1. CT5806701 Reinforced Earth Structures
Manufacture and Tests
for Geosynthetic
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
Department of Construction Engineering
Professor Kuo-Hsin Yang

2. Standard Tests for Geosynthetics
Geosynthetic are tested per industry standards
-The American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM D-35 (Geosynthetics)
-Geosynthetic Institute (GRI)
- International Geosynthetic Society (IGS)

3. Geosynthetic Properties
ASTM has established Committee D35 on Geosynthetics
Properties:
-Physical
-Mechanical
-Hydraulic
-Environmental
Quality Control (QC) tests:
“MARV” specification
Minimum Average Roll Value within 95% Confidence
-Performance tests
“Average roll values” specification 2s
Frequency
Typical
Value
MARV
Test Result

4. Physical Properties of Geotextiles
Standard Tests for
Physical Properties of Geotextiles
Index Properties
Property
Test Standard
Test Name
Thickness
ASTM D 5199
Standard Test Method for Measuring Nominal Thickness of Geotextiles and Geomembranes
Mass per Unit Area
ASTM D 5261
Standard Test Method for Measuring Mass per Unit Area of Geotextiles
Apparent Opening Size
ASTM D 4751
Standard Test Method for Determining Apparent Opening Size of Geotextiles

5. Mechanical Properties of Geotextiles
Standard Tests for
Mechanical Properties of Geotextiles
Property
Test Standard
Test Name
Uniaxial Tensile Strength
ASTM D 4595
Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties by the Wide-Width Strip Method
Multiaxial Tensile or
Burst Tests
ASTM D 3786
Standard Test Method for Hydraulic Burst Strength of Knitted Goods and Nonwoven Fabrics- Diaphragm Bursting Strength Tester Method
Puncture Resistance
ASTM D 4833
Standard Test Method for Index Puncture Resistance of Geotextiles, Geomembranes, and Related Products
Trapezoid Tear Strength
ASTM D 4533
Standard Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles

6. Hydraulic Properties of Geotextiles
Standard Tests for
Hydraulic Properties of Geotextiles
Property
Test Standard
Test Name
Permittivity
ASTM D 4491
Standard Test Method for Water Permeability of Geotextiles by Permittivity
Gradient Ratio
(Clogging)
ASTM D 5101
Standard Test Method for Measuring the Soil-Geotextile System Clogging Potential by the Gradient Ratio
Transmissivity
(In-Plane Drainage)
ASTM D 4716
Standard Test Method for Constant Head Hydraulic Transmissivity (In-Plane Flow) of Geotextiles and Geotextile Related Products

7. Environmental Properties of Geotextiles
Standard Tests for
Environmental Properties of Geotextiles
Property
Test Standard
Test Name
Ultraviolet Resistance
ASTM D 4355
Standard Test Method for Deterioration of Geotextiles from Exposure to Ultraviolet Light and Water
Seam Strength
ASTM D 1683
Failure in Sewn Seams of Woven Fabrics
ASTM D 4884
Standard Test Method for Seam Strength of Sewn Geotextiles

8. Sampling for Tests Lot Total need for construction Roll Sample
Sometimes for different environment, UV, T
Coupons
Specimens
For testing material properties

9. Example: MARV Determination
Lots
A total of 150 rolls of geotextile are delivered to a field construction site. The geotextile specification is based on the grab tensile strength. A geotextile sample (full roll width and 1.0 m long) is taken from each of six randomly selected rolls in the lot. These samples are sent to an approved laboratory for testing. Within each sample, eight test specimens are taken and tested according to ASTM D4632, the grab tensile test method. For the data shown in the table below, determine the MARV.

10. Example: MARV Determination
Tensile strength (kN/m)
Specimen test number
Sample Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
643
627
637
642
652
615
646
641
624
621
628
658
639
631
629
616
662
657
620
632
619
635
618 61
622
633
651 7 8
636
645
625
Ave
640
638
648
MARV
Average first, then choose the minmum value