Calcium and sodium bentonite for hydraulic containment applications

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:5(438)· OSTI ID:506017

Gleason, M H ^[1]; Daniel, D E ^[2]; Eykholt, G R ^[3]

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1. GeoSyntec Consultants, Columbia, MD (United States)
2. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering

The hydraulic conductivity of calcium and sodium bentonites was investigated for sand-bentonite mixtures, a thin bentonite layer simulating a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), and bentonite-cement mixtures simulating backfill for a vertical cutoff wall. The permeant liquids were tap water and distilled water containing 0.25 M calcium chloride. In general, the hydraulic performance of calcium bentonite was not significantly better than the performance of sodium bentonite for either the clay-amended sand or the GCL application, and was substantially worse than the performance of sodium bentonite in the bentonite-cement mixture. A drained angle of internal friction of 21{degree} was measured for calcium bentonite, compared to 10{degree} for sodium bentonite. Except for a larger drained shear strength, no advantage of calcium bentonite over sodium bentonite could be identified from the results of this study.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 506017
• Journal Information: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 123; ISSN 1090-0241; ISSN JGGEFK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BENTONITE
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS