1. Introduction
What is non-woven geotextile fabric for? Non-woven geotextile is a flexible engineering material. Manufacturers make it by needle-punching, spunbonding, or similar methods. The main fibers used are polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), and others. It performs four primary functions: filtration, seepage prevention, reinforcement, and separation. The team spreads the fibers out in a haphazard manner. This makes a porous structure. It filters particles from water and helps keep the soil stable. Non-woven geotextile is popular in water conservancy, highways, and environmental engineering. It’s lightweight, easy to install, and cost-effective compared to traditional materials. This makes it a key support material in modern engineering.
2. Technical Specifications
| Key parameter | Typical range | Test condition / standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mass per unit area | 100–1500 g/m² | ISO 9864, tolerance ≤ 5% |
| Tensile strength | ≥ 10 kN/m (200 g/m²) | GB/T 15788, wide strip tensile test |
| Permeability coefficient | 1×10⁻³ – 1×10⁻⁵ cm/s | GB/T 15789, ambient water pressure |
| Tear strength | ≥ 0.28 kN (200 g/m²) | ISO 9073-4, trapezoidal tear method |
| CBR puncture strength | ≥ 2.0 kN (300 g/m²) | ASTM D3786, rate 10 mm/min |
| UV aging retention | Strength retained ≥ 80% | ISO 4892, irradiation 500 hours |
| Operating temperature range | −40 °C to 70 °C | ENV-500 environmental chamber test |
3. Typical Applications
When engineers ask, “What is non-woven geotextile fabric for?” typical applications include:
Highway subgrade protection: In a southern highway project, sections with needle-punched non-woven geotextile drained well during the rainy season. They showed no settlement or cracking. Adjacent unpaved sections required costly rework. The geotextile filters out fines while letting water pass through. This helps to lower maintenance costs.
**Reservoir Seepage Control and Reinforcement:** We placed composite non-woven geotextile at the northern reservoir. Leakage dropped by more than 95%. This change led to annual savings that were greater than the installation cost. Composite types combine the breathability of non-woven fabric with an impermeable film layer.
Riverbank stabilization: At an eroded bend, we used a 300 g/m² non-woven geotextile. This acted as a filtration layer. We also combined it with geotextile bags to build a temporary cofferdam. Local fill cut transport costs. The assembly resisted scouring, which stopped bank undermining.
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to balance strength and weight? Strength increases with thickness, but heavy rolls obstruct installation. Projects usually choose 300–600 g/m². This range strikes a good balance between performance and workability.
How to prevent necking (widthwise contraction)? The necking rate decreases as the width-to-length ratio increases. Widening the roll and limiting the length of continuous runs reduces necking.
What about rapid aging? Polypropylene and light-colored products age faster. Choose polyester (PET) for better UV resistance. Then, use temporary shading or protective covering after installation. This will help extend the service life.
Which is better for seepage vs. drainage? Composite geotextiles work well for seepage control. Needle-punched non-woven geotextiles provide better permeability, making them great for filtration and drainage.
What must we test? Mandatory tests include permeability coefficient, tensile strength, and aging performance. We need GB/T or ISO standard test reports from suppliers.
5. Conclusions and Engineering Recommendations
Non-woven geotextile is a multifunctional engineering material serving filtration, seepage control, and reinforcement. Selection and installation directly affect project outcomes. Recommendations:
Define design parameters by application:
For drainage, choose higher permeability (≥ 1×10⁻³ cm/s).
For seepage control, use composite solutions.
Verify test reports before installation—focus on aging resistance and pore size distribution.
Allow for 10% material waste. For complex terrain, use wider rolls to cut on-site splicing.
What is non-woven geotextile fabric for? It’s an affordable material that is simple to install. It offers filtration, drainage, separation, and reinforcement for civil and environmental engineering projects.
