Experimental investigation of a PVC geomembrane response to different tensile loading modes

Geomembrane are not meant to support mechanical actions, however, one of the main causes of the malfunctioning of their waterproofing properties is attributed to the unexpected tensile forces that may be generated during its service life, and that may potentially lead to failure. Driven by this meticulous problem, this study focuses on characterizing the tensile behaviour of Polyvinyl Chloride geomembranes by evaluating their failure criteria in terms of resistance and elongation. A wide range of tensile loading rates was applied to investigate the rate-dependent effects on the material’s ultimate properties. Additionally, complementary long-term (creep) tests were conducted to examine the impact of the loading weight on the failure thresholds. Based on these results, this study proves that creep behaviour can be predicted through tensile tests, provided the environmental conditions remain constant. The results highlight the important role of the loading rates on the GM performance, providing a solid base for engineering design.