PROPOSED STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF GEOTEXTILE ON HYDRAULIC

CONDUCTIVITY (PERMEABILITY) OF COARSE GRAINED SOIL

I.

PROPONENT : ENGR. PROSPERO C. CABORNAY, MSCE

II.

INTRODUCTION
A. Project Brief
The project consists of laboratory test programs to determine the effects of geotextile
on the permeability of coarse grain soil based on its grain size distribution. This can
study can also be a alternative procedure for determining the permeability of various
geotextile.
B. RATIONALE
In structures like, earth dams, dikes, retaining walls and other earth retaining structures,
water are inevitable flowing through the structures during its utilization. The design of
the structure should anticipate the effect of such flow on the stability of the structures.
Flow is not prohibited, rather directed and permitted so as not to create additional
loads. Water flowing towards a retaining structures must be able to penetrate easily
and quickly so as not to build up excess hydrostatic pressure and at the same time water
carries fine particles from the adjacent soil resulting to gradual loss of fine materials(soil
piping), increase flow rates, unstable soil voids on the upstream and leads to a small
sinkhole.
Filters are used to control the flow water and prevents fine particles being conveyed by
the flowing water. Filters must let the water flow rapidly and must not permit fine
particles that could clog the drain that may cause erosion or cavitation in the areas
surrounding the drain.
Gravel, sand or sand blended gravel are typically used as filtration material during the
early days of construction. Gravel and sand are considered coarse-grained soil with
particle size ranging from 0.075mm to 75mm and must have more than 50% retained
on the No. 200 sieve (0.075mm opening). Coarse grained soil exhibit higher void ratio
that fine grained soil thus making water flows easily and quickly.
Various criterion have been established base on the ratio of particle size of the filter soil
and the surrounding or natural soil for both quick and easy flow and the for prevention
of fine particles from migrating to the filter material.

Permeability of Geotextile by Engr. Prospero C. Cabornay

To ensure the performance of the gravel/sand filter, the filter material must not enter
or clog the drain of the retaining structures. The filter material should also be
compacted so that it does settle. The drain in the structure should be placed facing
downward to help minimize fine materials to migrate. For situation where natural soil
consist of fine grained soil, it maybe necessary to provide a filter material that may
consist of two or more layers, having the coarsest being nearest to the drain and less
coarse on the natural soil.
This condition of filter material using coarse grained soil is very difficult to achieve in
the construction of the various earth retaining structures.
The filtering functions accomplished by applying coarse grained soil can also be achieved
using geosynthetics particularly geotextiles.
According ASTM, geosynthetics are planar product manufactured from polymeric
material used with soil, rock, earth or other geotechnical engineering related material as
an integral part of a human made project, structure or system.
Geotextiles are one of the eight major types of geosynthetics. Geotextiles are indeed a
geotextiles in traditional sense but mostly composed of synthetic fibers (polyester,
polypropylene) rather than the natural ones such as cotton, wool or silk. The synthetic
fibers are made into flexible, porous fabrics by standard weaving or matted together in
random nonwoven manner (needle punched or heat bonded). The major point of
geotextiles are porous( to allow liquid to flow), flexible (to be installed rapidly) and nonbiodegradeble (long lifetime construction service).
Geosynthetics alluded to major functions such as separation, reinforcement, filtration,
drainage, containement, slope protection and erosion control. There are many uses for
geotextile however the material can carry out one of the four distinct functions:
separation, reinforcement, drainage and filtration.
The geotextile function of filtration involves the movement of liquid on the machine
direction surface of the geotextile itself and the retaining of soil on the upstream side of
the retaining structures. Also, long-term soil to geotextile flow compatibility that will
not excessively clog during the service life of the system.
Indeed, the use of geotextile as filtration material results to better, faster and more
advantageous than using granular materials (sand or gravel).
Series of studies on filtration properties of geotextiles decades ago of direct
comparisons of geotextile opening size to various soil particle size using decade old
procedure. Various test methods and equipments both for index properties and
performarce procedures have been developed to test properties of soil and geotextile.

Permeability of Geotextile by Engr. Prospero C. Cabornay

Also production methods of geotextile and various polymers used evolves throughout
the years.
This circumstances prompted the proponent to conduct a study on the effect of
geotextile on filtration properties of granular material using the latest permeability
apparatus. This study will also determine the effects of existing geotextile products on
the market on the filtration function of geotextile. Result of this study will be a baseline
procedure for choosing the right geotextile for filtration purposes.

III.

General Objectives
1. To determine the effect of various grades of geosynthetics on the permeability of coarse
grained soils

IV.

Specific Objectives
1. To determine the effective size( E10) of coarse grained soil.
2. To determine the permeability of coarse grained soil
3. To determine the effect of geotextile on permeability ofcoarse grained soil

V.

Scope and Limitations

This study will focus on the effects of geotextile on the permeability of coarse grained
soil in relation to its effective size and other particle size related properties. Non-woven
geotextile will be use in this study and made up of polypropylene. Retention capabilities and
long long term capability of geotextile on filtration functions are not included in this study.
Physical and mechanical properties of non- woven type geotextile will be based on the technical
data that to be provided by the manufacturer.

VI.

Methodology

Specific Objective 1 : To determine the effective size of coarse grained

a. Collection and gathering of sand and gravel
b. Determine the particle size distribution using grain size analysis
c. Determine the effective size and other pertinent sizes using the grain-size curve
Specific Objective 2: To determine the permeability of coarse grained soil
a. Preparation of coarsed grained material
b. Determine the permeability of coarse grained soil using Constant Head Permeameter
(ASTM 2434)

Permeability of Geotextile by Engr. Prospero C. Cabornay

Specific Objective 3: To determine the effect of geotextile on the permeability of coarse grained soil
a. Preparation of coarsed grained soil and geotextiles
b. Determine the permeability of coarsed grained soil with geotextile using Constant Head
Permeameter. ASTM 2434
VII.

Variables:

Geotextile
Opening Size

Position of Geotextile in
the Soil Sample

120m
100m
90m

Top
Center
Bottom

Particle Size
Distribution of Sand
and gravel
Pure sand
Pure Gravel
Gravel- Sand mixture

Laboratory Test
Constant Head Test
(Permeability Test For
Granular Soil) ASTM 2434

Water Outlet

Counter-weight porous filter

Screen Filter
Coarse grain
soil

Geotextile

Geotextile

Screen Filter
Water Inlet

Geotextile

Schematic Presentation of Permeability Test of Coarse-Grained Soil with Geotextile on Different Location

Permeability of Geotextile by Engr. Prospero C. Cabornay

VIII.
Analysis of Test Results
1. To analyze the permeability of various coarse grained soil based on the particle size
distribution.
2. To analyze the effects of geotextile on the permeability of coarse grained soil.
3. To analyze the result of the permeability of the coarse grain soil with geotextile on the
permeability data of geotextile.

Permeability of Geotextile by Engr. Prospero C. Cabornay