Geotextile tubes are finding increasing market acceptance for dewatering high water content
materials. The success of this application depends on the filtration compatibility between the
high water content materials and the geotextiles used to make the tubes. In this paper, 26
pressure filtration tests using four woven geotextiles of various materials were conducted to
study soil retention and permeability of the sludge/geotextile system and the possible
controlling factors. Based on the test results, the filter cake is not only the major contributor to
the retention of fine particles, but also causes a decrease in permeability. Controlling the
formation of the filter cake on the inside of the geotextiles tube and thus achieving a balance
between soil retention and permeability is vital to a successful project. Surprisingly, initial
water content may have a significant effect on the dewatering efficiency and dewatering rate.
More testing is recommended to gain a deeper understanding into this relationship.
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