WHAT IS IT?

Geomembranes are synthetic membrane (“membrane” implying

continuity and flexibility) liners or barriers used to control fluid
migration in a manmade project, structure, or system. Being a
continuous, highly impermeable plastic sheet, suitable for liquid or
gas containment or as a gas barrier, a geomembrane generally has
no macrostructural features. Geomembrane might frequently imply
that the chemical resistance of the liner will be highly emphasized.

 Geomembrane vs. Geotextile

 Geomembrane vs. Geosynthetic Clay Liners
GEOMEMBRANE VS. GEOTEXTILE
A geotextile and geomembrane liner are both synthetic textile materials that
can be used for a wide range of construction applications. While both
types have a physical makeup consisting of the same materials Typically
made from polypropylene or polyester, they are used in completely
different ways.
Geotextiles, just as its name implies, is made of nonwoven and woven
fabrics and mainly used to the consolidated subsoil. Geomembrane is
made of high-density polyethylene, primarily for seepage-proofing.
In many of these applications, geomembranes are
associated with a geotextile or geogrid underliner that
protects the geomembrane from direct contact with
stones, gravel, and other damaging materials.
GEOMEMBRANE VS. GEOSYNTHETIC CLAY LINERS
Geomembranes can have a smoother or textured surface. The textured
surface provides enhanced friction characteristics which can be
important in certain applications. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are
made of a thin layer bentonite clay between two layers of nonwoven
geotextiles.
Regarding cost, the HDPE geomembrane (GM) by itself is the lowest cost,
and the GM/GCL (geosynthetic clay liner) is intermediate between the
two.
Regarding installation, they are in the same order.
Regarding performance, there are fundamental differences. Here the
GM/GCL is the best in its performance as measured by leakage rates,
and the GM by itself is the poorest.
Source: Bob Koerner
• Factory Manufactured
• Bituminous Geomembranes
• Polymeric Geomembranes

• Made in Situ
 FACTORY MANUFACTURED
Extrusion, calendering, and spread coating.
Extrusion is a process where a material undergoes plastic deformation by the application of
a force causing that material to flow through an orifice or die. The material adopts the
cross-sectional profile of the die and if the material has suitable properties, that shape
is retained in the final extrudate. Extrusion coated geomembranes are made by a
specialized technology where fabrics or scrims are coated with polymer. It is a process
by which the molten polymer is extruded as a flat sheet film and pressed into the fabric
surface, adhering to and coating the surface
Calendering, process of smoothing and compressing a material during production by
passing a single continuous sheet through a number of pairs of heated rolls. The rolls
in combination are called calenders.
Spread coating (or solvent coating) is a process by which the polymer is dissolved in a
solvent which is then spread onto the textile and heated to evaporate the solvent and
leave the coating. In the spread coating process the molten polymer is spread in a
relatively thin coating over a dense fabric substrate (i.e. tightly woven fabric or non-
woven fabric) using a spreading knife.

https://glossary.periodni.com/images/calendering.jpg
MAIN SECTORS OF GEOMEMBRANE PRODUCTION
Polymeric Geomembranes
The vast majority of polymer-based geomembranes are produced in complex, high-
output facilities by calendering, casting, extrusion blow molding, or coating.

Bituminous geomembranes
Bituminous geomembranes are manufactured by impregnation and coating sheets of
glass and/or by reinforcing bituminous material with nonwoven polyester.
 MADE IN SITU (SITE)
Geomembranes are made from relatively thin continuous polymeric sheets, but they
can also be made from the impregnation of geotextiles with asphalt, elastomer or
polymer sprays, or as multilayered bitumen geocomposites. Continuous polymer
sheet geomembranes are, by far, the most common.
It is generally considered that geomembranes made in situ by spraying a low-
permeability compound onto a geotextile or directly on the ground are not
sufficiently reliable to be used for high-performance leakage control.

https://www.mineralstech.com/images/default-source/performance-materials/cetco/environmental- https://www.layfieldgroup.com/geosynthetics/geomembr
products/products/liquidboot/cetco-liquid-boot.jpg?sfvrsn=f168b43d_2 anes/spray-applied.aspx
 Different types of
geomembrane
answers different
kind of requirements
Because of the product's adaptability,
geomembranes are being rapidly adopted in
a variety of industries.
•Agriculture and Nurseries
•Water industry
•Marine (Pontoon construction)
•Mining industry
 Bituminous
Geomembranes
 Polymeric
Geomembranes
GEOMEMBRANE TYPES
P O LY M E R I C BITUMINOUS
GEOMEMBRANES GEOMEMBRANES

 HDPE Geomembrane  Based on oxidized

 LLDPE Geomembrane bitumen
 PVC Geomembrane  Based on bitumen
 EPDM Geomembrane
modified by
polymers
 RPP Geomembrane
 TRP Geomembrane

Note: Polymeric Geomembranes is the most common.

 HDPE GEOMEMBRANE
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is the most widely
used geomembrane and is the preferred choice for
lining projects due to its durability, strong UV
resistance and relatively inexpensive material cost.
HDPE is food safe, allowing it to be used in storage of
potable water.
Delivered in large rolls with a width of 4 to 7.5 meters
and is heat welded in the field by trained technicians
providing a high quality, test certified installation.
HDPE offers the most cost effective liner for large
projects.
LLDPE GEOMEMBRANE
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembranes provide
more flexibility compared to HDPE
LLDPE can be prefabricated for field installation, as opposed to
HDPE which must be entirely welded on site.
LLDPE geomembranes are also meant for long term use and will
remain strong and durable for years. Its best use relates to
industrial applications:
• Liquid storage tanks
• Environmental
• Animal waste containments
 PVC GEOMEMBRANE

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) geomembranes is a thermoplastic

waterproofing material made with vinyl, plasticisers and
stabilisers.
It is tear, puncture and abrasion resistant
PVC geomembranes are highly flexible and are best suited for:
• landfills and canals,
• tank linings,
• soil remediation
• wastewater lagoon liners.

PVC vs. HDPE

HDPE geomembranes tend to exhibit a sharp
peak in their stress-strain curve and
therefore, tend to undergo a relatively abrupt
failure whereas PVC undergoes a very large
amount of elongation before failure.
COMPARISON TABLE
 EPDM GEOMEMBRANE
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) geomembrane is a
flexible and durable material that can resist punctures and
extreme weather conditions. It has a rubber-like texture and is
UV-stable with great strength.
EPDM geomembranes are typically used as surface barriers for
dams and other irrigation sites. It’s also easy to install, which is
why backyard landscapers use this type of geomembrane. It’s
suitable for agricultural applications such as
irrigation ponds as well as liners and covers.

EPDM vs. HDPE

HDPE can be used with living creatures, as it's completely BPA free and
resistant to chemical leaching. EPDM is extremely flexible and lightweight,
while HDPE is very heavy, and may require machinery in order to install.
HDPE is less expensive than EPDM, typically. HDPE is cheaper and as
such have some limitations. Rigid liners are strong and durable, but are
not suitable for large ponds.
 RPP GEOMEMBRANE
Reinforced Polypropylene (RPP) geomembranes are polyester
reinforced liners for long term water containment and industrial
waste applications. It’s made from a UV-stabilized polypropylene
copolymer that gives the material flexibility, stability and chemical
resistance.
This geomembrane type is typically used in
• municipal applications
• aqua and horticulture
• evaporation pond liners
• mine tailings.
TRP GEOMEMBRANE

Reinforced Polyethylene (TRP) geomembranes are almost the same

as the RPP, but use polyethylene fabric instead of polyester. This
is an ideal option for lining your temporary retaining ponds.
TRP geomembranes are also a durable solution for soil remediation.
Its physical properties include chemical resistance, low
temperature range and ultraviolet stability.
This type of geomembrane is used for canals, industrial tarps,
landfills, agricultural and municipal applications.
Note: Bituminous geomembranes are reinforced by a
veil of glass and/or of nonwoven polyester.
BASED ON OXIDIZED BITUMEN

Oxidized or “air-blown” bitumen obtained by oxidation in the refinery

of bitumen from direct distillation
BASED ON BITUMEN MODIFIED BY POLYMERS
Bitumens modified by the addition of polymers (polymerized bitumens). The main polymers used are
thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) or plastomers such as atactic
polypropylene (APP).
Styrene-butadiene-styrene Atactic Polypropylene
(SBS)
(APP)
Is a hard rubber that is
used for products like
the soles of shoes, tire
treads, and other places
where durability is
important. It is a type of
copolymer called a block
copolymer. asphalt
• Lifespan
• Cost
• Availability
• Benefits
• Project
requirements
LIFESPAN
Geomembranes degrade slowly enough that their lifetime behavior is as yet uncharted. Thus,
accelerated testing, either by high stress, elevated temperatures and/or aggressive liquids, is
the only way to determine how the material will behave long-term.
Without any hesitation the most frequently asked question we have had over the past thirty years’
is “how long will a particular geomembrane last”.* The two-part answer to the question,
largely depends on whether the geomembrane is covered in a timely manner or left exposed
to the site-specific environment (Koerner, et al., 2005).
The possible variations being obvious, one must also address the degradation mechanisms which
might occur. They are as follows accompanied by some generalized commentary.
Ultraviolet Light - This occurs only when the geosynthetic is exposed; it will be the focus of the
second part of this communication.
Oxidation - This occurs in all polymers and is the major mechanism in polyolefins (polyethylene
and polypropylene) under all conditions.
Ozone - This occurs in all polymers that are exposed to the environment. The sitespecific
environment is critical in this regard.
Hydrolysis - This is the primary mechanism in polyesters and polyamides.
LIFESPAN
Chemical - Can occur in all polymers and can vary from water (least aggressive) to
organic solvents (most aggressive).
Radioactivity - This is not a factor unless the geomembrane is exposed to radioactive
materials of sufficiently high intensity to cause chain scission, e.g., high level
radioactive waste materials.
Biological - This is generally not a factor unless biologically sensitive additives (such
as low molecular weight plasticizers) are included in the formulation.
Stress State – This is a complicating factor which is site-specific and should be
appropriately modeled in the incubation process but, for long-term testing, is very
difficult and expensive to acheive.
Temperature - Clearly, the higher the temperature the more rapid the degradation of
all of the above mechanisms; temperature is critical to lifetime and furthermore is
the key to time-temperature-superposition which is the basis of the laboratory
incubation methods which will be followed
LIFESPAN

Koerner, R. (2011). Geomembrane Lifetime Prediction: Unexposed and Exposed Conditions.

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Geomembrane-Lifetime-Prediction%3A-Unexposed-and-Koerner-
Hsuan/2220427a35e25e29686ae562fed212cb97eeca88
COST
HDPE and LDPE Geomembrane Sheets, Thickness: 1-3 mm at Rs
95/kg
HDPE Geomembranes Lining, For Industrial. RS 87/ Square Meter
HDPE Geomembrane Pond Liner Factory Directly Price/Square
Meter. $1.74-$1.85
HDPE geomembrane liner cost per m2 for landfill project, US $ 0.45
- 0.5 / Square Meter

1 RS(Indian rupees) = 0.67321 PHP

1 USD = 55.179995 PHP

1 CNY = 7.989921 PHP

AVAILABILITY
Local:
Philippines - Fabrimetrics Phils., Inc

Imports:
India - Ocean Global
China – EcogeoX and Earth Shield
Singapore - Jinseed-Auvliner®
USA – Viaflex
BENEFITS
 Provide positive water containment
 Help sustain water quality
 Establish erosion control
 Reduce maintenance cost
 Lower disease risk
 Manage waste removal
 Prevent the loss of dissolved oxygen
 Increase the turn-around time between corps
 Improve work environment

In a nutshell:
The goal of installing geomembrane is to
protect our environment and contain liquids
and gases.
PROJECT REQUIREMENT
 Materials for support layer
 Installation
 Climatic considerations
 Network to drain gas
 Networks for draining water
 Geometric consideration
 Anchorages
 Case of exposed geomembranes
MATERIALS FOR SUPPORT LAYER
Geomembranes do not always maintain close contact with the underlying material
throughout their life. Problems may occur on the side slopes adjacent to open
areas of water as a result of wind and wave action on any exposed portion of
geomembrane. Wave action can tend to slightly lift the geomembrane and then
slap it back down in a repetitive manner.
If the geomembrane is directly in contact with the soil, this can cause loosening of the
particles, which move down the slope underneath the geomembrane. Eventually,
a cliff is formed at the water line together with a bulge below this level, which
could excessively stress the geomembrane and the soil, preventing this form of
erosion.
In case of a localized tear or seam failure in the geomembrane, the geotextile helps to
hold the soil in place, limiting propagation of failure. Although the primary role of
the geotextile is often to separate the geomembrane from the soil, it may also act
as a vent to release gas trapped or generated in the underlying soil, or
reinforcement of, or support to, the geomembrane (John, 1987).
In many of these applications, geomembranes are associated with a geotextile or
geogrid underliner that protects the geomembrane from direct contact with
stones, gravel, and other damaging materials.
INSTALLATION
DO UBLE HOT M ETAL W EDGE AD HESIVE O R TAPE
WELDING & EXTRUSION
WELDING SYSTEM

The fundamental mechanism EPDM is an elastomeric

of seaming polymeric
geomembrane sheets
together is to temporarily
reorganize the polymer
structure (by melting or
softening) of the two
opposing surfaces to be
joined in a controlled
manner that, after the
application of pressure,
results in the two sheets
being bonded together.
rubber, which is a
thermoset, meaning it can
not be melted for
traditional heat welding
operations. Any seams
that are required are
made using an adhesive
or tape system.
ADHESIVE OR TAPE SYSTEM
1. Apply one coat to each surface. The application should be made to the bond coated
surface to coated surface, using roller pressure to mate the surfaces.
2. Apply adhesive to both sheets with a brush. Although the material may be bonded
while wet, optimal results are achieved when waiting 3-5 minutes before bonding the
surfaces together. Allow the adhesive to become tacky.
3. As with any product, the bodied solvent adhesive should be field-tested on substrate
specimens under actual working conditions to guarantee the development of
maximum bond values

Source: https://www.geomembrane.com/services/installation/adhesive-
seaming.html
HOW TO WELD GEOMEMBRANE

double hot metal wedge https://youtu.be/YRsfpyv1YWM

extrusion welding https://youtu.be/raB5HVGfiLg
https://youtu.be/hm_yhGErtjw
 Types Overlap Method
Bituminous geomembranes 0.2 m propane-torch welding
PVC geomembranes 0.1 m wedge welding or hot-air welding
HDPE geomembranes 0.15 m wedge welding or hot-air welding
PP geomembranes 0.15 m wedge welding or hot-air welding
EPDM geomembranes 0.1 m cold vulcanization via self-adhesive bands/contact primer
CLIMATIC CONSIDERATIONS
Meteorological conditions significantly impact the welding, installation, and
subsequent behavior of geomembranes.
Temperature variations and extreme temperature The installation of geomembranes
is not advised outside the temperature range of 0–35 °C (ambient temperature).
If this recommendation proves unfeasible, the contractor and the facility operator
must have a signed agreement describing the proposed method of welding.
Geomembranes and their weldability are sensitive to temperature variations over a
single day. This parameter must be taken into consideration when installing these
materials.
Hygrometry and pluviometry Welding of geomembranes is not allowed when it is
raining or snowing or on over-saturated ground (e.g., mud). The welds must be
done at an ambient temperature greater than 3 °C above the dew point.
NETWORKS FOR DRAINING WATER
The presence of water beneath the barrier can interfere with the proper functioning of
the structure (water pressure, thermos-osmosis, condensation, freeze-thaw,
erosion, loss of stability of the support or of the embankments, etc.).
Notwithstanding conflicting instructions from the designer or the contractor, a
network for water drainage must be designed and adapted to the expected
volume of water. It should consist in either a granular layer, a drainage
geosynthetic or draining trenches.
Note: When a clayey support layer serves as a passive safety barrier, no drainage
structure should be installed between the clay layer and the geomembrane.
The granular layer has a permeability k greater than or equal to 10−5 m/s and a
thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 m. In some cases, a sand layer may serve
both for drainage and as the support layer.
Drainage geosynthetics provide high in-plane flow capacities. The CFG guide
“Recommendations for the use of drainage and filter geosynthetics”1 may be
used for design purposes.
NETWORKS FOR DRAINING WATER
To avoid clogging the drainage system and avoid soil erosion, a filter should be used
between the draining layer and the neighboring soil layers while respecting the
filter guidelines for granular materials and geotextile design. The drained water is
collected by collectors placed at the lowest points of the installation. If significant
quantities of water are involved or high flow occurs, a denser network of
collectors should be installed.
In the desirable case where the drainage system allows the detection and
quantification of the drainage flow, it is important to verify that the collected flow
at the exit of the drainage network is not increased by water from outside the
system. Conversely, the measured flow may be less than the real flow because of
leaks into the zone underneath the drainage network. This may be avoided by
using double lining systems.
For large works, the recommendation is to divide the drainage system into zones.
NETWORKS FOR DRAINING WATER
The dimensions of the network required to drain water depends on the following
factors:
The water flow coming from outside the system,
The maximum allowable leakage,
The maximum allowable water pressure under the lining system, either due to
normal service or due to accidental leaks, and
The permeability of the support soil, which influences the speed at which the
underlying water table rises.
Depending on the hydrogeological context, an additional drainage system external to
the primary installation may be necessary. To ensure water flow, the drainage
network is associated with an outlet. Water is evacuated either by gravity or by
pumping.
NETWORK TO DRAIN GAS
Similarly, a network must be installed to drain the underlying gas, due to the
rapid rise of the water table in a non-saturated soil, the decomposition of
deeply buried organic material, the leakage of liquid rich in organic matter,
the presence of polluted soil, etc. Notwithstanding conflicting instructions
from the designer, such a network should be installed systematically and
should cover an area at least 20% that of the entire installation area.
The gas drainage system should include:
A drainage geosynthetic, and
A separation or filtration system to avoid clogging the drainage system (e.g.,
filtration geotextile).
If gas drainage is not installed over the entire area, it must be spread at regular
intervals over the bottom and sides of the installation.
The gas drains exit in the open air at the high points and should be protected
(hat and mesh) to prevent obstruction or infiltration of water or foreign
objects. The exits and their connections should not allow surface-runoff
water to enter. The diameter of the air vents should be at least 75 mm.
NETWORK TO DRAIN GAS
GEOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS
General form
In all cases, it is advised to base the design of the facility on a simple geometry so as to
facilitate the installation of the LS, limit on-site welding, and avoid the development of
wrinkles. For ponds that do not need to be integrated into a particular environment
(ponds for golf or other leisure facilities, etc.), prismatic or developable shapes are to
be favored.
Stability
The installation of geomembranes is facilitated on gentle slopes (maximum slope of 2H/1V
for low height facilities). The gentle slopes are intended to facilitate not only the
circulation of personnel and machines but also the on-site welding.
The geometry of the embankments (angles, length of the pitch, etc.) must be compatible
with the mechanical performance and the available size of the chosen geomembrane
(for example, cross welds on the embankments are not allowed).
The soil bearing capacity must allow the circulation of the heavy equipment required for
installing the LS without creating ruts. If rutting is not avoidable, the contractor or his
representative must specify in writing the acceptable limits.
 The top of the embankments or berms should be at least 6 m wide (3 m beyond the
location of the anchorage) so as to facilitate the circulation of machines on these
parts of the facility and the realization of anchoring trenches on the top of the
embankments.

embankments or berms
ANCHORAGES
The role of anchorages is to prevent the LS from sliding on slopes. Determining the size of
the anchorage is the responsibility of the designer. During the design phase of the LS,
the following parameters must be taken into account in all cases:

The nature of the soil used for the line of ballast at the top of the embankment
(density),
The dimensions of the facility (slope angles, height of embankment),
The choice of LS and of friction angles between the various interfaces (e.g., the soil-
geotextile, soil-geomembrane, geotextile-geomembrane, geosynthetic-protection layer,
etc.),
 Hydraulic conditions at the geosynthetic interfaces,
 Conditions of use.

In all cases, the recommended minimum anchorage is provided by a 0.50 m × 0.50 m

anchorage trench. When the geomembrane remains exposed, the forces to consider are
those related to the weight or to the eventual solicitations by external elements (wind,
currents, snow, etc.) (See Table 2 below based on a weight density of the backfill of 20
kN/m3 ).
Kelsey, C. (2017, November 2). Translated: General Recommendations for Geomembranes in Barrier Systems.
Geosynthetica. https://www.geosynthetica.com/geomembranes-barrier-systems-cfg-recommendations/
CASE OF EXPOSED GEOMEMBRANES
The anchorage also contributes to the resistance of a non-ballasted geomembrane to
the heave forces caused by wind uplift.
The calculation of the weighting sections and the anchorage length must take into
account not only the friction angles between the various interfaces of the LS, but
also the nature of the soil so as to ensure the ballast line.
On large embankments in high-wind areas, a permanent ballast system (ballast rolls
and papillotes, concrete elements, etc.) is indispensable on the cover or for
facilities that may remain empty at times (e.g., irrigation or holding ponds).
Whenever significant soil movement is anticipated after entry into service (e.g., filling
a pond with water), it is strongly recommended to implement an anchorage at the
top of the embankment in the form of a temporary ballast that pins the
geomembrane to the support after such movement has been stabilized. The final
anchorage is installed later.