The better choice often comes down to the amount of material being installed. PVC can be very effective in smaller installations (especially <2000sm) that can be done with a single prefabricated panel that can be shipped from a fabrication shop on a pallet. The economics of HDPE generally become more favorable in installations where mobilization of installation and quality crew is amortized to become the more cost-effective and equally high quality option.
Where slopes are involved, textured HDPE (blown-film texturing has very good adhesion properties) works very well. Pneumatically-applied concrete can be applied to textured HDPE at slopes up to 2H:1V with the right mix. When doing so, it is important to use frequent temperature-crack control joints (much like the joints in a sidewalk, but should be 25mm deep for 75mm thick concrete placed every 2-3m in each direction).
Both PVC and HDPE have extended stress/strain properties (700% ultimate strain for PE). HDPE transitions from elastic to plastic deformation at lower strains, but has very high plastic elongation capacity (plastic strains can slowly relieve stresses in the material). All told, it is far better to create a smooth, firm, and unyielding foundation for any geomembrane rather than relying on the membrane acting as a tensile unit. Best practice is to use the geomembrane as a barrier layer, load in in uniform compression and shear if needed so that loads are mobilized to the materials below the membrane rather than putting the membrane under long-term tension.
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Adam Maskal P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Technical Manager
Solmax Geosynthetics
Visalia CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2024 11:59 PM
From: Syed Alvi
Subject: PVC Geomembrane VS HDPE Geomembrane
Dear All,
I need to know which is better PVC geomembrane or HDPE geomembrane. we are using it in the Raw water reservoir (earthen with concrete lined) and the geomembrane is sandwiched between the concrete 75mm on each side. 7m depth of water over the geomembrane. The region temperature is 35 to 40 degrees C.
Please Guide
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Syed Alvi R.Eng
Karachi
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