FGI Online Welding Basics | Part 4: Importance of Seam Testing

Welcome to Part 4 of our Online Welding Basics for Geomembranes course, the final session in this series, presented by Gus Fauci from DemTech, Eddie Weiser from Leister Technologies, and Dr. Timothy Stark from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this video session, we focus on the crucial topic of seam testing, the ultimate verification that your welds will perform as intended. You'll learn about both non-destructive testing methods (air lance, vacuum box, air channel, and spark testing) and destructive testing protocols including peel and shear strength analysis. Our presenters will demonstrate proper testing frequencies for factory and field conditions, show you what to do when tests fail, and explain the patching procedures that can save a project. This session emphasizes that testing is not just a regulatory requirement but the essential final step in ensuring your geomembrane system achieves its ultimate goal: a leak-proof barrier that performs reliably for decades.
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Our team

Meet your instructors

Eddie Weiser
Eddie Weiser is an expert in the field of geomembrane welding and is frequently asked to consult with industry professionals and academics in such matters, including the analysis of welding defects. Eddie has been working at Leister Technologies AG since 2013 and has been heavily involved with the development and launch of several geomembrane welding machines. This work has taken Eddie all over the world where valuable insights and knowledge has been exchanged in all aspects of geomembrane welding.
Gus Fauci
Gus Fauci has over 29 years of welding, testing and training experience in the geosynthetic industry. He has more than 10 million square feet of installation experience including geomembranes, geotextiles, and geocomposite. Gus provides testing and technical support with numerous types of materials, such as establishing welding specifications for material manufacturers. Gus has conducted advanced training workshops for thousands of technicians and CQA personnel and proctored hundreds of Certified Welding Technician Certifications for the liner industry.
Dr. Timothy D. Stark
Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering. He is the Technical Director of the FGI, which is an industry sponsored research organization investigating the advantage and disadvantages of geomembranes for containment and seepage applications. His research interests include the performance of geomembranes and stability of geosynthetic lined slopes.

Course Structure

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