Leakage through Holes in Geomembranes below Saturated Tailings
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Volume 143, Issue 2
Abstract
Experiments conducted to quantify potential leakage from holes in two geomembranes [1-mm-thick linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and 2-mm-thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE)] placed on a silty-sand [underliner hydraulic conductivity (), ], or pea gravel () underliner (foundation/subgrade) and covered with saturated fine tailings at 65% initial solids content are discussed [tailings hydraulic conductivity (), ]. Tests results show that the overlying tailings, with a , filled the geomembrane hole and had a larger effect on flow through the hole than the underliners examined. For the tested conditions, leakage through 10 and 20-mm-diameter holes were essentially the same whereas the leakage through a 1.5-mm-diameter hole was three orders of magnitude lower. Introduction of a nonwoven needle-punched geotextile (GTX) layer between the geomembrane and tailings increased the flow by approximately 60%. A gap below geomembrane hole attributable to a stone on the underliner filled with tailings, which flowed through the hole. The evidence of fines migration through the hole, from the tailings to the underliner is discussed.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through a Collaborative Research and Development Grant in partnership with Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd. The apparatus was developed with funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Government.
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© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Mar 31, 2016
Accepted: Jun 28, 2016
Published online: Aug 26, 2016
Discussion open until: Jan 26, 2017
Published in print: Feb 1, 2017
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