News

Check out the FGI's Summer Newsletter with information on Safety, the new Online PDH Program, Upcoming Webinar on Temporary Landfill Covers, Coal Combustion Residuals Short Course, Women in Geosynthetics, and more.

Newsletter - Summer, 2019

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The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) presented a one-day short course at the Sheraton Bogota Hotel in Bogota, Colombia on 12 August 2019.  The short course was offered in collaboration with Filmtex, a geomembrane manufacturing company headquartered in Bogota, and the Colombian Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The all-day short course drew 49 registrants.

The excellent and timely presentations focused on the challenges and environmental concerns associated with mining, tunneling, water, and waste containment technologies and how geomembranes and geosynthetics can be used to mitigate the concerns and risks.  The beginning portion of the short course focused on geomembrane fabrication, installation, manufacturing and geosynthetics for civil engineering applications with five (5) presentations.  Dr. Timothy D. Stark of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focused on the new FGI PVC Geomembrane Specification, factory fabrication and field installation, and the Columbus Water Reservoir Project.  Juan Cortes and Myriam Acevedo of Filmtex provided insight into the latest advancements in geomembrane manufacturing.  Camillo Marulanda of Ingetec Colombia, wrapped up the morning session with an informative presentation on the use of geosynthetics for dam applications.  

The second half of the presentations continued the focus on various applications of geosynthetics in containment applications, as well as geomembrane seaming. For example, Marina Villaroel of Alphard (Canada) gave an informative presentation on geosynthetics for mining application. Julio Ferreira of TRI Environmental reviewed the best practices for developing leak location surveys and obtaining a zero leak containment system.  Finally, Jorge Herrero Vega of Cesla Mexico, wrapped up the event with a presentation reviewing the the general concepts of geomembrane seaming followed by an interactive welding demonstration that allowed attendees to weld and test geomembranes. 

Many attendee questions, comments, and experiences made the course a great success. The topics and speakers from the successful short course are shown below:

‍FGI Introduction, Activities, and Current Research - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)

Introducción sobre la FGI, sus actividadese Investigación actual

Introduction to IGS Colombia Chapter - Mauricio Rendon (IGS Colombia)

Introduccióna la sociedad internacional de geosintéticos, capítulo  Colombia.

FGI PVC Spec: scope, origin &description of properties - T. Stark (U. ofIllinois)

Presentación Especificación FGI 6119 para PVC

‍Factory Fabrication & Field Installation - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)

Fabricación de Páneles en Planta e Instalación

‍Geosynthetics in Tunnel Applications - Chungsik Yoo (IGS President)

Aplicaciones de Geosintéticos en Túneles(Videoconferencia)

PVC Geomembranes Manufacturing - Juan Cortes & Myriam Acevedo (Filmtex)

Producciónde Geomembranas de PVC

‍Columbus Water Reservoir & Geomembrane Seaming - T.Stark (U. of Illinois)

Reservorio de Agua en Columbus, OH y sellado de geomembranas.

‍Geosynthetics in Dam Applications - Camillo Marulanda (Ingetec Colombia)

Aplicación de geo sintéticos en Represas.

‍Geosynthetics in Waste Management - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)

Geosintéticos en Aplicaciones de Manejo deDesechos                                                                                                      

‍Geosynthetics in MiningApplications - Marina Villaroel (Alphard,Canada)

Geosintéticosen Aplicaciones de Minería

‍Leak Location for Fabricated Geomembranes - Julio Ferreira (TRI/Environmental)

Detecciónde fugas en Geomembranas

‍General Concepts of Geomembrane Seaming - Jorge Herrero,(Cesla Mexico)

ConceptosGenerales de Sellado de Geomembrana

‍Welding Demonstration - JorgeHerrero, (Cesla Mexico)

Práctica de sellado

The FGI is dedicated to advancing the use of fabricated geomembranes through education, research, and technology transfer. The FGI is an industry sponsored consortium of manufacturers, fabricators, installers, designers, regulators, and material suppliers of fabricated geomembranes. For more information on the FGI, please visit www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com

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September 10, 2019 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CDT

Free to Industry Professionals & Students

1.0 PDH Available

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This webinar will focus primarily on Prefabricated Landfill Covers and associated ballast systems. More specifically, it will provide a brief introduction into the geomembrane fabrication and installation processes, typical applications where these covers are used, how they perform, as well as considerations for material selection, project designs and construction techniques. Lastly, the presentation will review specific case studies throughout the United States to highlight these cover systems and designs.

Register for FREE today: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9200528983946286859

The FGI has created a program that will offer engineers one (1.0) Professional Development Hour (PDH) of credit for each FGI webinar that is viewed from the FGI Online Webinar Library. The FGI currently has thirteen (13) webinars in its online library and is offering an additional four (4) live webinars this year: CCR Regulations and Policy (August 6), Temporary Landfill Covers (September 10), Lightweight Aggregate (October 15), and Geomembrane Wrinkles (November 12). A PDH certificate will be issued to anyone who attends a live webinar or views a pre-recorded webinar in its entirety. Each live webinar will be added to the FGI's online library after the initial airing date.  

For more information or to view the list of webinars, please visit:  www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/resources/webinar-gallery  

To learn more/register for the August 6, 2019 webinar on CCR Policy and Regulations, please visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4561903830197164300

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is offering a one day short course on Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs): Current Regulations and Solutions.  The short course will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at the Center City Building near the University of North Carolina Charlotte campus. Attendees will gain a broad knowledge of current and emerging CCR regulations, local experience managing CCRs, and the advantages of using geosynthetics to manage and dispose of CCRs.  Course attendees will earn seven (7.0) PDHs. Lunch and break refreshments will be provided. The short course is offered in collaboration with S&ME, Wood, University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The short course will feature dynamic presentations from representatives of Consumers Energy, Duke Energy, American Electric Power, UNCC, The Ohio State University, Wind Defender, Wood, TRI, DemTech, Leister and S&ME.

For more information or to register, please visit: https://www.geosynthetics-ccrs-charlotte-2019.eventbrite.com

Early bird registration discount ends October 15, 2019.

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The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest fabricator/installer member, Poly Fab LLC (www.polyfabllc.com). Poly Fab LLC was established to supply step and panel geomembranes to the water transfer energy companies in several of the shale project areas in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma.  PolyFab’s primary lining products are fabricated polyethylene geomembranes and non-woven felt pads. Their FGI liaison is Enrique Saavedra, Business Development Manager, who can be reached at sales@polyfabllc.com.  Please help us welcome PolyFab LLC to the FGI!!!!

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June/July 2019

Geosynthetics Magazine

By E. Silva and T. D. Stark

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Since the first flexible membrane liner (FML) was used as part of an environmental liner system, the geomembrane industry has always looked for innovative solutions to environmental containment applications. Although there have been many innovations over the last fifty (50) years, one of the most significant is the introduction of ketone ethylene ester (KEE), which is a solid plasticizer.  KEE is available under the Elvaloy® trade or product name and is used to plasticize PVC geomembranes as discussed in detail below.

Read the full article...

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The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has created a library of Geomembrane Test Method Videos that explain various factory and field test methods.  Testing videos available to view/download include demonstrations on how to measure the following:  thickness, tensile strength, dimensional stability, seam shear and peel strength, and brittleness.  

The FGI has recently recorded two new testing videos, as part of the Geomembrane Test Method Library on the FGI website:  ASTM D1204 Dimensional Stability and ASTM D1790 Brittleness Temperature of Plastic Sheeting by Impact.  

In addition to these two testing videos, the FGI has recorded the following testing videos available to view/download:

ASTM D7408 Seam Peel Strength

ASTM D882 Tensile Properties Geomembranes

ASTM D7408 Seam Shear Strength

ASTM D5994 Thickness Textured Geomembrane

ASTM D5199 Procedure B Thickness Smooth Geomembrane

Download/View Testing Videos Here:  https://www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/resources/video-gallery

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The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest consultant member– New Zealand’s leading environmental and engineering consultancy, Tonkin +Taylor.  Head-quartered in Auckland (NZ), Tonkin + Taylor operates throughout the South Pacific, Australasia and Southern Asian region. The company is 100% employee owned and operated and is highly experienced and skilled at delivering significant solid waste, transport,utilities, coastal management, flood protection and climate change adaptation capital works programs. Their FGI liaison is senior civil/environmental engineer Jonathan Shamrock, JShamrock@tonkintaylor.co.nz.  Please help us welcome Tonkin + Taylor to the FGI!!!!

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The Australasian Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (ACIGS) recently hosted their International Speakers Series in Australia and New Zealand.

The New Zealand seminar was held in Auckland on Monday, February 18, 2019 and presented by Timothy Stark, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.  Important lessons were learned by the 40 delegates attending the seminar about current best practice use of geosynthetics for embankment and lined waste containment facilities based on current research and from analysis of real life case studies of failures.

Professor Stark presented on the following topics:

• Geosynthetic Interface Testing and Selection for Static and Seismic Stability where he explained the importance of interface shear testing for geosynthetic lined slopes, the correct test methods to use, and the interpretation of these test results.
• Vertical Geosynthetic Drain Analyses for Embankment Failure on Soft Soil were he presented case histories illustrating design parameters for prefabricated vertical (wick) drains and their practical implications for stability of embankments.
• Seismic Stability of a Geosynthetic Lined Slope where he presented, using a case study, the importance of designing for peak and residual shear strength on landfill liner systems base and side slopes respectively and the appropriate factors of safety to use for the design cases.
• Elevated Temperatures in Waste Containment Facilities and Effect on Geosynthetic Service Life and Facility Design where he presented on the causes and implications for geosynthetic service life of elevated temperatures in waste containment facilities.

For complete article, please visit: www.geosyntheticssociety.org/acigs-international-speakers-series/