Geotextiles in coastal engineering—25 years experience

During the use of geotextiles in coastal engineering for over 25 years many construction methods have been improved or have been made more economical. Sometimes completely new solutions for coastal engineering problems can be recommended. This paper gives information about the long-term behaviour of geotextiles in coastal engineering and the minimum requirements for their application. Some case studies show the necessity of careful geotextile selection, considering the special requirements of the application, the harsh coastal engineering environment and the rough building practice found in all fields of hydraulic engineering.