Is it true that geotextiles can improve the bearing capacity of soil foundations?

Geotextiles are a new type of construction material, made from synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, and other polymers. Generally, they feature prominent advantages like high strength, aging resistance, acid and alkali resistance, good flexibility, convenient construction, low investment, and high efficiency.

At present, the most commonly used geotextiles in engineering are polyester staple fiber geotextiles and polyester filament geotextiles. So, what are the roles of these two types of geotextiles in engineering?

First, for separation: Geotextiles can effectively prevent the mixing of soil and materials, thus avoiding the intermixing of different materials or soil erosion, and protecting soft soil foundations. Second, for filtration: Geotextiles allow water to flow freely without pressure, while preventing the loss of fine soil particles, thereby avoiding instability and erosion in some projects. Laying a geotextile filter layer between embankments and protective masonry can prevent soil erosion and riverbank collapse. Third, for reinforcement: Geotextiles can disperse vehicle loads over a larger area, reducing the load pressure on the foundation. Under load, the soft soil foundation will deform.

Due to the certain toughness and ductility of geotextiles, they will deform and embed into the soil foundation, so that the entire system forms a continuous structure, improving the structural stability and enhancing the bearing capacity of the soil foundation.