JANUARY 2013 – A proposed new ASTM International standard will provide a test method to give index performance for both established and new geogrids, which are products used for the reinforcement and stabilization of roads, railways, airports, docks and other trafficked areas.
ASTM WK39646, Test Method for Multi-Axial Low-Strain Tension Test for Geogrids and Geotextiles, is being developed by Subcommittee D35.01 on Mechanical Properties, part of ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics.
The proposed standard will cover the measurement of low strain (0–2.5 percent strain) out-of-plane response of geogrids and geotextiles to a force that is applied perpendicular to the plane of the sample. Index values derived from this testing will be used by government agencies and other specifiers in material specifications for geogrids.
“With the proposed test method, customers, normally public authorities, will be able to make logical decisions on the use of the established and new geogrids,” says Nigel Wrigley, director, NewGrids Ltd., and a D35 member. “Manufacturers and independent and public test laboratories involved with geogrids will use the test described in the standard, while designers and specifiers of private and public trafficked areas will included property values measured in accordance with this standard in their project designs and specifications.”
Wrigley notes that all interested parties, particularly organizations with test laboratories, are invited to participate in the development of ASTM WK39646. The subcommittee would like to work with organizations that would be interested in building a test rig, so that a number of rigs would be available for comparative testing.
ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.
For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-transportation or follow us on Twitter @ASTMTransport.
ASTM Committee D35 Next Meeting: Jan. 30–Feb. 1, January Committee Week, Jacksonville, Fla.
Technical Contact: Nigel Wrigley, NewGrids Ltd., Poole, Dorset, England, Phone: +011-44-0-1202-716-993; nigel@newgrids.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Katerina Koperna, Phone: 610-832-9728 ; kkoperna@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603 ; bschindl@astm.org
