Relationship between NP GCL Internal and HDPE GMX/NP GCL Interface Shear Strengths

An investigation was conducted on the relationship between the internal shear strength of hydrated needle-punched (NP) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) and the interface shear strength between hydrated NP GCLs (nonwoven side) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) textured geomembranes (GMXs). New large-scale direct shear data are presented and compared to previous results obtained using similar materials and procedures. The data indicate that both GCLs and GMX/GCL interfaces display large postpeak strength reduction, even at high normal stress. Peak and large-displacement failure envelopes are nonlinear; except for the GCL internal residual strength envelope, which passes through the origin and has a friction angle of 4.8°. GMX/GCL interfaces can be expected to have lower peak strengths and higher large-displacement strengths than GCL internal shear specimens. However, the failure mode for GMX/GCL specimens can change from interface shear to GCL internal shear as normal stress increases. Design for peak strength conditions should be based on the lowest peak strength interface in a liner system, and design for large displacement conditions should be on the basis of the residual strength of the same interface.