Development of Dual Capillary Barrier

system using Recycled Materials.

Presented by
Fakhrur Rozy Harnas

Under the supervision of

Prof Harianto Rahardjo

8 June 2015
 Outline
 Introduction
 Proposed cover system
 Properties of Recycled materials
 1D column test
 2D infiltration box test
 Conclusions
Introduction
 Cover system
 Evaluation of current landfill cover
 Use of C&D waste as civil engineering material
 Objectives
Cover system

Environmental effects: Solar radiation, Temperature,

relative humidity, wind speed
Precipitation

Vegetation
Evaporation/evapotranspiration

Cover system
Deep infiltration

Waste layer

 An interface between protected material and climatic environment

 The need of unsaturated soil principles
 Evaluation of current landfill cover system
 RCRA subtitle cover D (USEPA, 1976)

 Desiccation cracking
 Unreliable over time
 Evaluation of current landfill cover system
 ET cover (Hauser, 2009)  Capillary barrier (Miyazaki,
1983)

 Utilizes the contrast of hydraulic properties of

 Limited potential reuse
fine and coarse-grained layers. Water is
 Required knowledge on plants removed by evaporation and lateral diversion
 Natural and self sustained (inclined)
Evaluation of capillary barrier

 Works in small landfill plot and arid or

semi-arid region (Nyhan, 1997)

 In areas with high rainfall rate, lateral

diversion of the capillary barrier should
be increased because it is the main water
removal process (Krisdani, 2006)

 Lateral diversion capacity depends on

the permeability and thickness of the
fine-grained layer and slope angle (Ross,
1993)
Evaluation of capillary barrier- Available method to
increase lateral diversion
 Increasing the thickness, Increasing
the saturated permeability of fine-
grained layer
 Morris and Stormont (1999) tried to
use UDL to increase lateral
diversion.
 UDL require specific material
different from original fine and
coarse.
 Innovative method is required to
increase the lateral diversion capacity
of capillary barrier
The use of C&D waste as alternative materials

Recycled concrete (RC) Recycled asphalt (RA)

 Because CB does not require cohesive soils

 Traditionally thrown in to landfills
 Used in several civil engineering applications to replace natural aggregates
that is expensive & limited
 Commercially available in Singapore
 Objectives
 To develop a modified capillary barrier system that has higher
lateral diversion capacity in order to reduce infiltration into
landfills.
 To investigate the potential use of RC and RA as materials for
forming the capillary barrier or modified capillary barrier system.
Proposed landfill cover

 Concept of capillary barrier

 Increase in water storage
 Increase in lateral diversion
 Concept of capillary barrier

Fine-grained soil

Water in fine-grained soil pore Coarse-grained soil

r1

r2

Air in coarse-grained soil pore

 The contrast in hydraulic properties between coarse and fine-grained layers creates impedance
 Water only enters the coarse-grained layer when the matric suction of the coarse-grained layer
reaches it water-entry value
 For the continuity of pore-water pressure the matric suction at the base of fine-grained layer should
also reach the value of water-entry value of the coarse-grained layer
Concept of capillary barrier
Concept of capillary barrier

Q max  k s tan   k r d   tan   k w d ( Ross ,1993 )

Dual capillary barrier
Dual capillary barrier-increase in water storage

1.2
0.4
1.6
Initial volumetric water content SCB
1.4 Initial volumetric water content DCBFine grained soil
1.0 CoarseSCB
Volumetric water content at breakthrough grained soil
0.3 Volumetric water content at breakthrough DCB
1.2
content

0.8
(m)

1.0
water(m)

0.2
height
Coverheight

0.8
0.6
Volumetric

Storage capacity of DCB

0.6 Storage capacity of SCB
Cover

0.1
0.4
0.4

0.0
0.2 Initial suction profile
0.2
Suction profile at breakthrough for SCB
0.0 Suction profile at 2nd breakthrough for DCB

0.0
0.01
-12 0.1
-10 1-8 10-6 100-4 1000
-2 100000
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40
Matric
Pore suction
water (kPa)(kPa)
pressure
Volumetric water content
Dual capillary barrier-increase in Lateral diversion

Q max  k s tan   k r d   tan   k w d

1e+0

1e-1 Fine-grained soil

Lateral diversion Coarse-grained soil

Coefficient of permeability (m/s)

1e-2 capacity

1e-3
Warrick's et al (1997)
top integration limit
1e-4

1e-5
Ross's (1990) top
integration limit
1e-6
Ross's
1e-7 (1990) and
Steenhuis's
1e-8 (1991)
bottom
integration
1e-9
limit

1e-10
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Matric suction (kPa)

 Dual capillary barrier-increase in lateral diversion

SCB DCB
1e+0 1e+0

1e-1 Fine-grained layer 1e-1 Top fine-grained layer

Coarse-grained layer Top coarse-grained layer

Coefficient of permeability (m/s)

Coefficient of permeability (m/s)

1e-2 1e-2

1e-3 1e-3
Lateral Lateral diversion
1e-4 diversion 1e-4 capacity of DCB is
capacity of 2x this area
1e-5 1e-5
SCB
1e-6 1e-6

1e-7 1e-7

1e-8 1e-8

1e-9 1e-9

1e-10 1e-10
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Matric suction (kPa) Matric suction (kPa)

Research Program Outline
Property of recycled materials
 Research program
 Results and discussion
Research Program

 Basic properties test: grain-size distribution analyses, soil specific

gravity and relative density tests.
 Hydraulic properties: Saturated permeability, SWCC,
Grain size distribution

GRAVEL SA N D S IL T /C L AY
c oars e fine co arse m edium fine

100 FRC
CRC
FRA
Percent finer (%) 80 CRA

60

40

20

100 10 1 0.1 0.0 1

G rain d ia m e ter (m m )
 Basic properties

Soils
Properties
FRC CRC FRA CRA
1. Unified Soil Classification System
Group symbol SW GP SW GP

Well-graded Poorly graded Well-graded Poorly graded

Group name
sands gravel sands gravel

2. Specific gravity, Gs 2.56 2.62 2.43 2.41

3. Relative density test results
Max. dry density, rd max (Mg/m3) 1.99 1.89 1.92 1.84
Min. dry density, ρd min (Mg/m3) 1.26 1.25 1.3 1.46
Maximum void ratio, emax 1.03 1.10 0.87 0.77
Minimum void ratio, emin 0.29 0.39 0.26 0.44
4. Saturated permeability, ks
Triaxial permeameter (m/s) 1 x 10-4 1 x 10-1 5 x 10-3 5 x 10-1
5. Dry density for test (0.8*max dry
1.59 1.51 1.54 1.47
density)
Water Characteristic Curve

0.6
Data FRC
Data drying FRC
0.6 Data CRC
Data drying FRA
0.5 Data FRA
Fredlund&Xing fit drying FRC
Data CRA
w w

Fredlund&Xing fit drying FRA

Fredlund&Xing fit FRC
0.5 Data wetting FRC
content,

0.4 Fredlund&Xing fit CRC

Data wetting FRA
Fredlund&Xing fit FRA
content,

Fredlund&Xing fit wetting FRC

Fredlund&Xing fit CRA
0.4 Fredlund&Xing fit wetting FRA
0.3
water
water

0.20.3
Volumetric
Volumetric

0.10.2

0.00.1

0.0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
Matric suction (kPa)
Matric suction (kPa)
Permeability functions

100
10-2
FRC
Drying FRC
10-1
CRC
Wetting FRC
10-3

Coefficient of permeability, k (m/s)

FRA

Coefficient of permeability, k (m/s)

Drying FRA
10-2 Wetting
CRAFRA
10-4
10-3

10-5 10-4

10-6 10-5

10-6
10-7
10-7
10-8
10-8

10-9 10-9

0.01 0.01 0.1 0.1 1 1 1010 100

100 1000
1000 10000
10000
Matric Suction
Matric (kPa)
Suction (kPa)
Research Program Outline
1-D column test
 Preliminary numerical modeling
 Research program
 Column setup
 Results and discussion
1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

 Preliminary numerical modeling

 Objective: To narrow down combinations of materials forming
capillary barrier system
 Software: SVFLUX
 Boundary condition:
bottom: pressure head equals to -4m
Top : Flux equals to rainfall 92mm/hr for 1 hr
 Output: net percolation volume at 48 hrs after rainfall
1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

 Combinations of covers investigated

 Percolation (%)
SC

20
40
60
80

0
100

B_
F R
SC C
_C
B_ R
FR C
SC A_
C
B_ R
FR C
SC C
_C
B_ R
FR A
3 SC A_
la C
ye B_ R
rs FR A
3
_F C
la R _F
ye C R
rs
_F A
R
3
_F A
la R _C
ye A_ R
F C
rs R
3
_F C
1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

la R _C
ye C R
_F C

Cover type
rs R
_F A_
R C
A_ R
FR A
D C
C _C
B_ R
FR A
D C
C _ C
B_ R
FR C
A_
C
R
A
1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

1.0 FRA-CRA at breakthrough

FRA-CRC at breakthrough
Soil Interface

0.8
water entry pressure
for FRA-CRA
Depth (m)

0.6 Water entry pressure for

FRA-CRC

0.4

0.2

0.0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0

Pore water pressure (kPa)

1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

1.2 1.2

1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8

Depth (m)
Depth (m)

0.6 0.6

0.4 0.4

0.2
0.2

Initial FRA CRA 0.0 Initial condition FRC-CRA

0.0 At breakhthrough FRA CRA At breakthrough FRC-CRA

0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40

0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35
Volumetric water content
Volumetric water content
1D Column test-prelim. Num. Model

0.5

0.4
Fine-grained layer
Volumetric water content

Coarse-grained layer

0.3 Higher water

storage

0.2

0.1
Lower water
entry
pressure
0.0

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Matric suction (kPa)

Harnas et al., (2013). “Design of landfill cover using C&D waste: Material Characterization and
Numerical Modeling”
1D Column test- research program
1D Column test- research program

Infiltration Evaporation Infiltration Evaporation

Column Intensity duration duration Column Intensity duration duration

No. Test (mm/hr) (hr) Mode (hr) No. Test (mm/hr) (hr) Mode (hr)
1 2
CM_FRA_CRA_UI - - - - CM_FRC_CRC_UI - - - -
CM_FRA_CRA_DD - - - - CM_FRC_CRC_DD - - - -
CM_FRA_CRA_RF1 4 6 - - CM_FRC_CRC_RF1 4 6 - -
CM_FRA_CRA_RF2 8 6 - - CM_FRC_CRC_RF2 8 6 - -
CM_FRA_CRA_RF3 50 1 - - CM_FRC_CRC_RF3 50 1 - -
3
CM_FRA_CRA_RF4 4 6 - - CM_DCB_FRA_CRA_UI - - - -
CM_FRA_CRA_EV1 - - Lamp 48 CM_DCB_FRA_CRA_DD - - - -
CM_FRA_CRA_RF5 8 6 - - CM_DCB_FRA_CRA_RF1 4 6 - -
CM_FRA_CRA_EV2 - - Lamp 48 CM_DCB_FRA_CRA_RF2 8 6 - -
CM_FRA_CRA_RF6 50 1 CM_DCB_FRA_CRA_RF3 50 1 - -
CM_FRA_CRA_EV3 - - Lamp 48
1D Column test-Column setup
1D Column test-Instruments

Tensiometer-transducer system for

PWP measurement
1D Column test-Instruments

TRASE system for water content measurement

1D Column test-Instruments

Weighing balance with automatic reading

1D Column test-Leakage test

To check leakage
from column and
column connection.
1D Column test-Installations
1D Column test-operations
 Typical behavior of 1D CB-drawdown

1.0

0.8
Column height (m)

0.6
fine-grained layer

coarse-grained layer
0.4

residual matric suction head

0.2

0.0
0.0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8

Pore-water pressure head, hp

• Static non-equilibrium condition, Limit the thickness of the coarse-

grained layer
Typical behavior of 1D CB- Low q

1.0

1 2 3 4

0.8
water-entry value head
Elevation, z (m)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
-0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Pore-water pressure head, hp

Typical behavior of 1D CB – High q

1.0 hq

1
2
0.8

water-entry value head

3
Elevation, z (m)

0.6 4

0.4

0.2

0.0
-0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Pore-water pressure head, hp

1D column test-Recycled material as a CB

1.0

0.9
Elevation, z (m)

0.8

0.7
water storage of a
single layer of FRA

0.6
water storage of a
FRA_CRA capillary
barrier

0.5
0.16 0.18 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.28 0.30

Volumetric water content, w

1D column test-Recycled material as a CB

1.0

0.9
water storage of
water storage of a a FRC_CRC
single layer of capillary barrier
Elevation, z (m)

FRC
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45

Volumetric water content, w

 1D column test-Recycled material as a CB
2000

1500 precipitation

1000
Water volume (mL)

water storage changes CM_FRA_CRA

500

0
water storage changes CM_FRC_CRC
-500

drainage CM_FRA_CRA
-1000

drainage CM_FRC_CRC
-1500
0 10 20 30 40

Time (hrs)
 1D column test-Effect of evaporation
1.0
1.0

0.8
0.8
Elevation, z (m)

Elevation, z (m)
0.6
0.6
FRA
FRA
CRA
CRA
0.4 (a) RF5
0.4
t=0 (rainfall start)
t=0 (rainfall start)
t=1hr
t=1hr
t=2hrs
0.2 t=2hrs
t=4hrs 0.2 t=4hrs
t=6hrs t=6hrs
Interface (a) RF2 interface
0.0
0.0
-1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0
-1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0
Pore-water pressure head, hp (m) Pore-water pressure head, hp (m)
1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8
Elevation, z (m)

0.6 Elevation, z (m) 0.6

FRA FRA

CRA CRA
(b) EV2
0.4 0.4
t=6hrs(rainfall end) t=6hrs(rainfall end)
t=8hrs t=8hrs
t=12hrs t=12hrs
0.2 0.2
t=24hrs t=24hrs
t=48hrs t=48hrs
Interface
(b) D2 interface

0.0 0.0
-1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0 -1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

Pore-water pressure head, hp (m) Pore-water pressure head, hp (m)

 Change in negative pore-water pressure during drainage and rainfall.

 1D column test-Effect of evaporation

 However, the water balance did not change much.

 Effect of evaporation is quite small.

 Harnas et al., (2014) “Effect of evaporation on the performance of capillary

barrier”
1D column- DCB Increase in water storage

 Rahardjo et al., (2013) “Capillary barrier system for landfill capping”

1D column- DCB Increase in water storage

2000

1500
12% increase

1000
Water volume (mL)

500

0
Precipitation
Drainage SCB
-500 Water storage SCB
Drainage DCB
Water storage DCB
-1000

-1500

-2000
0 10 20 30 40

Time (hr)
 1D column Increase in water storage

 Harnas et al., (2014) “Experimental study on dual capillayr barrier”

Research Program Outline
2-D infiltration box test results
 Research program
 Results and discussion
 2D infiltration box-research program

 Fine and coarse recycled asphalt were used as materials for 2-D
infiltration study
 2D infiltration box-research program

Infiltration Infiltration
Slope Slope
BoxNo. Test Intensity duration BoxNo. Test Intensity duration
angle angle
(mm/hr) (hr) (mm/hr) (hr)

BM_SCB15_Sat 0 - - BM_SCB30_5Deg_RF1 5 10 1

BM_SCB15_DD1 2 - - BM_SCB30_5Deg_RF2 5 20 1

BM_SCB15_2Deg_RF1 2 10 1 2 BM_SCB30_DD3 7 - -

1 BM_SCB15_2Deg_RF2 2 20 1 BM_SCB30_7Deg_RF1 7 10 1

BM_SCB15_DD2 5 - - BM_SCB30_7Deg_RF2 7 20 1

BM_SCB15_5Deg_RF1 5 10 1 BM_DCB_Sat 0 - -

BM_SCB15_5Deg_RF2 5 20 1 BM_DCB_DD1 2 - -

BM_SCB30_Sat 0 - - BM_DCB_2Deg_RF1 2 10 1
BM_SCB30_DD1 2 - - 3 BM_DCB_2Deg_RF2 2 20 1

2 BM_SCB30_2Deg_RF1 2 10 1 BM_DCB_DD2 5 - -

BM_SCB30_2Deg_RF2 2 20 1 BM_DCB_5Deg_RF1 5 10 1

BM_SCB30_DD2 5 BM_DCB_5Deg_RF2 5 20 1
2D infiltration Box- Setup
2D infiltration Box- Setup
2D infiltration Box- Setup
2D infiltration Box- Setup
2D infiltration Box- Setup
2D infiltration Box-instruments
 2D infiltration Box- Results Typical behavior of CB
Pore-water pressure head, hp(m)

Volumetric water content, w (%)

0.0

-0.2 Tensiometer-Coarse layer 40

a c
-0.4 30
b Tensiometer-Fine layer
-0.6 20
Moisture Sensor-Fine layer
-0.8 10
Moisture Sensor-Coarse layer
-1.0 0

Elapsed time, t (h)

 a value depends on the location or height of the instruments

 b value depends on the rainfall intensity and location of the
instruments.
 c value depends on the slope angle, thickness and rainfall
intensity
 2D infiltration Box- Water Balance and Performance
Lateral diversion
Test (%)
10
BM_SCB15_2deg_RF1 42
Precipitation

5
Percolation
Lateral diversion
BM_SCB15_2deg_RF2 32
Water balance (kg)

BM_SCB15_5deg_RF1 61
0
BM_SCB15_5deg_RF2 46

-5 BM_SCB30_2deg_RF1 53

BM_SCB30_2deg_RF2 41
-10
0 10 20 30 40
BM_SCB30_5deg_RF1 92
Elapsed time, t (hour)

BM_SCB30_5deg_RF2 88

BM_SCB30_7deg_RF1 100

BM_SCB30_7deg_RF2 100

 Larger slope angle creates larger lateral diversion %

 Higher rainfall intensity creates lower lateral diversion %
 Thicker fine grained layer creates larger lateral diversion %
2D infiltration Box- Effect of thickness numerical
model

1.0

Normalized lateral diversion capacity

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Fine-grained layer
Coarse-grained layer

0.5
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2

Thickness of layer (m)

 2D infiltration Box- Typical readings
Pore-water pressure head, hp(m)

Volumetric water content, w

1.0
0.0
Tensiometer at lower coarse-grained layer
0.8
-0.2 Tensiometer at lower fine-grained layer

-0.4
Tensiometer at upper coarse-grained layer
0.6
Tensiometer at upper fine-grained layer
-0.6 0.4
Moisture sensor at lower fine-grained layer
-0.8
Moisture sensor at upper fine-grained layer 0.2
-1.0 Moisture sensor at upper and lower coarse-grained layer

0.0
2D infiltration Box- Flow pattern
 2D infiltration Box- Lateral diversion percentages

Lateral diversion
Test (%)
Test Lateral diversion (%)
BM_SCB15_2deg_RF1 42 BM_DCB_2deg_RF1 82
BM_SCB15_2deg_RF2 32 BM_DCB_2deg_RF2 75
BM_DCB_5deg_RF1 100
BM_SCB15_5deg_RF1 61
BM_DCB_5deg_RF1 100
BM_SCB15_5deg_RF2 46

BM_SCB30_2deg_RF1 53

BM_SCB30_2deg_RF2 41

BM_SCB30_5deg_RF1 92

BM_SCB30_5deg_RF2 88

BM_SCB30_7deg_RF1 100

BM_SCB30_7deg_RF2 100
 Conclusions
a. The 1-D laboratory column test and the 2-D infiltration box test results showed that RA
and RC can be used as materials for constructing capillary barriers.

b. An increase in water storage was obtained when a single capillary barrier was used
compared to a single layer cover.

c. There are two desired characteristics of materials used for capillary barrier construction.
The first characteristic is that the coarse-grained layer material should have a low water-
entry value. The second characteristic is that the fine-grained layer material should have a
high water storage capacity.

d. The 1-D laboratory column test and numerical modeling results showed that, due to the
low residual volumetric water content and low air-entry value of FRA, the fine-grained
layer of the capillary barrier constructed from FRA stored more water before
breakthrough than the capillary barrier constructed from FRC.
 Conclusions
e. The thickness of the coarse-grained layer in SCB and DCB systems can be limited to the
residual matric suction head of the coarse-grained layer

f. Evaporative flux affected the pore-water pressure head in the capillary barrier. A more
negative initial condition of the pore-water pressure head was achieved with the
application of evaporative flux. As a result, the initial condition enabled the column to
store more water during rainfall before breakthrough occurred. Nevertheless, the
increase in water storage was relatively small due to the fact that the water availability in
the fine-grained layer was low

g. The increase in slope angle and thickness of the fine-grained layer increased the lateral
diversion capacity of the single capillary barrier. Increasing the thickness of the fine-
grained layer could be used to increase the water storage and lateral diversion of the
capillary barrier. However, the parametric study results showed there was a threshold
limit beyond which increasing the thickness of the fine-grained layer barrier did not
significantly increase the water storage and lateral diversion capacity. The thickness of
the fine-grained layer can be limited to its air-entry value.
 Conclusions
h. A comparison of the volumetric water content profiles and water balance graphs of the
laboratory column test results showed that DCB stores more water than SCB before
breakthrough

i. The laboratory infiltration box test results show that DCB can achieve a significantly higher
lateral diversion capacity than SCB for the same slope angle and rainfall intensity
 Publications
 Harnas, FR., Rahardjo, H., Leong, EC., Wang, JY. (2014) "An Experimental study on
dual capillary barrier". Canadian Geotechnical Journal. doi 10.1139/cgj-2013-0432
 Harnas, FR., Rahardjo, H, Leong, EC, Wang. JY. "Design of landfill cover using C&D
waste: Material Characterization and Numerical Modeling". In Proceeding of 18th South
East Asian Geotechnical Conference, Singapore 29-31 May 2013
 Rahardjo, H., Satyanaga, A., Harnas, FR., Leong, EC. Wang, JY. "Capillary barrier
systems for landfill capping". In proceeding of Coupled Phenomena in Environmental
Geotechnics, Torino-Italy 1-3 July 2013.
 Harnas, FR, Rahardjo, H, Leong, EC, Wang JY. "Effect of evaporation on the
performance of capillary barrier" In Proceedings of the 14th IACMAG, Japan 22-25
September 2014.

Under review:
 Harnas, FR., Rahardjo, H Leong, EC, Wang. JY. “ A physical model for the investigation
of capillary barrier performance” Geotechnical Testing Journal.
 Acknowledgements
 NTU research scholarship
 R3C, NEWRI
 Prof. Harianto Rahardjo
 Laboratory Technician and Supervisors
 Unsaturated soils research group NTU
 Family and friends
End. Thank you