Effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) on the engineering properties of geosynthetics

A study is described that was conducted to evaluate how acid mine drainage (AMD) affects the mechanical and hydraulic properties of geosynthetics used for mine waste containment. Tests were conducted over a 22-mo period on samples of a geomembrane, a geotextile, and a drainage geocomposite immersed in AMD or deionized (DI) water at 20, 40, and 60°C. Mechanical tests (wide-strip tensile, puncture, and trapezoidal tear tests) were conducted on the geomembrane and geotextile. Hydraulic tests (transmissivity and permittivity tests) were conducted on the geotextile and drainage geocomposite. No noticeable changes in the mechanical or hydraulic properties occurred in any of the geosynthetic materials throughout the 22-mo test program, regardless of the composition or temperature of the solution used for immersion.