ASTM_D_5601_-_94.pdf

Designation:D 5601 94Standard Test Method forTearing Resistance of Roofing and Waterproofing Materialsand Membranes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5601;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method measures the tearing resistance ofroofing or waterproofing sheet materials or membranes by thetongue(single rip)method using a constant-rate-of-extension(CRE)tensile testing machine.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas the standard.The values given in parentheses are forinformation only.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Summary of Test Method2.1 A rectangular specimen,cut in the center of the shorteredge to form two“tongues”(or“tails”),is gripped in theclamps of a recording tensile machine and pulled to tear thespecimen.The peak tearing force is read from the chart,and theaverage tearing force is calculated from the area under thecurve on the autographic chart.3.Significance and Use3.1 This test method is designed to aid those interested inthe engineering properties of roofing and waterproofing sheetmaterials and membranes.3.2 This test method enables a researcher to measure therelative tearing resistance of roofing and waterproofing sheetmaterials and membranes under standard conditions in thelaboratory.3.3 The data obtained from this test method will not permitprediction of the service life of a membrane.Tear resistance isimportant during application,and changes in tear resistance arebelieved to be linked to the performance of roofing andwaterproofing membranes,but the actual link between test dataand performance is unknown and is dependent on the materialsand exposure.4.Apparatus4.1 Recording Tensile Testing Machine,of the CRE type.4.2 Clamps,having all jaw surfaces parallel,flat,andcapable of preventing slipping of the specimen during the test;and measuring at least 1 by 3 in.(25 by 75 mm),with thelonger dimension perpendicular to the direction of applicationof the load.4.3 Integrator,Planimeter,or Computer Equipment,formeasuring the area under the force-tear distance curve.5.Sampling5.1 This test method requires a total of approximately 240in.2(0.16 m2)per sample of material or membrane cut from thefield of the sheet.5.2 Cut five 3 by 8-in.(76 by 203-mm)specimens in themachine direction(the length)and five 3 by 8-in.(76 by203-mm)specimens in the cross machine direction(width)ofeach sample.Cut all specimen edges.Cut a 312in.(89-mm)slitlengthwise in each specimen,so that the slit is centered.6.Procedure6.1 Condition the specimens to equilibrium at 73.4 6 3.6F(23 6 2C)and 50 6 5%relative humidity.Other additionaltemperatures or relative humidities may be used.6.2 Set the distance between the jaws at 3 in.(76 mm),anduse a crosshead speed of 2 6 0.1 in./min(51 6 2.5 mm/min).6.3 Place the specimens in the clamps so that the split iscentered in the jaw and one of the tongues is held in each clampin such a manner that the originally adjacent cut edges of thetongues form a straight line joining the centers of the clampsand the two tongues present opposite faces to the operator(seeFig.1).6.4 Set the crosshead in motion,and start the stopwatchwhen the specimen begins to tear.6.5 Discontinue the test after 2 6 0.5 min.7.Report7.1 Report the complete specimen identification,condition-ing temperature,and relative humidity and the peak tearresistance for each specimen.7.2 Calculate the average tear resistance for the last 1 in.(25mm)of tear by surveying the area under the tear curve(load 3 displacement)by the tear length(displacement)to thenearest lbf(0.02 N).7.3 Report whether the tear is a linear extension or runs offthe line of the initial cut.Compute and report the average tear1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D-8 on Roofing,Waterproofing,and Bituminous Materials and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D08.20 on Roofing Membrane Systems.Current edition approved Sept.15,1994.Published November 1994.1AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS100 Barr Harbor Dr.,West Conshohocken,PA 19428Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards.Copyright ASTMresistance to the nearest 0.1 lbf/in.(0.02 kN/m)by measuringthe area under the curve for the last inch torn and record foreach specimen.8.Precision and Bias8.1 Precision:8.1.1 RepeatabilityDuplicate values by the same operatorshall not be considered suspect unless they differ by more than6.6 lbf/in.(1.2 kN/m).8.1.2 ReproducibilityThe values reported by each of twolaboratories,re