Seminar - Kerry Rowe - Latest research into the service life of HDPE geomembranes used in primary and secondary MSW landfill liners

Friday 8 May 2009, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Latest research into the service life of HDPE geomembranes used in primary and secondary MSW landfill liners
Professor R. Kerry Rowe FRSC, FCAE, FEIC, FASCE, FIE(Aust)
Vice Principal (Research)
Queen's Univerity, Kingston, Canada

Abstract:
This presentation summarizes 12 years research into the service life of HDPE geomembranes liners used for MSW landfills. It discusses the effects on geomembrane service life of: (a) the immersion fluid, (b) geomembrane thickness, (c) the presence of an underlying clay liner, (d) the protection layer above the geomembrane, (e) applied stress, (f) location in the liner system (i.e. the difference between service life for primary and secondary liners), and (g) the time-temperature history of the liner. It is shown the under many circumstances the service life can be expected to be many centuries (or longer) but that there are also circumstance when the service life could be reduced to a few decades. The service life of the geomembrane will depend on design, construction and the operating conditions of the MSW landfill.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Kerry Rowe is Professor of Civil Engineering and Vice Principal (Research) at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. Prior to joining Queen's in 2000, Professor Rowe was educated at the University of Sydney BSc('73), BE(Hons I, '75), PhD('79), D.Eng ('93), worked for the Australian Government Department of Construction in Sydney for 6 years, and spent 21 years at the University of Western Ontario. Author of more than 200 refereed journal papers; 3 books; 14 book chapters; 200 full conference papers, he has extensive research and consulting experience in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering field. His research has been recognized by numerous awards including being a former NSERC Steacie Fellow, a Killam Prize winner (Canada's highest award in Engineering), and was selected to present the 45th Rankine Lecture in March 2005. He is a fellow of both the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering as well as Professional Societies in Australia, Canada and USA. He is currently President of the Engineering Institute of Canada.