SPECIAL ISSUE ON UNSATURATED GEOSYNTHETICS
Understanding of the concepts of water flow in unsaturated geosynthetics has gained added relevance in numerous civil engineering applications. In particular it has become very important to rigorously model the transient water flow in earthen systems involving geosynthetics such as geotextiles, geocomposites and geosynthetic clay liners, where unsaturated conditions may prevail. Also, it is relevant to quantify the possible redistribution of the water content profile in such systems to ensure their longevity. This special issue of Geosynthetics International gives an overview of research efforts conducted in various parts of the world on the theme of unsaturated geosynthetics. It contains seven papers focussing on topics such as capillary barriers, water retention of geosynthetic clay liners and geotextiles, and gas flow through unsaturated geosynthetic clay liners.
The content of this issue is expected to become a reference in the years to come for practitioners, manufacturers and researchers, as well as, hopefully, to inspire additional innovative applications, so expanding the use of geosynthetics.
Finally, we wish to express our appreciation to the authors for their effort and time in the preparation of a set of very high-quality papers. We are very much indebted to the reviewers for their highly competent efforts. Last, but not least, we would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance and encouragement of R. J. Bathurst, Editor, for having taken the time during preparation of this issue to ensure that each paper meets the high technical standards of Geosynthetics International.
A. B. J. G. Z.
