Data are reported from oven aging in circulating air and water immersion tests at 80°C on various polyolefin (polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)) needle-punched nonwoven geotextiles (GTnws) and the results of these long-term tests are compared with the oxidative resistance of high-density PE geomembranes (HDPE GMs) described in a preceding paper (Polym. Degr. Stability 79(1) (2003) 161). Polyolefin fibers used in geotextiles are typically less stabilized, have a very high surface-to-volume ratio and an oriented morphology compared with HDPE GMs. Therefore, significant differences in the oxidation behavior of these products are expected which may affect their durability. Two general results can be obtained from our measurements: Firstly, while the lifetime of the HDPE GM is essentially determined by the slow loss of stabilizers, for all GTnws a rapid reduction in the oxidative induction time (OIT) and, as we conclude, in the amount of stabilizer was observed during water immersion and air aging. Secondly, the mechanical property degradation of the GTnws depended strongly on the oxidation conditions: the induction period prior to the degradation was much longer for immersion in water than for oven aging in circulating air. After antioxidant depletion, an induction time of the oxidation reaction, which depends on the draw ratio of the stretched fibers and the oxygen supply, might substantially contribute to the induction period of the mechanical property degradation of GTnws. For one PP GTnw product, a sudden reduction in the mechanical strength occurred after onset of degradation which continued rapidly until complete deterioration. For other PP samples as well as for all PE GTnws the reduction in mechanical strength proceeded slowly. Best fits were obtained by modeling the degradation process of the PE GTnws by a second-order kinetic. Using an activation energy of 60 kJ/mol (Geotextiles, Geomembranes and Related Products, Balkema, Rotterdam, 1990; Conference Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Geosynthetics, Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), Atlanta, USA, 1998, pp. 683690; Clay Geosynthetic Barriers, Balkema, Lisse, The Netherlands, 2002, pp. 8796), lower limits of the half-live of the degradation at worst case field conditions were obtained in the range 3083 years. Some decades have to be added for the overall induction time. However, under field conditions with limited oxygen supply, the expected service lifetime might be at least half an order of magnitude longer.
Distributed polymer optical fiber sensors in geotextiles for monitoring of earthwork structures
(2009)
Sensing characteristics of polymer optical fibers (POF) are studied using the optical
time-domain reflectometry technique. For the first time to our knowledge, investigations are
carried out with respect to integration of POF in technical textiles for distributed measurement
of mechanical deformation. The research on this new sensor type focuses on its application in
monitoring of geotechnical structures such as railway embankments, dikes, slopes and dams.
We report on a distributed sensor system using POF integrated in technical textiles as sensing
elements for measurement of displacement of soil. This sensor system is very robust it
withstands the integration under rough condition at a construction site and can detect strain
of more than 40 % over distances of more than 100 meters.
Geosynthetics are planar polymeric products, which are used in connection with soil, rock or other soil-like materials to fulfill various functions in geoenvironmental engineering. Geosynthetics are of ever-growing importance in the construction industry. Sealing of waste storage facilities to safely prevent the emission of wastewater, landfill gas and contaminated dust as well as the diffusion of pollutants into the environment and coastal protection against storms and floods and reconstruction after natural disaster are important fields of application. We will give an overview of the various geosynthetic products. Two examples of the material problems related to geosynthetics are discussed in detail: the effect of creep on the long-term performance of geocomposite drains and the numerical simulation of the interaction of soil with geogrids. Both issues are of importance for the use of these products in landfill capping systems. The various functions, which geosynthetics may fulfill in the protection of coastal lines, are illustrated by case studies. The geosynthetic market is evaluated and economical and environmental benefits, as well as environmental side effects related to the use of geosynthetics, are discussed.
The German landfill ordinance includes a certification requirement for geosynthetics used in landfill liner and capping systems. The certification guidelines describe the basis for the design of geosynthetics used in landfill construction. According to the rules which are usually applied, the thickness of the filter geotextile has to be at least 30 times the characteristic opening size O90. Filter geotextiles which are often used in geocomposite drains have a mass per area of 200 g/m² and do not fulfill this requirement.
In this paper modified filter criteria for geosynthetics are presented with a particular focus on These geotextile filters in geocomposite drains.