Effect of Acidic Mine Drainage on the Mechanical and Hydraulic Properties of Three Geosynthetics
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 8
Abstract
This paper describes a study of the physical effects of exposing three geosynthetics commonly used in waste containment systems (a geomembrane, geotextile, and drainage geocomposite) to a synthetic acidic mine drainage (AMD) from metallic mine wastes in an environment with limited access to oxygen and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The geosynthetic materials were immersed in tanks containing synthetic AMD, acidic water, and de-ionized water at 20, 40, or 60°C. Specimens were periodically removed from the tanks over a 22 month period and tested to determine their mechanical (tensile strength, puncture strength, and trapezoidal tear strength) and hydraulic properties (transmissivity and permittivity). Results of the tests were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression to determine if statistically significant changes in the mechanical or hydraulic properties occurred during exposure. Both ANOVA and linear regression showed that none of the mechanical or hydraulic properties exhibited statistically significant changes, regardless of the immersion liquid, immersion temperature, or duration. These findings are consistent with those of other studies conducted with synthetic and actual AMD where exposure to oxygen and UV radiation was minimal.
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Acknowledgments
This study was sponsored by the State of Wisconsin’s Groundwater Research Advisory Council, which is administered through the Water Resources Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. GSE and Synthetic Industries donated the geosynthetic materials used in this study. Marc Fredrickson and Bert Trzebiatowski are acknowledged for their assistance during the study.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 8 • August 2005
Pages: 937 - 950
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 27, 2004
Accepted: Jan 4, 2005
Published online: Aug 1, 2005
Published in print: Aug 2005
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