Geotextiles used in separation

The concept of separation can perhaps be best illustrated by the adage 10 kg of stone placed on 10 kg of mud results in 20 kg of mud. With this in mind, a geotextile serving a separation function can be defined as follows  

Geotextile separation is the placement of a flexible porous textile between dissimilar materials so that the integrity and functioning of both materials can remain intact or be improved. 

The photographs in Fig. 11.2 clearly illustrate situations involving both unpaved and paved roads in which geotextUe separators were not used. Unfortunately the generation of potholes is a common occurrence. As listed subsequently, there are many similar applications in which geotextiles are used as separators (Koemer, 2012). 

Geotextiles. http //dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100221.6.00011-5 Copyright 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Adapted from Koemer, R.M., 2012. Designing with Geosynthetics, sixth ed. XUhris Publ. Co., 914 p. 

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The key properties of geotextiles used in reinforced soil applications are introduced with short explanations. For details about the tests mentioned here, see chapters Hydraulic properties, behavior and testing of geotextiles Long-term geotextile degradation mechanisms and exposed lifetime predictions and Geotextiles used in separation. 

Narejo, D. B. (2003). Opening size recommendations for separation geotextiles used in pavements. Geotextiles Geomembranes, 21(4), 257—264. 

Figure 11.1 Different physical mechanisms in the use of geotextiles involved in separation function.

Geotextiles used as separators for unpaved and paved roads as well as parking lots represent the largest volume of geotextiles sold in the civil construction market. The... 

Nonwoven geotextiles are produced mechanically or chemically, or by heat-bonding fibers together to form a stable network. Nonwoven geotextiles have higher flexibility and movement than do woven geotextiles. Because of this, they are ideal for use in separation applications where the earthen base may have irregularities to which the nonwoven can mold. The thickness and puncture resistance of a... 

Geotextiles are the polymeric textile materials that are widely used in civil engineering to provide reinforcement, filtration, separation, drainage, erosion resistance and asphalt reinforcement. They take many forms nonwoven and woven textiles, grids, and openwork structures sandwiched between layers of nonwoven for lateral drainage. The principal... 

Geotextiles have become one of the most important fields of application for synthetic polymeric fibers. In view of their great importance, we describe them in a separate section. Textiles made of synthetic polymer fibers are used in various applications to address a variety of solids-related problems in civil engineering such as soil support, stabilization, separation and filtration, reinforcement of... 

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