Field scale trials of a geosynthetic capillary break
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis discusses the field testing of a newly-developed product, a geosynthetic capillary break (GCB). The GCB was developed for use in engineered soil covers when a cover incorporating a capillary break effect would be desirable, but the coarse-grained material (gravel or sand) is unavailable or uneconomical. Engineered soil covers aim to reduce the amount of acid generated from sulphide bearing waste by limiting the ingress of water and/or oxygen. The GCB is a geosynthetic system that is composed of a finely ground rock flour sandwiched between two nonwoven geotextiles and manufactured as a composite layer by needle punching in a process similar to the used for GCL (geosynthetic clay liner). The goal of the GCB is to recreate the capillary break that is achieved with soil layers using a geosynthetic product that is only a few centimetres thick and that can be rolled up and for transportation, The GCB concept has been demonstrated in a previous study (Park, 2005) based on laboratory column studies and computer modelling. The goal of this project was to determine the effectiveness of the GCB when applied at field scale. Four 25 square test plots were constructed at the tailings management area (TMA) of the HudBay Minerals Inc.(HudBay) mine site located near Flin Flon, MB. One plot contained 1 m of cover soil over top of the GCB (Plot A), one contained only 1 m of cover soil (Plot B), one contained 0.3 m of cover soil over top the GCB (Plot C), and one consisted of a conventional capillary break system with 1 m of cover soil over lying 0.2 m of sand. All of the plots, along with a control plot with no cover, were instrumented with water content sensors and gas sampling ports to monitor the movement of water and oxygen through the various covers. Matric suction sensors were also installed in Plots A and B to measure the water suction within the covers. A meteorological station was installed to gather climatic data which was used to develop a water balance for eac…
abstract: This thesis discusses the field testing of a newly-developed product, a geosynthetic capillary break (GCB). The GCB was developed for use in engineered soil covers when a cover incorporating a capillary break effect would be desirable, but the coarse-grained material (gravel or sand) is unavailable or uneconomical. Engineered soil covers aim to reduce the amount of acid generated from sulphide bearing waste by limiting the ingress of water and/or oxygen. The GCB is a geosynthetic system that is composed of a finely ground rock flour sandwiched between two nonwoven geotextiles and manufactured as a composite layer by needle punching in a process similar to the used for GCL (geosynthetic clay liner). The goal of the GCB is to recreate the capillary break that is achieved with soil layers using a geosynthetic product that is only a few centimetres thick and that can be rolled up and for transportation, The GCB concept has been demonstrated in a previous study (Park, 2005) based on laboratory column studies and computer modelling. The goal of this project was to determine the effectiveness of the GCB when applied at field scale. Four 25 square test plots were constructed at the tailings management area (TMA) of the HudBay Minerals Inc.(HudBay) mine site located near Flin Flon, MB. One plot contained 1 m of cover soil over top of the GCB (Plot A), one contained only 1 m of cover soil (Plot B), one contained 0.3 m of cover soil over top the GCB (Plot C), and one consisted of a conventional capillary break system with 1 m of cover soil over lying 0.2 m of sand. All of the plots, along with a control plot with no cover, were instrumented with water content sensors and gas sampling ports to monitor the movement of water and oxygen through the various covers. Matric suction sensors were also installed in Plots A and B to measure the water suction within the covers. A meteorological station was installed to gather climatic data which was used to develop a water balance for eac…
author: Meier, Adam Dale Andrew
language: en_US
keywords: capillary break, engineered soil cover, geosynthetic
date published: 2011-04
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:27:13Z
provider: University of Saskatchewan
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Saskatchewan

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-04142011-153338