ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 7

Measurement of the Contact Angle of Water on Geotextile Fibers

Henry, KS
Research civil engineer, U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH

Patton, S
Chemist, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Environmental Division, Newport, RI

Abstract

The contact angle of water on geotextile fibers significantly influences capillary behavior. Measurements of the dynamic contact angle of tap water on geotextile fibers are reported for two geotextiles, as received from the manufacturer and after they had been treated (cleaned). There is considerable hysteresis between advancing and receding contact angles, as expected. Fibers from one geotextile have significantly lower contact angle cosines than the other, indicating that it is less wettable. The cleaning of geotextiles resulted in significant reduction in the advancing contact angles of fibers from one of the geotextiles but not the other. The heights of water capillary rise in strips of the geotextiles were also measured. Results showed that the contact angle measurements are helpful; but, information on pore sizes is also needed to predict capillary behavior.

Keywords:
geotextile, capillary barrier, contact angle, wetting, fiber

Paper ID: GTJ10420J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10420J
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