Thermomechanical Behavior of Saturated Geosynthetic Clay Liners

The aim of this study is to assess experimentally the volume change behavior of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) under elevated temperatures. Such elevated temperatures can be generated in landfills as the result of biological decomposition of organic matter in municipal solid waste. Amodified consolidometer capable of handling temperatures up to 60 degrees C was utilized for this purpose. Aseries of thermomechanical consolidation tests were performed on two different GCLs at different elevated temperatures, varying from 20 to 60 degrees C, and different vertical stress levels (50, 100, and 150 kPa). The results show that the thermally induced volume change is stress dependent. A preliminary conceptual explanation for this behavior is introduced and discussed in this study. DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000799. (C) 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.