Tire bales have become an innovative and cost effective fill material that can be used for the construction of geotechnical structures, like embankments for highway projects. The mechanical and physical properties they present allow them to be suitable for this type of structures, as long as they are provided with an appropriate drainage system. Stability of these structures is controlled by the interface shear strength existing in the contact surfaces between the bales. However, the tire bale has a jagged, uneven and highly variable surface and it presents a number of irregular tire ridges with random dimensions that are difficult to quantify. Due to the flexibility of these ridges, deformation of the interface occurs when a horizontal shear load is applied, and following this deformation the actual displacement of the interface takes place. Freilich (2009) performed large scale tests in the field and in the laboratory to observe the behavior of the whole tire bale structure, which is composed of the tire bale mass and the tire bale interface. Due to the irregular and highly variable surface of the tire bale, the deformations that occur on the ridges along the interface cannot be directly measured and quantified. Following similar concepts of some rock mechanic models, Freilich characterized the tire ridge interface using three parameters and came up with a model. Using these parameters, an ideal interface was constructed where the variability was reduced by incorporating a known geometry, and it can still be characterized in the same manner as that for the tire bale interface. Loads, deformations and displacements occurring along the interface were measured and recorded. From this data, shear strength parameters are defined and incorporated into Freilich’s tire ridge interface model that is used to predict the geometric and mechanical behavior of the irregular ridges controlling the interface shear strength. The behavior predicted from the model is then compared to the recorded data representing the actual geometric and mechanical behavior of the interface with known geometry, where the deformations on the asperities are approximated. This comparison verifies that the consideration of the flexibility from the tire ridges is not entirely described by the tire ridge interface model. Therefore a possible modification, based on the observations recorded, could be found. / text

Landfill covers are designed as impermeable caps on top of waste containment facilities after the completion of landfill operations. Geocomposite drain (GD) materials consist of a geonet or geospacer (as a drainage core) sandwiched between non-woven geotextiles that act as separators and filters. GD provides a drainage function as part of the cover system. The stability performance of landfill cover system is largely controlled by the interface shear strength mobilised between the elements of the cover. If a GD is used, the interface shear strength properties between the upper surface of the GD and the overlying soil may govern stability of the system. It is not uncommon for fine grained materials to be used as cover soils. In these cases, understanding soil softening issues at the soil interface with the non-woven geotextile is important. Such softening can be caused by capillary break behaviour and build-up of water pressures from the toe of the drain upwards into the cover soil. The interaction processes to allow water flow into a GD core through the soil-geotextile interface is very complex, and have been defined herein as Capillary Related Interface Breakthrough (CRIB). The infiltration test using small column on CRIB conditions for GD in contact with fine grained soils confirmed the development of capillary break at the interface. The effect of water build-up on the interface leads to soil softening in fine grained soils layer and reduce the interface shear strength hence potential instability of the system. Two series of fine grained soil/GD interface shear strength tests conducted to determine the interface shear strength behaviour for a range of soil water contents. The soil softening at the interface due to soaked behaviour show a reduction in interface shear strength and this aspect should be emphasized in design specifications and construction control. Comparison on the main behaviour using field measurements on the trial landfill cover at Bletchley were conducted to increase confidence in the understanding of the implications for design of cover systems.

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.

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.

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.

Avaliou-se experimentalmente o comportamento da resistência ao cisalhamento de interface em reforços unidirecionais utilizados em estruturas de contenção. Para tal, foram realizados ensaios de arrancamento em fitas metálicas, utilizadas para soluções em terra armada e chumbadores, para soluções em solo grampeado. Os ensaios, em campo e laboratório, permitiram constatar a pouca influência do diâmetro dos chumbadores no valor da resistência ao cisalhamento de interface (qs). Ainda em relação aos chumbadores, os resultados mostraram que o volume de calda de cimento para preenchimento da cavidade escavada está diretamente associado ao ganho de qs. Os ensaios em fitas metálicas, em obras executados com solos finos, mostraram que o seu uso requer um estudo mais detalhado do seu comportamento, visto que os parâmetros sugeridos pela NBR 9286/86 não condiz com os resultados experimentais desta pesquisa. / This study evaluated experimentally the behavior of interface shear strength in unidirectional reinforcements used in reinforced soil structures. Pullout tests were carried out on reinforcements used in reinforced earth and soil nailing techniques. Nail diameter has little influence on interface shear strength (qs), according to field and laboratory tests. Additionally, increasing grout volume in nail cavity was directly linked to gain of qs. Tests on reinforced earth reinforcements using fine-grained soils showed that the results do not match with the suggestion of NBR 9286/86.

Avaliou-se experimentalmente o comportamento da resistência ao cisalhamento de interface em reforços unidirecionais utilizados em estruturas de contenção. Para tal, foram realizados ensaios de arrancamento em fitas metálicas, utilizadas para soluções em terra armada e chumbadores, para soluções em solo grampeado. Os ensaios, em campo e laboratório, permitiram constatar a pouca influência do diâmetro dos chumbadores no valor da resistência ao cisalhamento de interface (qs). Ainda em relação aos chumbadores, os resultados mostraram que o volume de calda de cimento para preenchimento da cavidade escavada está diretamente associado ao ganho de qs. Os ensaios em fitas metálicas, em obras executados com solos finos, mostraram que o seu uso requer um estudo mais detalhado do seu comportamento, visto que os parâmetros sugeridos pela NBR 9286/86 não condiz com os resultados experimentais desta pesquisa. / This study evaluated experimentally the behavior of interface shear strength in unidirectional reinforcements used in reinforced soil structures. Pullout tests were carried out on reinforcements used in reinforced earth and soil nailing techniques. Nail diameter has little influence on interface shear strength (qs), according to field and laboratory tests. Additionally, increasing grout volume in nail cavity was directly linked to gain of qs. Tests on reinforced earth reinforcements using fine-grained soils showed that the results do not match with the suggestion of NBR 9286/86.

A laboratory investigation was conducted to determine the effects of temperature and moisture on the shear strength of textured geomembrane (T-GM) and geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) interface. Several landfill slope failures involving geosynthetics have occurred within the past three decades. Interface shear strength of T-GM/GCL is well documented for testing conducted at laboratory temperatures and at moisture contents associated with GCLs in submerged conditions. However, in-service conditions for landfill liner systems include a wide range of temperatures (extending from below 0 °C to above 40 °C) and a wide range of moisture conditions. Large-scale interface direct shear tests were performed at normal stresses of cover liners (10, 20, and 30 kPa) and bottom liners (100, 200, and 300 kPa). Cover liner specimens were subjected to temperatures of 2, 20 and 40 °C; and bottom liner specimens were subjected to temperatures of 20 and 40 °C. Both cover and bottom liner specimens were prepared at moisture contents of as-received (approx. 18-19%), 50%, and 100%. Cover liner specimens exhibited decreased peak interface shear strength (tp) with increasing temperature. Specimens sheared at 2 °C exhibited greater tp than those sheared at 20 °C by as much as 27%. Specimens sheared at 20 °C exhibited greater tp than those sheared at 40 °C by as much as 16%. Large-displacement interface shear strength (tld) generally exhibited a bell-shaped relationship with increasing temperature with the greatest tld at 20 °C. A bell-shaped relationship was exhibited between temperature and peak and large-displacement interface friction angle (dp and dld). dp ranged from 17.4 to 26.3°, 23.8 to 29°, and 20.4 to 22.2° for 2, 20, and 40 °C, respectively. dld ranged from 12.7 to 18.2°, 18.2 to 20.6°, and 15.9 to 16.7° for 2, 20, and 40 °C, respectively. Decreased d at 2 and 40 °C were largely attributed to increased geosynthetic damage. Bottom liner specimens exhibited decreased tp and tld with increasing temperature by up to 12% and 16%, respectively. Bottom liner specimens exhibited decreased tp and tld with increasing moisture content by up to 14% and 36%, respectively. For bottom liner specimens, a trend of decreased dp with increased temperatures was exhibited. dp ranged from 20 to 24.7° and 19.5 to 22.2° for 20 °C and 40 °C, respectively. dld ranged from 10.4 to 15.6° and 8.9 to 13.9° for 20 °C and 40 °C, respectively. Decreased d at 40 °C was largely attributed to increased geosynthetic damage and increased bentonite extrusion. Increased moisture content resulted in decreased dp and dld by up to 4.7 and 5.1°, respectively. Results of this testing program indicated that T-GM/GCL interface shear strengths are influenced by temperature and moisture content within ranges representative of field conditions. Interpolation factors and reduction factors were developed for use to avoid overestimation of d when determined at standard laboratory temperatures. For cover liners, reduction factors of 0.8 and 0.85 are recommended for dp and dld, respectively. For bottom liners, reduction factors of 0.9 and 0.85 are recommended for dp and dld, respectively.

The use of geosynthetics in landfill construction introduces potential planes of weakness. As a result, there is a requirement to assess the stability along the soil/geosynthetic and geosynthetic/geosynthetic interfaces. Stability is governed by the shear strength along the weakest interface in the system. Repeatability interface shear strength testing of a geomembrane/geotextile interface at low normal stresses suitable for capping systems showed considerable variability of measured geosynthetic interface shear strengths, suggesting that minor factors can have a significant influence on the measured shear strength. This study demonstrates that more than one test per normal stress is necessary if a more accurate and reliable interface shear strength value is to be obtained. Carefully controlled inter-laboratory geosynthetic interface shear strength comparison tests undertaken on large direct shear devices that differ in the kinematic degrees of freedom of the top box, showed the fixed top box design to consistently over estimate the available interface shear strength compared to the vertically movable top box design. Results obtained from measurement of the normal stress on the interface during shear with use of load cells in the lower box of the fixed top box design, raise key questions on the accuracy, reliability and proper interpretation of the interface shear strength data used in landfill design calculations. Tests on the geocomposite/sand interface have shown the interface friction angle to vary with the orientation of the geocomposite's main core, in relation to the direction of shearing. Close attention needs to be paid to the onsite geocomposite placement in confined spaces and capping slope corners, as grid orientation on the slope becomes particularly important when sliding is initiated. Attempts to measure the pore water pressure during staged consolidation and shear along a clay/geomembrane interface in the large direct shear device suggest that this interface is a partial drainage path.