Stress deformation analysis of MSW landfills

Abstract

Landfill stability and deformation analysis is one of the most important concerns in the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill design and operation. Estimation of landfilling capacities based on deformation characterization of MSW assumes considerable significance in the estimation of additional landfilling capacity before closure. In the analysis, it is important to consider mechanisms such as primary compression, time dependent mechanical creep and biodegradation effects occurring in the MSW system. In this paper, a simple landfill cell is considered and stability and deformation analysis is performed based on the constitutive modeling approach. The implications on the slope stability and deformation response of MSW for a 5m high landfill cell are explained in terms of vertical and horizontal deformations, volume changes, factors of safety considering the effects of loading, effects of mechanical and biodegradation. The effects of time on the strength and stability of the landfill cell are studied. The study shows that the analysis using constitutive modeling approach provides useful insights in the land-filling operations.