SECTION 31 0519

COATED GEOSYNTHETIC CLAY LINER

PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SUMMARY OF WORK

A. Coated geo-synthetic clay liner (CGCL) shall be installed in the landfill cells as shown on the
drawings. The CGCL covered by this Specification shall meet the minimum material properties
set out in Table 5.2 of this Specification. The CGCL shall be reinforced and comprise a woven
and non-woven needle punched cushion geotextile, with a bentonite powder sandwiched
between the two layers of the geotextiles and a structured polyolefin polymer-coating on the
woven side of the CGCL.

1.2 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit under provisions of Section 01 3000 - Administrative Requirements.

B. Product Data: Manufacturer's data sheets on each product to be used, including:
a. Preparation instructions and recommendations.
b. Storage and handling requirements and recommendations.
c. Installation methods.
C. Shop Drawings: Submit manufacturer's shop drawings including laying pattern and
anchoring.
D. Samples: Submit manufacturers samples of each product specified.
E. Manufacturer's Certificates: Certify products meet or exceed specified requirements.
F. Closeout Submittals: Provide manufacturer's maintenance instructions that include
recommendations for periodic checking and adjustment and periodic cleaning and
maintenance of all components.

1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Manufacturer Qualifications:

The manufacturer’s Certificate of Conformance shall be submitted to the DM Engineer for

each roll intended for use in the construction prior to the works commencing

Manufacturer’s QC documentation for each roll must include the following:

• Date of manufacture.
• Lot number, roll number, length and width.
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 • Certified copies of the QC of CGCL.
• A statement of origin of the bentonite.
• Bentonite manufacturer QC documentation for the particular lots of geotextile used in
the rolls delivered.
• Geotextile manufacturer QC documentation for the clay/bentonite materials used in the
rolls delivered.
• Reports on tests conducted by the manufacturer.
• Cross referencing list delineating corresponding geotextile and bentonite lots for the
materials used in the rolls delivered.
• QC program laboratory certified reports.
• Manufacturer’s approved QA stamp and the technician’s signature.

If the submitted material is found by the DM Engineer to be non-conforming with the

Specification, it shall not be accepted for use in the construction.

B. CGCL Roll Information:

All CGCL rolls shall be clearly labelled with the following information and recorded in the
Engineer’s field records:

- Product name, grade and name of manufacturer;

- Date of manufacture and batch number;
- Roll number; and
- Roll length and width.
Each installed panel shall be given a unique number and shall cross reference to the as-built
drawings

C. Independent Testing of Properties of CGCL Rolls:

The Contractor shall arrange for independent testing of the CGCL rolls intended for use in
the construction once delivered to site. The sampling shall be performed on the rolls delivered
to site in the presence of the Engineer. The testing shall be performed for parameters and
criteria listed in Table 5.1 by an independent laboratory at the frequencies shown in the Table
below

All CGCL samples are to be collected either by or in the presence of the DM Engineer.
Collected samples are to be transferred to the laboratory under the control of the DM
Engineer
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 Table 1: CGCL CQA Testing Frequency Requirements

Material Property Test Method Units Value Manufacturer’s

Testing Frequency

CGCL (as manufactured)

Mass/unit length of Visual inspection NA NA 1 sample per 40 m
bentonite in overlaps and weighting overlap

CGCL Mass ASTM D5993 g/m2 ≥ 6,050 1 sample per 500 m2

Peel Strength ASTM D6496 N/m ≥ 360 1 sample per 500 m2

Wide Width Tensile ASTM D4595 kN/m ≥ 12 1 sample per 1,000 m2

Strength

Puncture Resistance of AS 3706.5 mm ≥ 17 1 sample per 5,000 m2

Geotextile

Index Flux ASTM D5887 m/s ≤ 1 x 10-10 1 sample per 10,000 m2

Bentonite

Bentonite Mass ASTM D5993 g/m2 ≥ 4,600 1 sample per 2,500 m2

Montmorillonite Content X-ray diffraction % of bulk ≥ 70 1 sample per 10,000 m2

method

Cation Exchange Methylene blue Cmol/kg ≤ 70 1 sample per 500 m2

Capacity method

Moisture Content ASTM g/m2 ≤ 35 1 sample per 500 m2

D1289.2.11

Swell Index ASTM D5890 mL/2g ≥24 1 sample per 500 m2

1.4 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING

A. CGCL rolls shall be transported, handled and stored in such a manner that no damage occurs
to the CGCL. The CGCL rolls shall be wrapped in weather resistant packaging to prevent
premature hydration. Should a CGCL roll be exposed to hydration, The DM Engineer shall
reject part or the entire CGCL on that roll.

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 B. The storage area shall be levelled, drained and stable and the rolls shall be protected from
precipitation, excessive heat, chemicals, UV radiation, standing water, vandalism and animals.
C. CGCL rolls can be stacked on top of each other but shall not exceed three rolls stack height
to provide a safe working environment for the installation personnel.
D. The CGCL shall be deployed using a spreader bar or other approved equipment that shall limit
deflection when the roll is lifted. CGCL rolls shall not be dragged, pushed to the ground from
the delivery vehicle, lifted from one end or in the middle of the roll. The roll cores shall not
deflect by more than half their diameter during transit and handling

1.5 PROJECT CONDITIONS

A. Maintain environmental conditions recommended by manufacturer for desired results. Do not

install products under conditions outside manufacturer's absolute limits.

B. In cold weather, do not use frozen materials or materials coated with ice or frost, and do not
build on frozen base or wet, saturated or muddy subgrade.

C. Protect partially completed work against damage from other construction traffic when work
is in progress.

PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 MATERIALS
A. The CGCL material specification is provided in Table 2

Table 2: Coated GCL Material Specification

Material Property Test Method Units Value Manufacturer’s
Testing Frequency

CGCL (as manufactured)

ASTM D5993, g/m2 ≥ 6,050 1 sample per 4,000 m2

CGCL Mass
EN 14196

Wide Width Tensile ASTM D6768 kN/m ≥ 12 1 sample per 20,000 m2

Strength (MD/XMD)
Peel Strength ASTM D6496 N/m ≥ 360 1 sample per 4,000 m2

Permeability ASTM D5887, m/s ≤ 5 x 10-11 1 sample per 25,000 m2

EN 14150

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 Test Method Units Value Manufacturer’s
Material Property
Testing Frequency

Cover Non-Woven ASTM 5261, g/m2 ≥ 220 1 sample per 20,000 m2

Geotextile Mass EN ISO 9864

Carrier Geotextile AS 3706.1, EN g/m2 ≥ 110 1 sample per 20,000 m2

Mass ISO 9864

Bentonite

Bentonite Mass ASTM D5993, g/m2 ≥ 4,600 1 sample per 4,000 m2

EN 14196

Montmorillonite X-ray diffraction % of bulk ≥ 70 1 sample per 50 tonne

Content method

Carbonate Content X-ray diffraction % of bulk ≤ 1-2 1 sample per 50 tonne

method

Exchange cation
Bentonite Form %wt ≥80 1 sample per 50 tonne
& CEC by NH4

% passing
Bentonite Particle Size AS 1289-3.6.2 ≥80 1 sample per 50 tonne
75 m
(powdered)

Cation Exchange Methylene blue

Cmol/kg ≥ 70 1 sample per 50 tonne
Capacity of Bentonite method

Moisture Content ASTM D5993, g/m2 ≤ 35 1 sample per 4,000 m2

ISO 11465

Swell Index ASTM D5890 mL/2g ≥ 24 1 sample per 50 tonne

Fluid Loss ASTM D5891 mL ≤ 18 1 sample per 50 tonne

Polyethylene coating

Mass EN ISO 9864 g/m2 ≥ 1000 1 sample per 4,000 m2

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PART 3 EXECUTION

3.1 EXAMINATION

A. Do not begin installation until substrates have been properly prepared.

B. Before beginning installation, verify site conditions are as indicated on the Drawings.
Notify the Employer (DM) if site conditions are not acceptable. Do not begin preparation or
installation until unacceptable conditions have been corrected.
C. If substrate preparation is the responsibility of another installer, Notify the Installer to rectify
before proceeding.

3.2 INSTALLATION BY SUBCONTRACTOR

A. The CGCL installation shall be performed by an experienced geo-synthetic lining contractor.

The personnel proposed to carry out testing and installation works shall be experienced and
shall be responsible for all aspects of geo-synthetic lining works required by this Specification.
As a minimum, the geo-synthetic lining contractor shall have proven sufficient experience of
similar geo-synthetic liners.

3.3 UNDERLYING SURFACE

A. The CGCL shall be placed above the finished formation surface to the general locations
indicated on the Drawings. The surface to be lined shall be smooth and free of any debris,
vegetation, roots, sticks, sharp rocks, or other deleterious materials larger than 10 mm in any
dimension, as well as free of any voids, large cracks or standing water.

3.4 PANEL PLACEMENT

A. Panel placement shall be preceded by the preparation of a detailed panel placement plan
which specifies the arrangement of the individual CGCL panels and other features such as
penetrations that will be required. Panels should normally be laid such that joints between
individual panels extend predominantly down slopes. Transverse joints are not permitted on
the slopes.

B. The CGCL shall be deployed using a spreader bar or other approved equipment that shall limit
deflection when the roll is lifted. Each CGCL panel must be inspected following its installation

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 and recorded in a log book. The CGCL surface inspection shall occur during
unrolling/installation to ensure that there is no damage to the material.
C. The Contractor shall ensure that the CGCL is placed with the polyethylene coating facing
down (i.e. against the formation) at all times. CGCL rolls shall be anchored in the anchor
trench. The panels shall overlap in parallel a minimum of 300 mm across the slope and be
oriented in down slope direction (roof tile). Transverse overlaps aren’t permitted. Overlap
zones shall be clean and not contaminated with loose soil or other debris. The Contractor
shall take care that bentonite paste does not contaminate the upper side of CGCL in
preparation of geomembrane installation.
D. CGCL shall be secured in anchor trenches where indicated on the drawings and extend a
minimum 1.5m pass the toe of embankment on the cell floor.
E. Wrinkles should be avoided. If wrinkles extend to edge of the roll due to manufacturing
tolerances, they will need to be removed.
F. CGCL shall not be installed in wet weather or in the presence of excessive humidity (presence
of water drops on the surface exposed to weathering). The installed CGCL panels shall be
covered with geomembrane before the end of each day and before the development of wet
weather. In no case shall any installed CGCL or unwrapped rolls of CGCL be left uncovered at
the end of a day. Any CGCL that has suffered premature hydration prior to being covered
with the geomembrane shall be removed to the satisfaction of the Engineer.
3.5 JOINING
A. The CGCL rolls shall contain a standard 300 mm wide, bentonite enhanced overlap to ensure
that a continuous seal is achieved between adjacent panels. Should roll edges be without
bentonite enhancement, the Contractor shall apply bentonite on all such edges to a minimum
300 mm width. These works shall be to the satisfaction of the Engineer and the Employer
(DM).
B. The CGCL edges shall be positioned to smooth out creases and wrinkles in order to maximize
contact with the underlying panel, the Contractor shall seal the CGCL with a bentonite in
accordance with the manufacturer’s installation recommendations.
C. CGCL overlaps shall be a minimum of 300 mm. In all cases, jointing shall be conducted in
accordance with the manufacturer’s standard installation procedures:

3.6 REPAIR

A. Damaged panels of CGCL, deems appropriate, may be repaired by the Contractor. Damage
that would be suitable for repair is expected to be in the form of minor cuts, tears or holes
and shall be covered using a CGCL patch. If a damaged area is a result of a manufacturing

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 defect (e.g. the stitching between upper and lower geotextile has come apart) the roll or panel
shall be removed and replaced.

PART 4 LARGE-SCALE SHEAR BOX TESTING OF GEOSYNTHETIC MATERIALS

A. Each interface between the various geo-synthetic material and the internal shear resistance
of the GCL shall be tested for interface shear strength. For the tests on the interfaces where
the GCL is not involved, the methods presented in ASTM D 532108 (Standard Test Method
for Determining the Coefficient of Soil and Geo-synthetic or Geo-synthetic and Geo-synthetic
Friction by the Direct Shear Method) should be followed. For the internal shear resistance of
the GCL and those interface tests where the GCL is involved, this should be tested to ASTM
D6243-09 (Standard Test Method for Determining the Internal and Interface Shear
Resistance of Geo-synthetic Clay Liner by the Direct Shear Method).
B. All geo-synthetics should be sheared in the machine direction only, to replicate site conditions
which require them to be laid down the slope in a single continuous length. Samples should
be marked up by the manufacturer appropriately with machine direction indicated by an arrow
and should not be taken from the selvage or edges of a roll. The aim is to replicate site
conditions as closely as reasonably possible.
C. Standard lab temperatures (20-22°C) and relative humidity are anticipated during testing
and conditioning of samples.
D. For the avoidance of doubt, where the GCL is involved the GCL should be hydrated prior to
each test. The 2mm textured HDPE should be representative of the materials to be used on
site in terms of base resin formulation and especially surface texturing, hence interface
friction characteristics.
E. Normal stresses applied for each interface are 10, 20 and 40 kPa to simulate the anticipated
pressure on the slope.
F. Rate of shearing should be relatively low at say 0.2mm/min (constant rate of horizontal
displacement) to generate peak and post-peak / residual shear stresses.
G. Test reports should include a qualitative description and photograph of each interface surface
following testing.
H. The Contractor shall supply a method statement TO Employer (DM) confirming how testing
will be undertaken, identifying where tests will be carried out and confirming time required
from sampling to receipt of test results

END OF SECTION

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