GTI-GS15 Specification
- for –
Geocells Made from HDPE Strips
• strips are generally from 3 to 8 in. (75 to 100
mm) height
• welded together into a 3-D cellular structure
• opened and then filled with soil (or other) in
field
Diagrams and photographs of three-dimensional geocells used for civil
engineering applications.
(Compliments of In-Line Plastics/GeoProducts, Syntec Corp. and InterGeo/Golder)
Commentary
• other polymers have also been used
• even larger cells made from geotextiles
• strips are usually embossed (textured) for
enhanced friction from infilled soil
• strips can be perforated for drainage
• strips can also be joined by steel wire for stability
on steep slopes
• twelve test results are required in specification
Required Tests Used for Specification
Physical Tests Mechanical Tests
1. wall thickness 3. seam efficiency
2. density 4. tensile properties
Endurance Properties 5. tear resistance
8. carbon black content 6. puncture resistance
9. carbon black dispersion 7. direct shear friction angle
10. oxidative induction time
11. oven aging
12. ultraviolet resistance
1. Wall Thickness
• tapered micrometer via ASTM D5199 is not
recommended due to double texturing
• values are invariably too high or too low
• recommended is GRI-GS14 standard
• requires area, density and mass of specimen
• formula calculated wall thickness
Procedure
• cut ten specimens ca. 50 mm (2.0 in.) diameter
• determine weight and area of specimen
• determine density via D792 and D1505
• calculate thickness as follows
𝑡 = 𝑀/𝐴𝜌
• repeat for each specimen
• min. ave. 1.25 mm (50 mils)
• also individual min. 1.13 mm (45 mils)
• testing frequency is one per bundle
2. Density
• uses ASTM D1505 (gradient column) or
ASTM D792 (displacement)
• min. ave. of 3 tests for D1505
• min. ave. of 2 tests for D792
• D1505 is the more accurate test
• value 0.940 g/cc (resin is lower)
• test each railcar: 90,000 kg or 200,000 lb
Gradient Column Displacement
(D1505) (D792)
3. Seam Efficiency
• follows GRI-GS13 standard which is based on
“perforated and textured sheet”
• compares seam strength to actual sheet
strength (as a percentage)
• use full height for gauge length
• five specimens to establish “min. ave.”
• 100% efficiency required
• frequency is 9,000 kg (20,000 lb)
Geocell seam and sheet specimens before and after testing.
4. Tensile Properties
• follows ASTM D6693 Type IV
• min. ave. of five longitudinal samples
Property S.I. –values American-values
yield strength 18 kN/m 105 lb/in.
break strength 13 kN/m 75 lb/in.
yield elongation 12% 12%
break elongation 100% 100%
• frequency is 9,000 kg (20,000 lb)
ASTM D6693
Test Specimens
D6693
“Dogbone”
Test in Progress
5. Tear Resistance
• follows ASTM D1004
• called the 90° tear test
• min. ave. of 10 longitudinal samples
• required is 155 N (35 lb)
• frequency is 20,000 kg (45,000 lb)
D1004
Tear Test
6. Puncture Resistance
• follows ASTM D4833
• called “pin” puncture
• CBR puncture is an alternative (5x pin)
• min. ave. of 10 longitudinal specimens
• required is 330 N (75 lb)
• frequency is 20,000 kg (45,000 lb)
D4833
“Pin”
Puncture Test
7. Direct Shear Friction Angle
• follows ASTM D5321
• shear box adapted to cell strip height
• lower half uses well graded sand
• details based on site-specific issues
• minimum friction angle is 30°
• frequency is 20,000 kg (45,000 lb)
(a) Small shear box (b) Large shear box
Various shear boxes for different strip heights
8. Carbon Black Content
• follows ASTM D1603 (combustion boat placed in
tube furnace), or
• muffle furnace (D4218) or microwave is okay if
correlation is established
• ave. of two tests in 2.0 to 3.0% range
• frequency is every 9000 kg (20,000 lb)
Combustion Boat in Tube Furnace Muffle Furnace
D1603 D4218
9. Carbon Black Dispersion
• follows ASTM D5596
• microtome section (8-15 mm thick)
• view under microscope at 100X
• 10 views are compared to chart
• 9 in Cat. 1 or 2; 1 in Cat. 3
• only considers “near spherial” shapes
(this is not CB distribution)
• frequency every 20,000 kg (45,000 lb)
Microtoming Thin
Sections per D5596
10. Oxidative Induction Time
• OIT is an indirect measurement of the amount of antioxidants
Item Standard High Pressure
ASTM D3985 D5885
Specimen ~ 2 mg ~ 2 mg
Pressure 35 kPa 3500 kPa
(5 lb/in2) (500 lb/in2)
Temperature 200°C in N2; 150°C to N2;
1 min. dwell; switch to 02 1 min. dwell; switch to 02
Spec Value 100 min. 400 min.
• Frequency is each railcar: 90,000 kg (200,000 lb)
High Pressure (Left) and Standard (Right) Cells for Measuring OIT
Standard OIT (ASTM D3895)
HP-OIT (ASTM D5885)
On choice of Std. or HP-OIT
Phosphites
Hindered
Phenols
Thiosynergists
Hindered
Amines
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
(Ref. Fay and King, 1994)
• Std-OIT misrepresents AO packages with thiosynergists and/or hindered amines
• HP-OIT is always applicable (but $10,000 cell and longer test time)
11. Oven Aging
• assessment of thermal stability of
antioxidants (AOs)
• follows ASTM D5721
• forced air oven at 85°C
• Std.-OIT 55% ret. after 90 days
exposure
• HP-OIT 80% ret. after 90 days
• frequency is per formulation
D721
Forced Air
Oven
12. Ultraviolet Resistance
• assessment of UV stability of the AOs and CB
(there should be synergy)
• uses a laboratory weatherometer
• follows ASTM D7238
• called “ultraviolet fluorescent device”
• 20 hr. UV cycle at 75°C, then 4 hr. condensation
at 60°C
• HP-OIT 50% ret. after 1600 hrs.
• frequency is per formulation
ASTM D7238
Ultraviolet
Fluorescent
Weatherometer
Geocells Made From High Density Polyethylene Strips
Test Properties Test Test Value Testing Test Value Testing
Method (S.I. Units) Frequency Standard (US) Frequency
(minimum) Units (minimum)
Wall Thickness GRI-GS14 1.25 mm per bundle 50 mils per bundle
Nominal – 10%)
Density (min. ave.) ASTM D 1505/D 0.940 g/cc 90,000 kg 0.940 g/cc 200,000 lb
792
Seam Efficiency (min. ave.) GRI-GS13 100% 9,000 kg 100% 20,000 lb
Tensile Properties (min. ave.) (1) ASTM D 6693 9,000 kg 20,000 lb
yield strength Type IV 18 kN/m 105 lb/in.
break strength 13 kN/m 75 lb/in.
yield elongation 12% 12%
break elongation 100% 100%
Tear Resistance (min. ave.) ASTM D 1004 155 N 20,000 kg 35 lbs 45,000 lb
Puncture Resistance (min. ave.) ASTM D 4833 330 N 20,000 kg 75 lbs 45,000 lb
Direct Shear Friction Angle (4) ASTM D5321 30° 20,000 kg 30° 45,000 lb
Carbon Black Content (range) (2) ASTM D 4218 2-3% 9,000 kg 2-3% 20,000 lb
Carbon Black Dispersion (3) ASTM D 5596 note (5) 20,000 kg note (5) 45,000 lb
Oxidative Induction Time (OIT) (min. ave.) (5) 90,000 kg 200,000 lb
(a) Standard OIT ASTM D 3895 100 min. 100 min.
— or —
(b) High Pressure OIT ASTM D 5885 400 min. 400 min.
Oven Aging at 85°C (5) ASTM D 5721
(a) Standard OIT (min. ave.) - % retained after 90 days ASTM D 3895 55% per formulation 55% per formulation
— or —
(b) High Pressure OIT (min. ave.) - % retained after 90 days ASTM D 5885 80% 80%
UV Resistance (6) ASTM D 7238
(a) Standard OIT (min. ave.) ASTM D 3895 N.R. (7) per formulation N.R. (7) per formulation
— or —
(b) High Pressure OIT (min. ave.) - % retained after 1600 hrs (8) ASTM D 5885 50% 50%
(1) Machine direction (MD) and cross machine direction (XMD) average values should be on the basis of five test specimens each direction.
Yield elongation is calculated using a gage length of 33 mm
Break elongation is calculated using a gage length of 50 mm
(2) Other methods such as D 1603 (tube furnace) or D 6370 (TGA) are acceptable if an appropriate correlation to D 4218 (muffle furnace) can be established.
(3) Carbon black dispersion (only near spherical agglomerates) for 10 different views:
9 in Categories 1 or 2 and 1 in Category 3
(4) Actual geocell strip against well graded sand (see Section 5.3)
(5) The manufacturer has the option to select either one of the OIT methods listed to evaluate the antioxidant content in the geomembrane.
(6) The condition of the test should be 20 hr. UV cycle at 75C followed by 4 hr. condensation at 60C.
(7) Not recommended since the high temperature of the Std-OIT test produces an unrealistic result for some of the antioxidants in the UV exposed samples.
(8) UV resistance is based on percent retained value regardless of the original HP-OIT value.
