Problems of friction posed by the use of geomembranes on dam slopes : examples and measurements

Two examples are presented of the use of geomembranes for the waterproofing of earth fill dams approximately 15 m high. These are a PVC geomembrane used as an upstream facing on the Aubrac dam and a bitumen membrane used as an internal core in the Valence d'Albi dam. As a result of these tests, friction on the smooth face of the bituminous geomembrane was increased for the second dam by burning the polyester film in situ.