Performance Changes in Aged In-Situ HDPE Geomembrane

This chapter focuses on the results of an investigation carried out on an aged HDPE geomembrane used at a landfill site for contaminated solids. The performance of in-situ synthetic lining materials is generally monitored on the basis of the quantity of the leachate collected above the liner or of the environmental effects of leachate escaping from the lining system. Basically, values of the tensile resistance of the membranes, the tensile and peel resistances of the seams, the brittleness of the sheets and seams, and the determination of micro-cracks by microanalysis are presented to evaluate the geomembranes behaviour. HDPE 2.0-mm-thick geomembranes were used at the bottom and on the slopes of each cell and HDPE 1.6-mm-thick geomembranes were used as cell covers. The performance of in-situ synthetic lining materials is generally monitored on the basis of the quantity of the leachate collected above the liner or of the environmental effects of leachate escaping from the lining system.