Physical Response of Geomembrane Wrinkles Overlying Compacted Clay

Abstract

The short-term physical response of a 1.5-mm-thick, high-density polyethylene geomembrane with an artificially formed wrinkle and overlying three different subgrade materials (sand and compacted clay at two initial water contents) are reported. The influence of the subgrade, protection layer, backfill, and applied pressure on the fate of the gap beneath the wrinkle, wrinkle deformations, and local geomembrane indentations is investigated. The gap beneath the geomembrane wrinkle was observed to remain with sand above and below the geomembrane, even at applied pressures of