9312772 Hsuan The objective of this research is to provide a data base of knowledge and a prediction methodology in the area of long term behavior of high density polyethylene (HPDE) geomembranes. Its primary focus is to predict the functional lifetime of the material used in landfills and surface impoundments based on short term accelerated laboratory tests. Elevated temperature is the principal acceleration factor. Extrapolations to lower site specific temperatures will be performed utilizing Arrhenius modeling techniques. Additionally the project will also attempt to correlate between microscopic (i.e. changes in physical and chemical properties) macroscopic (i.e. changes in mechanical properties) behavior. ***
