ARTICLE
Stacking Geotubes saves space, but how high can we go?
Stacking Geotube containers is a simple, effective way to increase the amount of sludge or slurried material that can be passively dewatered within a limited space. But once a new layer of Geotubes is added, the layers beneath must bear the load. That often raises the question: How much weight and tensile stress can a full Geotube container actually handle once another one is placed on top?
The role of dewatered material in structural strength
When material is pumped into a Geotube, the tensile strength of the container’s woven polypropylene yarn is critical to retain the slurry. As water is released from the Geotube the material inside consolidates, becomes more cohesive and gains shear strength. That means that the long-term stability of the Geotube structure relies primarily on the stability of the dewatered material inside, not the strength of the containers themselves.
Engineering precision: Stability, settlement, and load capacity
A successful Geotube stacking project is built on several considerations, including dewaterability testing of the fill material, polymer conditioning, load calculations and geotechnical analysis. Engineers use advanced software to assess factors such as shear strength, material density, consolidation behavior, and friction angle to predict how the structure will perform over time. The software also helps to determine settlement rates and load capacities, minimizing risks and ensuring long-term stability.
For sites with soft foundations or varying soil conditions, additional reinforcement strategies can be incorporated to prevent differential settlement and enhance structural integrity. Geotube stacking configurations must also account for dewatering time between layers, ensuring that each stage has achieved optimal consolidation before additional units are added. Properly managing dewatering cycles reduces the risk of shifting and instability, creating a more secure structure over time.
Stacking arrangements improve stability by ensuring proper weight distribution across the entire system. A pyramid-style stacking method is commonly used, where each subsequent layer is slightly offset to enhance stability and minimize lateral stress on the lower layers. These design considerations, combined with accurate site evaluations, make Geotube stacking one of the most reliable and scalable dewatering solutions available.
Proven Benefits: Increased Efficiency and Reduced Costs
Geotube stacking provides substantial cost savings and efficiency improvements. Projects using this method have achieved up to a 50% reduction in required land area, making it a practical choice where space is at a premium. Compared to traditional mechanical dewatering systems, Geotube stacking can achieve similar or better performance with less equipment, energy and operational oversight.
See the links below for examples that show the benefits of Geotube stacking projects.
Lagoon sludge cleanout with Geotube dewatering in a limited space.
Permanent containment of over 1.7 million cubic metres of dredged sediment for lake cleanup
Learn more about the Bishop Solids Management Solution and Geotube dewatering.
