Geotextiles have had a huge impact on modern architecture by stabilizing ground, improving drainage and filtration, separating aggregates and dispersing applied loads. Making sure you choose the right geotextile for your project means knowing the difference between them – the key being whether they are woven or nonwoven. Now let’s distinguish between woven geotextile and non-woven geotextile through my post.
What is a geotextile?
Geotextiles are fabrics used in geotechnical applications such as road and rail embankments, earth embankments and coastal protection structures, designed to perform one or more essential functions such as filtration, drainage, separation of soil layers, reinforcement or stabilization.
Woven Geotextiles
Basically, woven geotextiles are made by weaving individual yarns on a loom to form a uniform length. Different materials can be used such as cut film, fibrillated yarn and monofilament, but no matter what material is used, the knitting technique is the same.
This ensures the strength of the woven geotextile, making it an excellent choice for road construction, under driveways, residential streets, highways and other applications. Woven geotextiles are less permeable, with a few exceptions, and are therefore not the best choice for drainage projects. Instead, they are ideal for long-term separation and reinforcement applications and are corrosion resistant.
Non-woven geotextile
Although the tensile strength of nonwoven geotextiles is lower than that of woven fabrics, it still has strong strength, durability and excellent drainage properties. Non-woven geotextile is a kind of felt fabric, which is made of polypropylene or a mixture of polypropylene and polyester fibers, which is thermally bonded, and then needle-punched and calendered.
This geotextile is easier to cut, is highly permeable and does not lose strength over time, like woven fabrics used underground. This makes it ideal for use under driveways and roads as well as in land and stormwater drainage systems where long-term ground stabilization and filtration are required.
The difference between woven geotextiles and non-woven fabrics
There are significant differences between woven and nonwoven geotextiles, especially in their application and manufacturing methods. The type of project you are working on will determine which geotextile is best for you. The main differences between woven geotextiles and non-woven geotextiles are as follows:
1. First of all, woven geotextiles are the best choice for reinforcement and stabilization applications, while non-woven geotextiles are very suitable for filtration, separation and drainage applications.
2. Secondly, woven geotextiles (with a few exceptions) are semi-permeable and have a low flow rate, while non-woven geotextiles are permeable and have a high flow rate.
3. Third, woven geotextiles have high bearing capacity and tensile strength, and are usually used for road construction, while non-woven geotextiles are usually measured by weight.
4. Both woven geotextile and non-woven geotextile can be made of polyester or polypropylene filament or fiber.