Tensile deformation of jute needle-punched nonwoven geotextiles under compressive load

Abstract

The effect of compressive load on tensile behaviour of jute needle-punched nonwoven fabric has been studied with special reference to crack or void generation. A test box is designed to apply compressive load on the fabric during testing in horizontal cloth tensile tester. The tensile behaviour of single, 2-ply and 3-ply fabrics has been studied using this set-up with different compressive pressures ranging from 0 kPa to 39.2 kPa. It is observed that the stress-at-failure, extension-at-break, modulus of fabric and their coefficient of variations depend on the extent of compressive load. Fibre orientation and wetting of fabric play a role in determining its tensile behaviour under compressive load. A single ply, cross-laid fabric in wet condition shows better performance during crack or void generation in soil.