A simple method to control the hydraulic conductivity of clay liners.

An approach to determine the pore size distribution and permeability of clay liners, which are used as impermeabilizing layers in waste disposal, is presented in this paper. To validate the proposed approach, extensive experimental research was carried out in the laboratory using mercury porosimetry tests and traditional falling head permeability tests, both performed on reconstructed cohesive soil specimens. By comparing porosimetry results with traditional permeability test data, using some available theoretical methods, it is shown that this approach yields a simple and reliable control of the hydraulic conductivity of cohesive soil.