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Description:
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A sports field construction method that uses a geotextile to support the root zone
atop a synthetic drainage structure is an alternative to the common design that uses
gravel drainage material to support the root zone . A study was conducted to address the
concern that fine particles in the root zone may migrate under the influence of
percolating water , clog geotextile pores , and restrict the amount of water drained from a
sports field . In test columns , six root zone mixtures with different particle size
distributions were combined with ten geotextiles with different opening sizes to produce
60 replicated treatments . Water flow through the root zone mixture -geotextile
combinations in the test columns was evaluated over a six -month period . Change in
permeability was assessed by monitoring the temporal distribution of drainage from a
25 -mm pulse of water applied to 300 -mm deep root zone mixture in the test column .
Particles in drainage water were analyzed for size distribution . The study revealed that
drainage rates were affected more by drainage trough the root zone mixture than through
the geotextile . The amount and particle size distribution of particles in drainage water
were influenced more by root zone mixture than by geotextile . It appeared that in the establishment phase of a sports field that fine particles in the root zone may present more
of a problem to clogging of the root zone pores than clogging of the geotextile pores . |