Strengthening roads with geotextiles

Low elongation, ultra-high tenacity, high modulus – industrial yarns offer superlative properties for the high-impact job of geotextiles. These cannot only be adapted to numerous requirements profiles using Oerlikon Barmag system concepts, the flexible systems concepts also enable a broad range of the most diverse industrial yarn products as well as high quality and efficiency with the lowest conversion costs. 

Building with geotextiles is an economically-prudent and simultaneously cost-saving alternative to conventional construction methods: because these flexible fabrics have outstanding material properties, are particularly durable and can even be used for extremely demanding projects. 

Geogrids as asphalt inlays – three tasks

• Reinforcing function
  If a new asphalt overlay is applied to a cracked but still load-bearing road surface, for example, this will create preprogrammed weak points. Here, tensile stress will occur which soon comes up through the newly-applied layers of asphalt. If asphalt inlays are used, they will absorb this tensile stress, distributing it over a large surface and lowering the crack tip. 
•  Tension-releasing function
  Equally, distortions can occur as a result of movement in the substrate, which can damage the road structure. This tension can be removed by installing a stress-absorbing membrane interlayer, such as a geogrid. This helps improve the bond between layers and helps ensure horizontal movement by lowering the tension and hence avoiding reflective cracking. 
• Sealing function
  Potholes occur above all on roads already damaged. Whenever water is able to enter pre-damaged areas such as cracks, for instance. In winter, this water freezes, expands and breaks up the road surface. Accordingly, it is all about ensuring a closed asphalt layer. Here, geotextiles used as seals in the road surface can prevent water from entering the lower asphalt layers and hence creating more severe damage to the road.