The use of Ankara Clay as a compacted clay liner for landfill sites

Because of the current need for new landfill sites in Ankara, the suitability of Ankara Clay as a liner material for landfill sites was investigated. A mineralogical and geotechnical database was created by compiling the results of previous tests by the present authors as well as those of tests performed in the present study. The mineralogical properties of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and methylene blue adsorption. The cation exchange capacities (CEC) of the samples vary from 12 to 35 meq/100 g soil and the dominant clay minerals are illite, smectite and kaolinite. The geotechnical properties of the Ankara Clay samples that were assessed included specific gravity, the Atterberg limits (plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index), particle-size distribution, compaction properties (i.e.maximum dry density and optimum water content) and hydraulic conductivity. Because the hydraulic conductivity of the samples was lower than the acceptable limit of 1 × 10−9 m/s, it follows that, from a geotechnical perspective, Ankara Clay is a suitable material for use as a compacted clay landfill liner. The relationships between the mineralogical and geotechnical parameters that were investigated by regression analysis indicated that the hydraulic conductivity of the compacted soil samples decreased with increasing plasticity index, clay content, CEC, smectite content, smectite to illite ratio and decreasing illite content. According to the specifications for field construction of compacted clay liners, Ankara Clay is suitable for compaction in the field.

The Effects of High Alkaline Fly Ash on Strength Behaviour of a Cohesive Soil

Contemporarily, there are 16 coal-burning thermal power plants currently operating in Turkey. This number is expected to rise to 46 in the future. Annually, about 15 million tons of fly ash are removed from the existing thermal power plants in Turkey, but a small proportion of it, 2%, is recyclable. Turkey’s plants are fired by lignite, producing Class C fly ash containing a high percentage of lime. Sulfate and alkali levels are also higher in Class C fly ashes. Therefore, fly ash is, commonly, unsuitable as an additive in cement or concrete in Turkey. In this study, highly alkaline fly ash obtained from the Yeniköy thermal power plants is combined with soil samples in different proportions (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) and changes in the geomechanical properties of Ankara clay were investigated. The effect of curing time on the physicomechanical properties of the fly ash mixed soil samples was also analyzed. The soil classification of Ankara clay changed from CH to MH due to fly ash additives. Free swelling index values showed a decrease of 92.6%. Direct shear tests on the cohesion value of Ankara clay have shown increases by multiples of 15.85 and 3.01 in internal friction angle values. The California bearing ratio has seen a more drastic increase in value (68.7 times for 25% fly ash mix).