Book excerpt: The use of clay barriers for waste-isolating purposes has gained increasing attention in the geotechnical engineering community. Practical interest is linked to fundamental research, which includes examination of the behaviour of compacted materials and expansive clays. The interaction between the barrier, waste and the surrounding ground may involve several thermo-hydro-mechanical and chemical-coupled processes that have been analyzed by means of 'in situ' tests, laboratory experiments and numerical modelling. Large-scale field tests have been developed in recent years by European Agencies dealing with the management of radioactive waste. These experiments have provided an opportunity to calibrate and to validate research models and offer benefits in terms of experience of instrumentation and installation techniques. The book includes about sixty papers presented in a symposium held in Spain in 2003. The four main topics of the book are: field emplacement and instrumentation techniques; fundamental research, material behaviour (i.e. bentonite), and laboratory testing; barrier behaviour and THM modelling; and chemical effects, HC and THMC modelling.