Abstract
The long-term behaviour of geosynthetics applied in coastal engineering structures can be adversely affected by many agents. This paper studies the resistance of a nonwoven polypropylene geotextile against some degradation agents present in marine environments and evaluates the existence of interactions between them. For that purpose, the geotextile was exposed to some laboratory degradation tests: immersion tests (in seawater, deionised water, and sodium chloride 35 g·L−1), thermooxidation, and artificial weathering. The geotextile was (1) exposed separately to each degradation test and (2) exposed successively to combinations of two or three degradation tests. The damage caused by the degradation tests was evaluated by monitoring the tensile properties of the geotextile. Based on the changes occurred in tensile strength, reduction factors were determined. The reduction factors obtained directly in the multiple exposures were compared with those obtained by the traditional methodology for the combined effect of the degradation agents. The results, among other findings, showed the existence of relevant interactions between the degradation agents and showed that the reduction factors obtained by the traditional methodology were unable to represent accurately (by underestimating) the degradation occurred in the geotextile.
Highlights
Geosynthetics are polymeric materials that can be used in the construction of many coastal engineering structures, such as breakwaters, dykes, groynes, seawalls, jetties, artificial reefs, or revetments [1, 2]. e advantages of using these materials are the ease of installation, high versatility and efficiency, low cost, and low environmental impact. e functions of geosynthetics in coastal engineering structures include filtration, drainage, separation, reinforcement, containment, or erosion control [1, 2]. e geotextiles are typically used in coastal engineering structures as filters and for manufacturing sand-filled elements, like geobags, geotubes, or geocontainers
The geosynthetics can be in contact with many degradation agents capable of causing unwanted changes in their properties, affecting their performance. e most common degradation agents in these environments include seawater, oxygen, solar radiation and other weathering agents, biological agents, and the action of waves, currents, and tides [3,4,5]. e geosynthetics may suffer mechanical damage during the installation process, where in some cases they are subjected to higher stresses than during service [6]
For reinforcement applications, the tensile strength (T) of the geosynthetics is typically affected by a set of partial reduction factors accounting for the effects of installation damage (RFID), creep (RFC), weathering (RFW), chemical and biological agents (RFCB), and a factor of safety (6) [25, 26]
Summary
Geosynthetics are polymeric materials that can be used in the construction of many coastal engineering structures, such as breakwaters, dykes, groynes, seawalls, jetties, artificial reefs, or revetments [1, 2]. e advantages of using these materials are the ease of installation (and future removal, if necessary), high versatility and efficiency, low cost, and low environmental impact. e functions of geosynthetics in coastal engineering structures include filtration, drainage, separation, reinforcement, containment, or erosion control [1, 2]. e geotextiles (one of the main groups of geosynthetics) are typically used in coastal engineering structures as filters and for manufacturing sand-filled elements (called geosystems), like geobags, geotubes, or geocontainers. In many coastal engineering applications, the geosynthetics are only exposed to UV radiation during installation (usually a short period of time), being subsequently covered by sand, by other construction materials or by seawater. For reinforcement applications, the tensile strength (T) of the geosynthetics is typically affected by a set of partial reduction factors accounting for the effects of installation damage (RFID), creep (RFC), weathering (RFW), chemical and biological agents (RFCB), and a factor of safety (fs) (6) [25, 26]. Laboratory degradation tests were carried out to evaluate the resistance of the geotextile against seawater, thermooxidation, and weathering and to identify interactions between the previous agents. Laboratory degradation tests were carried out to evaluate the resistance of the geotextile against seawater, thermooxidation, and weathering and to identify interactions between the previous agents. e main goals of the work included (1) determination of the effect of the degradation agents in the tensile properties of the geotextile, (2) identification of interactions between the degradation agents, and (3) comparison of the reduction factors obtained by the traditional methodology (determination of the reduction factors in isolation for each degradation agent and further multiplication) and by an alternative approach (successive exposure) for the combined effect of the degradation agents
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
