What is the primary purpose of using geotextile fabric in earthwork applications?
Correct Answer
D) To provide separation, filtration, and reinforcement functions
Geotextile fabrics serve multiple functions including separation of different soil layers, filtration to allow water passage while retaining soil particles, and reinforcement to improve soil stability and load distribution.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Geotextile fabric is an engineered permeable textile used in civil and construction applications to perform three core functions simultaneously: (1) separation — keeping different soil layers from mixing; (2) filtration — allowing water to pass through while retaining fine soil particles to prevent erosion; and (3) reinforcement — distributing loads and improving stability of weak soils.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: To increase the bearing capacity of the underlying soil
Geotextile fabric does not directly increase the bearing capacity of underlying soil. Bearing capacity is improved through soil replacement, compaction, or ground improvement techniques like stone columns — not geotextile alone.
Option B: To reduce the required depth of granular base materials
While geotextile can optimize granular base performance, it does not reduce the required depth of base materials. Structural layer thicknesses are determined by traffic loads, soil conditions, and design standards, not by the presence of geotextile.
Option C: To prevent frost penetration in cold climates
Geotextile fabric does not prevent frost penetration. Frost protection requires adequate soil cover depth (frost depth) or insulation materials. Geotextile is permeable and has no meaningful thermal insulation properties.
Memory Technique
Geotextile = SFR: Separation, Filtration, Reinforcement. Think of a geo-textile as a smart filter that also holds layers apart and strengthens the ground beneath.
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