STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF FLEXIBLE GEOGRIDS UNDER INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE

The outdoor ultraviolet (UV) light exposure program according to ASTM D5970 and the indoor UV fluorescent lamp device according to ASTM G154 were used to evaluate the UV degradation in test polyester geogrids. Eighteen months worth of data were obtained from the outdoor program. UV-A-340 lamps and exposure condition No. 7 were used for the indoor program. The outdoor exposure program was conducted at Pingtung, in southern Taiwan. The annual sunlight exposure energy was 4,263.50 MJ/sq m. The accumulated annual UV-A and UV-B energies were 256.56 and 0.83 MJ/sq m, respectively. The tensile strength of the test geogrids decreased as the outdoor exposure increased, but the decrease in the rate of tensile strength also lessened as UV exposure increased. Carbon black and antioxidants contained in the coating materials have a significant influence on the rate of degradation for the test geogrids; 2% carbon black and 1% antioxidant by weight are recommended. The proportions of average retained ultimate tensile strength for 1 month, 12 months, and 18 months of outdoor exposure were 88%, 71%, and 66%, respectively. The tensile strength half-life cycle due to UV exposure was greater than 18 months. Similar behavior was also observed for the elongation at break. However, no clear trend was found for strength at 5% strain due to UV exposure. The reduction factors due to 18 months of outdoor exposure varied from 1.27 to 1.99. The average reduction factor was about 1.60. The reduction in ultimate tensile strength under 180 h of UV exposure in the indoor UV exposure test program was very significant. However, the rate of lost tensile strength for the second and third 180-h UV exposure was very small. The average retained tensile strengths for the geogrids under 180-h and 540-h exposures were 81% and 77%, respectively. The effect of 540-h fluorescent light exposure on the tensile strength of polyester geogrids coated with polyvinyl chloride was equivalent to 151 days of outdoor exposure at Pingtung.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 221-230
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00965623
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309085845
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Nov 21 2003 12:00AM