Function
The engineering function of a GCL is containment as a hydraulic barrier to water, leachate or other liquids and sometimes gases. As such, they are used as replacements for either compacted clay liners or geomembranes, or they are used in a composite manner to augment the more traditional liner materials. The ultimate in liner security is probably a three component composite geomembrane/geosynthetic clay liner/compacted clay liner which has seen use as a landfill liner on many occasions.
Differences Between Geosyntehtic Clay Liners and Compacted Clay Liners
| Characteristic | GCLs | CCLs |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Bentonite clay, adhesives, geotextiles and/or geomembranes | Native soils or blends of soil and bentonite clay |
| Construction | Factory manufactured and then installed in the field | Construction and/or amended in the field |
| Thickness | ~ 6 mm | 300 to 900 mm |
| Permeability of clay | 10−10 to 10−12 m/s | 10−9 to 10−10 m/s |
| Speed and ease of construction | Rapid, simple installation | Slow, complicated construction |
| Installed cost | $0.05 to $0.10 per m2 | Highly variable (estimated range $0.07 to $0.30 per m2) |
| Experience | CQC and CQA are critical | Highly workforce dependent |
Read more about this topic: Geosynthetic Clay Liners
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