Postconstruction Changes in the Hydraulic Properties of Water Balance Cover Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 4
Abstract
Hydraulic properties of soils used for water balance covers measured at the time of construction and one to four years after construction are compared to assess how the hydraulic properties of cover soils change over time as a result of exposure to field conditions. Data are evaluated from ten field sites in the United States that represent a broad range of environmental conditions. The comparison shows that the saturated hydraulic conductivity can increase by a factor of 10,000, saturated volumetric water content by a factor of 2.0, van Genuchten’s parameter by a factor of 100, and van Genuchten’s parameter can decrease by a factor of 1.4. Larger changes occur for denser or more plastic fine-textured soils that have lower as-built , , and and higher as-built , resulting in a reduction in the variation in hydraulic properties that can be attributed to compaction. After two to four years, many water balance cover soils can be assumed to have between and , between 0.36 and 0.40, between 0.002 and , and between 1.2 and 1.5. The data may be used to estimate changes in hydraulic properties for applications such as waste containment, where long-term maintenance of hydraulic properties in shallow engineered soil layers is important.
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Acknowledgments
Support for this study was provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) through the Superfund Innovative Technologies Evaluation (SITE) Program. Mr. Steven Rock was the program manager for USEPA. This manuscript has not undergone USEPA peer review and the findings and conclusions that are presented are solely those of the writers. Endorsement by USEPA is not implied and should not be assumed. Xiaodong Wang, Preecha Apiwantragoon, and Ho Young Jo conducted the saturated hydraulic conductivity tests in this study. Tayfun Gurdal conducted many of the SWCC tests on specimens collected during construction.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 4 • April 2007
Pages: 349 - 359
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 5, 2006
Accepted: Oct 16, 2006
Published online: Apr 1, 2007
Published in print: Apr 2007
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