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Experimental research on the evolution laws of soil fabric of compacted clay liner in a landfill final cover under the dry–wet cycle

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Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the structural damage in compacted clay liner (CCL) caused by the dry–wet cycles in a landfill final cover. Experimental research is performed on the microstructure evolution of CCL under repeated dry–wet cycles and different initial compactness (90, 94, and 98 %). Results show that the pore size distribution of CCL has multifractal characteristics which can be classified into five self-similar intervals: macropore (>15 μm), medium-pore (8–15 μm), small-pore (0.3–8 μm), mesopore (0.04–0.3 μm), and micropore (<0.04 μm). The compression proportion of the different intervals is not equal and constant with the increase in compactness. Maximum compression interval is observed among small-pores and mesopores, with compactness ranging from 90 to 94 % and from 94 to 98 %, respectively. The effect of the dry–wet cycles mainly focuses on small-pores, medium-pores and macropores, while having little effect on meso-pores and micro-pores. The increase of macropores is one of the reasons for increase in the permeability of CCL, but it is not the main reason. Cracks causing by the irreversible shrinkage of pores is the main reason leading to permeability with an orders of magnitude increment, and improving the compactness can reduce the structural damage of CCL under the function of dry–wet cycles.

Résumé

Cet article vise à étudier l’endommagement structurel de la couche d'argile compactée (CAC) causée par les cycles de séchage-saturation dans une couverture finale de la décharge. L’étude expérimentale est effectuée sur l'évolution de la microstructure du CAC sous cycles répétés de séchage-saturation et différents compacité initiale (90, 94, and 98%). Les résultats montrent que la distribution de taille de pore de CAC a des caractéristiques multifractales qui peuvent être classés en cinq intervalles auto-similaires: macropores (>15 μm), pores moyens (8 - 15 μm), petits pores (0,3- 8 μm), mésopores (0,04- 0,3 um), et des micropores (<0,04 μm). Les proportions de compression des différents intervalles ne sont pas pareilles et constant avec l'augmentation de la compacité. L’intervalle de compression maximale est observée dans les petits-pores et les mésopores, avec une compacité comprise entre 90% et 94% et de 94% à 98%, respectivement. L'effet des cycles de séchage-saturation se concentre principalement sur les petits pores, pores moyens et les macropores, alors que peu d'effet sur mésopores et micropores. L'augmentation de macropores est l'une des raisons qui augmentent la perméabilité du CAC, mais ce n'est pas la raison principale. La fissuration due au retrait irréversible des pores est la raison principale qui mène à des ordres de grandeur en augmentation de perméabilité, et l'amélioration de la compacité peuvent réduire l’endommagement structurel du CAC dans la fonction de cycles séchage-saturation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2012CB719802); the National Water Pollution Control and Management Science and Technology Major Projects of China (2012ZX07104-002); and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51279199).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Qiang Xue, Yong Wan, Yi-jun Chen & Ying Zhao

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  1. Qiang Xue
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  2. Yong Wan
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  3. Yi-jun Chen
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  4. Ying Zhao
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Correspondence to Qiang Xue.

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Xue, Q., Wan, Y., Chen, Yj. et al. Experimental research on the evolution laws of soil fabric of compacted clay liner in a landfill final cover under the dry–wet cycle. Bull Eng Geol Environ 73, 517–529 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0556-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0556-6

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