Co-sponsored by ASCE Continuing Education and ASCE's Geo-Institute (G-I).

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

INSTRUCTOR: Patrick J. Fox, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are used worldwide as hydraulic barriers in waste containment facilities, heap leach pads, ponds, canals, and other related engineered works. Acceptance of GCLs during the last 30 years has been rapid because these products offer many advantages over compacted clay liners, not the least of which is lower cost for many applications. However, testing and design using GCLs is more difficult than for any other geosynthetic material. This webinar series discusses and presents fundamental and advanced topics for engineering with GCLs, with emphasis on waste containment applications. This webinar presents fundamental and advanced topics for static internal and interface shear strength of GCLs for stability analyses.

Purpose and Background

The two most essential requirements of GCLs are acceptable performance for hydraulic containment and stability. Hydraulic conductivity and chemical compatibility of GCLs has received much attention in the last decade as research has indicated that hydraulic containment performance is strongly dependent on chemical environment, wetting/drying history, and overburden stress. Likewise, shear strength of GCLs has also been the subject of numerous recent investigations involving large displacements, high overburden stress, dynamic loading, and geomembrane protection from coarse soil subgrades.

Primary Topics of Discussion/Outline

- Shear strength concepts
- Shear strength testing methods
- GCL internal shear strength
- GCL interface shear strength
- Guidelines for specification of GCL shear strength testing programs
- Conclusions
- Questions

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

- Study shear strength concepts
- Explore shear strength testing methods for GCLs and GCL interfaces
- Determine factors affecting GCL internal shear strength
- Recognize factors affecting GCL interface shear strength
- Discuss important factors to consider for shear strength testing programs
- Identify pitfalls of shear strength tests and how to identify erroneous strength data

Webinar Benefits

- Learn how to assess GCL shear strength results
- Develop skills for selection of GCL strength properties for design
- Discuss specification of GCL shear testing programs

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

ntended Audience

- Civil engineers
- Geoenvironmental engineers
- Geotechnical engineers
- Geological engineers
- Environmental engineers
- Mining engineers
- Hydrologists involved in landfill design, site remediation, mine waste containment, and low level radioactive waste containment
- Landfill and containment system designers
- Environmental regulators
- Site owners

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