Effect of temperature on shear strength of two geomembrane-geotextile interfaces

This study was conducted to assess whether temperature affected the shear strength of interfaces between a nonwoven needle-punched polypropylene geotextile (GT) and two high-density polyethylene geomembranes [smooth (GMS) and textured (GMT)]. Testing was conducted using a double-interface shear device (DISD) enclosed in a constant temperature chamber. Tests were conducted at temperatures ranging between 0 and 33 °C at normal stresses between 7.5 and 49.5 kPa and with displacement rates between 0.9 and 1.5 mm/min. Only small changes in interface strength were observed for the range of temperatures that was considered. Increasing the temperature from 0 to 33 °C resulted in an increase in the peak interface friction angle of 2.9° for the GMS-GT interface and 2.3° for the GMT-GT interface, regardless of the displacement rate. Similar changes were observed for the post-peak friction angle.