MEASUREMENT OF THE CONTACT-ANGLE OF WATER ON GEOTEXTILE FIBERS

The contact angle of water on geotextile fibers significantly influenc es capillary behavior. Measurements of the dynamic contact angle of ta p water on geotextile fibers are reported for two geotextiles, as rece ived from the manufacturer and after they had been treated (cleaned). There is considerable hysteresis between advancing and receding contac t angles, as expected. Fibers from one geotextile have significantly l ower contact angle cosines than the other, indicating that it is less wettable. The cleaning of geotextiles resulted in significant reductio n in the advancing contact angles of fibers from one of the geotextile s but not the other. The heights of water capillary rise in strips of the geotextiles were also measured. Results showed that the contact an gle measurements are helpful; but, information on pore sizes is also n eeded to predict capillary behavior.