ASTM Test Methods for

Geotextiles
GEOTEXTILE TEST METHODS
M.A.R.V. (MINIMUM AVERAGE ROLL VALUE)

Until the 1980’s, geotextile values were reported as “typical.” A

typical value is an average or mean value, which means that
50% of the results can be expected to exceed the typical value
and 50% can be expected to fall below the typical value. ASTM
D4759 “Standard Practice for Determining the Specification
Conformance of Geosynthetics” requires using M.A.R.V. values.
The “minimum average roll value” is a middle ground between
the absolute minimum value and the typical value. The MARV is
derived statistically as the typical (mean or average) value less
two standard deviations. A standard deviation is a measure of
the width of the spread of the values, or their variance
(dispersion) from the mean. The standard deviation is
determined by taking the square root of that variance. The
variance takes into account all possible values (not just the
extremes which give the range). It is interesting to note that
values reported ABOVE the mean count as a negative in the
same manner as a value reported below the mean counts as a
negative. The following diagram demonstrates:

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Weight (Mass per Unit Area) [ASTM D 5261]

The mass per unit area is determined by cutting a minimum of

10 specimens, each at least 100 mm square, and then weighing
them on an accurate scale. For civil applications, this property is
reported as a “typical” value as opposed to “Minimum Average
Roll Value” (M.A.R.V.). However, in the environmental (landfill)
industry this is reported and specified as a M.A.R.V. property.
Thickness [ASTM D 5199]

The average thickness of a geotextile is measured using a

thickness gauge (electronic micrometer) under a gradually
applied, specified pressure, usually by a dead weight
mechanism. The ASTM requirement is a pressure of 20 kPa
applied through a circular loading tip with a diameter of 6.35
mm.

Grab Strength (Grab Tensile) and Elongation [ASTM D 4632]

This is the standard strength test used in the geotextile

industry. It determines the force or load at which the geotextile
breaks and how far it stretches (elongates) before it breaks. A
geotextile sample is placed in clamps and mechanically pulled at
a constant rate until it ruptures (breaks). The sample size is 4”
wide x 8” long. The clamps are 1” x 2”. The clamp is buried 1”
deep. Therefore, 1” of the sample is left unclamped on each side
of the 2” section of the clamp. As such, the force is not applied
to the whole sample and the result cannot be reported as
“pounds per inch.” Instead it is reported in “pounds of force.”
Therefore, it is good for comparing one geotextile to another,
but not a reliable test for geotextile strength in a reinforcement
design.

Wide Width Strength (WW Tensile) and Elongation [ASTM D

4595]

The wide width tensile test provides a more reliable assessment

of geotextile strength. So for critical applications such as
reinforcement design, it is the method engineers use to
calculate the required tensile strength. Therefore, it is typically
only done with woven (reinforcement) geotextiles. 4595
requires the entire width of the sample be clamped. The clamps
are 8” x 2”. The geotextile sample is 8” wide x 8” long
(minimum). Since the entire width of the sample is held by the
clamps, this is a true tensile test. The “pounds of force” is then
divided by 8, multiplied by 12, and reported as pounds per inch.

4595 - % Strain
You will often see ASTM 4595 specified in terms of % strain
(elongation). 1%, 2%, 5% & 10% are typical. Generally
speaking, woven fabrics must elongate 4% to 5% before they
engage their full tensile strength. Since fabrics are not fully
stretched when they are first installed, if the subgrade softens
after construction, the fabric will elongate to match. Soils will
typically fail at 1-2% elongation, so in critical applications it is
important to know at what strain the geotextile will fail.

Wovens vs Nonwovens - Elongation @ Break

When stress is applied to a needle-punched nonwoven, the

fibers can freely move apart and the material can commonly
stretch by 40% to 80% before it breaks. In a woven geotextile,
the fibers begin to absorb the stress immediately and elongation
at break is therefore lower, typically in 5% to 30% range.
Thermally bonded nonwoven geotextiles typically have an
elongation at break somewhere between that of woven and
needle punched nonwoven products. As such, the % elongation
specified tells you whether the engineer wants a woven or
nonwoven. (>50% nonwoven / <50% woven).

Tensile Creep [ASTM D5262 and D6992]

This test is applicable to geosynthetics (including geogrids) used

in steepened slopes and retaining walls. Tensile (tension) creep
tests are performed by placing a load on a geotextile sample for
up to 10,000 hours (417 days). The samples are gripped across
their full width. The creep deformation or elongation (strain) of
the sample is monitored over the test period. From these
results, the time to rupture at various load levels or the load
level that will cause rupture at a given time can be determined.
Like 4595, a 8” x 8” sample with an 8” x 2” clamp size is used.

Mullen Burst (Diaphragm Burst) [ASTM D3786]

The Mullen test was devised in 1887 as a measure for the

puncture strength of paper and was adapted to textiles. Mullen
burst determines how much force is required to rupture the
geotextile as it is distended. An inflatable rubber membrane is
used to deform the geotextile into the shape of a hemisphere
through a 30 mm diameter ring until it bursts. It is literally
blown up like a balloon. The resulting value is reported in
pounds per square inch (psi). Due to a small sample size and a
high variation in the test procedure, the results can vary widely.
It is no longer recognized by ASTM as an acceptable geotextile
test.

Puncture Strength (Pin Puncture) [ASTM D4833]

This is an index test for puncture resistance of geotextiles. A

geotextile sample is clamped without tension between circular
plates of a slip-free ring clamp. The ring clamp is secured in a
tensile/compression testing machine. A force is exerted by a
metal puncture rod attached to a load indicator against the
center of the unsupported portion of the geotextile sample until
rupture occurs (a hole is poked through). The puncture rod is a
solid steel rod with a diameter of 8 mm and a 45 degree
bevelled edge. The maximum force recorded is the value
reported. It is no longer recognized by AASHTO M288 as an
acceptable geotextile test and has been replaced by CBR
Puncture.

(Static) CBR Puncture [ASTM D6241]

To eliminate the high degree of variability from the Mullen Burst

(3786) and Pin Puncture (4833) test methods, Static (CBR)
Puncture Strength (ASTM D 6241) was developed to replace
them. CBR stands for California Bearing Ratio, a soil strength
test that was adapted for this geotextile test. CBR Puncture is
an index of puncture resistance that measures the force
required to push a flat ended plunger through a geotextile. A
150 mm geotextile sample is secured between two steel rings.
Instead of an 8 mm diameter probe with a beveled edge (Pin
Puncture 4833); this test utilizes a 50mm diameter, flat-ended
probe (plunger) that is pushed slowly through the geotextile.
The relatively large size of the plunger provides a
multidirectional force on the geotextile and simulates big stones
pressed onto a geotextile laying a relatively soft sub-base.
Trapezoidal Tear [ASTM D4533]

Geotextile samples are cut in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid

and then a small cut is made on one side of the trapezoid. The 2
non-parallel sides of the geotextile are gripped in parallel flat
faced clamps in a manner which allows the tear to propagate as
the jaws move apart and the required strain rate is applied. A
continuous tear is propagated in this way and the maximum
force recorded. The trapezoid procedure requires the jaw faces
to be at least 2 inches x 3 inches.

UV Resistance [ASTM D4355]

UV Resistance is a measure of the potential for the deterioration

of tensile strength in the fabric due to exposure to ultraviolet
light and water. It is typically expressed @ 500 hours exposure.
For some products, such as ground cover, you will see it
specified as high as 2,500 hours exposure.

Friction [ASTM D 5321]

This is an adaptation of the direct shear test, in that the fabric is

firmly fixed to the top half of the shear box and a standard
laboratory soil is used in the bottom half. The force required to
cause sliding between the fabric and soil is determined for
different normal stresses and the shear strength parameters are
obtained. The test is useful for quality control and may be used
to compare different geotextiles. However, for reinforced soil
applications the proposed fill material should be used in the test.

HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES
Apparent Opening Size [ASTM D4751]

A.O.S. is an important parameter in assessing a geotextile's soil

filtration capability. Spherical solid glass beads are dry sieved
through a geotextile for a specified time and at a specified
frequency of vibration. The amount of beads retained by the
geotextile sample is then measured. The test is carried out on a
range of sizes of glass beads. The apparent opening size is the
pore size at which 90% of the glass beads are retained on and
within the fabric.

Permittivity [ASTM D 4491]

Permittivity is the mechanism by which water moves through

the fabric. The permittivity test measures the quantity of water
which can pass through a geotextile perpendicular to the surface
of the geotextile. The permittivity may be measured either in a
constant head or falling head test, although constant head
testing is more common due to the high flow rates through
geotextiles which make it is difficult to obtain readings of head
change versus time in the falling head test. In the constant head
test, a head of 50 mm water is maintained on the geotextile
throughout the test. The quantity of flow is measured versus
time. In the falling head test, a column of water is allowed to
flow through the geotextile and reading of head changes versus
time is taken. The flow rate of water through the geotextile
needs to be slow enough to obtain accurate readings.

Permeability [ASTM D 4491]

This is derived from the pemittivity test using the nominal

thickness of the geotextile. The permittivity is divided by the
thickness to determine permeability. It is done to supposedly
allow one to compare the geotextile’s permeability to the soil’s
permeability. The problem is that geotextiles vary in thickness.
Introducing thickness into the equation nullifies a designer's
ability to compare geotextiles, because the permeability value is
related to geotextile thickness, rather than geotextile cross-
plane flow. Not only do geotextile thicknesses vary, but
needlepunched nonwoven thicknesses decrease under load.
Adding a geotextile's thickness to the equation does not make
the geotextile a "soil" or give one a design test value to
compare to soil just because both now have cm/sec as their
units. Water Flow Rate [ASTM D 4491] The amount of water
that travels through the geotextile expressed in gallons per
minute per square foot.

Transmissivity [ASTM D 4716]

The volumetric flow rate of water per unit width of a geotextile
specimen per unit gradient in a direction parallel to the plane of
the specimen. Percent Open Area [CW-02215] The sum of the
open area of a sample of a geotextile, divided by the total area
of the sample and expressed in percent (Area of Openings/Total
AreaX100). A small section of the fabric is held within a slide
cover, inserted into a projector and the magnified image traced
on to a sheet of paper. Using a planimeter, the magnified open
spaces can be measured. The test is primarily applicable to
monofilament woven fabrics and provides information on pore
size openings which is important in assessing a geotextile's soil
filtration capability.