Wrinkling of a Geomembrane on a Compacted Clay Liner on a Slope

Abstract

The development of wrinkles in a 1.5 mm thick textured HDPE geomembraneover a compacted clay liner on a 3H:1V (33%; 18°) slope is reported at different times of the day on 25 August 2008. The width of wrinkles did not vary significantly throughout the day once notable wrinkling had developed. The mean wrinkle width (0.31 m) is greater than that at other sites with a GCL below the geomembranereported in the literature (0.21-0.23m). The maximum connected wrinkle ranged from less than 20 m at 08:40 to 1370 m at 15:10. Given the size of the area monitored(0.26 ha) one might expect about four such wrinkles per hectare. Wrinkles covered less than 2% of the area at 08:40 but exceeded 8% after 10:10 with a maximum of 20% at 15:10. The practical implications of the time of day the geomembrane is covered and the effect this could have on leakage are discussed.