Part 2: Choosing Geomembrane Thickness for Survivability
When choosing geomembrane thickness, remember that a geomembrane is most vulnerable to tears, punctures and impact while it is stored, transported, handled, installed and backfilled. Such events often happen accidentally because of poor workmanship. Common situations include tools dropped on the geomembrane, vehicles driving over an unprotected liner, strong wind getting under the geomembrane during placement, mistakes when moving large geomembrane sheets into position, and the quality of the backfill material.
Resistance to damage therefore increases in proportion to the thickness selected. For this reason, many agencies require a minimum thickness. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation requires a minimum thickness of 0.50 mm for canal liners, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires a minimum geomembrane thickness of 0.75 mm for solid waste liners.
- Survivability Level
When designing geomembrane thickness, survivability during packaging, transport, handling and installation must be considered. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides several guidelines for minimum geomembrane thickness:
- Low is chosen when subgrade conditions are very good and the working load is light.
- Medium is chosen for installation on a well-compacted subgrade. It is usually used for canal lining applications.
- High is chosen when installation takes place on a fairly poor subgrade with high loads. It is usually applied to landfill liners and covers.
- Very High is chosen when installation takes place on a very poor subgrade with heavy working loads, such as heap leach pads.
- Possible Deformation Level
There are several empirical relationships between geomembrane thickness and pond depth. Geomembrane thickness depends heavily on the pressure acting on the material. This is also correlated with the settlement of the subgrade surface that the geomembrane may experience during its service life.
How to Determine Geomembrane Thickness
How to Determine Geomembrane Thickness
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How to Determine Geomembrane Thickness
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