Installation of Geomembranes in Arctic Conditions
- Eric
- Jan 17
- 2 min read
Paper and Presentation at the Canadian Geotechnical Conference
GeoMontreal - September 2024
Paper available for download at https://members.cgs.ca/documents.php (for CGS members only)
Geomembranes are frequently used across Canada to confine solid waste, e.g., for landfills, mining waste, heap leach pads, as well as to store hazardous or contaminated liquids in ponds. Until the late 90s, typical requirements were prohibiting welding of geomembranes under freezing temperatures, which was limiting the installation window to a mere 6 months per year, and sometime much less in the Great North. However, accidental delays or bad weather during fall, excessively aggressive project planning, or commercial reasons led to geomembranes being installed, or repaired under arctic conditions – as there was practically no other choice but to do so. This served to build experience, and to develop confidence in installing geomembranes outside of the ideal conditions. A few decades later, it has become obvious that installation under Arctic condition is there to stay, as both end users and installers are used to do so, and it has become a reality. However, the technical reasons that led, back in the 90’s, to requiring installation – and especially welding – of geomembranes at temperatures above the freezing point remain. In this paper, a review of the current practice for installation of geomembranes under arctic conditions is presented, based on the interview of experienced installers across Canada. The reasons that motivate installation above the freezing point are presented. Guidelines are then proposed to minimize problems during installation and minimize risks of premature failure during service, based on the type of structure. These guidelines cover conceptual aspects pertaining to the design, as well as transportation and storage, subgrade preparation, worker safety, welding and backfilling.
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