Laboratory Testing of GCLs

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) are mostly used in geoenvironmental engineering. Top and bottom liners are key elements in every landfill. They are usually made as compacted clay liners but some alternative solutions such as GCLs could be used as well, mostly in combination with some other materials. According to the experience in other countries, GCLs have been used in Croatian landfills for several years. Depending upon location and function, GCLs have to fulfil certain conditions. In order to prove the compliance of GCLs properties with the requirements of legal acts and design solutions, laboratory testing is used regularly. The results of some laboratory tests conducted on the specimens of GCLs will be presented in the paper, namely: oedometer tests, direct shear tests and compatibility tests.