When choosing between civil grade and environmental grade nonwoven geotextile fabrics, it is important to consider the specific requirements of your project. One should use civil grade nonwoven geotextile fabrics for standard civil engineering applications where the weight of the fabric is not a critical factor. Environmental grade nonwoven geotextile fabrics should be used in applications where weight is a critical factor, such as in landfills where they are used as a protection layer between the gravel and geomembrane. Environmental grade nonwoven geotextile fabrics are more expensive and come in larger, heavier rolls, so they may not be suitable for use in all civil engineering projects. It is important to consider the specific requirements of your project and choose the appropriate grade of nonwoven geotextile fabric to ensure that it meets your needs.

The successful use of geotextiles in these applications requires proper installation. The four basic steps of proper installation include: 1. Subgrade preparation: Initially, the site should be cleared of tree stumps, large stones, and other sharp objects that could puncture the fabric. This step should be performed regardless of subgrade strength. Localized soft or otherwise unsuitable subgrade areas may be required to be excavated and backfilled with select material. 2. Geotextile placement: Two people can easily place nonwoven geotextiles. The fabric should be rolled out onto the subgrade beginning at a point that allows easy access for construction equipment, yet is consistent with the layout plan. The geotextile is usually laid in the direction of construction traffic; however, specific project dimensions may alter this layout. Geotextile panels should be overlapped both side-to-side and end-to-end, in the direction of aggregate placement. 3. Aggregate placement: The aggregate should be placed on top of the geotextile and compacted in accordance with the specifications provided by the engineer. The aggregate layer should be placed in a uniform manner, using a motor grader or other suitable equipment. 4. Aggregate compaction: The aggregate should be compacted using a vibratory roller or other suitable equipment. The compactive effort should be sufficient to achieve the required density and smoothness. The final surface should be checked for proper elevation and smoothness. Any low spots should be corrected by adding and compacting additional aggregate.

Nonwoven geotextile fabrics can be used as a cushion fabric to protect liners in a variety of applications. One common use is as a protection layer between the gravel and geomembrane in landfills. In this application, the nonwoven geotextile fabric acts as a cushion to protect the liner from point loading by the gravel, helping to ensure the long-term integrity of the liner. The cushioning properties of nonwoven geotextile fabrics are due to their fibrous structure, which allows them to deform and absorb energy when subjected to stress. This makes them effective at protecting underlying materials from damage caused by external loads.

Adjacent fabric edges can be sewn together rather than overlapped. Sewn seams must be used when the geotextile provides significant tensile reinforcement. This is the case, for example, when the subgrade is very soft (CBR