This material is called geotextile non-woven fabric, which can be mistaken to be something technical or unapproachable. But it’s not true. It is an integral part of our everyday life in the modern world: just think about a road, a bridge or even a garden we sit in. This unsung hero is never seen yet the most important.
A Closer Look at the Material
Geotextile non-woven fabric is one type of geosynthetic materials that interact with the soil. It is not any other type of fabric; engineering makes it suitable for civil engineering purposes. It possesses great strength, tough enough to endure heavy construction loads and strains. However, what makes it extraordinary among all other similar things are its features that allow it to function this way compared to traditional ones which are incapable of doing so.
Applications in Infrastructure
Roadworks are the most common application areas for geotextile non-woven fabric. When used as a separator between layers of different materials; one can achieve a stable and durable road surface (Stuart & Mackenzie, 2003). Furthermore, erosion prevention and slope stability require its utilization during slope protection projects (Isacsson et al., 1995).
The Greener Side of Geotextiles
However, besides being industrial strength hardness there is also softer side towards environment aspect that should not be overlooked either. This kind of material has critical roles in landscaping and gardening practices commonly used when improving soil conditions (Stuart & Mackenzie, 2003). Clearly, even very technical materials could have caring sides too.
Personal Touch
I will always remember that day when I saw geotextile non-woven fabric at use for the first time ever while still a kid. The park nearby was being constructed then. Workers were putting it down on site; I looked at them as they did this and wondered about what looked like a weirdly familiar substance. When I asked one of the engineers, he told me what it was all about and how useful it is. It came to me as a shock – this unimpressive material was doing much more than I could ever think of.
The Future of Geotextiles
Geotextile non-woven fabric is an environmentally friendly construction material that will be widely used in the future. It’s perfect for our needs because we need materials that can improve our ground, prevent soil erosion and at the same time support any building works (Stuart & Mackenzie, 2003). This is not only for now but also for tomorrow.
The Silent Strength
Geotextile non-woven fabric is thus a material that deserves more recognition. It is unseen strength; it assists both environmental challenges and infrastructure. The next time you pass by a road or just admire life in a park, spare some seconds to glance at what this amazing fabric has been doing silently.
