Composite landfill liner design with Ankara clay, Turkey

This study presents an overview of the geotechnical properties of the clayey soils, referred to as Ankara clay, at two sites of the Ankara region in an attempt to design a landfill profile composed of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane/clay composite liner through the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model and the Water Balance Method. The geotechnical properties of the landfill layers along with the water balance factors (i.e., evapotranspiration, precipitation, temperature, etc.) were assessed to determine the height of the water-saturated zone in the refuse above the composite liner for landfill design. The cumulative expected leakage rates through the composite liner constructed with compacted Ankara clay were related quantitatively to the cumulative average leachate head. The results of this investigation show that the leakage rates through the composite liner are within tolerable limits.     

Utilization of red mud as a stabilization material for the preparation of clay liners

Red mud is a waste material generated by the Bayer Process widely used to produce alumina from bauxite throughout the world. Approximately, 35% to 40% per ton of bauxite treated using the Bayer Process ends up as red mud waste. Because of storing issues, the waste negatively affects the environment. To solve this problem, it is essential to investigate different uses for red mud waste. The potential use of red mud for the preparation of stabilization material is presented in this study. This study examines the effects of red mud on the unconfined compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity, and swelling percentage of compacted clay liners as a hydraulic barrier. The test results show that compacted clay samples containing red mud and cement–red mud additives have a high compressive strength and decreased the hydraulic conductivity and swelling percentage as compared to natural clay samples. Consequently, it is concluded that red mud and cement–red mud materials can be successfully used for the stabilization of clay liners in geotechnical applications.     

Development of a geotechnical and geophysical database for seismic zonation of the Ankara Basin,Turkey

Engineering geological and geotechnical site characteristics were assessed and seismic hazard studies performed for the Upper Pliocene to Pleistocene fluvial and Quaternary alluvial and terrace deposits for a site west of Ankara, Turkey. Sediment conditions were determined and a soil profile was characterized by surface geophysical methods. These studies were integrated with existing in-situ characterization studies to create a seismic and geotechnical database for the site. A seismic zonation map of the site was then prepared. Site classification systems were assigned to account for site effects in relation to seismic hazard assessments. The consequences of the seismic hazards were investigated and recommendations were presented.     

膨润土改性黄土衬里防渗性能室内测试与预测

试验测定了膨润土改性黄土试样的渗透系数,研究膨润土改性黄土用作废弃物填埋场衬里的可行性,为天然黏土匮乏地区防渗材料本土化提供依据。选取两种代表性黄土,即黏性较大的兰州黄土(LH)和砂性较大的榆林黄土(YH),分别向其中添加不同比例的两种膨润土后击实成样,利用柔性壁渗透仪测定改性黄土的渗透系数,分析了改性黄土渗透系数随膨润土添加率增大的变化规律,确定了满足衬里防渗要求的膨润土添加率。利用扫描电镜照片统计了改性黄土的孔隙特征参数,发现添加膨润土后黄土中原有的大孔隙被充填或分隔成更多的中、小孔隙,有效阻滞了渗流液体通过,从微观结构的角度揭示了改性黄土渗透性降低的实质。依据实测数据建立了膨润土改性黄土的渗透回归模型,据此可以预测不同添加量的膨润土改性黄土的渗透系数。     

Modification of the liquefaction potential index and liquefaction susceptibility mapping for a liquefaction-prone area (Inegol,Turkey)

Although some liquefaction assessment methods were proposed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of sandy soils, the conventional method based on the standard penetration test (SPT) has been commonly used in most countries and in Turkey. However, it alone is not a sufficient tool for the evaluation of liquefaction potential. The liquefaction potential index was proposed to quantify the severity of liquefaction. Nevertheless, the liquefaction potential index and the severity categories do not answer the question: "Which areas will not liquify?" Besides, the categories do not include a "moderate" category; on the other hand, the "high" and "low" categories are included. This situation is also contrary to the nature of classification schemes. In this study, the liquefaction potential index and the liquefaction potential categories were modified by considering the existing form of the categories based on the liquefaction potential index. While the category of low was omitted, the categories of moderate and "non-liquefied" were adopted. A factor of safety of 1.2 was assumed as the lowest value for the liquefaction potential category of non-liquefied. In addition, the town of Inegol in the Marmara region became the case study for checking the performance of the liquefaction potential categories suggested in this study.     

Diagenetic and low-grade metamorphic terranes of Gaspé Peninsula related to the geological structure of the Taconian and Acadian orogenic belts, Quebec Appalachians

Abstract Illite crystallinity (IC) measurements, determination of the proportion of 2M mica-polytypes and organic-matter reflectance measurements establish regional diagenetic/low-grade metamorphic trends for the Taconian and Acadian belts of Gaspé Peninsula. IC varies as a function of many factors besides maximum burial temperature and heating time. Correlation between IC and %2M illite polytypes for the Fortin Group and Temiscouata Formation suggests (i) that the amount of high-grade detrital mica in the samples is low, and (ii) that IC can be used with some confidence as an estimator of regional thermal maturation levels. Correlation of these parameters with available organic reflectance values further supports this assumption. The illites of the Temiscouata and western Fortin groups are mostly phengitic in composition, whereas in the eastern outcrop belt they are more Mg- and Fe-rich (celadonitic), but generally also of lower grade and lower 2M content. The d(060) values for illites measured on the unorientated <2-μm fraction of samples fall between 1.502 and 1.503 Å (range: 1.500–1.504 Å), indicating relatively low octahedral occupancy by Mg and Fe (between one-fifth and one-third of the available spaces). Pyrophyllite and paragonite were not detected. Chlorites are Fe-rich and ripidolitic. The IC map for the Acadian belt of the peninsula displays general congruence between IC contours (2200 sample points) and structural trends for the 27,000-km² area. The highest grades (anchimetamorphic) are associated with the oldest rocks (Honorat and Matapedia groups) exposed in the cores of major anticlines. Anchimetamorphic grades associated with the western outcrop belt of the Lower Devonian Fortin Group require 7–8 km of subsidence to accommodate sufficient thickness of overlying younger rocks (on top of 4–5 km of Fortin Group deep-water clastics) to explain the grades in terms of burial metamorphism assuming a geothermal gradient of 30° C km^?1. The lowest-grade diagenetic rocks occupy a large area in the northeastern part of the peninsula, smaller areas in the northwestern part of the Acadian belt, in the centre of Chaleurs Bay synclinorium, and in the Ordovician Mictaw Group. The contact between the Taconian and Acadian belt is marked by a distinct maturation discontinuity. The Grand Pabos fault juxtaposes rocks of contrasting maturation levels (Matapedia Group against Fortin Group) in the west, but shows no maturation offset further east in the Honorat Group. The fault zone limiting the Fortin Group in the north is also associated with a major IC jump.