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Designing with geotextiles

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Abstract

This paper deals with three current functions of geotextiles: geotextile drains; geotextile filters; geotextile separators.

The important properties of geotextiles in each function are discussed and permeability, filtration and strength criteria are proposed. Examples of design are presented for each function.

Résumé

Cet article concerne trois fonctions classiques des géotextiles: drainage, filtration et séparation. Pour chacune de ces fonctions, les propriétés importantes des géotextiles sont examinées et une analyse théorique du comportement du géotextile est établie à partir des concepts classiques de la mécanique, de l'hydraulique et de la géotechnique. Ainsi l'analyse du rôle drainant des géotextiles présentée dans cet article est essentiellement semblable à celle des matériaux granulaires (la seule caractéristique originale des géotextiles par rapport aux matériaux granulaires étant leur grande compressibilité). Le critère de filtration relatif aux géotextiles est différent du critère classique de filtration relatif aux sables afin de mieux tenir compte de certaines particularités de l'association sol-géotextile. Pour la fonction de séparation, une approche nouvelle est proposée qui fait intervenir les résultats d'essais textiles classiques tels que l'essai d'arrachement (grab test), l'essai de perforation, l'essai d'éclatement et l'essai d'accroc. Pour chacune des applications, une méthode de conception est proposée sur la base non plus d'une approche empirique mais sur des données obtenues par des essais. Des exemples d'application sont présentés.

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Abbreviations

A :

area of geotextile m2

b :

width of span (either width of a crack or diameter of a circular hole) or typical length to be used in equations (27) to (32) m

b b :

width of hole in burst test m

b t :

width of hole in trough test m

B :

width of embankment m

c v :

coefficient of consolidation of soil in the vertical direction m2/s

d :

diameter of soil particles mm

d f :

diameter of filaments mm

d 15 :

15% soil size (15% by weight is finer) mm

d 50 :

50% soil size (50% by weight is finer) mm

d 85 :

85% soil size (85% by weight is finer) mm

F :

factor of safety dimensionless

g :

acceleration of gravity m/s2

h :

height of embankment m

H g :

thickness of geotextile mm

H′ g :

thickness of compressed geotextile mm

i :

hydraulic gradient dimensionless

k :

coefficient of permeability of soil in the vertical direction m/s

k N :

coefficient of normal permeability of geotextile m/s

k P :

coefficient of permeability of geotextile in its plane m/s

K b :

modulus of geotextile in burst test N/m

K t :

modulus of geotextile in trough test N/m

L :

length of cross section of geotextile perpendicular to flow direction m

L′ :

length of geotextile parallel to flow direction m

n s :

porosity of soil dimensionless

n g :

porosity of geotextile dimensionless

O :

opening size mm

O 50 :

50% geotextile opening size (50% of the openings are smaller thanO 50) mm

O 95 :

95% geotextile opening size (95% of the openings are smaller thanO 95) mm

O′ :

opening size corresponding to a compressed geotextile mm

O′ 50 :

50% compressed geotextile opening size mm

O′ 95 :

95% compressed geotextile opening size mm

p :

pressure exerted on a geotextile in the field Pa

p max :

maximum pressure withstood by a geotextile in the field Pa

p b :

pressure in burst test Pa

p bf :

pressure at failure in burst test Pa

p t :

pressure in trough test Pa

p tf :

pressure at failure in trough test Pa

Q :

rate of flow m3/s

R G :

grab strength of geotextile N

R S :

snag strength of geotextile N

R P :

puncture strength of geotextile N

t :

time to build an embankment s

U :

soil uniformity coefficient dimensionless

y :

deflection of geotextile m

α:

anguish (force per unit width) N/m

αb :

anguish in burst test N/m

αbf :

anguish at failure in burst test N/m

αt :

anguish in trough test N/m

αtf :

anguish at failure in trough test N/m

β:

slope angle degree

Δh :

hydraulic head loss m

Δp :

difference in water pressure Pa

Δz :

difference in elevation m

ε:

elongation of geotextile dimensionless

εb :

elongation of geotextile in burst test dimensionless

εbf :

elongation of geotextile at failure in burst test dimensionless

εgf :

elongation of geotextile at failure in grab test dimensionless

εt :

elongation of geotextile in trough test dimensionless

εtf :

elongation of geotextile at failure in trough test dimensionless

θ:

transmissivity of geotextile m2/s

λ:

coefficient dimensionless

μ:

mass per unit area of geotextile kg/m2

ν:

Poisson's ratio of geotextile dimensionless

ρ:

mass per unit volume of embankment material kg/m3

ρf :

mass per unit volume of filaments kg/m3

ρsat :

mass per unit volume of saturated soil kg/m3

ρw :

mass per unit volume of water kg/m3

Ψ:

permittivity of geotextile s−1

References

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  3. Giroud J. P., Gourc J. P., Bally P., Delmas P.,Comportement d'un textile non-tissé dans un barrage en terre, Coll. Int. Sols et Textiles, Vol. II, Paris, April 1977, pp. 213–218.

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  4. Rigo J. M.,Corrélation entre la résistance au poinçonnement sur ballast et les caractéristiques mécaniques des membranes d'étanchéité, Matériaux et Constructions, Vol. II, No. 65, September–October 1978, pp. 347–359.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotextiles and Geomembranes Group Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Chicago, USA

    J. -P. Giroud (Director)

Authors
  1. J. -P. Giroud
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Giroud, J.P. Designing with geotextiles. Mat. Constr. 14, 257–272 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02473945

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