Geomembrane leaks detection and leakage correlation factor analysis of composite liner systems for fifty-five (55) solid waste landfills in China

Abstract

In composite liner system (CLS), there are little field data on the number, size, and shape of geomembrane (GMB) holes, which are the key parameters to identify and evaluate the volume of leachate leakage from landfills. In this paper, in-situ detection of GMB holes in composite liner systems of 55 solid waste landfills in China was conducted by electrical leak location (ELL) method, and the following conclusions were drawn. The holes frequency, equivalent radius, and theoretical leakage volume of double-layer systems are lower than those of single-layer systems under the same geotextile (GT) density by 28.2%, 51.4%, and more than 60%, respectively. As the thickness of GMB increases, the holes frequency, equivalent radius and theoretical leakage volume reduce observably. Regarding protecting GMB, the density of geotextiles should not be less than 600 g/m2. Through the analysis of various correlation factors, the thickness of geomembrane is an important parameter affecting the amount of leakage. This study will provide a reference for analyzing the data of field investigation, which would provide constructive suggestions for the composite liner system.