Bituminous geomembrane (BGM) is a type of geomembrane consisting of a reinforcing geotextile to provide mechanical strength and elastomeric bitumen (often called asphalt in U.S.) to provide impermeability. Other components such as sand, a glass fleece, and/or a polyester film can be incorporated into the layers of a BGM. Bituminous geomembranes are differentiated from bituminous waterproofing materials used in buildings due in part to their wide roll width, which can exceed 5m, and their substantial thickness of up to 6.0mm.
These properties are designed for environmental protection, civil infrastructure, and mining applications.
Properties + Typical Intrinsic Properties of Bituminous Geomembranes Property Standard Units Value Application Relevance Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion ASTM D 696 °C⁻¹ 10−5 A low coefficient of thermal expansion prevents problematic wrinkling with exposure to temperature variation. Density ASTM D 792-20 g/cm3 1.27 High density (greater than water) is useful for submersed applications, limiting wind uplift, and safer installation in windy conditions. Elongation at Break ASTM D 7275 % >60 Elongation capacity combined with tensile strength provides toughness allowing light traffic during installation and accommodating differential settlement in service. Friction Angle (sand side) NF EN 495-2 ° 39.5 A high friction angle allows for safer installation and greater slope stability. Cold Bending - Lowest Temperature ASTM D 746 °C -20 Cold bending relates to the ability to use and manipulate the geomembrane in cold conditions. Water Permeability ASTM E 96 m/s < 6.10⁻¹⁴ The extremely low water permeability of a BGM aligns with the high standards typical of geomembranes. Gas Permeability (Methane Transmission Rate) ASTM D 1434-82 m3/(m2.d.atm) < 2.10⁻⁴ A useful index for gas barrier applications.
History The earliest estimated use of bitumen dates back 40,000 years to the Paleolithic age and the historical use of bitumen as a waterproofing layer is extensive and well documented.
In 1926, successful experiments were conducted by the South Carolina Highway Department in which cotton fabric was installed on-site in combination with hot bitumen for road surface treatment. Continued experimentation and practical experience led to the development of prefabricated hessian woven fabrics with factory coated bitumen. Known as 'bithess' this material was made in significant quantities for rapid deployment in airfields and roads in World War II. By controlling the moisture content to maintain subgrade strength, this early geomembrane was credited by General William Slim to have played a significant role in the advance of the Burma campaign, a theater famous for its challenging jungle terrain and wet weather conditions.
The earliest reported use of a BGM in the United States was reported by Daniel W. Kappes P.E. in 1973 at the Manhattan mine in Nevada, where a polypropylene geotextile was coated on-site with asphalt emulsion to create an impermeable layer for heap leach extraction. This application predates known European BGM applications by as much as one year and marked an early milestone in the use of geosynthetics in mining. Published literature describing the modern development of the bituminous geomembrane can be traced back to the first double-liner system conceived of in 1974 by geosynthetics pioneer, J.P. Giroud. This novel bituminous geomembrane was made by spraying hot bitumen in-situ onto a polyester geotextile. Soon after these early installations, factory manufactured BGMs were developed with factory impregnation of bitumen into the geotextile allowing a high standard of quality control. Spray applied BGMs went entirely out of favor by 1988.
+ Partial List of Noteworthy BGM Projects Project Country Type Date CompletedLe Pont-de-Claix Water ReservoirFranceWater1974Ospedale ReservoirCorsicaWater1978 Parc des Chanteraines FranceWater 1982, 2020 Manche storage centre FranceEnvironmental Protection 1994Ortolo ReservoirCorsicaWater1996 La Galaube DamBreul, Bernard; Breul, Bertrand; Daly, Natalie (April 1, 2018). "Bituminous Geomembranes on a French Dam." Geosynthetics Magazine. [Online] Available: https://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/2018/04/01/bituminous-geomembranes-on-a-french-dam/ FranceWater 2000 Kildare Bypass IrelandTransportation 2003 Diavik Diamond Mine CanadaMining 2007 Kittilä mine FinlandMining 2007, 2008 Las Bambas copper mine PeruMining 2012, 2014 Dolores mine MexicoMining 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020 St. George Regional AirportHavens, Emily. (July 10, 2019). "A Closer View: St. George Regional Airport's Massive Runway Reconstruction Is on Track." The Spectrum. [Online] Available: https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2019/07/10/closer-view-st-george-regional-airports-runway-project-track/1693296001/ United StatesTransportation 2019 Pench Right Canal IndiaWater 2019, 2022 Stockton Mine New ZealandMining 2022
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