Thickness and Hydraulic Performance of Geosynthetic Clay Liners Overlying a Geonet
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 4
Abstract
Experimental results from physical testing are reported to examine the thickness and hydraulic performance of three geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) overlying a geonet when subjected to vertical stresses (e.g., as may be found in a secondary leachate collection layer or hydraulic control layer in solid waste landfills). The GCL was found to intrude into the underlying geonet and the effects of GCL type and water content, temperature, applied pressure, and test duration on the final GCL thickness are examined. The results are consistent with GCL deformation from the beneficial consolidation of bentonite as opposed to lateral extrusion of bentonite. Results from fixed ring flow tests suggest that the indentations in the GCL caused by intrusion into the underlying geonet do not appear to negatively impact the hydraulic performance (permittivity or resistance to internal erosion) of the particular GCLs tested for the conditions examined. The flow capacity of the geonet in these tests was found to depend not only on the amount of GCL intrusion but also on the orientation of the geonet relative to the flow direction.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through a Strategic Project Grant in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc., Solmax International Inc., AECOM, AMEC Earth and Environmental, Golder Associates, CTT Group, and Dr. Grace Hsuan from Drexel University. The experimental infrastructure was developed with funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Research Fund, and the Ontario Innovation Trust. Materials were provided by Solmax and Terrafix and BBA Nonwovens. The assistance of Ms. Valerie Latour with the experiments is appreciated.NSERC
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 4 • April 2010
Pages: 552 - 561
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 21, 2008
Accepted: Sep 5, 2009
Published online: Sep 11, 2009
Published in print: Apr 2010
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