ABSTRACT
In order to evaluate geomembrane charac t e r i s t i c s , test procedures have been developed, but generally according to a very s p e c i f i c approach, that takes into account the different types of products and sometimes the different types of applications. For example, for applications i n hydraulic works (ponds, canals and reservoirs), ASTM prescribes different specifications, according to the different types of products, and respectively for polyethylene and ethylene copolymer geomembranes (ASTM D 3020-89), for polyvinyl chloride geomembranes (ASTM D 3083-89), for elastomeric unreinforced geomembranes (ASTM D 3253-81) and for elastomeric reinforced geomembranes (ASTM D 3254-81). At the present stage of testing development, the type of geomembrane has a particular influence on the choice of procedures for the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n tests, while performance tests are more influenced by the particular application. I f the geomembrane i s included into a "system", the testing programme should also include analysis on each component of the system. I f a complete information on the characteristics of the products i s needed for a technical agreement, a reduced programme of tests i s necessary for the reception of the products on s i t e . Certain test procedures on geomembranes can be applied to a l l the types of geomembranes, no matter the nature of the constitutive materials. On the contrary, other procedures are closely associated to the physical and chemical nature of a particular type of geomembrane. The different test procedures are analysed hereafter and c l a s s i f i e d i n function of their f i r s t objective ( i d e n t i f i c a t i o n or performance). The test procedures applicable s p e c i f i c a l l y to certain types of products are c l e a r l y i d e n t i f i e d . The descriptions of the tests presented i n this chapter 2 are rather simple and short. More de t a i l s can be obtained i n the standards l i s t e d i n the references. On the other hand, detailed descriptions and evaluations on some s p e c i f i c aspects of geomembrane testing are presented by other Authors i n the following chapters of this book.
