GIROUD LECTURE
Geotextile filters: From idealization to real behaviour
SUMMARY
Geotextile filters have been used as filters in geotechnical and geoenvironmental works for decades. Despite their broad utilization, these filters still find obstacles to the expansion of their usage in larger projects and under complex soil and flow conditions. On the other hand, environmental issues are increasingly pressing for a greater use of geotextile filters in substitution to natural granular materials. Even though many important studies in the literature have clarified some points related to soil-water-geotextile filter interaction, some issues still require thorough investigation aimed at a better understanding of the behaviour of geotextile filters and the development of better design methodologies. This is particularly so for filters in contact with complex materials, such as internally unstable soils, tailings, or when subjected to conditions prone to favour biological or chemical clogging. This lecture discusses concerns regarding the use of geotextile filters under severe and critical conditions and how these conditions can be properly dealt with in the light of recent advances on the study of synthetic filters and observation of case-histories. A critical examination of the current practice for the specification of geotextile filters is presented and the importance of more realistic testing and design methods is highlighted. The advances in materials science, how they may mould future geotextiles products and applications and reduce filter behaviour uncertainties are also discussed.
BIO
Ennio Marques Palmeira, BSc., MSc., PhD., is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Brasília, Brazil. He obtained his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1977), MSc. degree from COPPE/UFRJ (1981) and his PhD. from the University of Oxford (1987). Prof. Palmeira is a Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences since 2007, received the Order of Scientific Merit from the Brazilian Presidency (2010) and several international and national awards and honours. He is also an Honorary Member of the International Geosynthetics Society (2012) and received the IGS Award in two occasions. Prof. Palmeira organised the formation of the Brazilian Chapter of IGS and was a member of the IGS Council for 12 years. He has served as editor or associate editor of important journals on geosynthetics and geotechnics. His research interests are on the use of geosynthetics in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering and he has been involved with research on geosynthetics applications for over 40 years.
