ISSN: 1945-7545
Page Count: 7

Hydraulic Conductivity Testing of Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) Using the Constant Volume Method

Wang, XD
Geotechnical Laboratory Manager, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison,WI

Benson, CH
Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison,WI

(Received 12 August 1998; accepted 2 June 1999)

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted using open and constant-volume permeation systems on specimens from a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL). Two constant volume (CV) systems were employed: the falling-head constant-volume (FHCV) system and the constant-head constant-volume (CHCV) system. A conventional burette system using pressurized air was employed for the open system (OS) tests. The test results show that hydraulic conductivity tests can be conducted 30 or more times faster with the FHCV and CHCV systems than with an open system. Typically the permeation portion of the FHCV and CHCV tests can be conducted in one-half day. Slightly lower hydraulic conductivities are measured with the CV systems due to the slightly higher effective stress applied during testing with these systems. The CHCV system has several advantages over the FHCV system, including minimizing initial transient behavior, constant applied effective stress during testing, and simpler calculations.

Keywords:
geosynthetic clay liner, GCL, hydraulic conductivity, open system, closed system, constant volume, FHCV, CHCV

Paper ID: GTJ11239J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11239J
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