The integrity of a geomembrane installation is no better than its seaming system. In an attempt to learn more about the strength and durability of presently available seaming systems, the Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has funded research with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to evaluate geomembrane liner seams exposed to selected simulated environmental conditions. A total of 37 combinations of reinforced and nonreinforced polymeric sheet materials joined by various seaming methods are being subjected to chemical solutions, brine and water immersion, freeze/thaw cycling, wet/drying cycling, heat aging and accelerated outdoor aging. Laboratory evaluation of the effects of environmental exposure will include before and after mechanical testing of seams (dynamic load, in shear and peel, and static dead load) and Gas Chromatography (GC) or Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the polymeric materials. Immersion tests were started in the fall of 1983, however, at the time of this printing no comparative data were available for publication.

"EPA/600/D-84/079." Microfiche.