10/06/2026
𝗔𝗢𝗦 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻?
AOS stands for 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲 and is an important property when evaluating geotextiles for filtration applications.
Here's where it can get confusing:
📌 AOS can be reported using U.S. Sieve or millimeters (mm).
📌 When reported as a U.S. Sieve number, the value is a maximum allowable opening.
📌 When reported in millimeters, the value represents the smallest allowable opening.
And yes—the numbers can seem backwards!
Carthage Mills breaks down AOS and how to read it on a geotextile datasheet.
Read the full explanation: https://carthagemills.com/geosynthetics/aos-apparent-opening-size/