ASTM D4759-11(2018)e1

Standard Practice for Determining the Specification Conformance of Geosynthetics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides a means by which the purchaser can determine the conformance of geosynthetic properties as applied to the acceptance or rejection of a material in regards to a material specification.  
4.2 This practice has been developed with strong emphasis on practicality and the realization that all geosynthetics are subjected to a vigorous quality control program prior to shipping.
Note 1: It is suggested that the user obtain the mean, standard deviation, and/or the coefficient of variation for given physical/mechanical properties of a product directly from the manufacturer. If this data is unavailable, it is suggested that users of this practice begin to accumulate data that can be used to estimate product averages and standard deviations for each product.
Note 2: The risk to the purchaser of buying out-of-specification materials is minimal when conformance requirements are detailed in the purchase specification and adequate conformance testing is performed. It is the producer's responsibility to perform thorough quality control testing for all properties requiring certification. The producer's risk of rejection is minimal with the performance of this thorough quality control testing.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for determining the conformance of geosynthetic properties to standard specifications.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2018
• ICS: 59.080.70 - Geotextiles
• Technical Committee: D35 - Geosynthetics
• Drafting Committee: D35.01 - Mechanical Properties

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D4439-24 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2024
• Refers: ASTM D4354-12(2020) - Standard Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics and Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs) for Testing
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM D4439-18 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2018
• Refers: ASTM D4439-17 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2017
• Refers: ASTM D4439-15a - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2015
• Refers: ASTM D4439-15 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2015
• Refers: ASTM D4439-14 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2014
• Refers: ASTM D4354-12 - Standard Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics and Rolled Erosion Control Products(RECPs) for Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Refers: ASTM D4439-11 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Refers: ASTM D4533-04(2009) - Standard Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Refers: ASTM D4354-99(2009) - Standard Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics for Testing
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2009
• Refers: ASTM D7273-08 - Standard Guide for for Acceptance Testing Requirements for Geonets and Geonet Drainage Geocomposites
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2008
• Refers: ASTM D4533-04 - Standard Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Refers: ASTM D4354-99(2004) - Standard Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics for Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Refers: ASTM D4439-04 - Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2004

Overview

ASTM D4759-11(2018)e1, published by ASTM International, is the standard practice for determining the specification conformance of geosynthetics. This standard provides a practical, step-by-step procedure for assessing whether geosynthetic materials meet documented specifications during quality assurance processes. Widely referenced across civil engineering and environmental sectors, ASTM D4759 strengthens project quality and reduces the risk of nonconforming materials being accepted or installed.

Geosynthetics-including geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, and geocomposites-are subject to rigorous quality control by manufacturers. This standard enables purchasers and project managers to systematically evaluate these products to ensure their properties meet project requirements, which is vital for safety, performance, and regulatory compliance.

Key Topics

• Conformance Verification: The standard outlines procedures for testing and sampling geosynthetics to determine if supplied materials meet the required property values specified in relevant purchase documents.

• Quality Control and Assurance: Emphasizes cooperation between the producer’s in-house quality control program and purchaser’s acceptance testing to minimize the risk of accepting out-of-specification geosynthtics.

• Sampling Procedures: Specifies methods for dividing material into lots, selecting samples, and conducting laboratory tests to accurately assess compliance.

• Risk Mitigation: Provides guidance for both purchasers and manufacturers to reduce the likelihood of using nonconforming materials by detailing requirements for statistical data (means, standard deviations, coefficients of variation) and proper documentation.

• Handling Nonconformance: Includes steps for resampling, retesting, and rejection of lots or units that do not meet the acceptable specification values, with procedures for decision-making between purchaser and seller.

Applications

Adhering to ASTM D4759-11(2018)e1 benefits a wide range of stakeholders involved with geosynthetics in construction and environmental engineering projects:

• Construction & Infrastructure Projects: Ensures that geosynthetic materials used in roadways, embankments, retaining walls, and landfills conform to performance specifications, improving structural integrity and lifespan.

• Environmental Protection: Verifies the suitability of geosynthetics used in containment, filtration, and erosion control systems, reducing the risk of failure and associated environmental hazards.

• Procurement and Quality Assurance: Provides procurement teams and quality managers with defined processes for accepting or rejecting delivered materials based on standardized test data, supporting transparent, data-driven purchasing decisions.

• Regulatory Compliance: Facilitates adherence to government and agency requirements, as this standard is approved for use by agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense and aligns with World Trade Organization (WTO) international principles.

Related Standards

Connecting ASTM D4759 with complementary documents enhances the thoroughness of geosynthetic tests and quality assurance:

• ASTM D4354: Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics and Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs) for Testing
• ASTM D4439: Terminology Relating to Geosynthetics-essential for interpreting terms used in D4759
• ASTM D4533: Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles-commonly referenced for mechanical property testing
• ASTM D7273: Guide for Acceptance Testing Requirements for Geonets and Geonet Drainage Geocomposites

By utilizing ASTM D4759-11(2018)e1 and its related standards, organizations can consistently validate geosynthetic material quality, ensure specification compliance, and safeguard project outcomes.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
´1
Designation: D4759 −11 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Practice for
Determining the Specification Conformance of
Geosynthetics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4759; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
ε NOTE—5.2 was editorially corrected in January 2021.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 test result, n—a value obtained by a given test method,
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for determining the
expressed as a single determination or a specified combination
conformance of geosynthetic properties to standard specifica-
of a number of determinations.
tions.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 This practice provides a means by which the purchaser
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
can determine the conformance of geosynthetic properties as
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
applied to the acceptance or rejection of a material in regards
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
to a material specification.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4.2 This practice has been developed with strong emphasis
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the on practicality and the realization that all geosynthetics are
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- subjected to a vigorous quality control program prior to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical shipping.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
NOTE 1—It is suggested that the user obtain the mean, standard
deviation,and/orthecoefficientofvariationforgivenphysical/mechanical
2. Referenced Documents
properties of a product directly from the manufacturer. If this data is
2 unavailable, it is suggested that users of this practice begin to accumulate
2.1 ASTM Standards:
data that can be used to estimate product averages and standard deviations
D4354 Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics and Rolled
for each product.
Erosion Control Products (RECPs) for Testing
NOTE 2—The risk to the purchaser of buying out-of-specification
D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics materials is minimal when conformance requirements are detailed in the
purchase specification and adequate conformance testing is performed. It
D4533 Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geo-
is the producer’s responsibility to perform thorough quality control testing
textiles
for all properties requiring certification.The producer’s risk of rejection is
D7273 Guide forAcceptanceTesting Requirements for Geo-
minimal with the performance of this thorough quality control testing.
nets and Geonet Drainage Geocomposites
5. Summary of the Test Procedure
3. Terminology
5.1 Procedure A—This procedure determines the confor-
3.1 For general definitions used in this document, refer to
mance of geosynthetic materials properties to acceptable speci-
Terminology D4439.
fications values.
NOTE 3—Conformance testing is done by the purchaser or designated
person/organization. It is usually done as the geosynthetics are brought to
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosyn-
the project site and to justify the payment of the billing (Practice D4354).
theticsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.01 on Mechanical
Typically, testing is performed on the final product and no components to
Properties.
produce or assemble the final geosynthetic material need to be confor-
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2018. Published February 2018. Originally
mance tested.
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D4759 – 11. DOI:
10.1520/D4759-11R18E01.
5.2 Procedure B—This procedure determines the confor-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
mance of geocomposite geosynthetic material properties to a
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
set of acceptable specification values. Typically, multiple
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. individual components need to be tested together with the final
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
´1
D4759 − 11 (2018)
require sampling during manufacture; select the units for the lot sample
geocomposite product to show conformance with the accept-
and potentially the multiple individual components at uniformly spaced
able material specification. Since those individual components
time intervals throughout the production period at the production/
might or might not be altered during production/assembly,
assembly facility (Procedure C in Practice D4354).
sample collection is typically executed during production/
7.2 Test the number of specimens as directed in the appli-
assembly at the manufacturing facility.
cable testing methods.
6. Procedure A
7.3 If all the average test values for the individual lot
sampling units meet all the acceptable specification values, the
6.1 Divide into lots and select lot and laboratory samples as
entire lot passes.
directed in Practice D4354.
7.4 If the average test value for any individual lot sampling
6.2 Test the number of specimens as directed in the appli-
unit does not meet one or more of the acceptable specification
cable testing method.
values, that particular lot sampling unit shall be catalogued as
6.3 If the average test values for the individual lot sampling
“failed” or nonconforming.
unit meet all the acceptable specification values, the lot passes.
NOTE 6—Most individualASTM standards describe within the standard
6.4 If the average test value for any individual lot sampling
procedure as of how to address “failed” or nonconforming measured
unit does not meet one or more of the acceptable specification
values.
values, the lot shall be resampled and tested, except as noted in
7.4.1 Any individual lot sampling unit which fails initial
6.4.3.
testing shall be retested for all the methods which did not meet
6.4.1 Any individual lot sampling unit which fails initial
the acceptable specification values.
testing shall not be included in the lot for resampling.
7.4.2 If the average of both tests for any initially noncon-
6.4.2 Disposition of individual lot sampling units which fail
forming methods confirms that the individual lot sampling unit
initial testing shall be agreed upon by purchaser and seller.
is nonconforming, then the individual lot sampling unit failing
6.4.3 If all lot sampling units fail initial testing, reject the
the acceptable specification value needs to be rejected.
entire lot without further sampling and testing.
7.4.3 Individual lot sampling units before and after the
6.4.4 The resample size shall be at least that determined in
failed individual lot sampling unit or units in the lot will be
6.1.
resampled and retested for all applicable testing methods
(“blocking tests”).
NOTE 4—The larger the number of samples in a resample, the smaller
will be the consumer’s risk of accepting an undesirable product.
7.4.4 Finally, the sequence of nonconforming individual lot
sampling units in the lot shall be bounded/delineated by
6.5 Pass the lot if the average test values for the individual
passing individual lot sampling units (“blocking tests”).
lot sampling unit from the resample meet the acceptable
specification values.
NOTE 7—It should be noted that if any tests on the individual
components of the geocomposite are nonconforming, availability of those
6.6 Fail the lot if the average test values for any individual
individual comp
...