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An approach for the design and installation of geomembranes

on the upstream face of rockfill dams

Conference Paper · May 2010

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3 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Brazil, 2010

An approach for the design and installation of geomembranes on the

upstream face of rockfill dams
Colmanetti, J.P.
Geotechnical Consultant, Italy
Assis, A.P. & Palmeira, E.M.
University of Brasília, Brazil

Keywords: geomembrane, seepage barrier, rockfill dams, design aspects

ABSTRACT: The present work approaches the use of geomembrane as seepage barriers on the face of rockfill
dams, focusing in a general way on the characteristics, properties and behavior of PVC-P geomembranes and
project aspects concerning this type of polymeric material applied on rockfill dams. In spite of their elongation
properties, the job of the geomembrane as a seepage barrier in dams requires some attention. Proper care
regarding quality control during installation, special care during seeming, attention to the various installation
details, especially for anchorage and systems to protect the geomembrane post-installation, should be observed.
These aspects, evaluated from a deeper study, including the emerging factors faced in the design, installation,
laboratory studies and the analysis of exhumed samples from Italian reservoirs and dams, has resulted in the
development of a series of recommendations for design and installation. In short, this paper seeks particularly to
present for discussion, for planners’ analyses and for installers a proposal with recommendations for
geomembrane installations on the face of rockfill dams.

1 INTRODUCTION considered when this alternative is adopted for a

project of an impervious face rockfill dam.
Rockfill dams have been built since the end of
nineteenth century and in the last years the 2 GEOMEMBRANE PROPERTIES
technology has been used for structures of increasing INVESTIGATION
height. In cases where the design requires an
impermeable face, one of the concerns is the An essential and indispensable part in the project of
execution of a barrier system compatible with the a Geomembrane Facing Rockfill Dam (GFRD) is the
nature of the rockfill. Concrete-facing, which is knowledge of the geomembrane properties and
commonly used as seepage barriers in this type of characteristics to be used as a liner barrier. The
dam, introduces an element of high rigidity determination of the geomembrane characteristics
compared to the underlying rockfill. This differential and project parameters can be performed at
rigidity can cause cracking in the concrete facing laboratory through identification and behavior tests.
when the rockfill settles. The technique of using a The identification (or index) tests assure that the
more flexible material such as a geomembrane liner, product delivered at field is in accordance with the
which can accommodate the deformations of the specifications and that their quality was controlled
rockfill without rupture, has been demonstrated in during the manufacturing process. A good number of
Europe and US as an advantageous option. Some the index texts are used to determine the
types of geomembranes can tolerate large geosynthetic intrinsic properties and they are useful
deformations without rupturing and, when designed for design calculations and for comparison of
and installed appropriately, they can safely resist the materials from different manufacturers. The usual
deformations of the underlying rockfill with very identification tests performed on geomembrane
high factors of safety against rupture. For this liners are those for determination of: thickness,
reason, during a research program these aspects were density, hardness, mass per unit area and tensile
evaluated aspiring to present to the professionals of strength. Tests to determine the flexibility at low
the sector some technical aspects that should be temperatures, spectroscopy infrared,
thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), thermomechanic

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analysis (TMA), chromatography and carbon black support and protection layers and the installation of
content are not so easy to carry out, however, they the geomembrane itself should be carefully
are important when it is necessary to identify the evaluated. This investigation includes methods to
geomembrane raw materials. analyze the cover stability layer, the geomembrane
The behavior tests determine the functional deformation mechanism subjected to differential
properties of the material. They are useful to settlements and the definition of the grain size and
determine the project parameters for design thickness of each layer of the waterproof liner
purposes. The tests procedures are defined taking system. The geomembrane installation, as well as the
into account the different types of products and also anchorage design details, are also discussed by
considering the construction type (Ex.: hydraulic installers and researchers.
works, environmental works etc.). It is important to
note that three aspects should be considered when 4 TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
performing behavior tests: the geomembrane GEOMEMBRANE AS A SEEPAGE BARRIER IN
performance itself, the geomembrane welds and the ROCKFILL DAMS
geomembrane durability. These tests must
demonstrate the capacity of the geomembrane to The following topics describe some important
work as a liner barrier, subjected to stresses and technical aspects that should be taken into account
different environmental conditions. during the design studies and installation of a
In order to determine the ability of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride geomembrane (PVC-
geomembrane to perform as barrier liners in rockfill P) as a liner at the upstream face of rockfill dams.
dams, the following properties are usually They present to the engineers and installers
determined: permeability, dimensional stability, recommendations concerning the tests to be
tensile strength, tear strength, puncture strength, performed in each phase of the project, installation
bursting strength and, in specific cases, the details and system liner monitoring.
resistance against biochemical agents and the
flexibility at very low temperatures. When the 4.1 Face liner system design
geomembrane is a part of a whole system formed by
drainage, support and protection layers, the The recommendations have been separated in two
laboratory testing program must include an analysis phases of project: basic and executive studies. In the
of each singular material and the interaction between basic phase, the geomembrane type should be
them. The anchor system, the weld quality, the defined based on laboratory tests, in order to obtain
possibility of settlements and the interface shear the project parameters and to define the design
properties should be carefully observed in a GRFD criteria. During the executive phase studies, the
design. whole system becomes integrated to the information
Further technical information concerning to the from the previous stage: anchorage at the toe, crest
geomembrane properties, the selection criteria, the and perimeter; disposition of the geomembrane
index and performance tests description regarding panels; support and protection layers; seeming of the
geomembranes applied to dams are reported by geomembrane and connections with concrete
Colmanetti (2006). Some specific properties were structures should be well evaluated.
also discussed by several researchers, such as Ingold The basic phase project includes studies of the
(1991), Weiss & Batereau (1987), Fayoux et al. upstream liner system barrier. The recommendations
(1984), Giroud (1994), among others. are assumed considering that the geomembrane as an
impermeable barrier application on the rockfill dam
3 PROJECT ASPECTS was defined as a viable alternative in the previous
phases of project studies. Therefore, in this phase,
The rock or earth fill dams can be constructed the following aspects should be evaluated:
considering two options for the membrane position: • In-situ environmental conditions;
at the upstream face or as a central membrane. • General aspects as construction site,
The upstream geomembrane option is usually availability of construction natural materials;
adopted for rockfill dams. In this case, aspects • Mechanical and chemical stresses;
regarding the face stability; differential settlements; • Construction phases of the rockfill body
the connections to rigid structures and pipes; the dam;

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 • Geometrical aspects of the face. placement and the stability analysis of the protection
Once all those data have been analyzed, it is layer. The planner should observe the stability of
recommended to choose the polymer type to be used the whole system constituted by base layer, support
as liner (PVC-P, HDPE, CSPE etc.), as well to layer, geomembrane and protection layer, aiming to
specify the other components that will be part of the insure a good performance of the structure.
system. The selection geomembrane criteria are
supported by the results of index tests, such as Table 1 – Index tests proposed for geomembranes
characterization for applications in Geomembrane Facing
uniaxial tensile, tear, puncture etc., previously
Rockfill Dams (GFRD), Colmanetti (2006)1
carried out on geomembrane samples candidates.
The PVC-P geomembrane presents a good Test name Parameter
performance in hydraulic works, backed by several Mass per unit area (EN 965) Mass per unit
successful applications all over the world, mainly in area
Europe. Nominal thickness
Thickness
After the selection of the geomembrane or (ASTM D5199)
geocomposite type, a laboratory tests program Shore A Hardness (ISO 868) Hardness
should be elaborated and performed in a pilot sample Density (ISO 1183) Density
in order to obtain the project parameters. During this Elongation at
Uniaxial tensile strength
phase the minimum requested values concerning the break
(ASTM D 638)
index and behavior properties of the geosynthetics Strength at break
must be established. Matter extractable by organic Plasticized
During the phase of executive project, detailed solvents (ISO 6427) content
information on the whole system is required: toe and Flexibility at low temperature2 Fissure or crack
crest anchorage; perimeter joint anchorage; (EN 495-5) temperature
geomembrane installation and welds; support, base Tear strength (ISO 34-1) Tear resistance
and protection layers; geomembrane or Long. and
geocomposite fastening and connection with Dimensional stability transversal
concrete structures or pipes. Furthermore, it is (prEN 1107-2) dimension
recommended that the project include the variation
preparation of the following documents: control plan Static puncture strength Puncture
to receive the material at the work plant; installation (EN ISO 12236) strength
plan (modulation and executive sequence); Dynamic puncture strength
installation instructions and procedure for weld Watertight loss
(UNI 8202)
execution; installation quality control assurance; Water Vapor Transmission
monitoring plan for geomembrane properties Permeability
Ratio - WVT (UNI 8202/23)
control; materials and work-men budget; as built of Note: 1 – Proposed test to PVC-P geomembranes; 2
the face liner system installation (support layer, – Usually not required for tropical climate regions.
geomembrane protection layer).
Table 1 presents the tests that should be carried Table 2 – Performance tests proposed to obtain design
out to obtain the geomembrane index properties and parameters of GFRD (Colmanetti, 2006).
Table 2 shows some performance tests which can be Test Parameter
required or not, according to the characteristics of Bursting strength Strength and elongation
each structure. It is recommended that these tests be (prEN 14151) at break
carried out in the phase of the basic project and also Direct shear (prEN
during the reception control and installation. ISO 12957-1/ASTM Friction coefficient
D5321)
4.2 Main design aspects Peel strength (UNI
Peel strength
8898/4)
Regarding the project aspects of a waterproofing
Weld shear Shear strength
system of the upstream face of a rockfill dam, some
issues deserve special attention, such as the
transition layer thickness for the geomembrane
support, the anchorage systems, the geomembrane

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4.2.1 Material transition between the base layer and face, mainly in dams of great height. Each roll
the rockfill dam body should be ordered with compatible length according
to the position that it will take in the face; it means
The support layer and the base layer should be with enough length to be extended from the crest to
designed to make the transition between the rockfill the anchorage dam toe.
material and the impervious geomembrane face.
ICOLD (1991) describes recommendations as grain 4.2.3 Crest and toe anchorage
size of the material and thickness of each transition
layer. As this bulletin, the grain size of the first fine Several anchorage types can be adopted according to
rockfill layer placed on the surface of the dam body, the dam dimensions and the geotechnical in-situ
as well on the subsequent layers, should be conditions. In the case of rockfill dams it is
established to respect the classic criteria of soil recommended that the anchorage be made in
retention (protection against piping). trenches as designed for Bovilla Dam (Figure 1).
If a geotextile is used instead of a fine grained Regarding to the toe anchorage, the possible
material layer, it is recommended to use a nonwoven options are: anchorage in a trench or in a concrete
product with mass per unit area not less than 500 cut-off. As the rockfill dams present significant face
g/m2. In the case of adopting a support layer, it is deformations, it is advisable that the geomembrane
admitted a lighter geotextile, preferably glued to the be fastened in order to allow its elongation in the
geomembrane. These layers do not have the purpose plinth zone. Figure 2 presents the details of the toe
of increasing the rigidity near to the face watertight anchorage design for the Bovilla Dam.
area, as usually done for the concrete face rockfill
dams (CFRD), but intend to guarantee an 4.2.4 Protection layer (optional)
appropriate support for the geomembrane or for the
geocomposite layer. The available options to protect the geomembrane on
the face can be: shotcrete layer, concrete ballast, rip-
4.2.2 Geomembrane (or geocomposite)
rap or soil cover. The shotcrete is an expensive
Regarding the choice of a geomembrane type, the alternative, while soil covers would demand very
planner has diverse options of products gentle slopes. The rip-rap protections require a
manufactured with different polymeric-base types transition between it and the geomembrane liner.
(PVC, PE etc). According to the study conducted by Consequently, nowadays the better alternative to
Colmanetti (2006), it was observed that the PVC-P protect the face is to use prefabricated or in situ
geomembranes have been more suitable mainly placed concrete slabs. The designer, however,
when the dams are of great height. Due to the should evaluate if is really necessary to protect the
flexibility, elongation, dimensional stability geomembrane. If the geomembrane remains
characteristics and its compatible durability with the completely exposed, subject to water and
dams’ lifetime, the PVC-P geomembranes have been atmosphere conditions, the related disadvantages are
usually applied in high dams in Europe and even in the degradation due to the ultra-violet radiation
the USA. action and the risk of damages by vandalism. If is
Moreover, the geomembrane must have possible to exclude these problems, several benefits
appropriate additives to guarantee the minimum by having the geomembrane exposed can be
lifetime when exposed and the minimum thickness acquired, such as: fast and easy liner installation,
that assures compatible resistance against tears and lower global cost, the possibility of identifying
punctures. It is recommended a geomembrane with damages with accuracy and effective repairs even
thickness not lower than 2 mm for dams’ under submerged operations. According to
applications. Colmanetti (2006), as the geomembrane degradation
The geomembrane installation begins after the occurs mainly where there is oscillation of the water
conclusion of the rockfill body and the surface level or above it, where the geomembrane remains
preparation. The classic method consists on laying completely exposed, this option is certainly feasible.
the geomembrane panels from the dam crest and This study demonstrated also that the geomembranes
overlapping enough material for the welds. The manufactured specially for dam applications have a
planners should also avoid traversal welds in the

1204
lifetime on average of 50 years when exposed and area; it means, from the crest down to the minimum
more than 150 years when completely submerged. water level of the reservoir, using a sacrifice
A proposition to solve the degradation problem geomembrane in this zone, welded to the underlying
can be to protect the geomembrane in the most one, replacing it when necessary.
critical area: exposed and on the oscillation water

Figure 1 – Crest anchorage detail of Bovilla Dam (courtesy by Sembenelli, 1995)

Figure 2 – Toe plinth anchorage at Bovilla Dam (courtesy by Sembenelli, 1995)

4.2.5 Geomembrane sampling program aspects) of the geomembrane during the lifetime
estimated for the structure.
The proposed monitoring program aims mainly to The most critical situation is the option of an
evaluate the conditions (physical and chemical exposed geomembrane, submitted to the ultraviolet
rays action, heat and to water (or other fluid type)

1205
 contact. In this case, it is indispensable integrity of the geomembrane liner (Colmanetti,
geomembrane sampling above the operation water 2006).
level and in the oscillation water zone. The proposal Furthermore, another important requirement is
is to perform samples exhumation in a smaller time that concerning deformations of the materials of the
interval during the first years (i.e., every 2 years in dam. Since the geomembrane withstand quite high
the first 10 years) to verify if there is a tendency of values of deformation, the usual techniques to
geomembrane properties changes. After these 10 measure deformations can not be applied. Therefore,
initial years, the sampling could be made at each future researches should address the development of
four years. Based on the study carried out by new technologies to monitor geomembrane strains to
Colmanetti (2006) on exhumed geomembrane contribute to a better understanding of GFRD
samples obtained from Italian dams, there is no need behavior.
to extract samples in the submerged zone. However,
if the liner system does not have a leak detection ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
device, visually periodic inspections are
recommended in order to verify the geomembrane The authors would like to thank the University of
conditions below the water level. Brasília, CAPES/Brazilian Ministry of Education,
Colmanetti (2006) suggests the construction of CESI Milano and SC Sembenelli Consulting SrL for
"sampling pillars", built inside of the reservoir area the support for the work described in this paper.
and placed at the proximities of the face in which
geomembrane samples are fastened for future REFERENCES
exhumation. This would avoid the extraction of
samples from the geomembrane installed on the COLMANETTI, J. P. (2006). Study of geomembranes as
face. It is also recommended to collect and to keep waterproof materials applied to the upstream face of
rockfill dams (in Portuguese), PhD Thesis, Department of
virgin geomembrane samples from different rolls Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of
during the installation phase, since it is important to Brasília, Brasília, Brazil, 272 p.
determine the properties of the intact geomembrane FAYOUX, D., LOUDIERE, D. (1984). The behavior of
for future comparisons with the aged ones. geomembranes in relation to the soil. International
Conference on Geomembranes, Denver, USA, pp. 175-
180.
5 CONCLUSIONS GIROUD, J.P. (1994). Quantification of geosynthetic behavior.
Fifth International Conf. on geotextiles, geomembranes
A large bibliographic review, meetings with and related products, Special Lecture & Keynote Lectures,
designers, manufacturers and geomembrane Singapore, 27p.
installers’ and results from laboratory tests carried ICOLD (1991), Watertight Geomembranes for Dams, State of
the art. Bulletin 78 of the International Commission on
out on intact and samples exhumed from dams Large Dams, Paris, 140p.
(Colmanetti, 2006) made possible to present some INGOLD, T.S. (1991). Friction Testing. Geomembranes –
recommendations seeking to contribute to future Identification and Performance Testing. RILEM – Report
projects of Rockfill Dams incorporating of Technical Committee 103-MGH Mechanical and
geomembranes (GFRD). Hydraulic Testing of Geomembranes, A. Rollin & J.M.
Rigo (eds), pp 176-218.
Besides the technical aspects already discussed WEISS, W. & BATEREAU, C. (1997). Technical Note – A
other two deserve some attention to the good note on planar shear between geosynthetics and
performance of the dam: the control of flow and construction materials. Geotextiles and Geomembranes,
deformation. Regarding flow control through the Vol. 5, N° 1, pp. 63-67.
face, the installation of a downstream collector
channel next to the perimeter joint of the dam is
recommended to capture leakage through the
geomembrane. The flow should be conducted to a
traverse central channel, at a higher section of the
dam, so that the water can be captured and the flow
rate measure by appropriate devices. There are also
leak detection methods based on electric
conductivity principles (Sensor System) or
transmissions by optical fiber cables to verify the

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