The outdoor degradation of twelve geotextiles was simulated using a UV fluorescent lamp device. It was determined that the ultraviolet rays by themselves were the major contributor to the degradation of these geotextiles. Neither heat nor moisture had a significant effect on the geotextiles, at least within the testing time used in this study. The rate of UV degradation of the geotextiles was seen to be inversely proportional to their unit weight. In addition, the rate of degradation in the weatherometer was essentially terminated once the UV source was removed. The 70% UV degraded PP ,.and PET geotextiles exhibited similar strength retained behavior as those unexposed samples at 60°C within 3000 hours.
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