ANALYSIS OF PUNCTURE RESISTANCE OF GEOMEMBRANES AND GEOTEXTILES

Abstract

Aim of the study The aim of the article was to present the results of the analysis of puncture resistance 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, as well as 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, or to provide filtration in engineering structures. Geotextiles were characterized by their varying thickness, basis weight, and production technology. The second group were impermeable geomembranes with sealing properties, made of smooth-rolled polyethylene on three sides, in three heights. Geosynthetics were tested for puncture resistance with a pyramid (PN-EN 14574:2015-12). Results and conclusions Among the geotextiles, needle-punched non-woven fabric with a thickness of 4 mm turned out to be the most resistant to puncture. The values for the remaining needle-punched geotextiles, 1.5 mm thick, depended on their basis weight and differed in strength by 30% in favour of heavier non-woven geotextile. Glued geotextile with a thickness of 0.5 mm were shown 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, puncture resistance turned out to be 2–5 times higher than in geotextiles.