Abstract
Monitoring the conditions of flat roofs in service, together with lab testing of membrane systems, has identified the flexural fatigue resistance as a primary performance index for durability of bituminous membrane systems. Subsequent research into the performance of polymer-modified bituminous materials and of single-ply membranes has shown that their fatigue resistance is extremely high; typically, PVC and EPDM membrane specimens can withstand several millions of cycles of movement at 1 mm amplitute, and fatigue resistance remains relatively high even after exposure to severe aging regimes in the lab. Recent work has shown that measurements of the fatigue resistance of these high-performance membranes, when performed at sub-zero temperatures, can reveal significant changes in the materials resulting from lab aging and from exposure to weather in severe climates. This work is reviewed, together with research on the fatigue endurance of built-up bituminous roof membrane systems, and the implications for the reliable prediction of the potential service life of membrane roof systems are discussed.
Monitoring the conditions of flat roofs in service, together with lab testing of membrane systems, has identified the flexural fatigue resistance as a primary performance index for durability of bituminous membrane systems. Subsequent research into the performance of polymer-modified bituminous materials and of single-ply membranes has shown that their fatigue resistance is extremely high; typically, PVC and EPDM membrane specimens can withstand several millions of cycles of movement at 1 mm amplitute, and fatigue resistance remains relatively high even after exposure to severe aging regimes in the lab. Recent work has shown that measurements of the fatigue resistance of these high-performance membranes, when performed at sub-zero temperatures, can reveal significant changes in the materials resulting from lab aging and from exposure to weather in severe climates. This work is reviewed, together with research on the fatigue endurance of built-up bituminous roof membrane systems, and the implications for the reliable prediction of the potential service life of membrane roof systems are discussed.
Date
9/1991
9/1991
Author(s)
John Beech
John Beech
Page(s)
227-233
227-233
Keyword(s)
accelerated weathering; bituminous membranes; polymeric membrane; durability assessment; natural weathering; flexural fatigue
accelerated weathering; bituminous membranes; polymeric membrane; durability assessment; natural weathering; flexural fatigue