Experimental Evaluation of Soil-Geotextiles Filtration Characteristics for the Embankment Portion of A Dam

The application of geotextiles as filters is common in Geotechnical and Environmental applications since few decades. But it is accepted recently only in the usage of toe drains in the embankment portion of dams, that too mainly in the non-critical portion. There are different tests for finding out the soil-geotextiles compatibility. But there has not been a consensus on which one of these methods is the most suitable one. In this research work, a series of tests were performed on soil samples collected from the downstream side of the embankment portion of a dam with non-woven geotextiles using Gradient Ratio Test (GRT) apparatus and Hydraulic Conductivity Ratio (HCR) test apparatus. The evaluation of filtration characteristics of soil-geotextiles composite were performed and the non woven geotextiles which is compatible with the downstream side of the embankment portion of the Kanhirapuzha Dam is found out.