Abstract
This paper presents an experimental investigation of the ultrasonic removal of clogging of six commercially available geotextiles. The clogged specimens were exhumed from two fine-grained soils, which were previously consolidated from slurry stage under a consolidation pressure of 400kPa. The mechanism of ultrasound and formation of micro-bubbles in a sort of “cold boiling” or “cavitation” within liquid medium have been explained. The in-plane and cross-plane flow capacities of the clogged geotextile specimen have been evaluated before and after ultrasonic cleaning and results are presented in a design chart signifying the beneficial effect of ultrasonic cleaning. With increasing confining pressure clogging caused more reduction in the cross-plane flow capacity than the in-plane flow capacity. Ultrasonic cleaning efficiency for all clogged geotextiles was more than 80% @ 5 minutes washing time. The thinnest (2.2mm) geotextile was severely affected by clogging, however, after ultrasonic cleaning the clogging potential reduced to unity, which was not affected by increasing normal pressure.
