of construction.
Separation
The basic function of geotextiles is for separation, which is commonly practised in road works and railway constructions.
In the EN ISO standards, the separation function is defined as "The preventing from intermixing of adjacent dissimilar soils and/or fill materials by the use of a geotextile."
Fibertex Geotextiles, with excellent durability, tensile strength, puncture resistance and elongation properties, are ideal for use as a separation fabric placed between different layers in the construction. Our geotextiles are designed to prevent migration and mingling of materials, yet allow free movement of water through the plane of the fabric. Our strong and flexible geotextiles increase the soil bearing capacity of the construction and provide long term stability of the foundation layers.
Our geotextiles not only fulfil the requirements of a separator, but also resist damage during installation.
Filtration
Geotextiles are widely used for filtration in road works and railway constructions, as well as coastal protection.
In the EN ISO standards, the filtration function is defined as "The restraining of soil or other particles subjected to hydrodynamic forces while allowing the passage of fluids into or across a geotextile."
The characteristic opening size of Fibertex Geotextiles is designed to retain particles, while allowing free movement of water, making it possible to separate different layers during intense hydraulic activity. Migration of layers, which would reduce the load-bearing capacity of the construction, is thereby avoided and, at the same time, water flow is maintained with minimum pressure loss.
The tensile strength, puncture resistance and elongation properties of our geotextiles not only fulfil the requirements of a filtrator, but also resist damage during installation.
Drainage
Geotextiles are widely used for drainage in earth and construction works.
In the EN ISO standards, the drainage function is defined as "The collecting and transporting of precipitation, ground water and/or other fluids in the plane of the geotextile."
Hydraulic properties are critical for the overall performance of the entire construction, with the water flow capacity in the plane of the geotextile, being the most important factor.
Fibertex Geotextiles are designed to drain excess water off the construction - not by passing through the geotextile as is the case for filtration - but by flowing in the plane of the geotextile, leading water away from the construction. The use of a drainage geotextile ensures ongoing drainage of fluids, with minimum pressure loss.
Protection
Geotextiles are widely used for protection in landfill systems and tunnel constructions, to ensure the integrity of a sealing material, for example, geomembranes, when fill material and/or loads are applied.
In the EN ISO standards, the protection function is defined as "The prevention or limiting of local damage to a given element or material by the use of a geotextile."
Fibertex Geotextiles, with excellent static puncture resistance, are ideal for protecting waterproof membranes and other sealing materials from puncture, when fill material and/or loads are being applied.
When placed between the sealing material and other layers, our geotextiles withstand and distribute any local pressure from the layer above, ensuring that the protected material is not stressed to failure.
Reinforcement
Fibertex Geotextiles, with excellent mechanical and hydraulic properties, are ideal for soil reinforcement and retaining walls.
In the EN ISO standards, the reinforcement function is defined as "The use of the stress-strain behaviour of a geotextile or a geotextile-related product to improve the mechanical properties of soil or other construction materials."
Our geotextiles have excellent tensile strength and elongation features and are used in reinforcement projects to prevent steep soil walls and steep slopes from collapsing. For minor reinforcement jobs, nonwoven Fibertex Geotextiles can be sufficient, but generally the reinforcement function requires a more rigid material.
Stress relieving
Fibertex offers a flexible pre-compressed 150 gsm Polypropylene (PP) nonwoven geosynthetic solution, with added thermal bonding on one side only, designed especially for stress relieving.
Our stress relieving paving fabric Fibertex AM-2 is ideal for use in both new road constructions and road maintenance, as it absorbs differential movements in the road layers, preventing reflective cracking. The bitumen-saturated paving fabric also forms a waterproof interlayer, protecting the subsoil from water intrusion and thereby loss of bearing capacity.
Read more in the Fibertex AM-2 brochure about stress relieving.
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