Degradação de geossintéticos por intemperismo natural em área costeira

Abstract

Geosynthetics are polymeric materials used in several engineering projects. Among them, it is use in coastal protection constructions stands out with high application potential, together with granular materials to control erosion. Durability, after exposure to the weather, needs to be known for more precise sizing. How any polymeric material, they are subject to degradation due to exposure to UV radiation. Both ASTM D5970 (2016) and ASTM D1435 (2013) standards contain guidelines for geosynthetic exposure to UV radiation. In this sense, this work presents a comparison between the two patterns by the change in the exposure slope of a PP geotextile in a coastal environment at the seaside of Natal/RN. In addition, the influence of color and consequent temperature of the exposure table, as well as it is interaction with granular material, was evaluated. The exposure time was 176 days, divided into three distinct periods (42, 84 and 176 days) and the tensile strength of the samples was compared with those obtained from virgins. The results indicated small differences in UV degradation due to exposure inclination. On the other hand, the color of the exposure table produced greater degradation in those samples exposed on black tables, when compared to those on white tables and the most critical result was for the samples exposed in sand. The data obtained in this study are fundamental for the dimensioning and adoption of mitigating measures in coastal engineering works that use geosynthetics.