Internal strength characterization of geotextile tube using miniature cone

Abstract

Geotextile tubes are widely used in coastal protection and beach restoration. The objective of this study is to evaluate the internal shear strength of geotextile tubes using a miniature cone in a small-scale model test. Sandy soils with different particle size distributions are used as fill materials in the geotextile tubes. Each fill material with high water content is injected into the geotextile tube using a sand pump. After injecting the fill material, cone penetration tests are conducted using a miniature cone to characterize the internal strength profile of the geotextile tube. The experimental results indicate that fill materials with fines content have smaller cone tip resistances than those without. Moreover, the cone tip resistances near the inlet of the geotextile tube are smaller than those far from the inlet in the longitudinal direction. The strength characterization approach using a miniature cone may be promising for evaluating the internal stability of geotextile tubes.