A hybrid method for quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis in a municipal solid waste landfill

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.012· OSTI ID:21578440

Yu, L ^[1]; Batlle, F ^[2]

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1. Institute for Environmental, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK-CEN), Mol (Belgium)
2. Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona (Spain)

Highlights: > A quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis method was proposed. > The proposed method is a good engineering tool for 3D slope stability analysis. > Factor of safety from 3D analysis is higher than from 2D analysis. > 3D analysis results are more sensitive to cohesion than 2D analysis. - Abstract: Limited space for accommodating the ever increasing mounds of municipal solid waste (MSW) demands the capacity of MSW landfill be maximized by building landfills to greater heights with steeper slopes. This situation has raised concerns regarding the stability of high MSW landfills. A hybrid method for quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis based on the finite element stress analysis was applied in a case study at a MSW landfill in north-east Spain. Potential slides can be assumed to be located within the waste mass due to the lack of weak foundation soils and geosynthetic membranes at the landfill base. The only triggering factor of deep-seated slope failure is the higher leachate level and the relatively high and steep slope in the front. The valley-shaped geometry and layered construction procedure at the site make three-dimensional slope stability analyses necessary for this landfill. In the finite element stress analysis, variations of leachate level during construction and continuous settlement of the landfill were taken into account. The 'equivalent' three-dimensional factor of safety (FoS) was computed from the individual result of the two-dimensional analysis for a series of evenly spaced cross sections within the potential sliding body. Results indicate that the hybrid method for quasi-three-dimensional slope stability analysis adopted in this paper is capable of locating roughly the spatial position of the potential sliding mass. This easy to manipulate method can serve as an engineering tool in the preliminary estimate of the FoS as well as the approximate position and extent of the potential sliding mass. The result that FoS obtained from three-dimensional analysis increases as much as 50% compared to that from two-dimensional analysis implies the significance of the three-dimensional effect for this study-case. Influences of shear parameters, time elapse after landfill closure, leachate level as well as unit weight of waste on FoS were also investigated in this paper. These sensitivity analyses serve as the guidelines of construction practices and operating procedures for the MSW landfill under study.

• OSTI ID: 21578440
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 31, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.012; PII: S0956-053X(11)00319-9; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING
FAILURES
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FOUNDATIONS
GEOMETRY
MEMBRANES
SAFETY ANALYSIS
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SHEAR
SLOPE STABILITY
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
SPAIN
STRESS ANALYSIS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VALLEYS
CALCULATION METHODS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EUROPE
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
STABILITY
SUPPORTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WESTERN EUROPE