An experimental investigation of the dynamic internal shear behavior of a hydrated needle-punched geosynthetic clay liner is
presented. Monotonic and cyclic displacement-controlled shear tests were conducted at a single normal stress to investigate the effects of
displacement rate, displacement amplitude, number of cycles, frequency, and motion waveform on material response. Monotonic shear
tests indicate that peak shear strength first increased and then decreased with increasing displacement rate. Cyclic shear tests indicate that
cyclic response was primarily controlled by displacement amplitude. Excitation frequency and waveform had little effect on cyclic shear
behavior or postcyclic static shear strength. Number of cycles
10
also had little effect on postcyclic static shear strength. Shear stress
versus shear displacement diagrams displayed hysteresis loops that are broadly similar to those for natural soils with some important
differences due to the presence of needle-punched reinforcement. Secant shear stiffness displayed strong reduction with increasing
displacement amplitude and degradation with continued cycling. Values of damping ratio were significantly higher than those typical of
natural clays at lower shear strain levels. Finally, cyclic tests with increasing displacement amplitude yielded progressively lower
postcyclic static peak strengths due to greater levels of reinforcement damage. Postcyclic static residual strengths were unaffected by prior
cyclic loading.