Magnitude and significance of tensile strains in geomembrane landfill liners

The implications of the tensile stress/strain developed in high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes (GMB) is explored in the context of a reduction in stress crack resistance due to ageing in contact with leachate in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. The experimental evidence of GMB cracking and ultimately failure when subject to excessive tensile strains is discussed to highlight the need to limit the maximum tensile strain sustained by an HDPE GMB to an acceptable level if good long-term performance is to be ensured. The effect of both local GMB indentations induced by gravel in an overlying drainage layer or an underlying clay liner on tensile strain is reviewed. In addition, the tensile strains caused by down-drag in the GMB on side slopes with settlement of the waste is examined. The key research related to tensile strains developed in GMBs from these sources is reviewed and new data presented. It is shown that an appropriate protection layer over the GMB can limit local GMB tensile strains to less than 3% and that the selection of a suitable slope inclination and stiffness of a geotextile reinforcement layer can limit the GMB strains due to down-drag to less than 2% and geotextile strains to less than 4% after long-term waste settlement.     

Development of geomembrane strains in waste containment facility liners with waste settlement

The development of tensile strains in geomembrane liners due to loading and waste settlement in waste containment facilities is examined using a numerical model. Two different constitutive models are used to simulate the waste: (a) a modified Cam-Clay model and (b) a Mohr-Coulomb model. The numerical analyses indicate the role of the slope inclination on the maximum geomembrane liner strains for both short-term loading (immediately post closure) and long-term waste settlement. A geosynthetic reinforcement layer over the geomembrane liner is shown to reduce the maximum geomembrane liner strains, but the strain level of the geosynthetic reinforcement itself may become an engineering concern on steeper slopes (i.e., greater than 3H:1V) for cases and conditions examined in this paper. The paper considers some factors (e.g., slope inclination, use of a high stiffness geosynthetic over the geomembrane liner) and notes others (e.g., the designer selection of interface characteristics below and above the geomembrane, use of a slip layer above the geomembrane) that warrant consideration and further investigation to ensure good long-term performance of geomembrane liners in waste containment facilities.     

Numerical study of strain development in high-density polyethylene geomembrane liner system in landfills using a new constitutive model for municipal solid waste

Tensile strain development in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (GMB) liner systems in landfills was numerically investigated. A new constitutive model for municipal solid waste (MSW) that incorporates both mechanical creep and biodegradation was employed in the analyses. The MSW constitutive model is a Cam-Clay type of plasticity model and was implemented in the finite difference computer program FLAC?. The influence of the friction angle of the liner system interfaces, the biodegradation of MSW, and the MSW filling rate on tensile strains were investigated. Several design alternatives to reduce the maximum tensile strain under both short- and long-term waste settlement were evaluated. Results of the analyses indicate that landfill geometry, interface friction angles, and short- and long-term waste settlement are key factors in the development of tensile strains. The results show that long-term waste settlement can induce additional tensile strains after waste placement is complete. Using a HDPE GMB with a friction angle on its upper interface that is lower than the friction angle on the underlying interface, increasing the number of benches, and reducing the slope inclination are shown to mitigate the maximum tensile strain caused by waste placement and waste settlement.     

Development of a numerical model for performance-based design of geosynthetic liner systems

A numerical model for performance-based design of the geosynthetic elements of waste containment systems has been developed. The model offers a rational alternative to the current state of practice for design of geosynthetic containment system elements in which neither the strains nor the forces in liner system elements are explicitly calculated. To explicitly assess the ability of the geosynthetic elements of a containment system to maintain their integrity under both static and seismic loads, a large strain finite difference model of waste-liner system interaction was developed. Modular features within the model allow the user to select the appropriate features required for any particular problem. A beam element with zero moment of inertia and with interface elements on both sides is employed in the model to represent a geosynthetic element in the liner system. This enables explicit calculation of the axial forces and strains within the liner system element. Non-linear constitutive models were developed to represent the stress-strain behavior of geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liner beam elements and the load-displacement behavior of the beam interfaces. The use of the various features on the model is illustrated using available experimental data, including shaking table test data on rigid and compliant blocks sliding on geomembranes. Analysis of geomembranes subject to waste settlement and subject to seismic loading demonstrate applications of the model and provide insight into the behavior of geosynthetic liner system elements subject to tensile loads.     

基础局部沉降下土工格栅加筋衬垫系统变形特性的试验研究

基础局部沉降会引起垃圾填埋场衬垫系统中的土工膜产生较大的拉应变,有可能导致衬垫系统性能下降,因此正确评价衬垫系统的应变就显得非常重要。通过模拟试验,采用应变片和位移计对基础发生局部沉降后土工格栅加筋衬垫系统的变形进行试验研究。试验结果表明:环境温度对衬垫系统的变形影响较大;相同组成材料下土工格栅和土工膜叠放在一起比其他方案更能降低土工膜的应变;衬垫系统刚度对沉陷范围影响不大,但对最大应变值影响较大。所得结果对垃圾填埋场衬垫系统的设计具有一定的指导意义。     

Cyclic shear behavior of GMB/GCL composite liner

The composite liner system consisting of geomembrane (GMB) and geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) has been widely used in landfills. Although there have been a lot of studies on the monotonic shear behavior of GMB/GCL composite liner, the dynamic test data are still very limited and consequently, the dynamic shear mechanism is not clear. A series of displacement-controlled cyclic shear tests were conducted to study the shear behavior of GMB/GCL composite liner, including the shear stress versus horizontal displacement relationships, backbone curves, and shear strengths. Hysteretic loops in the shape of parallelogram were obtained and equivalent linear analyses revealed that the secant shear stiffness decreased and the damping ratio increased with the rise in loading cycles. According to the test results, it is generally acceptable to predict the dynamic peak strength of a GMB/GCL composite liner with its static strength envelope. Furthermore, the dynamic softening mechanism and rate-dependent shear stiffnesses were well described by the proposed equations, which also facilitate the accurate modeling of the cyclic shear behavior.     

Controlling strain in geosynthetic liner systems used in vertically expanded landfills

According to relevant new regulations in China,a composite liner system involving geosynthetic materials must be installed at the bottom of an expanded landfill.The deformation and integrity of the composite liner under a variety of factors are important issue to be considered in the design of a landfill expansion.In this paper,we investigate the strain distribution in geosynthetic materials within the composite liner system of expanded landfills,including strains in geosynthetic materials resulting from overall settlement and lateral movement of landfills,localized subsidence in landfills,and differential settlement around gas venting wells.The allowable strains of geosynthetic materials are discussed based on the results of tensile tests,and the corresponding design criteria for composite liner systems are proposed.Meanwhile,practical measures allowing strain control in geosynthetic materials used in landfill engineering are proposed.     

Fully transient analytical solution for degradable organic contaminant transport through GMB/GCL/AL composite liners

In this study, analytical solution for degradable organic contaminant transport through a composite liner consisting of a geomembrane (GMB) layer, a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and an attenuation layer (AL) is derived by the separation of variables method. The transient contaminant transport in the whole composite liner can be well described avoiding some weird phenomena in existing analytical solutions. The results of parametric study show that GCL has significant effect on improving the barrier efficiency especially for scenarios with high leachate head. The biodegradation and adsorption in GCL have significant influence on the contaminant transport through the composite liner when the half-life of contaminant in GCL is less than 5 years. Otherwise, the effect can be neglected.     

Evaluation of interface shear strength of composite liner system and stability analysis for a landfill lining system in Thailand

The paper presents the case history of laboratory evaluation of the interface shear strength properties of various interfaces encountered in a modern day landfill with emphasis on proper simulation of field conditions and subsequent use of these results in the stability analyses of liner system. Over 70 large direct shear tests were systematically conducted to evaluate the interface shear strength properties of composite liner system using project specific materials under site specific conditions, being used at non-hazardous and hazardous landfills project situated in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand. The critical interfaces were located between the geotextiles and the smooth geomembrane (GM), the smooth GM and the geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), and the smooth GM liner and the compacted clay liner (CCL) with the interface friction angles ranging from 6.5° to 10.5° for dry conditions and 6.5° to 9.5° in wet conditions. The residual shear stress for these interfaces was attained at a displacement less than 4 mm. Three methods, namely, limit equilibrium method (LEM), limit method (LM), and the simple composite column (SCC) approach were used to evaluate the tensile loads induced in the geosynthetic components. The SCC approach proposed by Liu, C.N. [2001. Tension of geosynthetics material regarding soils on landfill liner slopes. Proceedings, National Science Council ROC(A), 25(4), 211–218] that takes into account the force equilibrium as well as displacement compatibility yielded satisfactory results. The factor of safety for geosynthetic components in the liner was found to be greater than 3.0 for both types of landfill.     

Heat and moisture migration in a geomembrane–GCL composite liner subjected to high temperatures and low vertical stresses

This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical modelling of heat and moisture migration conducted on a composite liner comprised of a geomembrane (GMB) and a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), over a compacted subgrade and subjected to prolonged elevated temperatures at low overburden stresses typical of brine storage ponds or solar evaporation ponds. Results are presented for a GMB sitting on a fully hydrated GCL. Heating the top of the composite liner caused a measurable increase in subgrade temperature to at least to 250 mm below the GCL. However, the presence of an air gap, simulating the presence of a wrinkle in the geomembrane, at the interface between the GMB and the GCL reduced the impact of the high temperatures on the subgrade temperature profile with depth. The change in temperature profile was accompanied by moisture migration from the GCL to the subgrade material. However no desiccation cracks were observed in the GCL and the bentonite was still in a gel form at the end of the time period investigated. Numerical modelling using finite element method (FEM) was performed to simulate the results obtained experimentally. It was found to predict accurately the temperature changes that have occurred in the subgrade material and moisture changes that occurred in both the GCL and subgrade materials.     

Irrigated composite liner designs for fast hydration and prevention of thermal desiccation of geosynthetics clay liners

In composite liners made of geomembrane (GMB)-geosynthetics clay liners (GCLs), maintaining bentonite in the GCL in a suitably hydrated state is critical for their performance. Hydration of GCL from subsoil, following industry best practice, is time consuming and conditional on suitable water chemistry in subsoil. In addition, under thermal gradients, dehydration occurs, with moisture migrating downwards to the subsoil, leading to the development of cracks in the bentonite and hence loss of performance.Two novel ideas are proposed in this paper, namely hydration of GCLs by artificial irrigation and hydraulic separation of the liner system from the underlying subsoil. Three new composite liner designs allowing for actively irrigating a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) through a geocomposite layer were investigated. In two of the three designs, the hydraulic connection between the GCL and the subsoil was broken by placing an additional GMB between them. The new designs were tested in column experiments under 20 kPa overburden pressure and temperatures of up to 78 °C applied to the top of the liner. The performances of the new designs were compared to that of a standard GCL-GMB design where GCL was allowed to hydrate from a well-graded sandy subsoil. Three scenarios for the staging of hydration and thermal load application were investigated.Under active hydration of the composite liners, it took less than 14 days for the GCLs to reach a gravimetric water content ω of 110–130%, compared to 49 days taken to reach ω~95% under hydration from the subsoil. GCLs in the new designs in which the hydraulic connection with the subsoil was broken, remained well-hydrated (ω>100%) after 14 days of heating and no cracks appeared in the bentonite. On the other hand, the GCL in the conventional design experienced severe desiccation under the same conditions. The new designs hence offer a viable solution to the problem of slow hydration and/or thermal desiccation of GCLs.     

Geomembrane strains from coarse gravel and wrinkles in a GM/GCL composite liner

The physical response of a 1.5-mm-thick, high-density polyethylene geomembrane (GM) is reported when placed on top of a needle-punched geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), buried beneath 50-mm coarse gravel and subjected to vertical pressure in laboratory experiments. Local strains in the geomembrane caused by indentations from the overlying gravel and deflections of a wrinkle in the geomembrane are quantified. A peak strain of 20% was calculated when a flat geomembrane was tested without a protection layer at an applied vertical pressure of 250 kPa. Strains were smaller with a nonwoven needle-punched geotextile protection layer between the gravel and geomembrane. Increasing the mass per unit area of the geotextile up to 2200 g/m² reduced the geomembrane strain. However, none of the geotextiles tested were sufficient to reduce the geomembrane strain below an allowable limit of 3%, for the particular 50-mm gravel tested and when subjected to a vertical pressure of 250 kPa. Increasing the initial GCL water content and reducing the stiffness of the foundation layer beneath the GCL were found to increase the geomembrane strains. These local strains were greater when a wrinkle was present in the geomembrane. The wrinkle in the geomembrane experienced a decrease in height and width. The wrinkle deformations lead to larger pressures beside the wrinkle and hence producing larger local strains. A 150-mm-thick sand protection layer was effective in limiting the peak strain to less than 0.3% even with a wrinkle in the geomembrane, at a vertical pressure of 250 kPa.     

膨润土防水毯在渗滤液环境下防渗性能的测试应用研究

膨润土防水毯作为一种优异的防渗材料,国内暂无其在渗滤液环境下的渗透性能报道。本文拟配置性能组分稳定的代表性合成渗滤液作为实际渗滤液的替代试验介质,研究合成渗沥液对膨润土原料膨胀性能和滤失性能的影响,测试在合成渗滤液环境中,不同压力和温度条件下膨润土防水毯的渗透系数,以此为垃圾填埋工程和其他固废填埋工程使用膨润土防水毯作为防渗衬垫提供指导。     

Failure analysis of a geomembrane lined reservoir embankment

This paper presents case study and failure analysis of an embankment enclosing a raw water reservoir at a coal-based thermal power plant. The embankments and the base of the reservoir were all lined with geomembrane. Major breaches occurred in the embankment separating two compartments of the reservoir (i.e., the partition embankment) approximately one year after the filling of one of the reservoirs. Seepage and slope stability analyses were carried out to detect the causes of failure. The post–failure field observations and results of stability analyses indicated that the use of a single layer geomembrane as the sole component of barrier layer was inadequate. Pipe drains provided at the base of the reservoir to intercept rising groundwater level acted as a flow pathway for water seeping from tears and punctures in geomembrane liner at the base of the reservoir. The design of internal drainage system for both the partition embankment and peripheral embankment (i.e., the embankments other than the partition embankment surrounding the reservoir) was insufficient. The remedial measures which could be adopted for geosynthetic lined reservoir and embankment were evaluated and presented in the paper. The study highlights the need to provide a secondary liner in form of clay or geosynthetic clay liner whenever a geomembrane is used as a barrier layer. In cases where use of single layer of geomembrane is unavoidable, seepage and safety analysis should be carried out with the assumption that it may leak. This is important when an adequate quality control in laying the geomembrane is lacking or the embankment facilities would continue to be operated at full head even after the design life of the geomembrane is exceeded.     

垃圾填埋场多层复合衬垫的破坏面特征

多层土工合成材料复合衬垫的极限破坏面特性是垃圾填埋场稳定分析的重要问题,单一固定破坏面的观点已经被广泛接受。在多层土工合成材料复合衬垫的整体叠环式单剪试验后发现极限破坏界面并非单一固定,而是随着法向应力的变化发生由一个界面向另一界面转移,且在一定的法向应力范围内还可能同时出现两个具有相同剪切强度的极限破坏界面;多层土工合成材料复合衬垫中各层的剪切应力–位移曲线是硬化型的,衬垫系统的剪切强度总是低于极限破坏界面的剪切强度。试验结果表明,叠环式单剪仪能更正确和合理地模拟填埋场中的多层复合衬垫在加载过程中的实际剪切变形情况和复合衬垫中材料间的相互作用,从而能更好地揭示多层复合衬垫系统的整体剪切特性。     

下卧土体局部沉陷条件下复合衬垫系统的受力变形性能及设计

考虑上覆土体的土拱效应及衬垫的大变形,将下卧土体局部沉陷条件下的复合衬垫系统分为滑动区和沉陷区。建立了其受力变形分析模型,并以衬垫系统的最大拉应变作为控制标准,建立了工程上衬垫系统的抗沉陷设计方法。利用该分析模型研究了滑动区衬垫界面强度、衬垫上覆土体的厚度、重度、有效内摩擦角等参数和衬垫结构形式的影响,发现上覆土体厚度、重度及有效内摩擦角对衬垫受力变形影响很大,而衬垫的抗拉刚度直接决定了其拉应变大小。结合工程实例进行了衬垫系统的抗沉陷设计,并建议了衬垫的抗沉陷结构形式。     

Numerical evaluation of a granular column reinforced by geosynthetics using encasement and laminated disks

Structures built on soft strata may experience substantial settlement, large lateral deformation of the soft layer and global or local instability. Granular columns reinforced by geosynthetic materials reduce settlement and increase the bearing capacity of the composite ground. Reinforcement is more common in the form of geosynthetic encasement, but laminated disks can also be used. This paper compares these two forms of reinforcement by means of unit cell finite element analyses. Numerical results were initially validated using field and experimental data, and parametric studies were subsequently performed. The parametric studies varied the geosynthetic interval and the geosynthetic tensile stiffness of the laminated disks as well as the length of the reinforced column. The analyses showed that in both modes; encasement and laminated disks; the geosynthetic increases the vertical stress mobilized on the reinforced column and reduces settlement on soft soil. It was also observed that in order to achieve the same performance as with encased column, the optimum interval between laminated disks is dependent on the stiffness of the geosynthetics and the column reinforced length.     

A numerical modelling technique for geosynthetics validated on a cavity model test

Numerical modelling approaches can aid in designing geotechnical constructions involving geosynthetics. However, the reliability of numerical results depends on how the model is developed, the constitutive model, and the set of parameters used. By comparing the numerical results with experiment, the present work verifies a numerical modelling technique developed to model multilayered geosynthetic lining systems for landfills. The numerical modelling technique involves strain softening at interfaces and allows the axial stiffness of the geosynthetics to evolve as a function of strain. This work focuses on a two-dimensional finite-difference model, which is used to simulate three types of experimental tests: conventional uniaxial tensile tests, direct shear tests, and a large-scale test that was used to assess the overall mechanical behaviour of a reinforced geosynthetic system that spanned over a cavity. This reinforced geosynthetic system consisted of a 50 kN/m polyvinyl alcohol geogrid reinforcement embedded in a layer of sand, a geosynthetic clay liner, a high-density polyethylene geomembrane, and a non-woven needle-punched geotextile. The uniaxial tensile tests, direct shear tests, and the large-scale test were numerically modelled and the numerical results were compared with experimental results. The results of the numerical modelling technique presented very closely match the results of the three experimental tests, which indicates that the numerical model correctly predicted the measured data.     

Field behaviors of a geogrid reinforced MSW slope in a high-food-waste-content MSW landfill: A case study

A one-year field monitoring of a geogrid reinforced municipal solid waste (MSW) slope was conducted in the Xingfeng Landfill. Settlement tubes, strain gauges and earth pressure cells were used to measure the vertical settlement, the reinforcement strains and the vertical earth pressures in the reinforced MSW slope, respectively. During the monitoring period, the waste sliding occurred and the fresh MSW was dumped at the top of the reinforced slope. The vertical settlement along the reinforcement was nonlinear and the peak settlement occurred at the central part of the reinforcement. The reinforcement strains and the vertical earth pressures at various positions were affected by the sliding and the waste dumping to differing extents. Along the lengths of the geogrid reinforcements, the reinforcement strains showed single-peak distributions. The peak strains were attained in the central part of the reinforcements and the minimum strains were attained at the tail ends. The vertical earth pressures mainly depend on the overlying loads; however, the distributions of them along the reinforcement were nonlinear. Based on the monitoring results, the slope stability evaluation was conducted. It shows that the internal stability of the reinforced MSW slope might be sufficient, while the external stability was insufficient, meaning that this reinforced project was unsuccessful. Finally, various lessons and design suggestions learned from this unsuccessful project were discussed, which could provide valuable references for the future practice of geosynthetic reinforced MSW.     

Preliminary results of composite liner field performance study

This paper presents preliminary results of a study of the field performance of composite liners. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability of composite liners to contain municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate. The paper presents data for double-lined MSW landfills having composite top liners consisting of a geomembrane (GMB) upper component and a compacted clay liner (CCL) lower component. Data on flow volumes and flow constituents for the leachate collection and removal system (LCRS) and the leakage detection system (LDS) components of the double liner system are analyzed to assess whether leakage has occurred through the composite top liner. Data for nine MSW landfill cells with monitoring periods of up to eight years are presented. Preliminary results indicate that the nine composite liners are performing well and are effective in containing MSW leachate.