Geotextile reinforced triaxial tests were done on fused quartz samples saturated with mineral oil. Due to the match in refractive indices of the quartz and the oil the mixture was transparent. By illuminating the samples with a red laser, it was possible to track particle movement within the samples and thus measure shear band formation. The scope of this study was limited to 2.9 mm uniform graded quartz, tested at only one confining stress (~190 kPa). The effect of the geotextile on the failure strength of the samples was less pronounced than expected. However, the geotextile did provide lateral restraint to the sample. In addition, the shear band did not extend through the geotextile and was limited to either halve of the soil. Furthermore, the location of the band of soil actively failing continuously changed throughout the test.
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