Material Comparison for Pumped-Storage Hydropower Stations: Smooth‑Surface Geomembrane vs. Nitrogen‑Enhanced Rough‑Surface Geomembrane—The Difference in Friction Performance Is Immediately Apparent
Release date:
2026-05-30
Pumped-storage hydropower stations serve as the core energy storage component of China’s new-type power system, Structural Stability of the Impermeable Barrier System It directly affects engineering safety and long-term, reliable operation. Geomembranes are the core, critical materials of the seepage-control system, and… Direct shear friction coefficient at the interface between geomembrane and geotextile ， It is also a core technical indicator for evaluating the anti‑sliding performance of the impermeable layer and the overall structural stability.
To scientifically select seepage-control materials that meet the stringent operating conditions of pumped-storage hydropower, Haoyang Environment, drawing on nationally recognized authoritative testing data, has conducted… For pumped-storage power stations only Sprayed rough geotextile membrane and Nitrogen-inflated textured geomembrane A specialized comparative performance study on direct shear friction coefficients was conducted, with field measurements confirming the superior mechanical properties of the dedicated rough-surfaced geomembrane, thereby providing a professional reference for seepage‑control material selection in pumped‑storage projects.
Authoritative benchmark testing ensures greater data comparability.
The entire comparative testing process was conducted by National Chemical Building Materials Testing Center Professional execution, The testing standard uniformly adopts the international standard ASTM D5321/D5321M-21. The tests are consistently conducted using polyester filament. Nonwoven geotextile Interface direct shear friction tests were conducted, with normal stress levels set at 100 kPa, 150 kPa, and 200 kPa. The test environment, operational procedures, and testing equipment were kept identical throughout, with rigorous control of all variables. The resulting data are authoritative, reliable, and highly informative.
Core data from actual measurements reveal a significant gap in friction performance.
Spray‑on textured geomembrane for pumped-storage power stations
Lateral direct shear friction coefficient: 0.485
Vertical direct shear friction coefficient: 0.455
Composite mean of longitudinal and lateral directions: approximately 0.470
Nitrogen-inflated textured geomembrane
Lateral direct shear friction coefficient: 0.397
Vertical direct shear friction coefficient: 0.369
Composite mean of longitudinal and lateral directions: approximately 0.383
Specialized rough-surfaced geomembrane for pumped-storage hydropower stations, compared with nitrogen‑inflated rough-surfaced geomembrane. Lateral friction coefficient increased by 22.2% ， Longitudinal friction coefficient improved by 23.3% ， The overall interfacial friction performance has improved significantly.
High coefficient of friction, suitable for the complex and demanding operating conditions of pumped-storage power stations.
Pumped-storage hydropower stations are subjected year-round to extreme operating conditions, including high head, frequent water-level fluctuations, and substantial shear stresses in the soil. If the interfacial friction between the geomembrane and geotextile is insufficient, slippage and misalignment of the impermeable liner can readily occur, leading to structural load imbalance and posing a significant safety hazard.
The specialized sprayed‑rough geotextile membrane used at the Haoyang Pumped‑Storage Power Station, with its higher interfacial friction coefficient, highlights two key advantages:
1. Anti-sliding stability The enhanced interface bonding significantly improves compactness, effectively resisting shear forces induced by reservoir water pressure and soil displacement, thereby eliminating at the source safety risks such as seepage‑control layer slippage and structural instability.
2. Superior long-term durability: The specially formulated rough-surfaced concrete, produced using a dedicated spraying process, exhibits a uniform and dense texture, with minimal degradation of friction performance over extended service life. It remains unaffected by fluctuations in water level, temperature, or soil conditions, significantly reducing subsequent operation, maintenance, and repair costs and ensuring the power station’s sustained safe operation.
Cutting-edge craftsmanship empowers the industry, with one-step rough-spray technology leading the way.
Nitrogen‑enhanced compaction is a conventional, standard compaction technique that can only meet the basic requirements of typical seepage‑control projects and falls short of the stringent standards required for pumped‑storage hydropower facilities.
HaoYang Environment, leveraging its proprietary, world‑first one‑step double‑sided roughening technology, has developed a specialized roughened geomembrane tailored for pumped‑storage applications.
1. The substrate is produced using an ultra-wide, five-layer co-extrusion blow-molding line, and a textured layer is applied simultaneously to both sides in-line while the substrate is still partially cooled, achieving molecular-level bonding between the textured layer and the film substrate.
2. This solution comprehensively addresses longstanding industry challenges, including the low friction coefficient of conventional textured geomembranes, the tendency of the textured surface to delaminate, poor stability during slope installation, and low production efficiency. It significantly enhances interfacial bonding strength and peel resistance, thereby substantially improving the overall stability of slope and reservoir‑basin impermeability systems.
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