2-D finite element analysis and stability calculation of geotextile tubes

The mechanical behaviors of stacked geotextile tubes are very complex and they are involved in the properties of the filling material, geotextile and foundation. Using the commercial finite element analysis program ABAQUS, this paper extends the 2-D finite element load model of Cantre to include the part of the foundation. The aim of this study is to explore the maximum circumferential tension of geotextile tubes with various properties of soils of foundation. The authors compare the results of finite element analysis with Cantre's. It is suggested that the influence of foundation can't be neglected. The stability analysis of geotextile tubes is composed of hydraulic and geotechnical stability analysis. This paper uses the recommended hydraulic stability design criteria by Pilarczyk to calculate the hydraulic stability of geotextile tubes. These calculation results show that the 70% or 80% of filling degree is the preferable and the double tubes on the bottom can improve the hydraulic stability. The Minikin approach is provided in this paper to deduce the calculation formulas of the factors of safety against sliding and overturning. This paper shows that the calculation equations deduced from Minikin approach can aid the design of geotechnical stability of geotextile tubes.