A Non-conventional Durability Test for Simulating Creep of Geosynthetics Under Accelerated Degradation

Abstract

The evaluation of the durability of geosynthetics for application in real structures is an important field of investigation. Within this field, the interaction between degradation agents that geosynthetics can be subject to, in their different applications, is an increasingly studied issue, because it can have direct implications in the design of the materials. Thus, this article explores a non-conventional test for geosynthetics, to simulate creep under accelerated conditions using a saturation and drying procedure simultaneous to the creep process. In this way, the material is closer to the exogenous field conditions as in, for example, riverside projects or even in coastal protection. For this, a total of 48 tests of conventional creep and under accelerated degradation conditions were carried out in 4 different geotextiles. From these tests, models were proposed and presented coefficients of determination greater than 0.84. Additional results indicate an increased strain rate ranging between 5 and 16 times in creep test from the moment that degradation simultaneous with creep is induced. Reduction factors greater than 3 indicated a very aggressive degradation process. In general, the study showed that ensuring the design life of geosynthetics calls for a simulation of degradation conditions that demand more from these materials. By enabling a more precise analysis of field conditions the creep test under accelerated conditions presents an excellent tool for project design. The significance of this study for geosynthetics design is in providing general knowledge of creep under accelerated conditions using equations and models to determine important geosynthetic parameters.

Guest Editorial for the Special Issue on “Durability of Geosynthetics”

“…The special issue on "Durability of Geosynthetics" includes contributions focused on the behaviour of geosynthetics subjected to different degradation agents, namely creep [1], temperature [2], mechanical damage and abrasion [3], on-site installation procedures [4], and weathering [5,6]. Many aspects related to the durability of geosynthetics are covered in the special issue, including laboratory [1][2][3]5] and field [4,6] testing, modelling [1,3], and on-site practical experience [4]. This special issue features contributions both from researchers and practitioners, including not only some recent advances in knowledge about the durability of geosynthetics, but also some insight into the current state of practice.…”

“…The first article by Filho and Maia [1] explores a nonconventional creep test for geosynthetics using a saturation and drying procedure simultaneously to the creep process. The authors claim that non-conventional creep tests (simultaneous exposure to creep and other degradation agents) allows for long-term behaviour studies that more closely match real-world application conditions.…”