This study investigates the potential use of pond ash (PA) mixed with varying proportions of bentonite (Bt) (10, 20 or 30%) as a landfill liner and cover material. The laboratory test study covers Atterberg limits, compaction, hydraulic conductivity (k) and unconfined compressive strength (qu) tests. The test results were analysed using the probabilistic approach to account for uncertainty. While evaluating the PA–Bt mixtures under liner and cover placement conditions, significant variability was observed in the hydraulic conductivity (k) and unconfined compressive strength (qu), with sample coefficients of variation of 197 and 94%, respectively. To better understand and quantify the variability, the probability density function for k and qu was identified as a log-normal distribution. The inferential statistical analysis limits k and qu standard deviations to 0.66 and 0.17 (key parameters for informed decision-making), respectively. Hypothesis testing was then conducted to assess the suitability of compacted PA–Bt mixtures based on the desired and characteristic values of liner and cover materials. This probabilistic approach allows a more flexible evaluation of placement conditions than deterministic methods, ensuring more reliable performance. Addressing material variability of PA–Bt mixtures allows cost-effective design by exploiting the most probable outcomes.
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Research Article|
March 28, 2025
Statistical analysis of pond ash–bentonite mixtures: implications for liner and cover material design
K. S. Sankar Ganesh;
K. S. Sankar Ganesh
1
Department of Civil Engineering
, National Institute of Technology Puducherry
, Karaikal 609609, India
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T. Ashok Kumar
T. Ashok Kumar
*
1
Department of Civil Engineering
, National Institute of Technology Puducherry
, Karaikal 609609, India
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
K. S. Sankar Ganesh
1
Department of Civil Engineering
, National Institute of Technology Puducherry
, Karaikal 609609, India
T. Ashok Kumar
*
1
Department of Civil Engineering
, National Institute of Technology Puducherry
, Karaikal 609609, India
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Received:
17 Oct 2024
Revision Received:
16 Jan 2025
Accepted:
05 Feb 2025
First Online:
25 Feb 2025
Online ISSN: 2041-4803
Print ISSN: 1470-9236
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), artificial intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved. For permissions: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/permissions-policy. Publishing disclaimer: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/publishing-ethics
© 2025 The Author(s)
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (2025) 58 (2): qjegh2024-175.
Article history
Received:
17 Oct 2024
Revision Received:
16 Jan 2025
Accepted:
05 Feb 2025
First Online:
25 Feb 2025
Citation
K. S. Sankar Ganesh, T. Ashok Kumar; Statistical analysis of pond ash–bentonite mixtures: implications for liner and cover material design. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2025;; 58 (2): qjegh2024–175. doi: https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2024-175
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