Evaluation of Woven Geotextile Pore Structure Parameters Using Image Analysis

Abstract Filtration performance of woven geotextiles is strongly related to their pore structure parameters, i.e., percent open area (POA) and pore-opening size distribution (PSD). Current methods of determination of pore structure parameters contain inherent disadvantages, whereas image analysis, taking advantage of the two-dimensional structure of woven geotextiles, can be used effectively for this purpose. Two new image-based PSD determination methods and a new image-based POA determination method were developed specifically for woven geotextiles and are presented in this paper. The POAs and two characteristic pore-opening sizes, O95 and O50, of various woven geotextiles were determined using the information provided by the image analysis methods. The image-based POAs and O95 pore-opening size of various geotextiles are comparable to those obtained from the physical measurements and the values reported by the manufacturers. On the other hand, the measured O50 pore-opening size is higher than the one determined using the analytical equations developed by two previous researchers.