Experimental investigation on methane advection and diffusion in geosynthetic clay liners

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are widely used in landfill and heap-leach facility cover system for mitigating rainfall infiltration and gas migration into atmosphere. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate methane diffusion and advection through GCLs. Gas permeability coefficient of GCL for the case with moisture content = 47.5% is one and two orders of magnitude greater than the cases with moisture content = 68.5% and 80.9%, respectively, when 20 kPa vertical stress was applied. The batch adsorption tests indicated that adsorption of methane onto bentonite is negligible. The concentration variation for the adsorption of methane onto bentonite can be neglected. However, methane concentration decreased by 14.2% for the test of methane adsorption onto GCL during the first 2–3 days. This is because methane was adsorbed by the geotextiles rather than by the bentonite in GCL. The large porosity and surface area of geotextiles provide lots of micropores for methane adsorption. Analytical model was then developed to analyze the performance of GCL-based liners system with respect to methane transport. The results indicate that methane emission fluxes for the case with SL + GCL are 7.8 and 5.1 times less than the cases with SL + CCL when the moisture contents were 25.9% and 35.1%, respectively. The methane emission fluxes for both of the SL + GCL and SL + CCL can be neglected when they are fully saturated. GCL is recommended to be used in arid and semi-arid regions rather than CCL. GCL is recommended to be used in arid and semi-arid areas rather than CCL. Advection plays a more important role in methane migration through SL + GCL and SL + CCL than that of diffusion. With moisture contents = 25.9% and 32%, methane emission flux attributed to advection accounts for more than 90% of the total emission flux for both cases of SL + GCL and SL + CCL. With the increase of moisture content of SL, the effectiveness of SL in reducing methane emission increases. The saved space for using GCL + SL composite cover compared with using a single SL cover is 0.7 m when the moisture content equals 25.9%, which is 0.5 m greater than the case when moisture content equals 32%. GMB plays a dominant role in inhibiting methane migration and reducing methane emission flux. When moisture content equals 25.9%, the methane emission fluxes for SL + GMB + GCL and SL + GMB + CCL are 343 times and 2643 times less than the cases with SL + GCL and SL + CCL, respectively.     

Heat mitigation in geosynthetic composite liners exposed to elevated temperatures

The hydrothermal behaviour of single and double composite liners subjected to elevated temperatures is examined. Particular interest is given to the effect of the presence of wrinkles in the geomembrane (GMB) as well as defects, and the existence of a gap between the primary and the secondary liners caused by the presence of a leak detection system. Heat flow resulting from elevated temperature was found to be mainly influenced by the size of the air-filled gaps present within the composite lining systems. The larger the air-filled gap size, the lower was the heat flow through a barrier system. The presence of a leak detection layer (i.e., large air-filled gap) and GMB layers were found to be the primary factors to reduce heat flow substantially through the lining systems. Therefore, the presence of a leak detection layer combined with a secondary GMB can improve the overall thermal insulation capacity of a double liner system, minimise heat flow through the secondary liner and offer the possibility of protecting the GCL (if present) and the subgrade from possible heat induced drying/desiccation. A leak in the geomembrane can minimise the gain in thermal insulation. However, this effect can be reduced if the liquid is regularly pumped out.     

Hydraulic conductivity of two geosynthetic clay liners permeated with a hyperalkaline solution

GCLs containing powdered Na-bentonite treated with different dosages of a proprietary additive intended to reduce the impacts of chemical interactions were permeated with three solutions: a hyperalkaline solution (1 M NaOH and 1.3 mM CsCl) having similar pH to aluminum refining leachate, a 1.3 mM CsCl solution (no NaOH), and DI water. For a given permeant solution, the hydraulic conductivity of both GCLs was similar. Thus, the higher additive dosage had no measureable impact on hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity of both GCLs decreased by a factor of approximately 1.5–1.8 during permeation with CsCl in response to osmotic swelling induced by the low ionic strength of the CsCl solution entering the pore space. In contrast, permeation with the NaOH–CsCl solution caused the hydraulic conductivity of both GCLs to increase modestly (<50 times the hydraulic conductivity to DI water), and then level out (or decrease slightly) as a result of reduced osmotic swelling in the interlayer combined with dissolution of the mineral. For the tests conducted with CsCl solution, nearly all of the Cs was adsorbed by the bentonite. In contrast, Cs broke through readily when the NaOH–CsCl solution was used as the permeant solution. Permeation with the NaOH–CsCl solution also increased the sodicity of the bentonite by replacing bound K, Ca, and Mg on the mineral surface.     

Hydraulic conductivity of bentonite-polymer composite geosynthetic clay liners permeated with bauxite liquor

The high ionic strength of the porewater in red mud (bauxite liquor from digestion) can suppress swelling of montmorillonite, resulting in geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) that are too permeable to be effective as liners in red mud disposal facilities. Bentonite-polymer composite GCLs (BPC GCLs) have been developed as more resilient lining materials, and some BPC GCLs have been shown to have very low hydraulic conductivity to bauxite liquors that have extreme ionic strength and pH. In this study, a nationwide investigation was conducted in China to evaluate the characteristics of bauxite liquor in Chinese impoundments, and to evaluate the suitability of GCLs containing granular sodium bentonite or BPCs for containment. Hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted on six BPC GCLs with two characteristic Chinese bauxite liquors that are hyperalkaline (pH > 12) and had ionic strengths of 76.9 mM and 620.3 mM. The BPC GCLs had hydraulic conductivity ranging from 10^?8-10^?12 m/s, which is higher than the hydraulic conductivity of BPC GCLs to deionized water (10^?12-10^?13 m/s), but lower than the hydraulic conductivity of conventional GCLs with granular sodium bentonite GCLs to the same liquors (10^?7-10^?8 m/s). The hydraulic conductivity of the BPC GCLs depends on the chemical properties of the leachate, the polymer loading, and the type of polymer. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggests that the hydraulic conductivity of BPC GCLs is controlled by pore-blocking by polymer hydrogel, which is affected by the bauxite liquor.     

Hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners to tailings impoundment solutions

The results of a comprehensive testing program conducted to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity (k) of two geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) considered as a liner component for a tailings impoundment at a proposed zinc and copper mine are reported. The two GCLs were permeated with a relatively low ionic-strength ground water (GW) from the mine site and two electrolyte solutions, a process water (PW) and a simulated leachate (SL), with chemical compositions consistent with those expected during operation of the impoundment. A total of 22 flexible-wall tests were performed to determine the effects of prehydration with the GW, type of GCL, type of permeant liquid, and duration of the back-pressure stage of the test. The k values for both GCLs permeated with the GW were 1.7 × 10⁻⁹ cm/s, which is within the range 1–3 × 10⁻⁹ cm/s typically reported for GCLs permeated with low ionic-strength liquids, such as deionized water. However, the mean values of k based on permeation of duplicate specimens of both types of GCL with either PW or SL relative to the values of k based on permeation with GW, or k/k_w, ranged from a factor of 200 (2.3 orders of magnitude) to a factor of 7600 (3.9 orders of magnitude). Thus, both tailings impoundment solutions had significant adverse impacts on the hydraulic performance of both GCLs. Given the overall range of k/k_w values, factors such as prehydration, type of GCL, type of permeant liquid, and duration of back pressure, were relatively insignificant. The results of this study serve to emphasize the need to perform hydraulic conductivity testing using site specific materials.     

Experimental study on the permeability and self-healing capacity of geosynthetic clay liners in heavy metal solutions

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), which have a very low permeability to water and a considerably high self-healing capacity, are widely used in liner systems of landfills. In this study, a series of experimental tests were carried out under complex conditions on typical commercial GCLs from China. In particular, the effects of pH values and lead ions (Pb²⁺) were tested in addition to other factors. The swelling properties of natural bentonite encapsulated between geotextile components in the GCLs were tested first. The swelling capacity was reduced rapidly at pH values < 3 and concentrations of Pb²⁺ >40 mM. Permeability tests on GCLs with different concentrations of lead ions were then performed by using the self-developed multi-link flexible wall permeameter, and data showed that increases in lead ion concentrations greatly improved the permeability. Finally, self-healing capacity tests were conducted on needle-punched GCLs under different levels of damage. Results showed that the GCLs have a good self-healing capacity with small diameter damage holes (2 mm, close to three times the original aperture), but with a damage aperture larger than 15% of the sample area, the self-healing capacity could not prevent leakage; hence, in certain situations it will be necessary to repair the damage to meet the anti-seepage requirement.     

Effect of ammonium on the hydraulic conductivity of geosynthetic clay liners

Hydraulic conductivity and swell index tests were conducted on a conventional geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) containing sodium-bentonite (Na-B) using 5, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mM ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) solutions to investigate how NH₄⁺ accumulation in leachates in bioreactor and recirculation landfills may affect GCLs. Control tests were conducted with deionized (DI) water. Swell index of the Na-B was 27.7 mL/2 g in 5 mM NH₄⁺ solution and decreased to 5.0 mL/2 g in 1000 mM NH₄⁺ solution, whereas the swell index of Na-B in DI water was 28.0 mL/2 g. Hydraulic conductivity of the Na-B GCL to 5, 50, and 100 mM NH₄⁺ was low, ranging from 1.6–5.9 × 10^?11 m/s, which is comparable to the hydraulic conductivity to DI water (2.1 × 10^?11 m/s). Hydraulic conductivities of the Na-B GCL permeated with 500 and 1000 mM NH₄⁺ solutions were much higher (e.g., 1.6–5.2 × 10^?6 m/s) due to suppression of osmotic swelling. NH₄⁺ replaced native Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ in the exchange complex of the Na-B during permeation with all NH₄⁺ solutions, with the NH₄⁺ fraction in the exchange complex increasing from 0.24 to 0.83 as the NH₄⁺ concentration increased from 5 to 1000 mM. A Na-B GCL specimen permeated with 1000 mM NH₄⁺ solution to chemical equilibrium was subsequently permeated with DI water. Permeation with the NH₄⁺ converted the Na-B to “NH₄-bentonite” with more than 80% of the exchange complex occupied by NH₄⁺. Hydraulic conductivity of this GCL specimen decreased from 5.9 × 10^?6 m/s to 2.9 × 10^?11 m/s during permeation with DI water, indicating that “NH₄-bentonite” can swell and have low hydraulic conductivity, and that the impact of more concentrated NH₄⁺ solutions on swelling and hydraulic conductivity is reversible.     

Hysteresis of the water retention curves of geosynthetic clay liners in the high suction range

This paper examines two needle-punched geosynthetic clay liners' water retention behaviour at high suction ranges using the vapour equilibrium technique where super-saturated salt solutions controlled the relative humidity. This study shows that the bentonite form and its mineralogy affect the absorption/desorption of GCLs and their corresponding water retention curves. In particular, a granular bentonite-based GCL was found to absorb more and release less water than a powdered bentonite-based GCL due to its higher montmorillonite content and larger pores. The water retention curves of both GCLs exhibited very little hysteretic behaviour at high suction. Repeated wetting-drying cycles shifted the WRCs of both GCLs slightly downward with minimal impact on their degree of hysteresis.     

Factors affecting the down-slope erosion of bentonite in a GCL

Leaving a composite liner exposed for an extended period can sometimes lead to down-slope bentonite erosion from geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs). This laboratory study examines a number of factors that can affect the erosion of bentonite particles with an imposed flow of water for one particular geotextile-encased, needle-punched GCL. The factors examined include the effect of an initial wet/dry cycle, water chemistry, flow rate, slope, prior cation exchange, and the effect of no-drying phase in the test cycle. No erosion was observed unless the GCL had been hydrated and dried to create a wet/dry cycle. The most critical factor was found to be the water chemistry. No erosion was observed with tap water (39 ppm calcium) with up to 360 cycles and a flow of 3 L/hour. Tests simulating the evaporation and condensation of water below an exposed composite liner by imposing deionized water on the GCL surface developed erosion holes within 5–6 cycles.     

Investigating the mechanism of downslope bentonite erosion in GCL liners using X-Ray CT

Exposed composite GMB-GCL liners are at risk of downslope bentonite erosion caused by the release of low ionic strength condensed water onto the top surface of the GCL following daily solar heating. This paper investigates the use of X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) to quantify the thinning of the bentonite layer and the application of X-ray diffraction techniques (XRD) to investigate the changes in clay chemistry (if any) of the bentonite from the virgin GCL to the eroded bentonite. The effect of specimen size and scanning orientation was investigated resulting in a revised testing procedure in which the CT scanning orientation was changed from horizontal to vertical to permit a longer test specimen which was also sealed at the bottom edge to minimise the edge boundary condition. The X-ray CT results provide highly visual evidence that a) bentonite thinning immediately under the upper cover geotextile is the initial location of erosion, and b) the bentonite core erodes at a significantly higher rate when not covered by a geotextile than when covered by a geotextile. These observations indicate that the upper geotextile of the GCL plays a significant role in controlling the rate of bentonite erosion. Finally, a comparison of the virgin and runoff bentonite properties was conducted to investigate potential changes in swell index, X-ray diffraction results, and concentration of Na and Ca cations. The runoff bentonite was observed to had a significantly higher swell index (40?ml/2?g) than the virgin bentonite (28?ml/2?g) and lower Na and Ca concentrations. This finding is consistent with the observation from XRD analyses of the runoff bentonite which illustrate that the clay fraction of the bentonite is preferentially eroded by the application of DI water.     

Experimental study of mechanical properties of normal-strength concrete exposed to high temperatures at an early age

In China, accidental fires are known to occur during construction, causing concrete to be exposed to high temperatures when it is at an early age (i.e. “young”). In this paper, compressive and splitting tensile strengths of concretes cured for different periods and exposed to high temperatures were obtained. The effects of the duration of curing, maximum temperature and the type of cooling on the strengths of concrete were investigated. Experimental results indicate that after exposure to high temperatures up to 800 °C, early-age concrete that has been cured for a certain period can regain 80% of the compressive strength of the control sample of concrete. The 3-day-cured early-age concrete was observed to recover the most strength. The type of cooling also affects the level of recovery of compressive and splitting tensile strength. For early-age concrete, the relative recovered strengths of specimens cooled by sprayed water are higher than those of specimens cooled in air when exposed to temperatures below 800 °C, while the changes for 28-day concrete are the converse. When the maximum temperature exceeds 800 °C, the relative strength values of all specimens cooled by water spray are lower than those of specimens cooled in air.     

聚羧酸系与脂肪族系高效减水剂复合效应试验研究

通过用聚羧酸系高效减水剂与脂肪族系高效减水剂按3种比例5种掺量复合,研究其复合后对水泥净浆流动度及其经时损失的影响;按3种比例1种掺量复合研究其复合后对混凝土减水率、坍落度经时损失、抗压强度的影响.研究结果表明:聚羧酸系与脂肪族系高效减水剂复合使用效果比单独使用脂肪族系高效减水剂效果好,与单独使用聚羧酸系高效减水剂相比可以降低施工成本;在实际施工中聚羧酸系与脂肪族系高效减水剂按1:1比例复合,掺量为水泥质量的1.0%,较为经济合理,且能满足普通混凝土施工的性能要求.     

Thermal effect of temperature gradient in a field environment chamber served by displacement ventilation system in the tropics

The effect of vertical air temperature gradient on overall and local thermal comfort at different overall thermal sensations and room air temperatures (at 0.6 m height) was investigated in a room served by displacement ventilation system. Sixty tropically acclimatized subjects performed sedentary office work for a period of 3 h during each session of the experiment. Nominal vertical air temperature gradients between 0.1 and 1.1 m heights were 1, 3 and 5 K/m while nominal room air temperatures at 0.6 m height were 20, 23 and 26 °C. Air velocity in the space near the subjects was kept at below 0.2 m/s. Relative humidity at 0.6 m height was maintained at 50%. It was found that temperature gradient had different influences on thermal comfort at different overall thermal sensations. At overall thermal sensation close to neutral, only when room air temperature was substantially low, such as 20 °C, percentage dissatisfied of overall body increased with the increase of temperature gradient. At overall cold and slightly warm sensations, percentage dissatisfied of overall body was non-significantly affected by temperature gradient. Overall thermal sensation had significant impact on overall thermal comfort. Local thermal comfort of body segment was affected by both overall and local thermal sensations.     

高强混凝土的抗火灾高温性能研究概述

综述目前高强混凝土的抗火灾高温性能的研究进展,并对聚丙烯纤维、橡胶粉、钢纤维等对改善高强混凝土的高温性能情况进行比较,指出研究中所存在的问题和今后的研究发展方向,对高强混凝土的高温性能研究和应用起到指导作用.     

Experimental investigation of the velocity distribution of the attached plane jet after impingement with the corner in a high room

Supplying air into rooms properly without causing a sensation of draught is a challenging task. Airflow patterns and the air velocity of attached plane jets should be predicted and designed accurately before the airflow enters an occupied zone in different applications. The objective of this study is to identify the airflow patterns of attached plane jets and set up an efficient model to predict the maximum jet velocity decay of an attached plane jet after its impingement with the corner in a high room. A full-scale test chamber was used to measure the jet velocity with a plane jet supply device. The attached plane jet is bounded initially by the ceiling and the insulated wall after being discharged from the jet slot. Three velocities from the slot, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 m/s, are used as the initial jet velocities with three Reynolds numbers, 1000, 2000, and 4000, respectively. The results show that the behaviours of the attached plane jet differ from earlier studies carried out in a relatively low room. The virtual origin model setup in this study can be used to predict the maximum jet velocity decay for jet flow design with impingement in the corners of rooms.     

Short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on daily mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system in Madrid (Spain)

Introduction

Owing to their small size, fine particles, i.e., those having a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), have a high alveolar penetration capacity, thereby triggering a local inflammatory process with circulatory repercussion. Despite being linked to respiratory and cardiovascular morbidities, there is limited evidence of an association between this type of particulate matter and short-term increases in mortality.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyse and quantify the short-term impact of PM_2.5 on daily mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system, registered in Madrid from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005.

Methods

An ecological longitudinal time-series study was conducted, with risks being quantified by means of Poisson regression models. As a dependent variable, we took daily mortality registered in Madrid from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2005, attributed to all diseases of the circulatory system as classified under heads I00-I99 of the International Classification of Diseases-10th revision (ICD-10) and broken down as follows: I21, acute myocardial infarction (AMI); I20, I22-I25, other ischemic heart diseases; and I60-I69, cerebrovascular diseases. The independent variable was daily mean PM_2.5 concentration. The other variables controlled for were: chemical pollution (PM₁₀, O₃, SO₂, NO₂ and NO_x); acoustic and biotic pollution; influenza; minimum and maximum temperatures; seasonalities; trend; and autocorrelation of the series.

Results

A linear relationship was observed between PM_2.5 levels and mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. For every increase of 10 μg/m³ in daily mean PM_2.5 concentration, the relative risks (RR) were as follows: for overall circulatory mortality, associations were established at lags 2 and 6, with RR of 1.022 (1.005-1.039) and 1.025 (1.007-1.043) respectively; and for AMI mortality, there was an association at lag 6, with an RR of 1.066 (1.032-1.100). The corresponding attributable risks percent (AR%) were 2.16%, 2.47% and 6.21% respectively. No statistically significant association was found with other ischemic heart diseases or with cerebrovascular diseases.

Conclusion

PM_2.5 concentrations are an important risk factor for daily circulatory-cause mortality in Madrid. From a public health point of view, the planning and implementation of specific measures targeted at reducing these levels constitute a pressing need.