Numerical simulation of geosynthetic clay liner desiccation under high thermal gradients and low overburden stress

A multiphase, thermohydro-mechanical model of unsaturated soils is presented to assess the risk of desiccation of a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) in a composite lining system (i.e., a high-density polyethylene geomembrane over a geosynthetic clay liner) under conditions encountered in brine or solar ponds, where temperatures can reach up to 95°C and the geosynthetic clay liner is subject to low effective stress. The model considers void ratio and temperature-dependent soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) for needle-punched GCLs. The model was validated against results from experimental column studies.