Ma. Knight et Sm. Kotha, Measurement of geotextile-water characteristic curves using a controlled outflow capillary pressure cell, GEOSYNTH IN, 8(3), 2001, pp. 271-282
The present paper describes the use of a controlled outflow capillary press
ure cell for the measurement of geotextile-water characteristic curves. Fin
e sand with a known soil-water characteristic curve and a geotextile column
drainage experiment were used to validate the controlled outflow cell. The
controlled outflow cell was also used to measure drainage geotextile-water
characteristic curves for one, three, and six vertically stacked nonwoven
geotextile specimen layers. Test results indicate the following: (i) the co
ntrolled outflow cell can measure a complete nonwoven drainage geotextile-w
ater characteristic curve with a water entry pressure of 50 mm; (ii) vertic
al stacking of the nonwoven geotextile has little influence on the geotexti
le-water characteristic curve; and (iii) a geotextile-water characteristic
curve can be measured in less time when compared with Klute's method. Test
results also indicate that ASTM D 854 may be used to determine the specific
gravity of the nonwoven geotextile.