Avaliação da degradação de geotêxteis submetidos à exposição por radiação ultravioleta no município de Mossoró/RN

Abstract

Geosynthetics are commonly used in construction works, and their use has been growing widely, being an excellent option in the replacement of more traditional materials. These materials are prone to exposure to UV radiation, whether in short-term works, during transport and installation, and which will later be covered by soils or liquids, which prevent radiation from reaching the material, such as in works where geosynthetics are installed partially or fully exposed from UV radiation, for longer periods of time, geotubes, geobags and geocontainers. The coastal engineering works, serve as an example, which are used as mitigating measures due to erosive processes, and works of packaging and descing of slowed and slous, with the purpose of retaining particles or flakes existing in mixtures, allowing the free passage of liquids, for the treatment of effluents. This research aims to study and evaluate the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the degradation of a polypropylene fabric geotextile, focused on civil construction, caused by exposure to the natural field environment. The material used in the research was a woven geotextile, manufactured in polypropylene, in which the study of natural degradation was carried out, with the exposure of samples in the municipality of Mossoró-RN, for a time of approximately three months. Natural aging is carried out outdoors and considers several important factors in the test, such as room temperature, humidity, dust, wind, pollutants, as well as solar radiation incident throughout the day. The material was exposed on a table composed of a plywood top and with a structure made of wood, meeting the conditions of the standard. To evaluate the effects of degradation, the geotextile samples were submitted to tensile strength tests. The analysis of the results consisted of the comparison of tensile strength and deformation values in the collapse obtained from virgin samples and exposed samples. The material studied showed no signs of degradation during the period of exposure to UV radiation and the weather, thus it is understood that the geotextile can be an excellent intake for short exposure periods, such as temporary constructions, in which the materials do not require protection. However, for works that require a longer exposure time, there is a lack of studies with longer exposure time, for better analysis of the material.