Degradação de geotêxteis por radiação ultravioleta: revisão da literatura

Abstract

Geotextiles have several applications in civil engineering works, such as earthworks, drainage services and reinforcement of structures. Its increasing use is related to the technical advantages provided, of ease and speed of execution, besides the economic advantages, due to the low cost and environmental benefits because they have low impacts in the environment, representing an excellent alternative to the traditional constructive methods. These materials tend to exhibit sensitivity to degrading agents, such as ultraviolet radiation. Under the action of this radiation, the geotextiles can undergo changes in their polymer structure, presenting failures in service and compromising their operation. Alterations of staining, decrease of thickness, depolymerization and decrease in the tensile strength are consequences from degradation by ultraviolet rays. In view of the increase in the use of these polymeric materials, under conditions of exposure to the medium, it is evident the need to investigate the ability of these geosynthetics to withstand the conditions of exposure to ultraviolet rays and other climatic conditions to which they are submitted. In order to obtain results, analyzes and observations regarding the level of degradation that determined geotextile can reach, this article presents several cases of geotextile degradation studies by ultraviolet radiation under different exposure conditions in different geographical locations. In this way, it is possible to infer the best geotextiles to be applied in a certain place, in order to attend the functionalities of the work and to support well to the degrading agents, during its life.