INDEX TESTING  top
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Index tests are carried out to enable meaningful comparisons of the properties of different products, provided the same test standard is used. These "in isolation" tests do not take into account soil-geotextile interaction. Properties determined by index testing are not generally appropriate for analytical design. Our laboratory is capable of conducting tests in accordance with the following standards: South African (SABS), American (ASTM, EPA), Australian (AS), British (BS, TRRL), Dutch (NNI), International (ISO, RILEM), European (EDANA, CEN), German (DIN), French (CFG), Swiss (VSS) and Chinese (CNS).
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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TESTING top
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- Melting point
- Mass/unit area
- Thickness
- Compressibility
- Flexibility
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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES TESTING top
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- Tensile strength
- Elongation
- Tear strength (Trapezoidal)
- Burst strength (Mullen)
- Puncture strength (CBR)
- Soil/geotextile friction (Shear box)
- Pull-out resistance
- Creep
- Perforation resistance (Dart test)
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PERFORMANCE TESTING top
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Performance tests are used to assess the performance of geosynthetics under site specific situations and are devised to suit the application. They can extend from laboratory tests to the monitoring of large-scale models, field trials and full-scale installations.
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HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES TESTING top
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- Pore size
- Throughflow
- Permeability of GCL's
- Permeability - long-term gradient ratio and soil compatibility
- Transmissivity
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DURABILITY TESTING top
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- Temperature
- Ultraviolet light
- Chemical
- Abrasion
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MICROSCOPIC EVALUATION top
Geotextile Microphotography has proved to be an invaluable method of analysing filtration mechanisms. Geotextile specimens retrieved from field installations and soil filtration tests can be studied and photographed to complement other laboratory procedures so that a more comprehensive assessment may be achieved.
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CONFORMANCE TESTING top
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Conformance testing as part of Construction Quality Assurance should be included in geosynthetic material specifications. Only if conformance testing is conducted can the designer be sure that the geosynthetic materials supplied to site comply with the project specifications.
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TEST REPORTING top
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Geosynthetic Laboratory provides comprehensive computer generated test reports from which accurate evaluation of geosynthetic materials can be made. Once suitability has been established, by means of performance testing, a geosynthetic material should be specified in terms of required index properties.
Testing of geosynthetic materials is aimed at:
- identifying likely in situ performance
- evaluating designs incorporating geosynthetic materials and
- establishing conformance to specification
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