Interface Shear Damage to a HDPE Geomembrane. I: Gravelly Compacted Clay Liner
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 8
Abstract
An experimental program of large-scale direct shear tests has indicated that shear displacement of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (GM) over a gravelly compacted clay liner (CCL) under moderate to high normal stress conditions can cause much greater damage to the geomembrane than static pressure alone. Essentially, no damage was observed at low normal stress. The greatest geomembrane damage occurred at high normal stress (1,658 kPa) and yielded an average of , with a maximum hole size of 23 mm. Size, angularity, and hardness of the gravel particles are also important factors with regard to potential damage. Geomembrane damage was greatly reduced when a needle-punched geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) was placed between the geomembrane and gravelly CCL, including one test conducted at very high normal stress (4,145 kPa). The findings suggest that gravelly soils should be viewed with caution for the construction of GM/CCL composite liners for landfill bottom liner systems and other moderate- to high-stress applications. If there is a reasonable expectation for GM/CCL interface shear displacement, project-specific direct shear tests should be conducted to determine the potential for shear-induced geomembrane damage. Recommendations are provided for the performance of such tests and for design options when damage mitigation is necessary.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support for this investigation was provided by Grant No. CMMI-0800030 from the Geotechnical Engineering Program of the U.S. National Science Foundation and by a grant from CETCO of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Geomembrane materials were provided by GSE, and GCL materials were provided by CETCO. Clay soil was obtained through the assistance of Dr. Neven Matasovic of Geosyntec Consultants, Huntington Beach, California. This support and assistance is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank Dr. Craig H. Benson, Wisconsin Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for helpful information with regard to typical gradation requirements for compacted clay liners, and both Neven and Craig for their views on the limitations of current direct shear testing practice for geomembranes over gravelly CCLs.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 8 • August 2014
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 16, 2012
Accepted: Mar 15, 2014
Published online: Apr 28, 2014
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Sep 28, 2014
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