There are many uses of geotextiles and industrial fabric conversion in civil engineering which ranges from construction to road building. The main purpose is to prevent erosion and to maintain the integrity of engineered earth structures. They are mostly permeable to allow water through and could even be very loosely woven netting. Impermeable plastic or rubber sheeting also falls into this category.
Using synthetic materials as opposed to natural gives them much better durability and they would be used in cases where they would need to be less temporary. Woven material can be made from plastic fibers such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Needle punched and heat bonded varieties look more like felt. Continuous sheets of plastic or rubber will be used for impermeable linings.
Laying down a light weight sheet on steep embankments can be the quickest and least expensive way of maintaining structural integrity. Due to their permeability they will still allow water to pass through while preventing soil from being washed away. Netting can also be erected vertically like a small fence that will catch soil that is washed away by rain.
This type of method is also used in sand dunes at beaches where they are needed to be kept in place instead of migrating do to wind erosion. Netting tubes can also be filled with sand to create a more sturdy barrier. These can be quite useful for protection against storm surges.
They can also be placed between layers of sand. This is useful in road construction where various layers need to be kept separate. If the layers where to become intermixed under pressure it could cause weak spots and ruts to form. Netting can also be placed underground to prevent the tree roots from growing into underground structures.
Permeability is one of the main design attributes of this kind of fabric. In landfill sites they can maintain the structure while still allowing for drainage. In other applications drainage ditches can also be lined so that they do not wash away. If water is meant to be retained such as in dams or reservoirs they can be lined with solid plastic or rubber sheets.
These type of material are available in standard widths but they can be cut to size where narrow strips might be needed. They can also be sewn together where wider section are needed and they can be printed on too. Not only are there many uses of geotextiles and industrial fabrics but they conform to set standards that are predictable and can be counted on in design specifications.}
