Reinforcement Function of Geotextile
The geotextile reinforcement function means a geotextile can strengthen an aggregate system on soil in different directions, depending on the geometry, the bearing capacity of the subsoil, the traffic load and the number of load repetitions. If loads and axle pressures are high, the subsoil is very soft or the aggregate layer is very thin, the subsoil will fail under the first load that passes over it.
This failure generally causes considerable deformation. The geotextile deforms as well and elongates. Membrane action then produces an upward resultant force beneath the wheels and a downward resultant force in the area between the wheels.
The geotextile takes up lateral tension and therefore reduces shear stress in the aggregate. This “lateral restraint” effect, more accurately called the “base restraint” effect, increases the load-spreading capacity of the base. In addition, lateral movement of the subgrade is restrained by the geotextile because of shear stress between the geotextile and the subgrade. This reinforcement effect is called “subgrade restraint”.
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