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HUESKER Australia Pty Ltd
PO Box 593
QLD 4573 Coolum Beach
Australia

Acceleration of chemical degradation of polyester reinforcement products under mechanical stress in high alkaline conditions

Abstract

For a safe design of geosynthetic reinforced structures the long term behavior and especial-ly the available resistant tensile force over the time under variable boundary conditions, such as tempera-ture, chemical influences or loading conditions, has to be well known and understood. The known effects on the tensile strength, are considered in the design by applying so called reduction factors, e.g. for creep, installation damage or chemical degradation. Those reduction factors are determined separately without considering a possible interdependency. The main mechanism of the chemical degradation of polyester in high alkaline environment is the so called alkaline or “external” hydrolyses. In contrast to the internal hy-drolyses, which provokes an evenly distributed, very slow degradation of the whole cross-section of the synthetic material, the external degradation generates a much faster “surface corrosion” with creation of fissures or cracks. If this does occur while the material is loaded, the fissures are widened and their prop-agation are dramatically accelerated. This results in much faster loss of strength. The paper reports on the consequence on the long term tensile strength if a PET reinforcement in high alkaline environment is sub-jected to tensile load.

Conclusion

The external hydrolysis of PET reinforcement products in a highly alkaline environment leads to a reduc-tion in the cross-section area and thus to the degradation of the mechanical strength of the geosynthetic elements, primarily through surface corrosion and the formation of notches on the surface. If tensile forc-es are acting, local weaknesses will be extended and the rate of crack propagation increases. It is therefore concluded that it is imperative for the reduction factors for PET reinforcement products in a high alkaline environment to be determined from reinforcement elements that are under tensile stress. Stating a reduc-tion factor for chemical influences for PET reinforcement in an alkaline environment that has been deter-mined from test specimens that are stored stress-free, does not reflect the actual failure mechanism and produces misleading results when the long-term strength is determined. Above all, this will not meet the safety requirements for geotechnical structures.