Designation: D 5261 – 92 (Reapproved 2003)

Standard Test Method for

Measuring Mass per Unit Area of Geotextiles1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5261; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A

superscript
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Sco
Scope
pe 3.2 For definitio
definitions
ns of oth
other
er tex
texti
tile
le ter
terms
ms use
used
d in thi
thiss tes
testt
1.1
1.1 This
This te
test
st memeth
thod
od ca
can
n be usused
ed as an in inde
dexx to th
thee method, refer to Terminology D 123.
determination of mass per unit area of all geotextiles. 3.3 For definitions of other terms
terms relating to geotextiles
geotextiles used
1.2 The values
values stastated
ted in SI units or oth
other
er units shall
shall be in this test method, refer to Terminology D 4439.
regarded separately as standard. The values stated in parenthe-
4. Summ
Summary
ary of Test
Test Method
ses are provided for information only.
1.3 This sta
standa
ndardrd does not purport
purport to add
addreress
ss all of the 4.1 The mass per unit area of a geotextile
geotextile is determined
determined by
safe
safety
ty co
conc
ncer
erns
ns,, if an
anyy, as
asso
soci
ciat
ated
ed wi
with
th it
itss us
use.
e. It is th
thee weighi
wei ghing
ng tes
testt spe
specim
cimens
ens of kno
known
wn dim
dimens
ension
ions,
s, cut fro
from
m
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- various locations over the full width of the laboratory sample.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- The calculated values are then averaged to obtain the mean
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. mass per unit area of the laboratory sample.

2. Referenced Documents 5. Signi

Significanc
ficancee and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards: 5.1 This test method
method is used to determine
determine if the geotextile
geotextile
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
Textiles material meets specifications for mass per unit area. This test
D 1776 Practice for Conditioning Textiles
Textiles for Testing method can be used for quality control to determine specimen
D 4354 Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics for Testing
Testing conformance. This measurement allows for a simple control of
D 4439 Ter
Terminology
minology for Geotextiles the delivered material by a comparison of the mass per unit
2.2 ISO/DIS Document: area of the delivered material and the specified mass per unit
9864-1990
9864- Geotextiles2
1990 Mass per Unit Area of Geotextiles area.
5.2
5.2 Th
Thee pr
proc
oced
edur
uree in th
this
is te
test
st me
meth
thod
od ma
mayy be usused
ed foforr
3. Terminology acceptance
accep tance testing of comm
commerci
ercial
al ship
shipment
ments,
s, but caut
caution
ion is
3.1 Definitions: advised since information about between-laboratory precision
3.1.1 atmosphere for testing geotextiles, n — air maintained is incomplete. Comparative tests in accordance with 5.2.1 are
at a relative humidity of 65 6 5 % and temperature of 21 6 advisable.
2°C (70 6 4°F). 5.2.
5.2.11 In cacase
se of a di disp
sput
utee ar
aris
isin
ing
g fr
from
om di
difffe
fere
renc
nces
es in
3.1.2 geosynthetic, n —a planar product manufactured from report
rep orted
ed tes
testt res
result
ultss whe
when
n usi
usingng the pro
proced
cedure
uress in thi
thiss tes
testt
poly
po lyme
meri
ricc ma
mate
teri
rial
al us
used
ed wi
with
th so
soil
il,, ro
rock
ck,, ea
eart
rth,
h, or ot
othe
herr method for acceptance testing of commercial shipments, the
geotechnical-engineering-related material as an integral part of purchaser and the manuf
purchaser manufactur
acturer
er shoul
should
d condu
conduct
ct comp
comparat
arative
ive
a man-made project, structure, or system. tests to determine if there is a statistical bias between their
3.1.3 geotextile, n—any permeable textile used with foun- laboratories. Competent statistical assistance is recommended
dation, soil, rock, earth, or any other geotechnical-engineering- for the investigation of bias. As a minimum, the two parties
relate
related
d mat
materi
erial
al as an int
integr
egral
al par
partt of a man
man-ma
-made
de pro
projec
ject,
t, should take a group of test specimens that are as homogeneous
structure, or system. as possible and which are from a lot of material of the type in
3.1.4 Discussion—Current textile manufacturing techniques question. The test specimen should then be randomly assigned
produce: nonwoven fabrics, knitted (non-tabular) fabrics, and in equal numbers to each laboratory for testing. The average
woven fabrics. results from the two laboratories should be compared using the
appropriate student’s t -test and an acceptable probability level
chosen by the two parties before testing is begun. If a bias is
1
Thiss test method
Thi method is und
under
er the jurisdicti
jurisdiction
on of ASTM Committee
Committee D35 on found,
fou nd, eit
either
her its cau
cause
se mus
mustt be fou
found
nd and correcte
corrected
d or the
Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.01 on Mechani- purchaser and the manufacturer must agree to interpret future
cal Proper
Properties.
ties.
Current edition approved June 15, 1992. Publi
Published
shed August 1992.
test results in light of the known bias.
2
Available
Available from ISO Case Postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzer
Switzerland.
land.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
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D 5261
5261 – 92
92 (20
(2003)
03)
6. Appar
Apparatus
atus it may be sufficient in routine testing to expose the material to the standard
atmo
at mosp
sphe
here
re fo
forr tes
testin
ting
g fo
forr a re
reas
ason
onab
able
le pe
perio
riod
d of tim
timee be
befo
fore
re the
6.1 Balance, calibrated, capable of weighing to 5000 g, with specimens are tested. A time of at least 24 h has been found acceptable in
an accuracy of 0.01 g. most cases. However,
However, certai
certain
n fibers may exhibit slow moistur
moisturee equilib
equilibra-
ra-
tion
tion ra
rate
tess fr
from
om ththee “a
“as-
s-re
rece
ceive
ived”
d” we
wett sid
side.
e. Wh
Whenen th
this
is is kno
known
wn,, a
7. Sampl
Sampling
ing preconditioning cycle, in accordance with Practice D 1776, may be agreed
7.1 Lot Sample—Divide the test specimens into lots, and for upon between the contractural parties.
the lot to be tested, take the lot sample in accordance with 9. Proc
Procedur
eduree
Practice D 4354.
9.1 Test
Test the con
condit
dition
ioned
ed tes
testt spe
specim
cimens
ens in the sta
standa
ndard
rd
7.2 La
Laborat ory Sample—C
boratory —Con onsi
side
derr th
thee un
unit
itss in th
thee lo
lott
sample as the units in the laboratory sample. For the laboratory atmosphere for testing geotextiles.
9.2 Weigh each of the conditioned specimens separately on
sample, take a full width swatch of sufficient length along the
a calibrated balance to the nearest 0.01 g.
salvage so that the requirements of 7.3 can be met.
7.2.1 The laboratory
laboratory sample should
should be free from imperfec-
imperfec- 10. Calculation
tions or other areas not representative of the material sampled. 10.1
10 .1 Calc
Calcul
ulat
atee th
thee ma
mass
ss pe
perr un
unit
it ar
area
ea of ea
each
ch of th
thee
7.3 The number of test specimens
specimens shall be a mini minimum
mum of specimens as follows:
five,, cut such tha
five thatt the
they
y are represen
representat
tative
ive of the entire
entire rol
rolll
m 5 Ms 3 1 000 000/A (1)
width and with a combined total minimum area of 100 000
2

mm (155 in.2). Each test specimen shall be equal in area (not where:
lesss tha
les n 10 000 mm2 (15.5 in.2), as des
than descri
cribed
bed in ISO
ISO/DI/DIS
S m = mass per per unit
unit area round
rounded
ed to the nearest 0.1 g/m2,
the nearest
9864-1
986 4-1990
990).
). Cut eac
eachh tes
testt spe
specim
cimen
en wit
with
h an accaccura
uracy
cy of Ms = masmasss of the spec
specim
imen,
en, g, and
and
60.5 % of its area. A = are
areaa of the spe
specim en, mm2.
cimen,
NOTE 1— 1—FoForr te
test
st sp
spec
ecim
imen
enss pr
prep
epar
ared
ed in th thee fie
field,
ld, la
larg
rger
er tha
thann 10.2 Repea
Repeatt this procedure for each test specimen.
specimen.
minimum-sized test specimens will be required to stay within the cutting 10.3 Calcu
Calculate
late the aver
average
age and stand
standard
ard deviation
deviation of the
accuracy (0.5 %). Field experience has shown that a test specimen with an mass per unit area results for the test specimens.
area not less than 90 000 mm 2 (139.5 in.2) will be necessary to achieve the
required accuracy. 11. Repor
Reportt
7.3.1 Cut the test specimens
specimens at least one tenth the width of 11.1 Report the following information
information on mass per unit area
the geotextile from any selvage, unless otherwise specified. of geotextiles:
7.3.2
7.3.2 If th
thee st
stru
ruct
ctur
uree of th
thee ge
geot
otex
exti
tile
le is su
such
ch th
that
at th
thee 11.1.1 Type of geotextile
geotextile tested, sampling method used, the
spec
specifiified
ed te
test
st sp
spec
ecim
imen
en si
size
ze is no
nott re
repr
pres
esen
enta
tati
tive
ve of ththee test specimen size, shape, and the number of test specimens
laboratory sample, a larger size shall be agreed upon between tested,
the purchaser and the supplier. 11.1.2
11.1.2 The average mass per unit area and standard
standard devi
devia-
a-
tion to three significant figures, and
8. Condi
Conditioni
tioning
ng 11.1.3
11.1.3 A statement
statement of any departures
departures from the sugge
suggested
sted
8.1 Bring the test specimens
specimens to moisture equilibr
equilibrium
ium in the testing procedures so that the results can be evaluated and used.
atmosphere for testing geotextiles. Equilibrium is considered to 12. Prec
Precisio
ision
n and Bias
have
ha ve be
been
en re
reac
ache
hedd wh
when
en th
thee in
incr
crea
ease
se in ma mass
ss of th
thee te
test
st
12.1 Precision—The precision of this test method is being
specimen in successive weighings, made at intervals of not less
established.
than
than 2 h, do
does
es no
nott ex
exce
ceed
ed 60.0.1
1 % of ththee ma
mass
ss of th
thee te
test
st
12.2 Bias—This test method has no bias because the value
specimen. In general practice, the industry approaches equilib- of mass per unit area can only be defined in terms of a test
rium from the “as-received” side.
method.
NOTE 2—It is recognized that in practice geotextile materials frequently
are not wei
weighe
ghed
d to det
determ
ermine
ine whe
whenn mois
moistur
turee equ
equilib
ilibrium
rium has bee
beenn
13. Keyw
Keywords
ords
reached. While such a procedure cannot be accepted in cases of dispute, 13.1 geote
geotextil
xtile;
e; mass per unit area; weight
weight

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