Technical Note -A: Geomembrane laminated GCLs - The position of geomembrane weather it is

laminated to woven or non-woven side of the GCLs

After reviewing various GCL manufacturing competitors’ methodologies and moreover referring
various standard textbooks on GM-GCLs, the following conclusions are derived.

Please see the below listed of GM-GCLs (GBR-C) composites from various competitors:

Geomembrane / PE film / Geomembrane / PE film / PE Geomembrane / PE film / PE

PE coating laminated to coating laminated to Non- coating laminated either Woven
Woven side of GCL Woven side of GCL or No-woven sides of GCL
NAUE (BENTOFIX X2 CETCO (BENTOMAT CL, CLT & GRI GCL5 – tells that any geotextile
NSP4900 & X5F NSP4900) 600CL) can be used as carrier layer
– https://www.dropbox.com/s/ https://www.dropbox.com/s/cwia4
PE coating 0.2 & 0.5mm pbhdj8hi0dupgjk/CETCO%20B 26dlja7wkl/GRI-GCL5%20-
thickness ENTOMAT%20CL%2C%20CLT% %20Design%20Considerations%20f
https://www.dropbox.co 20%26%20600CL.pdf?dl=0 or%20Geosynthetic%20Clay%20Lin
m/s/w8gmrw7we7e76wq/ ers%20%28GCLs%29%20in%20Vari
BENTOFIX-BROCHURE- ous%20Applications.pdf?dl=0
NSP-X2-and-X5F.pdf?dl=0
TERRAFIX (BENTOFIX MACCAFERRI (MACLINE NL) – EUROBENT CS – upon request PE
CNSL) – The bottom both sides non-woven geomembrane can be laminated on
woven (W) geotextile geotextiles and one side to the woven or non-woven side of
contains a rugged laminated with PE membrane the GCL.
adhesive geofilm https://www.dropbox.com/s/ https://www.environmental-
https://www.dropbox.co uyu6p5udho8rz3l/TDS%20MA expert.com/downloads/eurobent-
m/s/bnzoq9lv8f7hpoi/Ben CLINE%20GCL%20NL10%2020. cs-application-431002
tofix- pdf?dl=0
CNSL%20from%20Terrafix.
pdf?dl=0
GSE (BENTOLINER CNSL) -
uniform polypropylene
geofilm coating applied to
the woven surface
https://www.dropbox.co
m/s/pykpd0g9eoy01yt/GS
E%20BentoLiner_CNSL_GC
L_METRIC_DS.pdf?dl=0

Technical advantages where geomembrane laminated to Woven side of GCL are follows:
 Since, non-woven side of GCL is resting on subgrade (contact with ground), it develops higher
interface friction with subgrade soil. Refer below table for immediate reference.

DATE:07/04/2021 1
Technical Note -A: Geomembrane laminated GCLs - The position of geomembrane weather it is
laminated to woven or non-woven side of the GCLs

 As shown in below figure, Composite GM/GCL liner with questionable intimate contact.

Further, referring below table2.7, where we can prove that woven geotextiles have better
transmissivity & permeability restriction properties comparing to Now-woven needle
punched geotextiles. Means, the radial spreading of leachate from the top geomembrane leak
is less in woven geotextiles compared to non-woven geotextiles.

If non-woven is laminated with geomembrane the leachate will penetrate into bentonite and
the acidic/saline nature of the leachate will replace sodium ions with calcium ions reach
leachate. Therefore, the GCL losses the property of swelling and deteriorates their hydraulic
performance.

 The primary application of woven geotextiles is for reinforcement. Therefore, geomembrane

lamination to woven geotextile will improve the membrane reinforcement effect in the GCL
and it can take higher stresses. Additionally, its lower flow rate capacity compared to non-
woven geotextiles is advantageous.

 The non-woven geotextiles have higher puncture strength. Therefore, if it acts as carrier on
the sub-grade, it can resist puncture from the protrusions. If non-woven geotextile is
laminated with geomembrane then the woven side of GCL rests on the ground, where woven
geotextile is lesser puncture resistance which limits the long term resistance.

DATE:07/04/2021 2
Technical Note -A: Geomembrane laminated GCLs - The position of geomembrane weather it is
laminated to woven or non-woven side of the GCLs

Conclusion:

“By considering all the above listed technical points, it can be conclude that
the laminating geomembranes on to the woven side of the GCL could be
more advantages.”

Apart from the above topic, refer below highlighted important notes which are given in ASTM D6102
and GRI GCL3 & GCL5 below especially on GCL installation point of view:

As per “ASTM D6102, Installation of GCLs”

- The subgrade on which GCL is going to be placed should be firm and unyielding, with no abrupt
elevation changes, voids and cracks, ice or standing water. Furthermore, all protrusions
extending more than 12mm from the subgrade surface shall either be removed, crushed, or
pushed into the surface with a smooth-drum compactor (ASTM D6102).

- Unless otherwise specified, the minimum dimension of the longitudinal GCLs overlap should
be 150 mm. End-of-roll overlapped seams should be constructed similarly but the minimum
overlap should measure 500 mm. In the overlap area a minimum of 400 g/m loose bentonite
should be placed between panel overlaps.

- Damaged area: The patch shall be obtained from a new GCL roll and shall be cut to size such
that a minimum overlap of 300 mm is achieved around all parts of the damaged area. Dry
bentonite or bentonite mastic should be applied around the damaged area prior to placement
of the patch.

- A minimum of 300 mm of cover shall be maintained between the equipment tires/tracks and
the GCL at all times during the covering process.

As per “GRI-GCL3 & GCL5 Standard manufacturing specifications on geomembrane laminated

GCLs”
- Various tests on GCL composite, geotextiles, bentonite, geomembrane / geofilms
components, refer to GRI-GCL3.
- Geofilm is a thin polymeric film which is essentially impermeable having a thickness no greater
than 0.25 mm. These geofilm layers are included onto the top of cap geotextile either by
reinforced needle punched or non-reinforced methods.
- Bentonite is a distinct type of fine-grained clay soil typically containing not less than 80%
montmorillonite clay, usually characterized by high swelling upon wetting.
- In GBR-C (Geosynthetic Clay Barrier), GCLs are combined with HDPE / LLDPE / Geofilm whose
minimum thickness requirement is 0.4mm for smooth geomembranes and 0.1mm for geofilm.

DATE:07/04/2021 3