Uplift of Geomembranes by Wind

This paper summarizes experimental data on uplift of geomembranes by wind and presents a method to determine: the maximum wind velocity that an exposed geomembrane can withstand without being uplifted; the required thickness of a protective layer placed on the geomembrane that would prevent it from being uplifted; the tension and strain induced in the geomembrane to verify that they are below the allowable tension and strain of the geomembrane; and the geometry of the uplifted geomembrane. The method is presented in a way that should be convenient to design engineers, using equations, tables, graphical methods, and design examples. The study shows that all geomembranes can be uplifted by high velocity winds. However, the threshold wind velocity for geomembrane uplift is greater for a heavy geomembrane than for a light geomembrane. When a geomembrane is uplifted, its tension, strain and geometry depend on the wind velocity, the altitude above sea level, the location of the geomembrane in the facility (e.g. crest, slope, bottom), and the tensile characteristics of the geomembrane. As temperature influences tensile characteristics, its influence on geomembrane uplift is discussed in detail. Finally, practical recommendations are made to prevent the wind from uplifting geomembranes, or to minimize the magnitude of geomembrane uplift by the wind.