ISO 13437:1998

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13437
First edition
1998-08-15
Geotextiles and geotextile-related
products — Method for installing and
extracting samples in soil, and testing
specimens in laboratory
Géotextiles et produits apparentés — Méthode pour l'installation et
l'extraction d'échantillons dans le sol et pour la réalisation d'essais en
laboratoire sur les éprouvettes
A
Reference number
ISO 13437:1998(E)

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ISO 13437:1998(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of
preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which
a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented
on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO
collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting
a vote.
International Standard ISO 13437 was prepared by the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) in collaboration with ISO Technical
Committee TC 38, Textiles, Subcommittee SC 21, Geotextiles, in
accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and
CEN (Vienna Agreement).
Annexes A and ZZ of this International Standard are for information only.
Annex ZZ provides a list of corresponding International and European
Standards for which equivalents are not given in the text.
©  ISO 1998
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
Internet iso@iso.ch
Printed in Switzerland
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ISO ISO 13437:1998(E)
Foreword
The text of EN ISO 13437:1998 has been prepared by Technical Committee
CEN/TC 189 "Geotextiles and geotextile-related products", the secretariat of
,
which is held by IBN in collaboration with Technical Committee ISO/TC 38
"Textiles".
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard,
either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by
February 1999, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the
latest by February 1999.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards
organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European
Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
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ISO ISO 13437:1998(E)
Introduction
This standard is part of a series of standards and prestandards on the
durability of geotextiles and geotextile-related products.
The use and applicability of this standard will be further described in a guide
to durability (currently in course of preparation).
1 Scope
This standard specifies a method for the on-site installation, retrieval and
testing of geotextile samples, irrespective of the particular degradation
mechanisms to which they are exposed.
The method is also appropriate to test for mechanical damage, much of which
occurs during installation, and to provide an owner with information about the
state of the geotextile or geotextile-related product in his structure.
NOTE : The durability of geotextiles or geotextile-related products is
assessed by short-term accelerated tests under conditions more
extreme than those experienced in service. In order to establish the
validity of these tests it is essential to compare their predictions with
tests made on material extracted from site.
2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference,
provisions from other publications. These normative references are cited at
the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For
dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these
publications apply to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by
amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies.
EN 963 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products -
Sampling and preparation of test specimens
EN 965 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products -
Determination of mass per unit area
EN ISO 10319 Geotextiles - Wide-width tensile test
(ISO 10319 : 1993)
prEN ISO 10320 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products -
Identification on site (ISO/DIS 10320 : 1995)
ISO 307:1994 Plastics - Polyamides - Determination
of viscosity number
ISO 1628-3:1998 Plastics - Determination of viscosity number and
limiting viscosity number - Part 3 : Polyethylenes
and polypropylenes ( Revision of ISO 1628-3:1991)
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ISO/DIS 1628-5:1997 Plastics - Determination of viscosity of polymers in
dilute solution using capillary viscometers - Part 5 :
Thermoplastic polyester (TP) homopolymers and
copolymers (Revision of ISO 1623-5:1986)
ISO 10318 Geotextiles - Vocabulary
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply :
3.1 geotextile: A geotextile or geotextile - related product.
3.2 control specimen: Test specimen taken from a sample of the material
delivered on site before its installation in the structure.
3.3 durability testing sample: Test sample installed during construction for
the purpose of degradation assessment.
3.4 : Either durability testing sample or sample of in service
retrieval sample
materials retrieved after a predetermined time.
4 Principle
The properties of the geotextile after a certain period in service (used
material) are compared to the same properties determined on control
specimens (control material).
5 Test method
5.1 Identification of the initial conditions
The following information shall be indicated:
- identification and description of the structure;
- description of the geotextile environment;
- identification and characteristics of the geotextile, with testing
standard references.
NOTE : For each of the above, examples of suitable forms are given
in annex A. Where possible, variation about the mean values can be
given.
5.2 Installation of durability testing samples
The following general guidelines shall be followed unless otherwise agreed by
the parties concerned :
5.2.1 The number of samples is determined by the dimensions of the
structure, the physical and chemical variations in the environment in which
the geotextile is installed, and the repercussions that a failure of the geotextile
function would cause.
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ISO ISO 13437:1998(E)
5.2.2 The number of retrievals depends on the expected service life of the
geotextile.
The following schedule shall be observed unless otherwise agreed :
- prepare durability testing samples and take control samples on
delivery of material;
- make a first retrieval directly following construction;
- make a second retrieval after 10 years;
- then every 20 years or less if the results obtained command an earlier
retrieval, or if major environmental factors are known to have changed;
- make a final retrieval on completion of service life.
Thus three retrievals are needed for a 30-year expected service life, and eight
retrievals for a 120-year expected service life.
5.2.3 The samples shall be subjected to the same physical and chemical
environments to which the geotextile is exposed in the structure. As far as
possible, this includes also mechanical stresses and hydraulic features.
5.2.4 The dimensions of the durability testing samples shall be a minimum
of:
- 1 m x 1 m for a sheet product;
- 1 m in length for a linear product.
5.2.5 Report the following :
- description, origin and numbering of the samples;
- date of installation and exact location in the structure (drawing);
- retrieval schedule.
5.3 Preparation of control specimens
Take control specimens of the geotextile from the material before installation.
The control specimens shall be taken as close as possible to the material
used for the durability testing samples.
The dimension of the control specimens is identical to the dimension of
durability testing samples. Their number is equal to the number of scheduled
retrievals.
The specimens shall be taken in accordance with EN 963.
Avoid folding or cutting if possible. However, if it is essential, the 1 m x 1 m
specimens shall be folded or cut in three folds or parts parallel to the machine
direction or to the main tensile strength direction. One specimen of 1 m x 1 m
or three specimens of 1 m in length are placed in a black polyethylene bag
labelled outside with identification, date and structure reference. A copy of the
geotextile identification form (see Annex A) with copy of product delivery
reference label is to be placed inside each bag. The three bags shall be
placed in another black polyethylene bag, also labelled with date and
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ISO 13437:1998(E) ISO
structure reference, and kept in a horizontal position in a depository at a
temperature between 0 °C and 20 °C and relative humidity of 50% to 65 %,
with no condensation.
5.4 Retrieval of samples
There are two possible retrieval situations:
- durability testing samples have been installed during construction, in
which case the operation is simply to retrieve the specimens, or
- no such provisions were made and it is necessary to sample a piece
of geotextile in service.
In the second case the selection of the location for sampling is dependent on
several parameters such as accessibility, disturbance of traffic, and cost. If a
choice exists, the most interesting areas are where there is local deformation
or differential settlement in the facing of the structure or on the road surface,
or indications of water leakage.
A procedure for repair of the hole left in the geotextile shall be defined.
In all cases :
- perform the sampling carefully in order to avoid any damage to the
product. The excavation operation may begin with a mechanical digger
but shall be stopped 0,3 m before reaching the geotextile. Continue the
work manually with shovel and trowel to remove the remaining soil
gently over a surface area of 1 m²;
- take a sample of soil in contact with the geotextile for determination of
pH, chemical analysis and determination of mechanical characteristics;
- photograph the site and report the visual appearance of the
geotextile, with particular attention to holes, tears, root penetration and
presence of water;
- cut the sample along the sides of the square by appropriate means,
lift it carefully, place it flat between two sheets of black polyethylene
film and seal the film to prevent desiccation;
NOTE : In particular cases, it may be interesting to take a core
sample of geotextile with its surrounding soil medium to analyse
further any clogging of the geotextile.
- label the samples with the date, structure reference and reference
number and send them to the laboratory.
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5.5 Testing and analysis
5.5.1 Testing on retrieval samples :
If necessary, carry out weighing and water permeability measurements before
washing.
Wash the samples carefully
...