Key Takeaways
- Specify by function first. Reinforcement and separation point to woven geotextile; filtration and drainage point to non-woven.
- Five properties decide fit: tensile strength (kN/m), grab strength, puncture resistance, apparent opening size (AOS), and permittivity.
- Match AOS to the soil. Too tight and the fabric clogs; too open and fines migrate through, so AOS must track the soil’s particle sizes.
- Compare MARV to MARV. The Minimum Average Roll Value is the guaranteed figure; never compare a supplier’s average against another’s MARV.
- Demand third-party test data to ASTM or ISO standards and a project-specification compliance statement, not just a data sheet.
Geotextile looks simple, a fabric you put in the ground, until a project fails because the wrong product was specified. Too little tensile strength under a road base causes premature failure. The wrong apparent opening size in a drain lets fines migrate and clog it. Selecting geotextile is an engineering decision, not just a purchasing one. This guide gives you a systematic framework to get it right.
While both woven and non-woven geotextiles are used across infrastructure projects, Anita Plastics specializes in woven geotextile solutions designed for separation, stabilization, reinforcement, erosion control, and road construction applications.
What are the geotextile types?
Two manufacturing methods produce two very different fabrics, and the choice between them drives everything else. For a fuller treatment, see our guide to woven vs non-woven geotextile.
Woven geotextile
Woven geotextile is made by weaving polypropylene tapes or monofilaments at right angles, producing a regular, grid-like fabric with defined openings.
- High tensile strength in both warp and weft directions.
- Excellent separation, keeping soil layers distinct.
- Consistent, measurable apparent opening size (AOS).
- Best for roads, reinforced earth structures, and retaining walls.
Non-woven geotextile
Non-woven geotextile is made from randomly oriented fibres bonded by needle-punching or heat, giving an irregular structure with no defined openings.
- Lower tensile strength than woven, but good elongation and conformability.
- Superior filtration, trapping a wide range of particle sizes.
- Higher water flow rate (permittivity) for strong drainage.
- Best for drainage wraps, erosion control, landscaping, and filtration.
Woven or non-woven: which to choose?
Use the function-first rule. If the primary need is reinforcement or separation with maximum tensile strength, choose woven. If it’s filtration, drainage, or erosion protection, choose non-woven. Many projects use both: a woven layer for reinforcement and a non-woven layer for drainage.
Which performance properties should you evaluate?
Six properties carry almost all the engineering weight. Insist on test results to a named standard for each, because a number without its test method is not comparable.
Tensile strength (kN/m)
This is the force per unit width the fabric resists before failure, in both machine (MD) and cross-machine (CMD) directions. Road separation layers typically run 10 kN/m up to over 100 kN/m for heavy-load work. Request ASTM D4595 (wide-width) or ISO 10319 results.
Grab strength
Grab tensile strength (ASTM D4632) is a simpler, field-relevant test measuring peak load to failure on a small grab. It’s widely used for quality control and comparing non-woven fabrics, with typical values from roughly 400 N to 2,000 N depending on fabric weight.
Puncture resistance
Puncture resistance matters wherever the fabric meets sharp aggregate or heavy compaction. It is measured in Newtons by CBR puncture (ISO 12236) or related ASTM methods (D4833, D6241). Specify higher puncture values when heavy equipment will compact directly over the fabric.
Apparent opening size (AOS / O95)
AOS is the largest particle the fabric reliably retains, measured by ASTM D4751 and expressed in mm. It’s critical for filtration: too small and the fabric clogs, too large and fines pass through. AOS must be matched to the particle-size distribution of the adjacent soil.
Permittivity
Permittivity is the rate water passes through the fabric per unit head, in s⁻¹, tested by ASTM D4491. For drainage, higher is better, because the fabric must pass water fast enough not to impede the drain. It’s the single most important property for a filtration wrap.
UV resistance
Bare polypropylene degrades in sunlight, so UV-stabilised geotextile uses additives to hold strength during exposure. UV resistance is tested by ASTM D4355, with good fabrics retaining the bulk of their tensile strength after extended xenon-arc exposure. It’s essential for fabric exposed during long builds or used permanently at the surface.
How do you match geotextile to the application?
Function decides type, then the application sets the target numbers. The figures below are typical starting points; always confirm against the project specification. Typical tensile requirement by application (kN/m) Road separation ~14–40 Reinforced slope ~40–80 Retaining wall ~50–200 Indicative ranges; confirm against project design. Bars scaled to upper value. Tensile demand climbs sharply from simple separation to structural reinforcement.
Road and pavement construction
Function: separation and reinforcement. Product: woven geotextile. Target a minimum tensile of roughly 14 to 40 kN/m (higher for high-traffic roads), grab strength of at least 900 N, puncture of at least 400 N CBR, and AOS around 0.3 to 0.6 mm to stop subgrade contamination. Anita Plastics woven geotextile is widely used in road base separation and stabilisation.
Drainage and French drains
Function: filtration and drainage. Product: non-woven geotextile. Target permittivity of at least 0.5 s⁻¹, AOS (O95) matched to the soil (often 0.075 to 0.3 mm for silt and fine sand), and grab strength of at least 450 N. The fabric has to keep retaining fines without clogging across the structure’s design life. See the benefits of geotextile for drainage.
Erosion control
Function: surface protection and filtration. Product depends on slope. Gentle slopes suit a permeable non-woven; steep slopes or high-velocity flow call for woven geotextile or a geocomposite system. Match permeability to expected flow so the surface drains without scouring.
Retaining walls and reinforced embankments
Function: primary tensile reinforcement. Product: high-strength woven geotextile or geogrid composite. Target tensile of 50 to 200 kN/m by wall height and surcharge, low creep under sustained load (check long-term design strength), and adequate junction strength for geogrid options. This is where under-speccing is most dangerous.
Landscaping and weed control
Function: weed suppression and separation of mulch from soil. Product: woven or non-woven. UV stabilization is essential here because the fabric is often exposed long-term, water permeability must let rain and irrigation through, and 70 to 120 GSM suits most residential work. For wider context, see the uses of geotextile in construction.
What does a step-by-step selection look like?
Putting the framework together, a clean selection runs in five steps, from function to confirmed spec. Follow them in order and the product almost picks itself.
- Step 1: define the primary function (separation, reinforcement, filtration, or drainage).
- Step 2: pick the type (woven for strength, non-woven for flow).
- Step 3: set the target properties (tensile, puncture, AOS, permittivity) for the load and soil.
- Step 4: confirm survivability class and UV needs against the install conditions.
- Step 5: compare MARV values and demand third-party test data before ordering.
Worked example: a haul road over soft clay. The function is separation plus some reinforcement, so the type is woven. Soft subgrade and heavy plant push you toward a high-survivability grade with tensile near the top of the 14 to 40 kN/m band, puncture comfortably above 400 N, and an AOS around 0.3 to 0.6 mm to keep clay fines out of the base. Because the fabric is exposed while crews build up the base, you also confirm UV stabilization, then compare two suppliers strictly on MARV.
How do you read a geotextile specification sheet?
A spec sheet only helps if you read the right numbers against the right standards. Two ideas prevent most mistakes.
MARV values
MARV is the Minimum Average Roll Value, the property a fabric is guaranteed to meet or exceed in 95% of cases, reported in the weakest principal direction. Always compare MARV to MARV across products and design to MARV, never to average or typical figures, which aren’t guaranteed.
Test standards
Every value should reference a recognised standard (ASTM, ISO, or EN), with third-party test reports available, not just a manufacturer data sheet. The key ASTM tests are: tensile D4595 (wide-width) or D4632 (grab), puncture D4833 or D6241, AOS D4751, permittivity D4491, and UV D4355.
| Property | ASTM standard | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wide-width tensile | D4595 | Structural reinforcement design |
| Grab tensile | D4632 | QC and comparison |
| Puncture (CBR) | D6241 / D4833 | Survivability over aggregate |
| Apparent opening size | D4751 | Filtration and soil retention |
| Permittivity | D4491 | Drainage capacity |
| UV resistance | D4355 | Exposed/surface durability |
What should you ask your geotextile supplier?
A few direct questions separate an engineered supply from a commodity sale. Put these to any supplier before you commit:
- Can you provide third-party test reports to ASTM/ISO standards for this product?
- Is the geotextile UV-stabilised, and for what exposure duration?
- What are the MARV values for tensile, AOS, and permittivity?
- Can you provide a project-specification compliance statement?
- What roll width and length do you supply (it affects waste and cost on site)?
- What is the minimum order quantity and lead time?
For volume projects, our guide on buying woven geotextile in bulk covers roll sizing and ordering.
Which specification mistakes should you avoid?
Most geotextile failures trace back to a handful of avoidable errors at the spec stage:
- Substituting non-woven where woven is specified for reinforcement, where tensile strength is far lower.
- Specifying AOS without knowing the soil’s particle-size distribution, causing clogging or migration.
- Ignoring UV stabilization for fabric exposed during extended construction.
- Comparing average values between suppliers instead of MARV to MARV.
- Omitting puncture resistance where angular aggregate or heavy compaction is involved.
What are the typical Anita Plastics woven geotextile capabilities?
As a woven geotextile fabric manufacturer and geotextile supplier, Anita Plastics produces polypropylene geotextile for separation, stabilization, reinforcement, and erosion control. Typical capabilities include:
- UV-stabilized polypropylene construction
- High tensile strength
- Roll widths up to 5.2 meters
- Custom GSM options
- Suitable for road stabilization
- Soil separation
- Erosion control
- Drainage applications
Why Choose Anita Plastics?
For separation, stabilization, reinforcement, and erosion control, Anita Plastics manufactures woven geotextile to project specification:
- 45+ years of woven polypropylene manufacturing experience
- 14+ manufacturing facilities
- 25+ countries served
- 5,000+ MT monthly capacity
- UV-stabilized polypropylene construction
- High tensile strength with custom GSM options
- Roll widths up to 5.2 meters
- Export packaging expertise
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you match geotextile strength to installation conditions?
Match the fabric’s survivability to how rough the installation is. Severe conditions with heavy equipment and sharp aggregate call for a high-survivability, higher-strength geotextile, while gentler installs can use a lighter grade. Confirm the required grade against the project specification before you order.
How do I match geotextile AOS to my soil?
A common rule is that AOS (O95) should be no more than about 1.8 to 2.0 times the soil’s D85 (the particle size at which 85% of the soil is finer). For critical or fine-soil filtration, have a geotechnical engineer confirm the design rather than relying on the rule alone.
How long does geotextile last in the ground?
High-quality polypropylene geotextile is designed for a 50+ year service life when buried in normal soil. UV exposure for surface applications, and aggressive chemistry such as strong acids or alkalis, can shorten that, which is why exposure and soil conditions belong in the spec.
Does Anita Plastics supply geotextile to project specifications?
Yes. Anita Plastics supplies woven geotextile to meet common project specifications and can advise on selection for a specific job. Send your specification and the team will confirm compliance before you order.
Selecting the right geotextile means understanding the function first, then matching performance properties to the project’s technical requirements. Work from specification to product, not from price to specification, because a fabric that fails in service costs many times its purchase price in remediation. Anita Plastics supplies woven geotextile fabric, including road construction geotextile, soil stabilization fabric, and geotextile fabric for roads, with documented performance data. Share your project specification for a product recommendation and quote.
