Abstract
The objective of this article is to propose an experimental method to compare the gas permeability of all the different materials used as gas barrier, such as compacted clay liners or geomembranes. This method is based on the falling pressure experiment, allowing the determination of a single coefficient whatever the material tested. This coefficient is the time constant τ, which is obtained by analytical solutions of the simplified equations describing the transport of gas through the material. The domain of validity is specified for porous media, thanks to a numerical solution of the complete equations system. Two applications are presented, showing the applicability of the method on compacted clay liners and on high density polyethylene geomembranes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aminabhavi T.M., Naik H.G.: Chemical compatibility testing of geomembranes. Sorption/desorption, diffusion, permeation and swelling phenomena. Geotext. Geomembr 16, 333–354 (1998). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(98)00017-X
ASTM D1434: Standard Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting. Pennsylvania, USA (1998, reapproved 2003)
ASTM E96: Standard Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials. Pennsylvania, USA
Aubertin M., Aachib M., Authier K.: Evaluation of diffusive gas flux through covers with a GCL. Geotext. Geomembr. 18(2–4), 215–233 (2000). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(99)00028-X
Baehr A.L., Hult M.F.: Evaluation of unsaturated sone air permeability through pneumatic tests. Water Resour. Res. 27(10), 2605–2617 (1991). doi:10.1029/91WR01655
Barral, C., Oxarango, L., Pierson, P., Djeran-Maigre, I., Didier, G.: Measurement of gas leakage through landfill cap covers. In: Geo-Environmental Engineering 2007, Grenoble, France (2007)
Barroso M., Pierson P., Lopes L.G.: A non destructive method for testing non flexible dual geomembrane seams using gas permeation. Geosynth. Int. 13(1), 15–22 (2006). doi:10.1680/gein.2006.13.1.15
Bouazza A., Vangpaisal T.: An apparatus to measure gas permeability of geosynthetic clay liners. Geotext. Geomembr. 21, 85–101 (2003). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(02)00058-4
Brusseau M.L.: Transport of organic chemicals by gas advection in structured or heterogeneous porous media: development of a model and application to column experiments. Water Resour. Res. 27(2), 3189–3199 (1991). doi:10.1029/91WR02195
Calogovic V.: Gas permeability measurement of porous materials (concrete) by time-variable pressure difference method. Cem. Concr. Res. 25(5), 1054–1062 (1995). doi:10.1016/0008-8846(95)00100-Q
Claisse P.A., Ganjian E., Adham T.A.: A vacuum-air permeability test for in situ assessment of cover concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 33, 47–53 (2003). doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(02)00912-2
Cosse, R.: Basics of Reservoir Engineering: Oil and Gas Field Development Techniques, pp. 44–46. Institut Français du Pétrole Publications, Edition Technip (1996)
Crank J.: The Mathematics of Diffusion, 2edn. Clarendon, Oxford (1975)
Didier G., Bouazza A., Cazaux D.: Gas permeability of geosynthetic clay liners. Geotext. Geomembr. 18, 235–250 (2000). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(99)00029-1
Dullien F.A.L.: Porous Media—Fluid Transport and Pore Structure. Academic Press, New York (1979)
Eischens G., Swanson A.: Proposed standard test method for measurement of pneumatic permeability of partially saturated porous materials by flowing air. Geotech. Test. J. 16(2), 232–238 (1996)
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology: Plastics, Resins, Rubbers, Fibbers. Interscience Publishers, New York, USA (1964)
Figg J.W.: Methods of measuring the air and water permeability of concrete. Mag. Concr. Res. 25(85), 213–219 (1973)
Gallé C., Daian J.F.: Gas permeability of unsaturated cement-based materials: application of a multi-scale network model. Mag. Concr. Res. 52(4), 251–263 (2000)
Lambert, S.: Etude de la perméabilité aux gaz des géomembranes. Master of Sciences Thesis, Lirigm-Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble-France (1994)
Li H., Jiao J.J., Luk M.: A falling-pressure method for measuring air permeability of asphalt in laboratory. J. Hydrol. (Amst.) 286, 69–77 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2003.09.013
Loosveldt H., Lafhaj Z., Skoczylas F.: Experimental study of gas and liquid permeability of a mortar. Cem. Concr. Res. 32, 1357–1363 (2002). doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(02)00793-7
Matrecon, Inc.: Lining of Waste Containment and Other Impoundment Facilities, 190 pp, USEPA, Report EPA/600/2-88/052, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (1988)
McBean, E.A., Rovers, F.A., Farquhar, G.J.: Solid Waste Landfill Engineering and Design, 521 pp. Prentice-Hall PTR, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1995)
Pierson P., Barroso M.C.P.: A pouch test for characterizing gas permeability of geomembranes. Geosynth. Int. 6(4), 345–372 (2002)
Rogers C.E.: Permeation of gases and vapours in polymers. Chapter 2. In: Comyn, J. (eds) Polymer Permeability., pp. 11–73. Elsevier applied science publisher, London (1985)
Rowe, R.K., Quigley, R.M., Booker, J.R.: Clayey Barrier Systems for Waste Disposal Facilities. E and FN Spon, Chapman et Hall, London (1995)
Samingam A.S., Leong E.C., Rahardjo H.: A flexible wall permeameter for measurements of water and air coefficients of permeability of residual soils. Can. Geotech. J. 40, 559–574 (2003). doi:10.1139/t03-015
Sangam H.P., Rowe R.K.: Migration of dilute aqueous organic pollutants through HDPE geomembranes. Geotext. Geomembr. 19, 329–357 (2001). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(01)00013-9
Selvadurai A.P.S., Carnaffan P.: A transient pressure pulse method for the measurement of the permeability of a cement grout. Can. J. Civ. Eng. 24, 489–502 (1997). doi:10.1139/cjce-24-3-489
Shan H.Y., Yao J.T.: Measurement of air permeability of geosynthetic clay liners. Geotext. Geomembr. 18, 251–261 (2000). doi:10.1016/S0266-1144(99)00030-8
Springer D.S., Loaiciga H.A., Cullen S.J., Everett L.G.: Air permeability of porous materials under controlled laboratory conditions. Ground Water 36(4), 558–565 (1998). doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.1998.tb02829.x
Vangpaisal T., Bouazza A.: Gas permeability of partially hydrated geosynthetic clay liners. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., ASCE 130(5), 93–102 (2004)
Whitaker S.: The Method of Volume Averaging. Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht (1999)
Yssorche M.P., Bigas J.P., Ollivier J.P.: Mesure de la perméabilité à l’air des bétons au moyen d’un perméamètre à charge variable. Mater. Struct. 28, 401–405 (1995). doi:10.1007/BF02473075
Yu, L.L.: Study of air flow through porous media, 114 pp. MS Thesis, Department of civil Engineering University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA (1985)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barral, C., Oxarango, L. & Pierson, P. Characterizing the Gas Permeability of Natural and Synthetic Materials. Transp Porous Med 81, 277–293 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-009-9398-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-009-9398-x