The Effect of the Matric Suction of Compacted Polyurethane-Clay Liner on the Development of Desiccation Cracks

Sanitary landfills utilize impermeable liners to prevent leachate leakage, and the incorporation of polymer in clay layers have been studied to reduce the permeability. Studies that incorporated the polymer, polyurethane, with clay showed decreased permeability and shrinkage potential. Thus, the study investigates the crack propagation in a compacted clay layer drying on a grooved acrylic plate, which simulates friction during drying. The matric suction from the wet to dry condition was evaluated to determine its effect on the development of cracks. The findings indicate that the clay compacted with lower effort exhibited a lower suction, which reduced the cracks due to the reduction of internal stresses. Moreover, the increase in particle size induced by incorporating polyurethane affected the development of cracks.