The testing equipment supporting the laboratory’s activities includes:

During geomembrane installation, most CQA plans include third party destructive seam testing to assure the quality of the welds. HDPE or LLDPE Samples that are received at the Lab by noon will be reported same day via email. Other types of material seams can be tested but may not be reported same day due to special conditioning requirements. TRI also provides seam forensic capabilities to assist the project if and when any problems are encountered with dirty seams or welds marked by too much or insufficient heat, bad alignment, etc. We can use microtomes and photographs of observations to assist clients in responding appropriately to any quality assurance issue.

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High strength geosynthetic reinforcement products are often specified and it is important to confirm the characteristic high strength of these products. TRI is the highest quality laboratory in this regard as we employ a variety of state-of-the-art tension testing clamps and measurement systems. Included in this inventory of responsive tension testing technologies is the use of “Smart”-clamps, able to adjust gripping pressure based on the measured tension strength. These clamps adjust during testing to maximize the gripping pressure without damaging the material tested. Working together with non contact extensometry for strain measurement, TRI is able to test the strongest geosynthetic materials in the world. TRI also tests high strength component yarns and tapes, and high strength geosynthetic stitched and mechanical seams.

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TRI performs creep/stress rupture testing for characterization of reinforcement geosynthetics:

• strain limit creep testing
• stress rupture limit testing
• development of reduction factors for creep/stress rupture (RFCR)
• accelerated creep and stress rupture testing using conventional time temperature superposition (TTS)
• accelerated creep and stress rupture testing using TRI developed Stepped Isothermal Method (SIM) testing

TRI also performs compression testing to measure normal-to-the-plane deformations of geosynthetic:

• Drains and/or liner systems
• Short and long term compressive strength of geosynthetic drains
• Short and long term compressive strength of geosynthetic liner systems
• Strain (deformation) measurements within liner systems
• Compression creep via conventional accelerated time temperature superposition (TTS)
• Compression creep via TRI developed Stepped Isothermal Method (SIM) testing

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The durability of geosynthetics and geosynthetic systems is often measured to ensure long-term performance. TRI is a world-wide leader in durability testing and offers considerable capabilities to meet regulatory-driven or product development needs. TRI responds to both environmental and load/construction durability concerns via large-scale and bench-scale testing of geosynthetics and their component materials. Some of the durability testing services and relevant standards are listed below.

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TRI has broad capability to evaluate the microstructural properties of geosynthetic materials. This capacity, in concert with our performance testing capability, is often employed to investigate the cause for geosynthetic seam problems or geosynthetic material failures. Senior technical staff bring their experience to bear on specific technical challenges encountered as geosynthetic materials are installed. Forensic investigation is also called upon when new and/or unknown materials are evaluated, or where premature field failures have occurred. TRI employs a variety of equipment to support forensic evaluations including a full service DuPont thermal analysis testing system (TGA, DSC, DMA, TMA) as well as analytical equipment (FTIR, GC/GCMS).

While traditional quality assurance programs have involved on-site sampling of product rolls after they arrive, they often resulted in expensive delays and costly corrections when subsequent testing identifies non-conforming product rolls. TRI has revolutionized this approach by establishing in-plant manufacturing quality assurance (MQA) inspection and sampling services.

Almost all TRI’s in-plant services are established in the host-city of the manufacturer of interest, thus eliminating the need for clients to pay for travel and lodging costs traditionally associated with MQA inspection and sampling events. TRI may secure samples from the manufacturing plant, ship to our laboratories and test in accordance with the CQA plan. The previously unaffordable is now financially feasible and of significant benefit.

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