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Designing With Geosynthetics for Ag Waste Containment

Overview

This training is primarily for field engineers and civil engineering technicians who have design and installation responsibilities for agricultural waste containment systems. The course covers the design, materials, and construction considerations that go into the successful selection and installation of a flexible membrane, geosynthetic containment system. Introductory topic will concentrate on the evaluation of site considerations that lead to the selection of an appropriate liner system using Appendix 10D of Chapter 10 of the Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook. The course is presented by lecture, discussion, and demonstration.

The primary materials featured in the course are High Density Polyethylenes (HDPEs), Linear Low Density Polyethylenes (LLDPEs), Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs), and Polyvinyl Chlorides (PVCs). Industry specialists associated with the specific material present the nature and special features of each material. Material selection and adaptation of each material to specific uses are discussed. An in-depth discussion centers on specifications for construction purposes and appropriate requirements for the installation and testing of each type of material. There will be seaming demonstrations for HDPE, LLDPE, and PVC materials and a tour of a facility that manufactures HDPEs and LLDPEs.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) instructors present case histories of NRCS installations of each material. The role of quality control and quality assurance in the entire process of selecting, designing, installing, and field testing of a geosynthetic line system are other features of the course. A pretest and a posttest are administered.

Objectives

  1. Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to: evaluate and select appropriate geosynthetic materials for design consideration for agricultural waste containment systems.
  2. design the appropriate construction and installation details for the construction of a geosynthetic containment system.
  3. establish the appropriate quality control and quality assurance procedures needed to achieve a successful geosynthetic containment system.
  4. evaluate the field testing, reporting, and certification that are produced by the quality control and quality assurance programs during construction of the geosynthetic containment system.

Prerequisites

Some experience in the design and installation of agricultural waste containment or treatment systems is recommended.

Duration

4 days

Target Audience

Engineers, field technicians, construction inspectors, or those who will be assigned responsibility as described above.

National Employee Development Center (NEDC) Contact
Technical Specialist
Georgia Spiller and Donald W. Shanklin


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