Seams are used with geotextile materials in applications where a material overlap may be used or when stress transfer is necessary between geotextile, geosynthetic, and other materials. Just as geotextiles must be able to withstand various loadings, seams must be able to maintain structural integrity under load. Therefore, bulk strength of a fabric is not the only important material property to test, but also the strength of the connecting seams. Seam strength tests can be conducted by both the grab test and strip test methods, depending on the specific application of the product and standard being tested. It is important to also test the elongation properties of the fabric to fully characterize seam elongation. ASTM and ISO have specified standard test methods and specifications for testing the seam strength of geotextile materials. Popular testing standards are ASTM D4884 for geotextiles and ISO 10321 for geosynthetics. ASTM and ISO test standards specify the appropriate test system configurations of machines and clamps, to properly conduct seam strength tests. Most seam strength tests are conducted using table-top tensile test machines or specially configured universal test machines with low to medium force, high elongation, and constant rate of extension capabilities. Grips must be able to clamp the test sample without slipping or causing damage to the specimen that would result in breaks at the grip jaws. The machine and grip families below can be configured to meet ASTM and ISO requirements, when matched to the force requirements of your test sample and paired with the appropriate grip jaws.
Applicable Testing Standards
- ISO 10321 Tensile Test of Geotextiles
- ASTM D4884 Strength of Sewn or Thermally Bonded Seams of Geotextiles
Recommended Test Machine
Force range of 5 kN to 600 kN (1,125 lbf to 135,000 lbf)
Adjustable test space
The most popular choice for static tension and compression tests
These dual column testers are available in both tabletop and floor standing models