Geomembrane Selection Recommendations

Geomembrane Selection Recommendations

The selection of a geomembrane requires the consideration of a number of factors, and the following are some of the key points:

Engineering requirements

- Requirements for seepage control: according to the seepage control standard of the project, such as landfills, sewage ponds and other seepage control requirements are very high, need to choose low permeability coefficient of the geomembrane, the general requirements of the permeability coefficient is not greater than 1 × 10-¹²cm/s. For general temporary seepage control project, the permeability coefficient requirements can be relatively relaxed.

- Strength requirements: in the project of large loads, such as roads, reservoirs, etc., need to choose a geomembrane with high tensile strength and tear strength to prevent rupture in the process of use. For geomembranes exposed to sunlight, choose products with strong UV resistance. Geomembranes with added UV additives can effectively extend their service life.

Environmental factors

- Soil conditions: In alkaline soil, choose geomembranes with good alkali resistance, such as HDPE geomembranes; in acidic soil, some special geomembranes may have better corrosion resistance. In acidic soils, some special geomembranes may have better corrosion resistance. For coarse-grained soils, a thicker geomembrane with strong puncture resistance should be selected to avoid being punctured by sharp particles.

- Climatic conditions: in cold areas, the geomembrane with good low-temperature resistance should be used, such as some specially formulated HDPE geomembrane, which can still maintain good flexibility and mechanical properties at low temperatures; in hot and humid areas, it is necessary to pay attention to the aging resistance of the geomembrane and anti-hydrolysis properties.

Construction conditions

- Construction method: if welding construction, should choose easy to weld and welding quality reliable geomembrane, such as HDPE geomembrane; for the field cutting and splicing more projects, geomembrane flexibility and cutability is particularly important, LDPE geomembrane in this regard has certain advantages.

- Construction site: in the narrow space or complex terrain of the construction site, you can choose lightweight, easy to carry and lay the geomembrane; for large construction sites, in order to improve the construction efficiency, you can choose a wider width of geomembrane products.

Cost factors

- Material cost: the price of geomembranes of different materials and specifications varies greatly, under the premise of meeting the project requirements, the price of different brands and manufacturers should be compared to choose cost-effective products.

- Service life: Although the initial investment cost of some high-quality geomembranes is high, they may be more economical in the long run due to their long service life and low maintenance cost. Therefore, the service life and maintenance requirements of the project need to be considered comprehensively to select geomembranes.

Quality standard

- National standards: The production and application of geomembranes should comply with relevant national standards, such as “Geosynthetics Polyethylene Geomembranes” (GB/T 17643), etc., to ensure that the quality and performance of the products meet the engineering requirements.

- Industry standards: For some specific industries, such as water conservancy, environmental protection, etc., it is also necessary to follow the corresponding industry standards and norms, such as “water conservancy and hydropower engineering geosynthetics application specifications” (SL/T 225), etc..

When choosing geomembranes, it is recommended to conduct sufficient market research, consult professionals and refer to actual engineering cases to ensure the selection of suitable geomembrane products.