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The Influence of Asperities and Surface Roughness on Geomembrane/Geotextile Interface Friction Angle

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study that investigated the influence of asperities and roughness on the shear responses of geomembrane/geotextile interfaces. This study was aimed at providing a scientific explanation of the effect of surface texturing on geomembrane/geotextile interfaces shear behaviour as well as to recommend the quantification of asperity and roughness characteristics which mobilises optimised shear strength for the considered interface. The GMB/GTX interface shear tests were conducted according to ASTM D5321, under saturated conditions with the “305 mm by 305 mm” direct shear box at applied normal stresses of 25–400 kPa. The experimental outcome showed that the variation in geomembrane asperity height and surface roughness (from slightly textured to highly textured geomembranes) eventually mobilised an increase of 20° in the peak interface friction angle values. It was, however, observed that as the surface texturing was increased, more pronounced wear occurred which resulted in a relatively minimal increase of 6° in the large displacement friction angle. In addition, the geomembrane surface with asperity height of 1.2 mm and average surface areal roughness of 75 μm was observed to develop optimal peak friction angle for the considered geomembrane/geotextile interface. These observations were validated by means of post-shear deformation evaluation and it is anticipated that the findings presented herein would be useful in the design of geotechnical systems comprising of geomembrane/geotextile interface with enhanced stability and durability

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Acknowledgements

The research described in this paper has been supported by the financial contribution from the Geosynthetics Institute (GSI), Folsom, USA through the GSI Fellowship Grant. This support is gratefully acknowledged. In addition, appreciation is extended to the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at the University of Cape Town for the robust financial assistance towards conducting the study. All the geomembranes and geotextiles used in this investigation were, respectively, provided by AKS Liner Systems (Pty) Ltd in Cape Town, South Africa and Fibertex South Africa (Pty) Ltd in Johannesburg, South Africa, for which the authors are most grateful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Daniel Adeleke, Denis Kalumba & Lita Nolutshungu

  2. PSM Technologies, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Johnny Oriokot

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Alejandro Martinez

Authors
  1. Daniel Adeleke
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  2. Denis Kalumba
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  3. Lita Nolutshungu
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  4. Johnny Oriokot
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  5. Alejandro Martinez
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Contributions

All the listed authors contributed to the manuscript’s development in a distinguishable manner. As the main supervisor and first co-supervisor, A/Prof Denis Kalumba and Ms Lita Nolutshungu supported the research conception, design, and experiments. Mr. Johnny Oriokot functioned as the second co-supervisor and provided technical insight to material selection and field application of geosynthetics. In addition, all geosynthetics roughness tests were conducted at the University of California, Davis, under A/Prof Alejandro Martinez’s supervision and direction. The manuscript’s first draft was written by Mr Daniel Adeleke and commented upon by all the other authors. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Daniel Adeleke.

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Adeleke, D., Kalumba, D., Nolutshungu, L. et al. The Influence of Asperities and Surface Roughness on Geomembrane/Geotextile Interface Friction Angle. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 7, 20 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-021-00265-y

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