Variability of Fiber Reinforcement, Peel Strength, and Internal Shear Strength in Needle-Punched GCLs
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 3
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate variability in reinforcement fibers, peel strength, and internal shear strength of needle-punched reinforced geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs). A methodology was proposed to characterize the reinforcement fibers via the number of reinforcement fiber bundles per specimen length, number of monofilament fibers per fiber bundle, and fiber diameter. Variability in reinforcement fibers was evaluated for six GCLs using the proposed methodology. Peel strength and internal direct shear tests were performed on a single GCL to assess the effect of reinforcement fiber variability on shear strength. No pattern was observed in the spatial variability of peel strength along the machine or cross-machine directions. However, peak internal shear strength correlated with manufacturer reported peel strength, and this correlation improved when peel strength was computed from specimens located adjacent and in machine direction relative to direct shear specimens.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
Financial support for this study was provided by the Colloid Environmental Technologies Company (CETCO), Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI), and Colorado State University (CSU). The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of CETCO, GRI, or CSU.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 3 • March 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 8, 2020
Accepted: Oct 20, 2020
Published online: Dec 30, 2020
Published in print: Mar 1, 2021
Discussion open until: May 30, 2021
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