Water-Retention Behavior of Geosynthetic Clay Liners
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 11
Abstract
The hydration and subsequent hydraulic performance of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) depend on the water-retention curve (WRC) of the GCL. Because of the inherent difficulty in obtaining the WRC for these materials, limited data exists regarding the WRCs of GCLs in the literature. In this study, high-capacity tensiometers and capacitance relative humidity sensors were used to quantify the water-retention behavior of GCLs for four different GCL products that vary both in materials (woven and nonwoven geotextiles) and in fabrication detail (thermal treatment and needle-punching). The water-retention behavior was investigated under wetting and drying paths; we present results in terms of gravimetric and volumetric moisture content and bulk GCL void ratio. The WRCs of the different GCL products showed significant variation among wetting and drying curves, indicating that both needle-punching and thermal treatment have a significant effect on the swelling behavior of the GCL and its WRC. Theoretical equations were fit to the experimental data, establishing the parameters that can be used for numerical modeling of these four GCL products.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaNSERC (NSERC), the Ontario Centres of Excellence, and Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc. The authors are grateful to their industrial partners, Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc., Solmax International, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, AECOM, AMEC Earth & Environmental Inc., Golder Associates Ltd., and CTT Group. The funding for the equipment used, which was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, and NSERCNSERC, is also gratefully acknowledged.
References
Andrejkovicova, S., Rochab, F., Janotkac, I., and Komadela, P. (2008). “An investigation into the use of blends of two bentonites for geosynthetic clay liners.” Geotext. Geomembr., 26(5), 436–445
Barroso, M., Touze-Foltz, N., and Saidi, F. K. (2006). “Validation of the use of filter paper suction measurements for the determination of GCL water retention curves.” Proc., 8th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, Int. Geosynthetics Society, Yokohama, Japan, 171–174
Beddoe, R. A., Take, W. A., and Rowe, R. K. (2010). “Development of suction measurement techniques to quantify the water retention behaviour of GCLs.” Geosynth. Int., 17(5), 301–312
Benson, C. H., Kucukkirca, I. E., and Scalia, J. (2010a). “Properties of geosynthetics exhumed from a final cover at a solid waste landfill.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(6), 536–546
Benson, C. H., Ören, A. H., and Gates, W. P. (2010b). “Hydraulic conductivity of two geosynthetic clay liners permeated with a hyperalkaline solution.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(2), 206–218
Bostwick, L. E. (2009). “Laboratory study of geosynthetic clay liner shrinkage when subjected to wet/dry cycles.” M.Sc. thesis, Queen’s Univ., Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Bostwick, L. E., Rowe, R. K., Take, W. A., and Brachman, R. W. I. (2010). “Anisotropy and directional shrinkage of geosynthetic clay liners.” Geosynth. Int., 17(3), 157–170
Bouazza, A., Vangpaisal, T., Abuel-Naga, H., and Kodikara, J. (2008). “Analytical modelling of gas leakage rate through a geosynthetic clay liner—geomembrane composite liner due to a circular defect in the geomembrane.” Geotext. Geomembr., 26(2), 122–129
Brachman, R. W. I., and Gudina, S. (2008). “Geomembrane strains from coarse gravel and wrinkles in a composite liner.” Geotext. Geomembr., 26(6), 488–497
Brachman, R. W. I., et al. (2007). “Queen’s composite geosynthetic liner experimental site.” Proc., 60th Canadian Geotechnical Conf., Canadian Geotechnical Society, Ottawa, Canada, 2135–2142
Brooks, R. H., and Corey, A. T. (1964). “Hydraulic properties of porous media.” Hydrol. Papers (Colorado State Univ.), 3(3), 22–27
Daniel, D. E., Shan, H.-Y., and Anderson, J. D. (1993). “Effects of partial wetting on the performance of the bentonite component of a geosynthetic clay liner.” Proc., Geosynthetics ’93, Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1483–1496
Dickinson, S., and Brachman, R. W. I. (2010). “Permeability and internal erosion of a GCL beneath coarse gravel.” Geosynth. Int., 17(3), 112–123
Fredlund, D. G., and Xing, A. (1994). “Equations for the soil—water characteristic curve.” Can. Geotech. J., 31(4), 533–546
Gassner, F. (2009). “Field observation of GCL shrinkage at a site in Melbourne Australia.” Geotext. Geomembr., 27(5), 406–408
Gates, W. P., and Bouazza, A. (2010). “Bentonite transformations in strongly alkaline solutions.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(2), 219–225
Guyonnet, D., et al. (2009). “Performance-based indicators for controlling geosynthetic clay liners in landfill applications.” Geotext. Geomembr., 27(5), 321–331
Hornsey, W. P., Scheirs, J., Gates, W. P., and Bouazza, A. (2010). “The impact of mining solutions/liquors on geosynthetics.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(2), 191–198
Japanese Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC). (2000). “H12: Project to establish the scientific and technical basis for HLW disposal in Japan.” Supporting Rep. 2: Repository design and engineering technology, JNC TN1410, Ibaraki, Japan, 2000–2001
Katsumi, T., Ishimori, H., Onikata, M., and Fukagawa, R. (2008). “Long-term barrier performance of modified bentonite materials against sodium and calcium permeant solutions.” Geotext. Geomembr., 26(1), 14–30
Koerner, R. M., and Koerner, G. R. (2005). “In-situ separation of GCL panels beneath exposed geomembranes.” GRI White Paper No. 5, Geosynthetic Institute, Folsom, PA, 34–39
Lake, C. B., and Rowe, R. K. (2000a). “Diffusion of sodium and chloride through geosynthetic clay liners.” Geotext. Geomembr., 18(2–4), 103–131
Lake, C. B., and Rowe, R. K. (2000b). “Swelling characteristics of needlepunched, thermally treated geosynthetic clay liners.” Geotext. Geomembr., 18(2), 77–101
Lange, K., Rowe, R. K., and Jamieson, H. (2010). “The potential role of geosynthetic clay liners in mine water treatment systems.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(2), 199–205
Lloret, A., and Alonso, E. E. (1985). “State surface for partially saturated soils.” Proc., 11th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ICSMFE), San Francisco, 557–562
Lu, N., and Likos, W. J. (2004). Unsaturated soil mechanics, Wiley, New York
Marcial, D., Delage, P., and Cui, Y. J. (2002). “On the high stress compression of bentonites.” Can. Geotech. J., 39, 812–820
Pelte, T., Pierson, P., and Gourc, J. P. (1994). “Thermal analysis of geomembranes exposed to solar radiation.” Geosynth. Int., 1(1), 21–44
Petrov, R. J., Rowe, R. K., and Quigley, R. M. (1997). “Selected factors influencing GCL hydraulic conductivity.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 123(8), 683–695
Rayhani, M. H. T., Rowe, R. K., Brachman, R. W. I., Siemens, G., and Take, W. A. (2008). “Closed-system investigation of GCL hydration from subsoil.” Proc., 61st Canadian Geotechnical Conf., Canadian Geotechnical Society, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 324–328
Rosin-Paumier, S., et al. (2010). “Swell index, oedopermeametric, filter press and rheometric tests for identifying the qualification of bentonites used in GCLs.” Geosynth. Int., 17(1), 1–11
Rowe, R. K., Bostwick, L. E., and Take, W. A. (2011). “Effect of GCL properties on shrinkage when subjected to wet-dry cycles.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 137(11), 1019–1027
Rowe, R. K., Bostwick, L. E., and Thiel, R. (2010). “Shrinkage characteristics of heat-tacked GCL seams.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(4), 352–359
Rowe, R. K., Mukunoki, T., Bathurst, R. J., Rimal, S., Hurst, P., and Hansen, S. S. (2007). “Performance of a geocomposite liner for containing Jet A-1 spill in an extreme environment.” Geotext. Geomembr., 25(2), 68–77
Rowe, R. K., Quigley, R. M., Brachman, R. W. I., and Booker, J. R. (2004). Barrier systems for waste disposal facilities, Taylor & Francis, London, 587
Shackelford, C. D., Sevick, G. W., and Eykhol, G. R. (2010). “Hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners to tailings impoundment solutions.” Geotext. Geomembr., 28(2), 149–162
Southen, J. M., and Rowe, R. K. (2007). “Evaluation of the water retention curve for geosynthetic clay liners.” Geotext. Geomembr., 25(1), 2–9
Take, W. A., and Bolton, M. D. (2003). “Tensiometer saturation and the reliable measurement of soil suction.” Geotechnique, 53, 159–172
Tang, G. X., Graham, J., Blatz, J., Gray, M., and Rajapakse, R. K. N. D. (2002). “Suctions, stresses and strengths in unsaturated sand-bentonite.” Eng. Geol., 64, 147–156
Thiel, R., Giroud, J. P., Erickson, R., Criley, K., and Bryk, J. (2006). “Laboratory measurements of GCL shrinkage under cyclic changes in temperature and hydration conditions.” Proc., 8th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, Int. Geosynthetics Society, Yokohama, Japan, 21–44
Thiel, R., and Richardson, G. (2005). “Concern for GCL shrinkage when installed on slopes.” Proc., Geo-Frontiers 2005 Conf., Geo-Institute of ASCE/Geosynthetic Materials Association of IFAI Geosynthetic Institute, Austin, TX
van Genuchten, M. T. H. (1980). “A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 44(5), 892–898
Villar, M. V., and Lloret, A. (2004). “Influence of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a compacted bentonite.” Appl. Clay Sci., 26, 337–350
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 11 • November 2011
Pages: 1028 - 1038
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 16, 2009
Accepted: Feb 24, 2011
Published online: Mar 2, 2011
Published in print: Nov 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.