Designation: D 6392 – 08

Standard Test Method for

Determining the Integrity of Nonreinforced Geomembrane
Seams Produced Using Thermo-Fusion Methods 1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6392; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.3.3 Very Flexible Polyethylene (VFPE).
1.1 This test method describes destructive 1.3.4 Linear Medium Density Polyethylene
quality control and quality assurance tests used (LMDPE).
to determine the integrity of geomembrane 1.3.5 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
seams produced by thermo-fusion methods. This 1.3.6 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
test method presents the procedures used for 1.3.7 Flexible Polypropylene (fPP).
determining the quality of nonbituminous
NOTE 1—The polyethylene identifiers presented in
bonded seams subjected to both peel and shear 1.3.1-1.3.5 describe the types of materials typically
tests. These test procedures are intended for tested using this test method. These are industry accepted
nonreinforced geomembranes only. trade descriptions and are not technical material
1.2 The types of thermal field seaming classifications based upon material density.
techniques used to construct geomembrane
seams include the following.
1.2.1 Hot Air—This technique introduces 1.4 This standard does not purport to address
high-temperature air or gas between two all of the safety concerns, if any, associated
geomembrane surfaces to facilitate melting. with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of
Pressure is applied to the top or bottom this standard to establish appropriate safety
geomembrane, forcing together the two surfaces and health practices and determine the
to form a continuous bond. applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
1.2.2 Hot Wedge (or Knife)—This technique use.
melts the two geomembrane surfaces to be
seamed by running a hot metal wedge between
them. Pressure is applied to the top or bottom
geomembrane, or both, to form a continuous
bond. Some seams of this kind are made with
dual bond tracks separated by a nonbonded gap.
These seams are sometimes referred to as dual
hot wedge seams or double-track seams.
1.2.3 Extrusion—This technique encompasses
extruding molten resin between two
geomembranes or at the edge of two overlapped
geomembranes to effect a continuous bond.
1.3 The types of materials covered by this test
method include the following.
1.3.1 Very Low Density Polyethylene
(VLDPE).
1.3.2 Linear Low Density Polyethylene
(LLDPE).

1 This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Current edition approved July 1, 2008. Published July 2008. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as
D 6392–99(2006).

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 D 6392 – 08
2. Referenced Documents during the peel test and elongation during the
2.1 ASTM Standards: 1 shear test, will allow the quality assurance
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of engineer to take measures necessary to ensure
Plastics the repair of inferior seams during facility
construction, and therefore, minimize the
D 4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
potential for seam separation in service.
D 5199 Test Method for Measuring the
Nominal Thickness of Geosynthetics 5. Apparatus
D 5994 Test Method for Measuring Core
5.1 Tensile instrumentation shall meet the
Thickness of Textured Geomembrane
requirements outlined in Test Method D 638.
2.2 EPA Standards:
5.2 Grip Faces—Grip faces shall be 25 mm
EPA/600/2-88/052 Lining of Waste (1 in.) wide and a minimum of 25 mm (1 in.) in
Containment and Other Containment length. Smooth rubber, fine serrated or coarse
Facilities;Appendix N, Locus of break serrated grip faces have all been found to be
codes for various types of FML seams3 suitable for testing geomembrane seams.
3. Terminology 6. Sample and Specimen Preparation
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This 6.1 Seam Samples—Cut a portion of the
Standard: fabricated seam sample from the installed liner
3.1.1 geomembrane, n—essentially in accordance with the project specifications. It
impermeable geosynthetic composed of one or is recommended that the cutout sample be 0.3 m
more synthetic sheets. (1 ft) wide and 0.45 m (1.5 ft) in length with the
3.1.2 quality assurance, n—all planned and seam centered in the middle.
systematic actions necessary to provide 6.2 Specimen Preparation—Ten specimens
adequate confidence that an item or a facility shall be cut from the sample submittal. The
will perform satisfactorily in service. specimens shall be die cut using a 25 mm
3.1.3 quality control, n—the operational (nominal 1 in.) wide by a minimum of 150 mm
techniques and the activities, which sustain a (nominal 6 in.) long die. Specimens that will be
quality of material, product, system, or service subjected to peel and shear tests shall be
that will satisfy given needs; also the use of such selected alternately from the sample and labeled
techniques and activities. as shown in Fig. 1. Specimens shall be cut such
that the seam is perpendicular to the longer
4. Significance and Use
dimension of the strip specimen.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
6.3 Conditioning—Samples should be
4.1 The use of geomembranes as barrier
conditioned for 40 h in a standard laboratory
materials to restrict liquid migration from one
environment that conforms to the requirements
location to another in soil and rock has created a
for testing geosynthetics as stated in
need for a standard test method to evaluate the
Terminology D 4439. Long sample conditioning
quality of geomembrane seams produced by
times typically are not possible for most
thermo-fusion methods. In the case of
applications that require seam testing. Prior to
geomembranes, it has become evident
testing, samples should be conditioned for a
minimum of 1 h at 23 6 2°C and a relative
that geomembrane seams can exhibit separation humidity between 50 and 70 %.
in the field under certain conditions. Although
this is an index type test method used for quality 7. Destructive Test Methods
assurance and quality control purposes, it is also 7.1 Peel Testing—Subject five specimens to
intended to provide the quality assurance the 90° “TPeel” test (see Fig. 2). If the tested
engineer with sufficient seam peel and shear sample is a dual hot wedge seam, five
data to evaluate seam quality. Recording and specimens must be examined for each external
reporting data, such as separation that occurs track of the seam. Maintaining the specimen in a
horizontal position throughout the test is not
1 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website,
www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at required. Fully grip the test specimen across the
[email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards width of the specimen. Grip the peel specimen
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document by securing grips 25 mm (1 in.) on each side of
Summary page on the ASTM website. 3
Available from the Superintendent of Documents, US
the start of the seam bond, a constant machine
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. cross head speed of 50 mm (2 in.)/min for

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 D 6392 – 08
HDPE, LMDPE, and PVC, 500 mm NOTE 2—Both peel and shear tests for fPP, LLDPE,
(20 in.)/min for LLDPE, VLDPE, VFPE, and VLDPE, and PVC geomembranes have been tested
routinely at both 2 and 20 in./min. When conducting
fPP. The test is complete when the specimen
seam peel or shear testing for quality control, or quality
ruptures. assurance purposes, or both, it may be necessary to select
7.2 Shear Testing—Subject five specimens to the manufacturer’s recommended testing speed. In the
the shear test (see Fig. 2). Fully support the test absence of explicit testing speed requirements, follow
specimen within the grips across the width of those recommended in 7.1 and 7.2.
the specimen. Secure the grips 25 mm (1 in.) on
each side of the start of the seam bond, a 8. Calculations and Observations
constant machine cross head speed of 50 mm (2 8.1 Estimate of Seam Peel Separation—
in.)/min for LMDPE and HDPE, 500 mm (20 Visually estimate the seam separation
in.)/min for fPP, LLDPE, VFPE, VLDPE, and demonstrated prior to rupture for peel
PVC. The test is complete for HDPE and specimens. The estimate shall be based upon the
LMDPE once the specimen has elongated 50 %. proportion of the area of the separated bond, to
PVC, fPP, LLDPE, VFPE and VLDPE the area of original bonding to the nearest 5%.
geomembranes should be tested to rupture. However, if at any point across the width of

FIG. 1 Seam Sample

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 D 6392 – 08

FIG. 2 Shear and T-Peel Specimens

the peel specimen, seam separation continues to where:
the other side of the bonded area, the estimate of L = extension at test
seam peel separation shall be 100 % regardless end, and L0 = original
of the proportion of the area of the separated gauge length.
bond to the area of the original bonding. NOTE 4—The intent of measuring elongation using this
NOTE 3—During the thermo-fusion welding process, test method is to identify relatively large reductions in
some of the melted polymer may be shifted to the outside typical break elongation values of seam samples. Length
of the weld during the pressing of the geomembrane is defined as the distance from one grip to the seam edge.
panels together. This melted polymer is sometimes called Using this definition implies that all strain experienced
“squeeze-out” or “bleed out” and is not considered part by the specimen during the shear test occurs on one side
of the bond. Care must be exercised during estimation of of the seam. Of course this assumption is inaccurate,
the seam peel separation to segregate the squeeze or since some strain will occur on each side of the seam,
bleed out area from the peeled bond area. The reported and in the seam area itself; however, it is difficult to
peel separation shall include the peeled bond area only. make an accurate measurement of the strain distribution
which occurs in the specimen during testing. Further, it is
8.2 Rupture Mode Selection—Determine the not critical to know the exact location of all the strain
locus of break for both the peel and shear which occurs during testing but rather to simply identify
specimens as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The locus when significant reductions in elongation (when
of break for shear specimens that do not rupture compared with the typical elongation of a new material)
prior to test end (50 % elongation) shall be have occurred.
interpreted as occurring in the membrane that
9. Report
exhibits yielding.
8.3 Shear Percent Elongation—Calculate the 9.1 The report shall include the following
percent elongation on shear specimens information.
according to Eq 1. Divide the extension at test 9.1.1 Report the individual peel and shear
end by the original gage length of 25 mm and specimen maximum unit tension values in
multiply by 100. N/mm of width (lb/in.).
L
Elongation 5 E 3 100 NOTE 5—If requested, report the maximum peel or
L0 shear stress. This calculation will require an accurate
measurement of thickness for each specimen. These

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 D 6392 – 08
measurements should be made in 9.1.5 Report the mode of specimen rupture for
accordance with Test Method D 5199 for peel and shear specimens according to Fig. 3 or
smooth geomembranes and Test Method D 5994 for
Fig. 4.
textured geomembranes.
NOTE 6—“Locus-of-Failure” (Figs. 3 and 4) include
9.1.2 Report the cross head speed used during only some of the typically found seam configurations
found in the industry. When this test method is applied to
peel and shear testing. seams bonded in configurations other than those
9.1.3 Report the average of the individual peel identified in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, the users of this test method
and shear sample values recorded. must agree on applicable descriptions for modes of
specimen rupture.
9.1.4 If the peel or shear specimen does not
rupture, report the elongation at the maximum 10. Precision and Bias
cross-head travel limitation. If the gage length is
10.1 No statement can be made at this time
reduced to less than 25 mm (1 in.), this must be
concerning precision or bias.
noted in the report.
FIG. 4 Locus-of-Break Codes for Fillet Extrusion Weld Seams in Unreinforced Geomembranes Tested for
Seam Strength in Shear and
Peel Modes

FIG. 3 Locus-of-Break Codes for Dual Hot Wedge Seams in Unreinforced Geomembranes Tested for Seam Strength in Shear and Peel
Modes
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