Effect of Geomembrane Texturing on GCL – Geomembrane Interface Shear Strength

This study investigates the impact of geomembrane texturing on the peak and large-displacement shear strength of the GCL GM interface using a significant commercial database of large-scale direct shear test results. Texturing procedures used by different GM manufacturers were found not to influence GCL-GM interface shear strength. GM texturing, quantified by asperity heights, was found to be highly variable. GM texturing was generally found to improve both the peak and large-displacement shear strength of GCL-GM interfaces. The existence of an optimum asperity height beyond which there is a decrease in large-displacement shear strength was evaluated. The available data indicates that, at least for unhydrated GCL-GM interfaces, an optimum asperity height can be identified.