Placing a geomembrane liner in the core of a dam is an alternative construction technique to traditional clay core types. This study aims to assess the performance of such internal geomembrane sealing systems in an earthen dam. Two-dimensional (2D) numerical analysis was performed to evaluate leakage through defective seams within an earthen dam. Five possible applications of internal geomembrane systems were initially modeled to locate the zero-pressure lines in an earthen dam. Then, another application where the geomembrane is placed on the upstream face was modeled to compare the upstream and internal geomembrane systems. The results of this study show that use of a geomembrane system, either upstream or internal, significantly decreases the pore pressure at the downstream face of the earthen dam. In addition, limit equilibrium analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of leakage through defects in geomembranes on the dam stability. The stability analyses for the upstream and downstream slopes were performed for three loading conditions: (1) end of construction, (2) long-term, and (3) rapid drawdown. The frequencies and locations of defective seams had a significant impact on the factors of safety of the downstream slope. It is shown that, in the case of upstream geomembrane systems, the factor of safety for the downstream slope has the highest value when the geomembrane hole occurs at a relatively lower location. On the other hand, in the case of internal geomembrane systems, the highest factor of safety occurs when the geomembrane hole is at a higher location. Additionally, rapid drawdown simulations show that the upstream slope of an embankment dam must be flat enough to overcome the upstream stability issues when geomembranes are placed within embankment dams. This study not only showed the advantages of using a geomembrane in the core of a dam as an impervious lining system but also provided comparative information on the performance of internal and upstream geomembrane systems with respect to the stability in earthen dams.

Les géomembranes (GMB) en polyéthylène haute densité (PEHD) sont utilisées comme barrière d'étanchéité dans les installations de stockage de déchets non dangereux (ISDND). Malgré les bonnes propriétés initiales du PEHD, face aux agressions chimiques et biologiques d'un lixiviat de déchets et aux contraintes thermiques et mécaniques générées par le massif de déchets, sa durabilité reste une question ouverte. L'objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer au développement d'un modèle cinétique non empirique de prédiction de la durée de vie des GMB en PEHD, qui prend simultanément en compte les effets du vieillissement chimique et biologique. Pour cela, nous cherchons à déterminer d'une part les paramètres d'extraction des antioxydants constitutifs des GMB, première étape du vieillissement des GMB, et d'autre part les paramètres cinétiques de vieillissement oxydatif des PE, deuxième étape de vieillissement. Ceci nécessite de connaître et de comprendre les mécanismes physico-chimiques impliqués dans le vieillissement des PE dans les conditions particulières des ISDND. A partir d'une approche multi-échelle (macro- micro) et à l'aide de différentes techniques (IRTF, GPC HT, AED, essais de traction,…), nous évaluons l'impact du vieillissement accéléré sur la composition chimique, les structures macromoléculaire et cristalline ainsi que les propriétés d'usage des GMB et des films en PEHD. Cette étude a permis de déterminer un critère de fin de vie pertinent pour évaluer la durée de vie de la GMB : la fragilisation qui correspond à une masse molaire critique M'C d'environ 100 kg.mol-1. Un couplage de la modélisation chimique de la dégradation oxydante du polymère et biologique de la cinétique de croissance du biofilm est proposé. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, la même approche multi-échelle a été utilisée pour caractériser la dégradation de GMB vieillies 18 ans en bassin de stockage d'eau pour ainsi déterminer les mécanismes impliqués dans le vieillissement sur site / High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) geomembranes (GMB) are used as basal liners in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. In spite of the good initial properties of the HDPE, his durability remains poorly known face to the chemical and biological strains of the MSW landfill leachate and the thermal and mechanical strains generated by the solid waste. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the development of a non-empirical kinetic model for predicting HDPE GMB life cycle, that simultaneously takes into accounts the chemical and biological aging effects. For this purpose, we seek to determine on the one hand the extraction process parameters of the antioxidants present in the GMB, first step of the GMB aging, and on the other hand the kinetic parameters of the PE thermo-oxidation, second step of the GMB aging. This requires knowing and understanding the physico-chemical mechanisms involved in the PE aging in the particular conditions of MSW landfills. Using a multi-scale methodology (macro-micro) and multi-technique approach (FTIR; GPC-HT, DSC, tensile tests, …), we assess the impact of the accelerated aging on the chemical composition, on the macromolecular and crystalline structures and on the used properties of HDPE GMB and films. This study identified a relevant endlife criterion for assessing the GMB service lifetime: the embrittlement which corresponds to a critical molecular mass M'C of about 100 kg.mol-1. Coupling chemical oxidative degradation modelling of the polymer and biofilm growth kinetic modelling is proposed. In the last part, the same type of multi-scale approach has been applied to characterize the degradation of HDPE GMB aged 18 years in water storage basin in order to determine the mechanisms involved in natural aging

Nos sistemas de revestimento de fundo de aterros sanitários e pilhas de rejeito de mineração, é comum utilizar geotêxtil não-tecido para a proteção ao puncionamento da geomembrana por objetos pontiagudos como a brita. Neste trabalho, realiza-se um estudo experimental a fim de avaliar a superfície deformada de geomembrana de PEAD, com 2 mm de espessura, em camada de proteção sujeita a carregamentos de 600 kPa e 1800 kPa ao longo de 100 h, com o objetivo de simular danos mecânico de operação. Para a leitura da superfície deformada da geomembrana utilizou-se um lençol de chumbo localizado sob a geomembrana e as suas deformações foram estimadas a partir de uma máquina de leitura por coordenadas, com grid de 4 mm. Além deste, foi estimada a superfície deformada da geomembrana para o grid de 1 mm, com a aplicação do método de interpolação chamado de triangulação. Ainda foram utilizados extensômetros elétricos para estimar deformações pontuais na geomembrana. A fim de prevenir o puncionamento da geomembrana e limitar a sua deformação, utilizou-se como camada de proteção quatro geotêxteis não tecidos do tipo PP com massa por unidade de área variando entre 550 e 1300 g/m2, e uma camada de 10 cm de argila. Para a carga de 600 kPa, todas as camadas de proteção foram eficientes para evitar o puncionamento da geomembrana e limitar a sua deformação em 6%. Na carga de 1800 kPa, para proteção de geotêxtil, as configurações duplas tiveram melhor desempenho com valores de deformações menores que 6%, e a camada de 10 cm de argila foi ainda mais eficaz. Por fim, o trabalho mostrou que a superfície deformada decorrente do tipo de proteção adotado também é influenciada pelo grau de compactação do solo, o tipo de brita, a carga aplicada e as propriedades físicas do elemento de proteção. / In landfill backfill systems and mining tailings piles, it is common to use nonwoven geotextiles to protect geomembrane punctures by sharp objects such as gravel. In this work, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the deformed HDPE geomembrane surface, with a thickness of 2 mm, under a protective layer subjected to loads of 600 kPa and 1800 kPa over 100 h, with the objective of Simulate mechanical damage of operation. To read the deformed surface of the geomembrane was used a sheet of lead located under the geomembrane and its deformations were estimated from a machine of reading by coordinates, with grid of 4 mm. Also, the deformed surface of the geomembrane was estimated for the grid of 1 mm, with the application of the interpolation method called triangulation. Electrical extensometers were also used to estimate point deformations in the geomembrane. In order to prevent the puncture of the geomembrane and to limit its deformation, four non-woven PP-type geotextiles with a mass per unit area ranging from 550 to 1300 g/m2 and a layer of 10 cm of clay. At the load of 600 kPa, all the layers of protection were efficient to avoid the puncture of the geomembrane and to limit its deformation in 6%. In the vertical load of 1800 kPa, for geotextile protection, the double configurations had better performance with deformation values lower than 6%, and the 10 cm layer of clay was even more effective. Finally, the work showed that the deformed surface resulting from the type of protection adopted is also influenced by the degree of soil compaction, the type of gravel, the applied load and the physical properties of the protection element.

O presente trabalho avalia a degradação de geomembranas de polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD) e de poli cloreto de vinila (PVC) após exposição a diversos agentes agressivos. Foram utilizadas geomembranas de PEAD com espessuras de 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 e 2.5 mm e de PVC com espessuras de 1.0 e 2.0 mm. As amostras foram expostas à intempérie, lixívia, calor (estufa convencional e com fluxo de ar), radiação UV, resíduo de nióbio (a 50°C) e água (a 65° e 85°C). As análises foram realizadas periodicamente através da avaliação de suas propriedades físicas e mecânicas. Análises térmicas também foram realizadas para a quantificação da degradação em nível molecular. As variações nas propriedades ocorreram em função do tipo e dos tempos de exposição. A exposição ao calor em estufa, por exemplo, ocasionou perda de deformabilidade com conseqüente aumento de rigidez nas geomembranas de PVC. Por outro lado, as geomembranas de PEAD tornaram-se mais dúcteis. Após exposição à intempérie e lixívia, verificou-se diminuição de deformabilidade para o PVC e aumento para o PEAD. A rigidez aumentou para o PVC enquanto que para o PEAD ocorreram oscilações principalmente nas maiores espessuras que apresentaram tendência de diminuição da propriedade ao final do período de análise. Os ensaios de OIT e MFI foram bastante úteis na quantificação da degradação dos materiais. / This work evaluates the degradation of high density poly ethylene (HDPE) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) geomembranes after exposure to a variety of aggressive agents. HDPE (0.8, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.5 mm) and PVC (1.0 and 2.0 mm) geomembranes were exposed to weathering, leachate, heat (conventional and air oven), UV radiation, niobium (50°C) and water (65° and 85°C). The analyses were performed periodically with measurements of physical and mechanical properties. Thermal analyses were also carried out to quantify the variations at molecular level. Properties varied in function of the type of exposure and incubation period. Exposure to heat, for example, leads to decreases in deformability with increases in stiffness for the PVC geomembranes. Conversely, the HDPE geomembranes became softener. After exposure to weathering and leachate, deformability decreased for the PVC and increased for the HDPE. The PVC became stiffer while some oscillations in the rigidity occurred for the HDPE. These oscillations occurred mainly for the thicker specimens that showed trends of decreases in this property at the last period of observation. MFI and OIT tests were very useful in the quantification of the degradation processes.

A eficiência das geomembranas como barreiras para controle e desvio de fluxo está diretamente relacionada com a integridade de sua superfície. Nos sistemas de impermeabilização basal, como utilizados em aterros sanitários, as geomembranas podem entrar em contato com materiais perfurantes e cortantes, como a brita do sistema de drenagem. Para prevenir perfurações e outros danos em geomembranas, são empregadas camadas de proteção, como geotêxteis não-tecidos e areia. Este estudo avalia o desempenho de geotêxteis não-tecidos de fibras curtas de poliéster (PET) e de polipropileno (PP), além de uma configuração com areia, como camadas de proteção para geomembranas de policloreto de vinila (PVC) e de polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD). Foram realizados ensaios índices, ensaios de puncionamento hidrostático e ensaios de carregamento estático em grande escala, para verificar os mecanismos de ruptura das geomembranas e o comportamento da resistência ao puncionamento com a adoção de camadas de proteção. Os resultados demonstraram desempenho superior, como elemento de proteção, dos geotêxteis de maior resistência mecânica e mecanismos de rupturas diferenciados entre geomembranas de PEAD e de PVC. / The efficiency of geomembranes as barriers for flow diversion is directly related to its integrity. In basal lining systems, such as those used in landfills and waste disposal lagoon, geomembranes can get into contact with sharp materials, such as gravel from the drainage system, which can induce excessive deformation and holes. To prevent geomembrane damage, nonwoven geotextiles and sand are usually employed as protective layers. This paper deals with the performance of polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP) nonwoven geotextiles and a sand layer, as protective layers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes. Index, hydrostatic puncture and large-scale uniaxial compression tests were performed and have allowed understanding the geomembrane damage mechanism and the influence of protective layers properties in increasing the geomembrane performance against puncture. The test results have shown that the behavior in puncture protection is related to the mechanical resistance of geotextile and that the rupture mechanism is different for the different types of geomembrane used in the study.

Investiga-se neste trabalho a resistência ao cisalhamento em interfaces geomembrana-solo, utilizadas nos sistemas de impermeabilização de aterros e lagoas de efluentes. Foram realizados ensaios de ring shear envolvendo solos arenosos e argilosos, em condição seca e inundada. Os ensaios foram realizados utilizando uma areia de granulometria grossa a média e um solo argiloso proveniente do aterro sanitário de Piracicaba- SP. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas geomembranas de polivinil clorado, polietileno linear de média densidade e polietileno de alta densidade, com diferentes níveis de rugosidade. Os resultados mostraram que a resistência ao cisalhamento depende das características das geomembranas utilizadas, como flexibilidade e rigidez, além de outras. Conforme esperado, observou-se que as geomembranas texturizadas apresentaram maiores valores de ângulo de atrito do que as geomembranas lisas; enquanto as geomembranas flexíveis mostraram maiores valores de ângulo de atrito que as rígidas. Este comportamento foi verificado em ambos os tipos de interface. Verificou-se também que o efeito da compacidade dos materiais granulares e da saturação dos materiais mostrou-se pouco acentuado na resistência de interface areia/geomembrana. Nos ensaios de interface com solo argiloso foi verificado que a inundação influencia na resistência de interface, fornecendo menores valores de ângulos de atrito do que nos ensaios não inundados. Além deste aspecto, verificou-se que a resistência de interface em ensaios não inundados depende da umidade de compactação do solo argiloso. Este fato não foi verificado nos ensaios inundados. / This paper deals with the shear strength in the geomembrane-soil interfaces used in landfill and waste pond liners. Modified ring shear tests were carried out using sandy and clayey soils, in dry and saturated conditions. The tests were performed using a coarse to medium graded sand and a clayey soil from a sanitary landfill in Piracicaba - SP. In this work, polyvinyl chloride geomembranes, medium density linear polyethylene and high-density polyethylene, with different roughness levels, were used. The test results showed that the shear strength depends on several geomembrane characteristics, such as roughness and stiffness. As it was expected, texturized geomembranes showed higher friction angle values than smooth geomembranes; flexible geomembranes showed higher friction angle values than the stiff ones. Such behavior was verified in both interface types. Also, it was verified that the sand compaction and the material saturation have little influence on the sand-geomembrane interface shear strength. The interface shear strength tests, performed with a clayey soil, showed that the wetting condition affects the interface shear strength. Friction angle for wetted samples were smaller than those for non-wetted samples. In addition, it has been verified that the interface shear strength in non-wetted tests depends on the moisture content of the clayey soil. This fact has not been verified in the wetted tests.

Geomembranes are one of the most widely used geosynthetics in various civil engineering applications. Their primary function is as a barrier to liquid or vapour flow. Smooth Geomembranes are frequently used in combination with different soils, and due to their low surface roughness, are challenging to design to ensure adequate shear strength along the smooth geomembrane-soil interface. It is important to use the appropriate values of interface shear strength parameters in the design of slopes incorporating one or more geomembranes in contact with soils. The parameters are determined by conducting direct shear test on the geomembrane-soil interface. Laboratory tests of interface shear strength for geomembranes and soil are typically carried out with no provision for measurement of pore pressures at the soil/geomembrane interface. <p>This thesis deals with study of smooth geomembrane-soil interfaces, particularly under unsaturated conditions. The various factors that affect the interface shear behaviour are also studied. The tests were conducted using a modified direct shear box with a miniature pore pressure transducer installed adjacent to the surface of the geomembrane. Geomembranesoil interface shear tests were carried out with continuous measurement of suction in close proximity to the interface during the shearing process thus making it possible to analyze test results in terms of effective stresses. The method was found to be suitable for unsaturated soils at low values of matric suction. <p>Results of interface shear tests conducted using this method show that it is quite effective in evaluating interface shear behaviour between a geomembrane and an unsaturated soil. The results suggest that soil suction contributes to shearing resistance at low normal stress values. At lower normal stress values, the interface shear behaviour appears to be governed only by the magnitude of total normal stress. <p> At high normal stresses, the failure mechanism changed from soil particles sliding at the surface of geomembrane to soil particles getting embedded into the geomembrane and plowing trenches along the direction of shear. A plowing failure mechanism resulted in the mobilization of significantly higher shear strength at the geomembrane soil interface. It was found that placement water contents near saturated conditions results in lower effective stresses, a shallower plowing mechanism and lower values of mobilized interface shear strength.

In this research, the dynamic behavior of a seismic isolation system composed of high strength geotextile placed over an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) geomembrane (together called as composite liner) beneath the structure is investigated experimentally. The results of the shaking table experiments which were performed on model structures both under harmonic and modified earthquake motions with and without the seismic isolation (composite liner system), are presented in the thesis. The main focus is given on the potential improvement obtained by use of the composite liner system as compared to the unisolated cases. Based on the performed experiments, it is observed that the utilization of composite liner system provides significant reduction in the accelerations and interstorey drift ratios of structures under harmonic motions while signifant drop is obtained in the spectral accelerations under earthquake motions which provide noticeable improvement in the durability of structures under dynamic effects at the expense of increased translational displacements.

Geomembranes are one of the most widely used geosynthetics in various civil engineering applications. Their primary function is as a barrier to liquid or vapour flow. Smooth Geomembranes are frequently used in combination with different soils, and due to their low surface roughness, are challenging to design to ensure adequate shear strength along the smooth geomembrane-soil interface. It is important to use the appropriate values of interface shear strength parameters in the design of slopes incorporating one or more geomembranes in contact with soils. The parameters are determined by conducting direct shear test on the geomembrane-soil interface. Laboratory tests of interface shear strength for geomembranes and soil are typically carried out with no provision for measurement of pore pressures at the soil/geomembrane interface. <p>This thesis deals with study of smooth geomembrane-soil interfaces, particularly under unsaturated conditions. The various factors that affect the interface shear behaviour are also studied. The tests were conducted using a modified direct shear box with a miniature pore pressure transducer installed adjacent to the surface of the geomembrane. Geomembranesoil interface shear tests were carried out with continuous measurement of suction in close proximity to the interface during the shearing process thus making it possible to analyze test results in terms of effective stresses. The method was found to be suitable for unsaturated soils at low values of matric suction. <p>Results of interface shear tests conducted using this method show that it is quite effective in evaluating interface shear behaviour between a geomembrane and an unsaturated soil. The results suggest that soil suction contributes to shearing resistance at low normal stress values. At lower normal stress values, the interface shear behaviour appears to be governed only by the magnitude of total normal stress. <p> At high normal stresses, the failure mechanism changed from soil particles sliding at the surface of geomembrane to soil particles getting embedded into the geomembrane and plowing trenches along the direction of shear. A plowing failure mechanism resulted in the mobilization of significantly higher shear strength at the geomembrane soil interface. It was found that placement water contents near saturated conditions results in lower effective stresses, a shallower plowing mechanism and lower values of mobilized interface shear strength.

With sufficient time, a high density polyethylene geomembrane will degrade and lose its engineering properties until ruptures signal the end of its service-life. This thesis examines the longevity of nine different geomembranes; five of them were of different thickness manufactured from the same resin. The degradation of properties and time to failure are investigated for geomembranes: in immersion tests; as a part of a landfill composite liner; and, exposed to the elements. The different thermal and stress histories associated with manufacturing geomembranes of different thickness are shown to affect their morphological structure; consequently, their stress crack resistance. When immersed in synthetic leachate, it was found that: (a) thicker geomembranes have a longer antioxidants depletion time but the effect of thickness decreases with temperature and is less than expected; (b) inferences of geomembrane’s longevity based on its initial properties may be misleading because a geomembrane may chemically degrade (as manifested by the change in melt index) despite the presence of a significant amount of stabilizers (as manifested by the measured high pressure oxidative induction time); and, (c) stress crack resistance may change before antioxidant depletion or chemical degradation takes place, likely, due to changes in geomembrane morphological structure with the maximum decrease being observed at 55oC. Reductions also were measured for geomembrane immersed in air and water at 55oC. The geomembrane aged in a simulated landfill liner at 85oC is shown to have service-life as little as three years with 30,000 to >2.0 million ruptures/hectare at failure. For exposed geomembranes in Alumbrera (Argentina), samples were exhumed from two mine facilities after ~16 years of exposure. The antioxidants in exposed samples depleted to residual and the stress crack resistance had dropped to as low as 70 hours. Samples were exhumed from a different exposed geomembrane in a test site in Godfrey (Canada) after six years of exposure. The antioxidants were partially depleted, with depletion to residual projected to take at least 20 years; however, despite no evidence of chemical ageing, the stress crack resistance had decreased from 330 to 190 hours, likely due to changes in the morphological structure of the geomembrane. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2014-02-28 04:59:20.834