In Germany in 1997 for the first time geosynthetic clay liners were placed under water as the lining of a navigation canal (Oder-Havel-Canal). Since to date there was no experience and no standards or recommendations for GCL being placed under water. In waterways the geosynthetic clay liners are exposed to special hydraulic loading because of the navigation - rapid drawdown of the water level, waves and current. Because of the lack of experience as to GCL as a canal lining being placed under water, the GCL was permanently monitored also after having finished the construction. Different measuring methods are applied to check the function of geosynthetic clay liners. Till today the geosynthetic clay liner placed in the Oder-Havel-Canal was exposed to the loads of a navigable waterway for 3 years. All measurements gave no indications of leakages of the lining. It can be confirmed that the GCL being placed under water the first time in Germany is functioning fully as an impervious canal lining.
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