Analysis of puncture strength geomembranes and geotextiles

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of the article was to present the results of the analysis of puncture strength of shielding and sealing geosynthetics. Standard qualification tests were carried out on a rigid support in accordance with PN-EN 14574: 2015-12. Four types of protective geotextiles with different thicknesses and weights as well as three types of geomembranes differing in thickness were used for the tests. Individual materials were examined separately and in the form of geocomposites. Material and methods: Two groups of geosynthetics were used in the study. The first group were four types of geotextiles whose function is to separate materials with different grain sizes, filtration in engineering constructions. Geotextiles were characterized by different thickness, basis weight or production technology. The second group were impermeable geomembrane with sealing properties, made of smooth-rolled polyethylene on three sides, with three heights. To test the geosynthetics for puncture with a pyramid (PN-EN 14574:2015-12). Results and conclusions: Among the geotextiles, the most resistant to puncture turned out to be needle-punched non-woven fabric with a thickness of 4 mm. The values for the remaining needle-punched geotextiles 1.5 mm thick depended on their basis weight and differed in strength by 30% in favor of heavier non-woven geotextile. Glued geotextile with a thickness of 0.5 mm turned out to have a similar strength to 1.5 mm geotextile with a heavier weight and 46% more durable than geotextile of the same thickness and a lower weight. In the case of geomembranes, the puncture strength turned out to be 2-5 times higher than the strength of geotextiles.

Keywords

• geotextile
• geomembrane
• puncture resistance