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Testing of geosynthetic barriers - Clay

TESTING OF GEOSYNTHETIC BARRIERS

- CLAY

TESTING OF GEOSYNTHETIC BARRIERS - CLAY SERVICES

The definition of a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), taken from EN ISO 10318, is:
“A factory-made composite consisting of geosynthetic materials and clay Testing of geosynthetics -
materials with sealing (low filtration) capacity (e.g. bentonite) shaped in strips, overview
used where touching the ground or other material during grading or building
works”. Testing of geotextiles and
geotextile-related products
Geotextiles (and geotextile-related products), in contrast to geosynthetic
barriers, are basically fabrics which are permeable to fluids such as water and
gas. Testing of geosynthetic
barriers - Polymeric
BTTG™ offer an unrivalled testing service for Geosynthetic Barriers, both
polymeric (geomembranes) and clay (geosynthetic clay liners), to Testing of geosynthetic
manufacturers, consulting engineers, contractors and landfill operators barriers - Clay
among others.  We are able to perform a wide range of mechanical, hydraulic
and durability tests.  The tests are co-ordinated and carried out by the High

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Performance Materials (HPM) department in custom designed premises in

Trafford Park, Manchester.  The laboratory building contains three separately CE marking of geosynthetic
materials
conditioned laboratories and a large preparation area with a loading bay to
handle samples directly from site and from manufacturers.
CE Marking of Geotextiles
BTTG™ is the UK’s leading laboratory for testing geosynthetic materials and
was the first UK laboratory to be UKAS accredited for any geosynthetic tests. 
CE marking of geosynthetic
BTTG™ hold UKAS accreditation to ISO 17025 for an extensive range of
barriers
geosynthetic tests, including opinions and interpretations.  View our schedule
of UKAS accredited tests.

LATEST NEWS
The principals of commonly performed tests
Understand the latest on
Where two or more standards have been grouped together under one EN 469
heading, the test methods are not necessarily identical, nor would they
Our upcoming seminar, the
produce the same results, but they follow similar principals of test.
latest on EN 469 will be
presented
by BTTG®'s
Geosynthetic Clay Liners
Certification Manager, Chris
Butcher. Reserve
your spot
Mass per unit area
now!
BS EN 14196; BS EN 965; ASTM D5261; ASTM D5993 Read more...

Specimens of known area are cut from the samples and weighed.  Mass per
unit area is calculated. Reserve a spot on our CPR
Webinar
Thickness
We are holding a *CPR
BS EN ISO 9863-1; BS EN 964-1; ASTM D5199 Seminar* for our clients to
learn more
about the
The nominal thickness is determined by measuring the distance that a regulations in the UK and
moveable plate is displaced from a parallel surface by the material while EU, the...
under a specified pressure. Read more...

Tensile properties

BS EN ISO 10319; BS 6906: Part 1; ASTM D4595; ASTM D6768

Specimens of a specified width are clamped across their entire width with a
specified gauge length and pre-tension, and strained at a specified rate until
rupture occurs.  Tensile strength per unit width and percentage extension
(where appropriate) are measured.

Grab tensile strength

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ASTM D4632

The central portion of a rectangular specimen is clamped at a set gauge

length and an increasing load is applied at a constant speed until rupture
occurs.  Grab tensile strength and apparent elongation (%) are measured.

Puncture resistance

BS EN ISO 12236; BS 6906: Part 4; DIN 54307; ASTM D6241; ASTM D4833

Specimens for test are clamped between circular rings with a specified
internal diameter and a puncture probe of known dimensions is pushed
centrally against and normal to the fabric at a specified speed until failure of
the specimen occurs.  Push through force and plunger displacement /
elongation (%) (where appropriate) are measured.

Peel strength

BS EN ISO 13426-2; ASTM D6496, ASTM D4632 (Mod.); ASTM D413 (Mod.)

Rectangular specimens are prepared and the two layers of geotextile

separated by hand over a sufficient length to allow them to be clamped in the
jaws of a tensile machine at a specified gauge length.  The jaws are run at a
set speed and the peel strength measured. 

Moisture content

ASTM D2216

Sample material is dried in an oven at a specified temperature.  The

percentage moisture content is calculated from the loss in mass of the
material as a percentage of the dry mass.

Index flux / Hydraulic conductivity

ASTM D5887; ASTM D5084 (GRI)

This test involves permeation of a circular specimen of known diameter.  The

specimen is set up in a flexible-wall permeameter, subjected to defined total
stress and back pressure for a specified period of time.  Flow is initiated using
water by raising the pressure in the influent side of the specimen.  The
hydraulic conductivity / flux is determined when inflow and outflow are
approximately equal (+/-25%).

Bentonite Clay

Swell Index
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ASTM D5890; USP NFX VII

A known weight of bentonite is added in small increments at specified time

intervals to a graduated cyclinder containing de-ionised water.  After all the
bentonite has been added, the cyclinder is left undisturbed for a minimum
specified period before recording the volume level of the hydrated clay.

Confined swell

GRI GCL1

The test uses a known amount of bentonite taken from the GCL and hydrates
it with distilled water.  The test container is a cicular mould with a porous base
plate and porous cover plate with an extension rod that imposes a dead
weight stress on the test material.  Swelling readings are measured with a dial
gauge over a known period of time.

Fluid loss

ASTM D5891

A specified ratio of bentonite and water is mixed into a slurry and poured into
the cylinder of the apparatus.  The cylinder is pressured and as water drains
from the bottom of the cylinder a filter cake is formed.  The filtrate is allowed
to flow over a specified period before being collected over a known, specified
period.  A lower amount of filtrate collected indicates the more effective at
sealing and therefore less permeable.

Montmorillonite content (Methylene blue capacity)

API RP 131; VDG P69

The methylene blue capacity is an estimate of the cation exchange capacity

of the bentonite.  A well dispersed sample of the bentonite is titrated with
methylene blue solution until a blue ‘halo’ appears around a drop of dyed
bentonite solids on paper.

Water absorption of bentonite

ASTM E946

The amount of water absorbed over a fixed time interval by a known weight of
dried bentonite is determined.  The test uses a sintered aluminium oxide plate
that sits in distilled water to within a specified distance from the top of the
plate.  The bentonite for test is placed on filter paper on top of the plate and
left for a given period of time.  The increase in weight of the bentonite is used
to calculate the percentage water absorption. 

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For further information, please contact Clarissa Austin (+44 (0)161 873 6543
caustin@bttg-hpm.co.uk) or Rob Marshall (+44 (0)161 873 6543
rmarshall@bttg.co.uk) who will be happy to discuss your requirements.

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