Coconut coir geotextiles is a natural material and permeable textile material used to improve soil characteristics. It has the ability to separate, filter, strengthen, protect and drain when used in combination with soil. Coconut geotextile is a suitable material for many infrastructure works, such as highways, ports, landfills, drainage facilities, and other public projects.
Fiber geotextiles are very useful for soil reinforcement at a relatively low cost compared to other soil reinforcement methods. Also, in a mold with good resistance, the land does not easily sink. Coconut geotextiles are a natural solution to prevent soil quality erosion/degradation on a large scale.
Fiber geotextiles are made from coconut fiber, which is processed by crushing it in a fiber crusher machine. The coconut fiber is cut into small pieces and then sifted with a coconut fiber sieve to obtain individual fibers. These fibers are then twisted on a rotating machine, the diameter of which can be adjusted as required.
Coconut Geotextile Category
Coconut coir geotextile is made from coconut fiber that has gone through various processes. As a natural product, coconut geotextiles are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. According to the method of preparation, they are divided into 2 categories:
- Coconut Woven Coir Geotextile
- Non-Woven Coconut Coir Geotextiles
1. Woven coconut geotextile
This form is the simplest. Fiber geotextiles are traditionally produced by hand using the technique of twin rod weaving. This form is used primarily for erosion control. Most of these variations are made depending on rainfall intensity, soil type, and surface gradient. Each variety can be identified by weight per m2 and type of yarn.
2. Non-woven Coconut Geotextile
Coconut fiber geotextiles are often called coconut fiber filter cloths. It is made of the same material as coconut non-woven geotextile in the form of felt, non-woven. The coconut fiber is pressed and heated with a special adhesive.
In general, both types of coconut fiber geotextiles perform the same function. Only its use depends on the type of soil and the purpose for which the building is built.
Uses and Functions of Coir Geotextiles
The performance of cocoa geotextiles in any application is defined by three separate functions:
1. Filters
Coconut geotextile has high permeability properties, so it is able to flow water through coconut geotextile. Water flow will carry soil particles, so the fiber geotextile acts as a filter or filters through which water can still flow, but soil particles do not penetrate the fiber geotextile.
2. Separator
Fiber geotextiles are known to be effective in preventing soft soils from mixing with subgrade, as in the construction of soft soil roads. Often the soft soil of the foundation is lifted. The role of cocoa geotextiles is to prevent loose soil from rising on the pavement.
First of all, the advantage of coconut geotextile is that it has good extensibility and can withstand the resulting frictional forces, so it is very easy to use as a separator between the soft soil and the pavement on top.
3. Sealing
The nonwoven fiber geotextile layer is impregnated between the existing and new asphalt layers. Geotextiles absorb asphalt to form a waterproof membrane, minimizing vertical water flow in the pavement structure.
The scope of coconut geotextiles in the field of mechanical engineering is very wide. Cocoa geotextile applications are given under the heading “Nature of work”.
- Stabilizing sloping soils works to improve and control erosion.
- Ground wall reinforcement serves for reinforcement and drainage.
- Road stabilization functions for filtration, drainage, isolation, reinforcement, and containment
- Rail, channel stabilization function to filter, separate, strengthen the localization
- Soft soil fillings are used for filtration, isolation, consolidation, and erosion control.
- Dams function for filtration, drainage, isolation, protection, and sealing
- Slope erosion control is used for erosion control and containment.
- Reclaimed land is used for filtration, segregation, and consolidation.
- Riverbank reinforcement serves to filter, separate and control erosion.
It can be seen from the above coconut coir geotextiles and features that there is a big difference between features and applications. These various functions can be performed mainly by coconut fiber geotextiles.