Interface Transmissivity Measurement in Multicomponent Geosynthetic Clay Liners

Three different multicomponent geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) from different manufacturers are tested in a transmissivity cell with a new testing procedure to quantify the flow rate and the interface transmissivity between the coating or attached film presenting a hole and the upper geotextile of the GCL. The testing device was previously used in studies aiming to evaluate the interface transmissivity between a damaged geomembrane (GM) and a regular GCL. Different results are obtained regarding the evolution with the time of the flow rate ranging from 1.73 x 10(-11) m(3)/s to 2.18 x 10(-10) m(3)/s at steady state, which is on average in the range of flow rate results obtained with a GM-GCL composite liner. Additional tests performed by adding a GM on top give lower values of flow rates. This shows the importance of the film or coating rigidity for decreasing flow rate and insuring a better quality contact at the interface.