A comparison of wide-width tensile strength to its axi-symmetric tensile strength of hybrid needlepunched nonwoven geotextiles

Geotextiles are placed between the subbase and subgrade in order to enhance the bearing capacity of soft subgrades. The concentrated forces perpendicular to the plane of geotextile as a result of subgrade surface irregularities can impart axi-symmetric loading to the geotextile. In this study, a simple model of axi-symmetric tensile strength for anisotropic hybrid needlepunched nonwoven geotextiles has been proposed by relating to its in-plane tensile properties obtained from wide-width tensile tests in the weaker direction. A range of hybrid geotextiles has been produced from a blend of polypropylene/viscose fibers in defined weight proportions to validate the model of axi-symmetric tensile strength. In general, a good correlation has been observed between the theoretical and experimental results of axi-symmetric tensile strength of hybrid needlepunched nonwoven geotextiles.