A　novel　capillary　barrier　cover　was　proposed,　which　added　multiple　gravel　segments　to　the　traditional　cover　with　capillary　barrier　effects　(CCBE)　to　form　a　zipper-shape　CCBE　between　fine-grained　and　coarse-grained　soils.　The　zipper-shape　interface　along　the　slope　was　designed　to　help　the　formation　of　several　diversion　lengths　while　controlling　water　percolation　location.　The　drainage　ditch　arranged　below　the　gravel　segment　was　effectively　used　to　reduce　the　water　percolation　into　the　buried　wastes　underneath　the　cover.　Considering　the　gravel　segment　sizes,　the　thickness　of　fine-grained　soils,　the　slope　of　CCBE,　rainfall　pattern,　and　extreme　and　prolonged　rainfall,　the　hydraulic　performance　of　the　proposed　zippered　CCBE　with　the　traditional　one　was　compared.　Results　showed　that　the　water　percolation　of　zippered　CCBE　was　17%-25%　lower　than　the　traditional　one.　In　both　extreme　and　prolonged　rainfall　conditions,　the　percolation　of　the　zippered　CCBE　was　lower　than　the　international　annual　percolation　standard.　Increased　percolation　of　the　zippered　CCBE　was　observed　when　the　gravel　segment　height　exceeded　0.2　m　or　the　gravel　segment　width　and　spacing　augmented,　and　water　percolation　gradually　decreased　with　the　increase　of　the　thickness　of　fine-grained　soils　and　the　slope　of　landfill　cover.　Among　the　two　types　of　CCBE,　percolation　varies　under　different　rainfall　patterns,　ranked　from　highest　to　lowest:　the　advanced　rainfall　pattern,　the　uniform　pattern,　the　central　pattern,　and　the　delayed　pattern.　Compared　to　the　traditional　CCBE,　the　zippered　one　is　less　affected　by　the　rainfall　pattern　in　terms　of　water　percolation.　©　2025　Zhejiang　University.　All　rights　reserved.