Abstract

Wicking geotextiles are a relatively recent class of geosynthetics designed to provide separation and reinforcement while removing moisture under unsaturated conditions. Their hydraulic benefit comes from hydrophilic or hygroscopic fibers, commonly with grooved or multichannel cross-sections, that can generate capillary suction and transmit water laterally toward an exposed boundary where evaporation occurs. This behavior directly addresses a well-known limitation of conventional permeable geosynthetics: when a hydrophobic geotextile or geo-composite is placed beneath an unsaturated fine soil, it can form a capillary break and temporarily store water at the interface rather than drain it. The durability question is therefore not simply whether a virgin product has adequate saturated permittivity or transmissivity. It is whether the geotextile can retain capillary uptake, in-plane transport and soil-filter compatibility after cycles of rainfall and drying, changes in temperature and relative humidity, freezing and thawing, trafficinduced compression, fines migration, and possible physical clogging. This mini review synthesizes evidence from unsaturated geotextile hydraulics, wicking geotextile laboratory tests, field pavement and railway applications, and geotextile clogging studies. The literature indicates that wicking geotextiles can reduce moisture content in aggregate bases, silty sands, silts, and cold-region embankments, but performance is strongly conditioned by soil fines content, soil-water retention behavior, contact quality, exposed drainage length, atmospheric demand, installation configuration, and environmental cycling history. Recent freeze-thaw studies show measurable deterioration of wicking height after repeated cycles, while field monitoring shows that low temperature can reduce evaporation-driven removal even when the geotextile remains functional. Standardized, soil-specific durability protocols that couple hydraulic, mechanical, thermal, and clogging actions remain the main research need.

Keywords:Wicking geotextile; Unsaturated drainage; Hydraulic durability; Freeze-thaw; Wettingdrying; Capillary barrier; Soil-geotextile interaction; Clogging; Pavement drainage; Railway embankment