Geomembrane and GCL Mining Usage Tests

Geomembranes and geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are used for a variety of solid waste landfill and mining applications. Recently, efforts are being made to determine the efficiency and requirements of puncture protection layers over geomembranes, as well as the potential for installation damage to GCLs when they are subjected to potentially damaging coarse-grained sands and gravels used as drainage media. There were two test pads used in this experiment, the first was built to simulate the performance of a geomembrane and a geotextile cushion installed on the face of a rock-fill dam, and the second was built in the Rocky Mountains at a tailings reclamation project. Both projects preformed well, proving that geosynthetics can be fairly durable when faced with well-graded coarse grained soils and heavy loads.