From the GMA Techline
RE: Reinforced geomembrane seams
I was hoping you could give me a place to find a typical requirement for the seaming of reinforced geomembranes, specifically 60-mil reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). When seaming a reinforced TPO geomembrane, what are typical values we can expect to meet for peel and shear?
I noticed GRI GM19 lists values for a 45-mil reinforced polypropylene (RPP), but I don’t know what values we should expect to meet for 60-mil. Also, what are acceptable break codes for scrim-reinforced materials? Is a “non-film tear bond (FTB)” failure acceptable for a reinforced TPO if the Ibs/in. requirements are met for peel?
(Ken | Maryland)
Reply: Go to GRI GM19 and in Table 3a simply extrapolate from the 36- and 45-mil thickness to the 60-mil desired. Regarding peel separation, you will notice that it is N/R, i.e., not recommended since failure will invariably be along the scrim reinforcement…