Study of the influence of degradation agents on the tensile behaviour of geomembranes

Abstract

ln this paper the influence of degradation agents on the tensile behaviour of smooth, high density poliethylene geomembranes will be analysed. Three geomembranes of the same brand with different thickness were selected. The geomembranes were submitted for periods of 5, 15 and 30 weeks to the action of: natural weathering; high temperatures; urban solid waste leachate; acid, alkaline and sodium chloride solutions. The tensile strength and the elongation at yield were defined, for each degradation agent, at the end of each period of exposure and the results compared with that of the virgin sample. ln this work materials and methodologies of analys1s will be described, the obtained results will be analysed and the main conclusions will be put forward.