Determining the long-term strength and the service life of the geosynthetics used in road constructions

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Nahid Attarchian
Assistant Professor, Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/road.2023.367339.2119
Abstract
The durability assessment of geosynthetics in the separation, filtration and drainage applications, leads to determining the service life of the product. For geosynthetic reinforcements, it is necessary to determine the long-term performance and estimate the strength reduction factors. The strength reduction factors and the service life of the geosynthetics are determined based on the type of polymer, short-term characteristics and long-term behavior of these materials under the effect of environmental conditions and loads. In recent years, several accelerated methods have been developed to evaluate the durability of geosynthetic products and several studies have been conducted to assess the durability of these products against a variety of chemical and mechanical deterioration mechanisms.

In this paper, the concepts related to durability assessment, determination of service life, parameters affecting the durability of geosynthetic products, environmental conditions causing deterioration and various chemical and mechanical mechanisms of deterioration (weathering, oxidation, hydrolysis, creep, installation damage) have been reviwed. In the end, methods for determining the long-term strength and service life of geosynthetics used in road construction projects depending on their application, polymer type and environmental conditions are explained.
Keywords
Geosynthetics
Durability
Long time strength
Road construction
Service life

-Allen S.R., (2016), "9- Geotextile durability" Editor(s): R.M. Koerner, Geotextiles from design to applications, Woodhead Publishing, ISBN 9780081002216, pp. 177-215. Doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100221-6.0009-7.

-AASHTO M288, (2021), "Geosynthetic Specification for Highway Applications AASHTO R69, (2015), “Standard Practice for Determination of Long-Term Strength for Geosynthetic Reinforcement”.

-AASHTO LRFD, “Bridge design specification (2020) 9th Edition.

-ASTM D5819, (2022), “Standard Guide for Selecting Test Methods for Experimental Evaluation of Geosynthetic Durability”.

-ASTM D4355, (2020), “Standard Test Method for Deterioration of Geotextiles by Exposure to Light”, Moisture, and Heat in a Xenon Arc-Type Apparatus.

-ASTM D7238, (2020), “Standard Test Method for Effect of Exposure of Unreinforced Polyolefin Geomembrane Using Fluorescent UV Condensation Apparatus”.

-ASTM D5262, (2021), “Standard Test Method for Determining the Unconfined Tension Creep and Creep Rupture Behavior of Planar Geosynthetics Used for Reinforcement Purposes”.

-ASTM D6992, (2016), “Standard Test Method for Accelerated Tensile Creep and Creep-Rupture of Geosynthetic Materials Based on Time-Temperature Superposition Using the Stepped Isothermal Method”.

-ASTM D5818, (2022), “Standard Practice for Exposure and Retrieval of Samples to Evaluate Installation Damage of Geosynthetics”.

-BS 8006-1, (2010), “Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils and other fills.

-BS EN 13249­, (2016), “Geotextiles and geotextile-related products”, Characteristics required for use in the construction of roads and other trafficked areas (excluding railways and asphalt inclusion).

-BS EN 13438, (2018), “Geosynthetics - Screening test method for determining the resistance of geotextiles and geotextile-related products to oxidation”.

-BS EN 12447, (2021), “Geotextiles and geotextile-related products - screening test method for determining the resistance to hydrolysis in water”.

-EN 12224, (2000), “Geotextiles and geotextile-related products”, Determination of the resistance to weathering.

-FHWA-NHI-10-024, (2009), “Design and Construction of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes – Vol. I.

-ISO/TR 20432, (2007), “Guidelines for the determination of the long-term strength of geosynthetics for soil reinforcement”.

-ISO/TS 13434, (2020), “Geosynthetics — Guidelines for the assessment of durability”.

-ISO 13431, (1999), “Geotextiles and geotextile-related products — Determination of tensile creep and creep rupture behaviour”.

-Koerner R.M., (2016), “10 - Long-term geotextile degradation mechanisms and exposed lifetime predictions” Editor(s): R.M. Koerner, Geotextiles from design to applications, Woodhead Publishing, ISBN 9780081002216, pp.217-236.

Doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100221-6.0010-3.

-Koerner G.R., Hsuan Y.G., Koerner R.M., (2007), “3 - The durability of geosynthetics" Editor(s): R.W. Sarsby, Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering, In Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles, Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering, Woodhead Publishing, ISBN 9781855736078. pp. 36-65.

Doi.org/10.1533/9781845692490.1.36.

-Shukla S.K., (2016), "An Introduction to Geosynthetic Engineering", London CRC Press.