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The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Geotextile Filters: Concerns and Issues,” on April 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) member companies and their employees receive discounted rates on all GSI webinar and short course registrations.
It is roughly estimated that geotextiles have been used in more than 500,000 filtration applications to date. Improper performance is extremely rare, and in our database of field problems there are only 82 published or known cases (~ 0.016%). Yet, these are important to recognize in the context of “lessons learned” so as not to be repeated in the future. The various case histories are categorized into the following groups:
- geotextile filter design problems
- problems involving atypical soils
- problems involving atypical permeants
- geotextile filter installation problems
The webinar is generously illustrated with cross sections of specific situations as well as photographs of significance.
Insofar as a summary and recommendations are concerned it is felt that the state-of-the-practice in geotextile filter design is very good when dealing with water as the permeant flowing through “typical” soils. In this regard, atypical permeants and/or unique soils need special consideration. Certainly, high suspended soils and biological contaminants are of concern. Unique soil types such as cohesionless fine sands and silt, dispersive clays and ochre should also be evaluated accordingly. Long-term laboratory equilibrium testing is described for such situations and they are described accordingly. Lastly, graded geotextile filters are described and recommended for unique situations.
Participants will learn the three concepts of geotextile filtration design using a series of gradually sophisticated methods. All the 82-field case histories will be explained in this context. Not only causes of problems will be illustrated but also clear explanations will be given. Many situations become obvious after the situation has occurred. Also, several situations are challenging at the present time, e.g., reversing flow conditions, ochre growth and installation practices.
This webinar will be beneficial to transportation, geotechnical, geoenvironmental and hydraulic engineering designers working in the respective field of expertise; owners, regulators and permitters of systems that includes the necessity of soil and geotextile filtration; contractors installing geotextile filters insofar as proper practices are concerned; and geotextile manufacturers from the perspective of past practice is concerned including a correct and incorrect range of using their products.
The webinar’s instructor, Dr. Robert M. Koerner, is professor emeritus of civil engineering at Drexel University, and founder and director emeritus of the Geosynthetic Institute.
Webinars cost $200.00 for GSI and GMA members, and $250.00 for nonmembers. Successful completion of a multiple-choice test after the webinar carries 1.5 professional development hours (PDH).
For more information or to register, click here.