Abstract
Capillary rise in silt significantly degrades its strength and durability, yet the hydraulic mechanisms governing moisture control using wicking geotextile in silt remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the barrier-drainage performance of a wicking geotextile in silt through one-dimensional column experiments, supported by preliminary trials. Three configurations were examined: a control specimen without geotextile (CS), an embedded configuration (ES), and a surface-exposed configuration (SES). Volumetric moisture content and matric suction were monitored, capillary responses at the soil-geotextile interface and water storage behavior were evaluated. The results show that the wicking geotextile initially acts as a temporary capillary barrier due to pore-size contrast, delaying upward moisture migration. In the ES, restricted lateral discharge leads to progressive interfacial water accumulation and eventual capillary barrier failure as hydraulic equilibrium is approached. SES exhibits a coupled barrier-drainage response, in which capillary-driven lateral transport within wicking yarn, together with atmospheric exposure, sustains unsaturated drainage and effectively suppresses long-term capillary rise. A pot-cover effect was observed when the geotextile was installed close to the water level, highlighting the importance of placement within the unsaturated zone and provision of an effective discharge boundary. These findings provide practical guidance for the design of wicking geotextiles in silty subgrades.
Recommended Citation
D. Zou et al., "Barrier-drainage Performance of a Wicking Geotextile in Controlling Capillary Rise in Silt: Experimental Evaluation," Geotextiles and Geomembranes, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 679 - 691, Elsevier; International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), Aug 2026.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2026.03.005
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Publication Status
Full Text Access
Keywords and Phrases
Barrier-drainage mechanism; Capillary rise; Geosynthetics; Silt; Soil column test; Wicking geotextile
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0266-1144
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 Elsevier; International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Aug 2026
Comments
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant 52308346