Performance Comparison of Geodrain Drainage and Gravel Drainage Layers Embedded in a Horizontal Plane

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Landfill construction requires drainage layers for base and cover, traditionally using gravel.
• Gravel drainage systems are material-intensive and costly to implement.
• Geocomposite materials present a potential alternative for enhanced landfill drainage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the drainage properties of a specific geocomposite (Pozidrain 7S250D/NW8) with traditional gravel drainage.
• To evaluate the efficiency of geocomposites as a substitute for gravel in landfill drainage applications.
• To assess the potential for cost reduction in landfill construction through the use of geocomposites.

Main Methods:

• Model testing was conducted on a specialized test stand to simulate landfill drainage conditions.
• Two models were prepared: one with gravel drainage (Model #1) and another with geocomposite drainage (Model #2).
• Key drainage parameters, including volumetric flow rate and water suction speed, were measured and compared.

Main Results:

• The geocomposite achieved a maximum volumetric flow rate of 40 dm³·min⁻¹, while gravel reached up to 140 dm³·min⁻¹.
• Water suction speed was higher for the geocomposite (0.067 m³·s⁻¹) compared to gravel (0.024 m³·s⁻¹).
• The geocomposite demonstrated sufficient water drainage efficiency for landfill applications.

Conclusions:

• Geocomposite materials provide adequate drainage performance, comparable to traditional gravel layers.
• Utilizing geocomposites can lead to substantial reductions in material and financial expenditures for landfill construction.
• The integration of geocomposites, potentially on landfill slopes, offers a cost-effective and efficient drainage solution.