SOIL-GEOTEXTILE COMPATIBILITY IN FILTRATION

Abstract

Geotextiles have been used in drainage and filtration for over 30 years in different applications in civil and environmental projects. Empirical design criteria have been used in the selection of geotextiles for these applications, and the overwhelming success of geotextiles as drainage and filter materials has yielded confidence in current practice. However, it has been acknowledged that current practice is far from taking into account the actual behaviour of geotextile filters in view of the complex nature of the conditions to which they are subjected in the field. This may lead to overly conservative designs, a rejection of the use of geotextiles in some works, or a very restricted use of these materials in major engineering projects. This paper presents a critical review of current design practices for geotextile filters. Emphasis is placed on characterising soil-geotextile interaction, given the in-service conditions. The results and conclusions address the extent to which the actual filter behaviour may vary from conditions assumed in testing and design, suggesting a need for more realistic approaches to the study of the interaction between soil, geotextile and fluid. For the covering abstract see ITRD E117244.