Potential for Desiccation of Geosynthetic Clay Liners Used in Barrier Systems
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 10
Abstract
The potential for the desiccation of a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) forming part of a single composite landfill liner is evaluated. A thermohydromechanical model is used to identify conditions likely to cause desiccation. Simulations for typical landfill conditions show that the potential risk of desiccation exists even at relatively low temperatures (i.e., 35°C). It is found that the water content of the GCL prior to waste placement, the liner temperature, the overburden stress, the grain size and water content of the subsoil, and the depth to aquifer all affect the potential for desiccation. The results suggest that the placement of GCLs directly over coarse-grained soils or drainage layers should be evaluated carefully. This study highlights the need for more research into the potential for GCL desiccation and, in particular, the need to establish water retention curves for different GCLs over a range of stresses and degrees of hydration before heating, so that the effect of stress and hysteresis on the potential for desiccation can be examined. The findings of this study are limited by the approximations and assumptions described in the paper and, even then, apply only to the GCL and conditions examined. Changing the assumptions may change the findings. The findings should not be generalized to other composite liners without independent verification. The results serve to identify some of the situations that may lead to GCL desiccation, and it is hoped that they will prompt more research on this important topic.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research presented in this paper was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) using equipment funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. The writers are grateful to their industrial partners, Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc., Solmax International, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, AECOM, AMEC Earth and Environmental, Golder Associates Ltd., the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Knight Piesold, and the CTT group for their support and input; however, the views expressed herein are those of the writers and not necessarily those of our partners. The authors gratefully acknowledge the value of discussions with and input from Ms. A. Verge.
References
Alonso, E. E., Battle, F., Gens, A., and Lloret, A. (1988). “Consolidation analysis of partially saturated soils – application to earth dam construction.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, Balkema, Leiden, Netherlands, 1303–1308.
Ayad, R., Konrad, R. M., and Soulié, M. (1997). “Desiccation of a sensitive clay: Application of the model CRACK.” Can. Geotech. J., 34(6), 943–951.
Azad, F., El-Zein, A., Rowe, R. K., and Airey, D. (2012). “Modelling of thermally induced desiccation of geosynthetic clay liners in double composite liner systems.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 34, 28–38.
Azad, F., Rowe, R. K., El-Zein, A., and Airey, D. (2011). “Laboratory investigation of thermally induced desiccation of GCLs in double composite liner systems.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 29(6), 534–543.
Beddoe, R. A., Take, W. A., and Rowe, R. K. (2011). “Water retention behavior of geosynthetic clay liners.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 137(11), 1028–1038.
Benson, C., Thorstad, P. A., Jo, H. Y., and Rock, S. A. (2007). “Hydraulic performance of geosynthetic clay liners in a landfill final cover.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 133(7), 814–827.
Benson, C., Wang, X., Gassner, F., and Foo, D. (2008). “Hydraulic conductivity of two geosynthetic clay liners permeated with an aluminum residue leachate. ” Proc., GeoAmericas 2008, Industrial Fabrics Association International, Roseville, MN.
Benson, C. H., Jo, H. Y., and Abichou, T. (2004). “Forensic analysis of excessive leakage from lagoons lined with a composite GCL. ” Geosynth. Int., 11(3), 242–252.
Benson, C. H., Oren, A. H., and Gates, W. P. (2010). “Hydraulic conductivity of two geosynthetic clay liners permeated with a hyperalkaline solution.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 28(2), 206–218.
Boardman, B. T., and Daniel, D. E. (1996). “Hydraulic conductivity of desiccated geosynthetic liners.” J. Geotech. Eng., 121(1), 69–79.
Buenfil, C., Romero, E., Lloret, A., and Gens, A. (2004). “Hydro-mechanical behaviour of a clayey silt under isotropic compression.” Proc., Int. Conf. from Experimental Evidence Towards Numerical Modeling of Unsaturated Soils. Unsaturated Soils: Experimental Studies, Springer, Weimar, Germany, 331–342.
Calder, G. V., and Stark, T. D. (2010). “Aluminum reactions and problems in municipal solid waste landfills.” Pract. Period. Hazard. Toxic Radioact. Waste Manage., 14(4), 258–265.
Cooley, B., and Daniel, D. (1995). “Seam performance of overlapped geosynthetic clay liners. ” Proc., Geosynthetics ′95, Industrial Fabrics Association International, Roseville, MN, 691–705.
Dickinson, S., and Brachman, R. W. I. (2010). “Permeability and internal erosion of a GCL beneath coarse gravel.” Geosynth. Int., 17(3), 112–123.
Döll, P. (1997). “Desiccation of mineral liners below landfills with heat generation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 123(11), 1001–1009.
Estornell, P., and Daniel, D. (1992). “Hydraulic conductivity of three geosynthetic clay liners.” J. Geotech. Engrg., 118(10), 1592–1606.
Fredlund, D. G., and Morgenstern, N. R. (1976). “Constitutive relations for volume change in unsaturated soils.” Can. Geotech. J., 13(3), 261–276.
Hallett, P. D., and Newson, T. A. (2005). “Describing soil crack formation using elastic-plastic fracture mechanics.” Eur. J. Soil Sci., 56(1), 31–38.
Hoor, A. (2011). “Effects of temperature on the service-life of landfill liners and potential temperature control strategies.” Ph.D. thesis, Queen's Univ., Kingston, ON, Canada.
Hoor, A., and Rowe, R. K. (2011). “Application of thermal insulation in landfill liners.” Proc., Geo-Frontiers 2011 (CD-ROM), ASCE, Reston, VA.
Hoor, A., Rowe, R. K., and Pollard, A. (2008). “A method for reducing the temperature of landfill liners in MSW landfills.” Proc., Global Waste Management Symp. (CD-ROM), NSWMA, Washington, DC.
Jo, H. Y., Benson, C. H., Shackelford, C. D., Lee, J., and Edil, T. B. (2005). “Long-term hydraulic conductivity of a geosynthetic clay liner permeated with inorganic salt solutions.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(4), 405–417.
Katsumi, T., Ishimori, H., Onikata, M., and Fukagawa, R. (2008). “Long-term barrier performance of modified bentonite materials against sodium and calcium permeant solutions.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 26(1), 14–30.
Koerner, R. M., and Koerner, G. R. (2005). “In-situ separation of GCL panels beneath exposed geomembranes.” GRI White Paper No. 5, Geosynthetic Institute, Folsom, PA.
Konrad, J. M., and Ayad, R. (1997a). “An idealized framework for the analysis of cohesive soils undergoing desiccation.” Can. Geotech. J., 34(4), 477–488.
Konrad, J. M., and Ayad, R. (1997b). “Desiccation of a sensitive clay: field experimental observations.” Can. Geotech. J., 34(6), 929–942.
Lake, C. B., and Rowe, R. K. (2000). “Swelling characteristics of needlepunched, thermally treated GCLs.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 18(2–4), 77–102.
Lin, L., and Benson, C. (2000). “Effect of wet-dry cycling on swelling and hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 126(1), 40–49.
Lins, Y., and Schanz, T. (2004). “Determination of hydro-mechanical properties of sand.” Proc., Int. Conf. from Experimental Evidence Towards Numerical Modeling of Unsaturated Soils. Unsaturated Soils: Experimental Studies, Springer, Weimar, Germany, 15–31.
Lloret, A., and Alonso, E. E. (1985). “State surface for partially saturated soil.” Proc., 11th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, London, 557–562.
Meer, S., and Benson, C. (2004). “In-service hydraulic conductivity of GCLs in landfill covers: Laboratory and field studies.” Rep. No. EPA/600/R-05/148, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
Meer, S. R., and Benson, C. (2007). “Hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liner exhumed from landfill final cover.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 133(5), 550–563.
Milly, P. C. D. (1984). “A simulation analysis of thermal effects on evaporation from soil.” Water Resour. Res., 20(8), 1087–1098.
Ministry of Environment. (1998). “Landfill standards: A guideline on the regulatory and approval requirements for the new or expanding landfill sites.” Ontario Regulation 232.98, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Morris, P. H., Graham, J., and Williams, D. J. (1992). “Cracking in drying soils.” Can. Geotech. J., 29(2), 263–277.
Philip, J. R., and de Vries, D. A. (1957). “Moisture movement in porous materials under temperature gradients.” Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 38, 222–232.
Peron, H. H., Hueckel, T. T., Laloui, L. L., and Hu, L. B. (2009). “Fundamentals of desiccation cracking of fine-grained soils: experimental characterisation and mechanisms identification.” Can. Geotech. J., 46(10), 1177–1201.
Petrov, R. J., Rowe, R. K., and Quigley, R. M. (1997). “Selected factors influencing GCL hydraulic conductivity.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 123(8), 683–695.
Rauen, T. L., and Benson, C. H. (2008). “Hydraulic conductivity of a geosynthteic clay liner permeated with leachate from a landfill with leachate recirculation.” Proc., GeoAmericas, Industrial Fabrics Association International Publishers, Roseville, MN, 76–83.
Rowe, R. K. (1998). “Geosynthetics and the minimization of contaminant migration through barrier systems beneath solid waste.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, Industrial Fabrics Association International Publishers, Roseville, MN, 27–103.
Rowe, R. K. (2005). “Long-term performance of contaminant barrier systems. 45th Rankine Lecture.” Geotechnique, 55(9), 631–678.
Rowe, R. K. (2012). “Short and long-term leakage through composite liners. 7th Arthur Casagrande Lecture.” Can. Geotech. J., 49(2), 141–169.
Rowe, R. K., and Abdelatty, K. (2012). “Effect of a calcium-rich soil on the performance of an overlying GCL.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 138(4), 423–431.
Rowe, R. K., Bostwick, L. E., and Thiel, R. (2010a). “Shrinkage characteristics of heat-tacked GCL seams.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 28(4), 352–359.
Rowe, R. K., and Hoor, A. (2009). “Predicted temperatures and service-lives of secondary geomembrane landfill liners.” Geosynth. Int., 16(2), 71–82.
Rowe, R. K., Hoor, A., and Pollard, A. (2010b). “Examination of a method for reducing the temperature of MSW landfill liners.” J. Environ. Eng., 136(8), 794–803.
Rowe, R. K., and Islam, M. Z. (2009). “Impact on landfill liner time–temperature history on the service life of HDPE geomembranes.” Waste Manag., 29(10), 2689–2699.
Rowe, R. K., Quigley, R. M., Brachman, R. W. I., and Booker, J. R. (2004). “Barrier systems for waste disposal facilities.” Taylor and Francis, E & FN Spon, London.
Ruhl, J. L., and Daniel, D. E. (1997). “Geosynthetic clay liners permeated with chemical solutions and leachates.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 123(4), 369–380.
Scalia, J., and Benson, C. H. (2010). “Preferential flow in geosynthetic clay liners exhumed from final covers with composite barriers.” Can. Geotech. J., 47(10), 1101–1111.
Scalia, J., and Benson, C. H. (2011). “Hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners exhumed from landfill final covers with composite barriers.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 137(1), 1–13.
Scanlon, B. R., and Milly, P. C. D. (1994). “Water and heat fluxes in desert soils. 2. Numerical simulations.” Water Resour. Res., 30(3), 721–733.
Southen, J. M. (2005). “Thermally driven moisture movement within and beneath geosynthetic clay liners.” PhD thesis, Univ. Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Southen, J. M., and Rowe, R. K. (2004). “Investigation of the behavior of geosynthetic clay liners subjected to thermal gradients in basal liner applications.” J.A.I., 1(2).
Southen, J. M., and Rowe, R. K. (2005a). “Laboratory investigation of geosynthetic clay liner desiccation in a composite liner subjected to thermal gradients.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(7), 925–935.
Southen, J. M., and Rowe, R. K. (2005b). “Modeling of thermally induced desiccation of geosynthetic clay liners.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 23(5), 425–442.
Southen, J. M., and Rowe, R. K. (2007). “Evaluation of the water retention curve for geosynthetic clay liners.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 25(1), 2–9.
Stark, T. D. (1998). “Bentonite migration in geosynthetic clay liners.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, Industrial Fabrics Association International Publishers, Roseville, MN, 315–320.
Tang, A. M., and Cui, Y. J. (2009). “Modeling the thermomechanical volume change behavior of compacted expansive clays.” Geotechnique, 59(3), 185–195.
Thiel, R., Giroud, J. P., Erickson, R., Criley, K., and Bryk, J. (2006). “Laboratory measurements of GCL shrinkage under cyclic changes in temperature and hydration conditions.” Proc., 8th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, Industrial Fabrics Association International Publishers, Roseville, MN, 1, 21–44.
Thomas, H. R., He, Y., Sansom, M. R., and Li, C. L. W. (1996). “On the development of a model of the thermo-mechanical-hydraulic behaviour of unsaturated soils.” Eng. Geol., 41(1–4), 197–218.
Thusyanthan, N. I., Take, W. A., Madabhushi, S. P. G., and Bolton, M. D. (2007). “Crack initiation in clay observed in beam bending.” Geotechnique, 57(7), 581–594.
Zhou, Y., and Rowe, R. K. (2003). “Development of a technique for modeling clay liner desiccation.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 27(6), 473–493.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 10 • October 2013
Pages: 1648 - 1664
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 30, 2011
Accepted: Jan 23, 2013
Published online: Jan 25, 2013
Published in print: Oct 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.