Filament geotextile vs. short geotextile: comparison of bearing capacity and applicability
The Bearing Capacity of Filament Geotextiles
Filament geotextiles are made from continuous polyester filaments through needle-punching or thermal bonding processes. The fibers are uniformly arranged, distributed continuously, and maintain a stable structure. This structure imparts high tensile strength and ductility to the filament geotextile, enabling it to better distribute and transfer loads and resist ground deformation. Therefore, filament geotextiles excel in projects with high bearing capacity requirements, such as highways, airport runways, and heavy-duty railway subgrades.
Bearing Capacity Characteristics of Short-Fiber Geotextiles
Short-fiber geotextiles are made from short polyester or polypropylene fibers needle-punched. The fibers are of limited length and arranged relatively randomly. While their overall strength and continuity are inferior to those of long-fiber geotextiles, their structure offers superior friction resistance, providing excellent reinforcement and stabilization in low- to medium-load environments. For projects requiring less extreme bearing capacity, such as municipal roads, general water conservancy projects, and landscaping and slope protection, short-fiber geotextiles remain an economical and practical choice.
Criteria | Filament Geotextile | Staple Fiber Geotextile |
Raw Material | Continuous polyester filaments | Polyester/polypropylene staple fibers |
Fiber Arrangement | Uniform, continuous, cross-laid structure | Randomly distributed, discontinuous |
Tensile Strength | High (≥20–100 kN/m, depending on weight and standard) | Moderate (≥8–50 kN/m, suitable for general projects) |
Elongation & Stress Distribution | Good ductility, excellent stress dispersion, resistant to settlement and deformation | Moderate ductility, limited adaptability under heavy deformation |
Load-Bearing Capacity | Outstanding under high-load conditions such as highways, airports, and heavy railways | Adequate for medium to low-load projects such as municipal roads and slope protection |
Durability | Longer service life, superior resistance to aging and environmental stress cracking | Moderate durability, performance may decline faster under long-term heavy loads |
Typical Applications | Expressways, heavy-duty railways, airport runways, port yards | Municipal roads, embankment protection, landscaping, drainage works |
Comparison of water permeability and filtration performance
Filament Geotextile
Filament geotextiles feature continuous, uniformly arranged fibers and a relatively stable pore distribution.
They offer excellent water permeability, capable of withstanding heavy loads while maintaining smooth drainage.
The relatively uniform pore size provides a longer-lasting filtration effect and strong anti-clogging capabilities.
They are particularly suitable for long-term drainage and high-standard filtration projects (such as dam, port, and tunnel drainage).
Staple Fiber Geotextile
The fibers are short, randomly interwoven, and have a relatively irregular pore distribution.
Also, it offers good water permeability, but is susceptible to pore compression under high loads or during long-term operation, reducing drainage efficiency.
It offers good filtration performance but may be more susceptible to clogging in fine-grained soils.
It is suitable for general drainage, landscaping projects, ecological slope protection, and other environments where filtration requirements are less stringent.
Criteria | Filament Geotextile | Staple Fiber Geotextile |
Fiber Structure | Continuous filaments, uniformly arranged | Short fibers, randomly distributed |
Permeability | Stable pore structure, maintains good permeability under high loads | Pores compress more easily, long-term permeability slightly weaker |
Filtration Efficiency | Uniform pore size, strong anti-clogging ability | Irregular pore size, higher clogging risk in fine-grained soils |
Durability | Stable long-term filtration performance, suitable for heavy-duty projects | Performance may decline faster in long-term service |
Typical Applications | Dams, tunnels, port drainage, long-term filtration systems | Landscaping, municipal drainage, temporary or low-load projects |
Applicability comparison: selection in different engineering scenarios
Applications of Filament geotextile
Heavy-Load Projects: Highways, airport runways, heavy-duty railways, etc., require high load-bearing capacity and long-term durability.
Long-Term Drainage and Filtration: Dams, ports, and tunnel drainage systems require stable apertures and strong anti-clogging capabilities.
Special Environmental Projects: Coastal protection and mining projects, which face complex and corrosive environments and require highly durable materials.
Applications of Short-Fiber Geotextiles
Municipal Roads and General Transportation Projects: Such as municipal roads and parking lots, require low loads and are economical and practical.
Water Conservancy and Agricultural Engineering: Used for channel anti-seepage and farmland drainage, requiring only filtration and separation.
Landscaping and Ecological Engineering: Slope protection and greening, artificial lakes, and river management.
Conclusion
The comparison between filament geotextile and staple fiber geotextile clearly shows that each material has unique advantages depending on engineering requirements.
Filament geotextile is the preferred choice for high-strength, long-term, and complex projects such as highways, airport runways, heavy-duty railways, dams, tunnels, and port drainage systems. Its superior tensile strength, durability, uniform pore size, and strong anti-clogging performance ensure reliable performance under heavy loads.
Staple fiber geotextile is more suitable for medium- to low-load and cost-sensitive projects, including municipal roads, parking lots, farmland drainage, and slope protection. While its strength and durability are moderate, it delivers adequate separation, filtration, and permeability functions at a lower cost.
In practice, selecting the right type of geotextile should be based on load requirements, environmental conditions, service life, and budget considerations. A proper choice not only improves engineering performance and durability but also helps achieve cost efficiency and sustainable construction goals.
