Effect of a soluble subgrade on leakage through a geomembrane defect

Leakage and erosion of a soluble subgrade overlain by a geomembrane with a 70-mm-long slit defect is examined. The subgrade (gypsum) solubility and its rate of dissolution from a solid state in contact with various solutions are investigated. In the absence of flow, the rate of dissolution is negligible. However, when there is flow there is dissolution, and if the flow is high enough, erosion. Erosion greatly increases fluid migration. The presence of an interface between the subgrade and a dissimilar material (e.g., a geomembrane) facilitates flow, dissolution, and erosion as the interface becomes an ever increasing preferential flow path, leading to a much greater leakage and erosion feature. The findings from this study highlight the risk of having a soluble subgrade below a single geomembrane used alone and exposed for the containment of liquids.