The Use of an Accelerated Test Procedure to Determine the Creep Reduction Factors of a Geosynthetic Drain

With increased awareness of the need for long-term, equilibrium flow measurements, the specification and testing community has responded by employing site-specific hydraulic transmissivity tests. In addition, this industry now benefits from a standardized approach to the use of time dependent reduction factors for geosynthetic flow data. Using these reduction factors, relatively short-term flow measurements may be factored with product-specific reduction factors to determine long-term flow performance. This paper focuses on the creep reduction factor associated with the Allowable Flow Equation, and its determination. The technical approaches used to determine compressive creep reduction factors are described and discussed in the context of wider spread use. Creep reduction factor determination is demonstrated on a high-density polyethylene product. Finally, comparisons between reduction factors developed from accelerated and conventional testing are provided.