HB 154

This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

HB 1542002

Technical Handbook

GEOSYNTHETICSGUIDELINES ON DURABILITY

This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

HB 1542002

Technical Handbook

GEOSYNTHETICSGUIDELINES ON DURABILITY

First published as HB 1542002.

COPYRIGHT
Standards Australia International
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Standards Australia International Ltd
GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 4805 8

GeosyntheticsGuidelines on Durability

PREFACE

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This Handbook is based on ISO Technical Report 13434:1998, Geotextiles and

geotextile-related productsGuidelines on durability, with changes to content to suit
Australian conditions. The document has been broadened to include a wider range of
available geosynthetic products.
The purpose of this Handbook is to provide the reader with a set of guidelines that
introduce the basic concepts of geosynthetic durability including assessment. The
Handbook gives consideration to design parameters, project conditions and geosynthetic
properties, which lead to the definition of the appropriate tests to be performed for
durability assessment.
The contribution of the Standards Australia Committee CE-020, Geosynthetics, to this
Handbook is greatly recognised and appreciated.

ii

GeosyntheticsGuidelines on Durability

GEOSYNTHETICSGUIDELINES ON DURABILITY

This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Page
1

SCOPE...............................................................................................................................1

REFERENCES TO STANDARDS.....................................................................................1

DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................................................1

3.1

Durability..................................................................................................................1

3.2

Available and required properties............................................................................2

3.3

Design methods.......................................................................................................3

3.4

Design loads and other actions ...............................................................................4

3.5

Design strength and other resistance effects ..........................................................4

3.6

Design life ................................................................................................................6

3.7

The durability study..................................................................................................6

CONSTITUENTS OF GEOSYNTHETICS .........................................................................7

4.1

General ....................................................................................................................7

4.2

Individual polymer types ..........................................................................................8

4.3

Manufacturing processes ........................................................................................9

4.4

Recycled materials ................................................................................................11

4.5

Additives and stabilisers ........................................................................................11

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT MAY LEAD TO DEGRADATION.......................12

5.1

The environment above ground.............................................................................12

5.2

The environment within the ground .......................................................................12

5.3

5.2.1

Soils..........................................................................................................12

5.2.2

Chemical effects on the geosynthetic ......................................................14

Effects of load and mechanical damage................................................................15

5.3.1

Tensile load: creep and stress-rupture.....................................................15

5.3.2 Synergy of tensile load with environmental effects (environmental

stress cracking)......................................................................................................16
5.3.3

Loading during installation: mechanical damage .....................................16

5.3.4

Normal pressure: compressive creep ......................................................17

iii

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GeosyntheticsGuidelines on Durability

5.3.5

Abrasion and dynamic loading ................................................................ 17

5.3.6

Effects of loading on hydraulic properties ............................................... 17

LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF GEOSYNTHETICS...................................................... 17

DURABILITY STUDY ..................................................................................................... 18

7.1

Need for testing..................................................................................................... 18

7.2

Resistance to weathering...................................................................................... 19

7.3

Resistance to chemicals ....................................................................................... 20

7.3.1

General .................................................................................................... 20

7.3.2

Resistance to alkalis and acids ............................................................... 20

7.3.3

Oxidation.................................................................................................. 21

7.3.4

Internal hydrolysis.................................................................................... 21

7.3.5

Testing for specific environments or for lifetimes exceeding 25 years.... 21

7.3.6

Brittle Behaviour ...................................................................................... 22

7.4

Resistance to microbiological effects.................................................................... 22

7.5

Evaluation of durability.......................................................................................... 22

7.6

Resistance to mechanical damage caused during installation ............................. 22

7.7

Creep .................................................................................................................... 23

7.8

Condition monitoring ............................................................................................. 23

7.9

Design factors ....................................................................................................... 23

ANNEX A GEOSYNTHETIIC REFERENCES AS GIVEN IN ISO/TR 13434 (USED AS A

BASIS IN DEVELOPING THIS DOCUMENT ........................................................................ 25
OTHER REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 26
A. General References, Books and Manuals........................................................ 26
B. Periodicals and Journals .................................................................................. 26
C. Proceedings of Conferences, Symposia, Etc................................................... 26
D. Manufacturers Brochures, Product Specifications, and Design Manuals ....... 27
E. Other Information Sources ............................................................................... 27
ANNEX B GEOSYNTHETIC PROPERTY AND TEST METHOD LISTING........................ 28

iv

GeosyntheticsGuidelines on Durability

HB 154

SCOPE

This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

This Handbook introduces the reader to the basic concepts of geosynthetics durability
and their assessment. Consideration of the design parameters, the project conditions and
the geosynthetic properties leads to the definition of the appropriate tests to be performed
for durability assessment.
Geosynthetics are available in a wide range of compositions appropriate to different
applications and environments. Geosynthetic products are intended to typically include
geotextiles (both woven and non-woven type), geogrids, geodrains, geocells, geotubes,
geocontainers, geonets, geomats, geocomposites, geomembranes and geofoams. The
synthetic polymers used consist mainly of polyamide, polyester, polyethylene,
polypropylene, polystyrene and PVC. These materials, when correctly processed and
stabilised, are resistant to chemical and microbiological attack encountered in normal soil
environments. For materials with well understood properties only a minimum number of
screening or index tests are necessary.
For applications in more severe environments such as soil treated with lime or cement,
landfills or industrial waste, or highly acidic volcanic soils, for applications with
indeterminate design lives, for applications of high temperature, or for unusual site
specific conditions special tests including performance" tests with site-specific
parameters may be required.
This Handbook does not cover products designed to survive for a limited time only, such
as geoblankets (erosion control fabric) based on natural fibres.
Creep and creep-rupture, which should be taken into consideration for soil reinforcement
and prefabricated drainage applications, are described in outline but for the use of these
material properties in reinforced soil design the reader is referred to AS 46782002
Earth-retaining structures.

REFERENCES TO STANDARDS

Annex B lists international test methods and guideline references. Where a relevant
Australian Standard is applicable, then this is shown with an order of precedence to ISO
test methods. The readers of this Handbook should satisfy themselves of the applicability
of the test method and possible relationships to field performance, if required. As a
consequence of the wide range of applications and product types in the field of
geosynthetics, additional reference is made to ASTM standards. In all cases, readers
should inform themselves of the current status of any particular standard or test method.
Equivalency between standards is not implied.

DEFINITIONS

3.1

Durability

When a geosynthetic is used in a civil engineering structure, it is intended to perform a

particular function for a minimum expected time (called the design life). Any application
may require one or more functions from the geosynthetic. A possible list of functions of a

COPYRIGHT

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HB 154-2002, Geosynthetics - Guidelines on

durability

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