Design and application of the geomembrane supported GCL in one-product and encapsulated composite liner systems

摘要

Since 1994, the geomembrane supported GCL (GM-GCL) has increasingly been used as a one-product composite liner and encapsulated bentonite composite liner in waste landfills across the USA, Europe, and Asia as an alternative to conventional geomembrane-compacted clay composite liners. This is primarily due to its superior hydraulic performance in response to leakage through defects in the geomembrane, effective sealing at its overlapped seams, and economic savings derived by its lower cost of installation. This paper discusses the general design and performance considerations when utilizing the GM-GCL as a one-product composite liner, focusing on: (1) hydraulic performance (e.g. composite liner leakage), (2) slope stability, and (3) installation issues and construction quality assurance (CQA).