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Usepa Bioreactor Workshop FEBRUARY 27, 2003: Landfill & Waste Geotechnical Stability

This document summarizes a presentation on bioreactor landfill geotechnical stability. It discusses how bioreactors modify traditional waste geotechnical approaches by increasing waste density through moisture addition and decomposition. This can increase waste densities by 40-70%. It also discusses how waste shear strength properties are impacted by factors like moisture content, density, and decomposition. The presentation recommends analyzing stability for different "types" of bioreactors based on their recirculation levels and proposed sensitivity modeling to account for changing waste properties under bioreactor conditions. It emphasizes the need for better waste testing data and monitoring to ensure stability.

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85 views29 pages

Usepa Bioreactor Workshop FEBRUARY 27, 2003: Landfill & Waste Geotechnical Stability

This document summarizes a presentation on bioreactor landfill geotechnical stability. It discusses how bioreactors modify traditional waste geotechnical approaches by increasing waste density through moisture addition and decomposition. This can increase waste densities by 40-70%. It also discusses how waste shear strength properties are impacted by factors like moisture content, density, and decomposition. The presentation recommends analyzing stability for different "types" of bioreactors based on their recirculation levels and proposed sensitivity modeling to account for changing waste properties under bioreactor conditions. It emphasizes the need for better waste testing data and monitoring to ensure stability.

Uploaded by

marcelodelfin
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USEPA BIOREACTOR WORKSHOP

FEBRUARY 27, 2003

LANDFILL & WASTE


GEOTECHNICAL STABILITY

by
Robert H. Isenberg, PE, CPG

Reston, Virginia
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

¾ Traditional Waste Geotechnics

¾ Geotechnics for Bioreactor Landfills

¾ Final Thoughts & Recommendations


DRY TO MOIST WASTE (~1 m)

WET WASTE (~5 m)


WET TO SATURATED WASTE
(NEAR LEACHATE LEVELS)
Traditional Geotechnical Approach
Principal Stability Considerations:
¾ Excavation slopes
¾ Interim waste slopes
¾ Final covered slopes
¾ Foundation
ƒ Bearing capacity Final Cover
ƒ Settlement ity
a bil
t
ne er S
V e Deep Seated Stability

Bottom Liner
Excavation
Foundation (subgrade)
Waste Geotechnics

¾ Critical sideslopes
ƒ Construction, operations and final

¾ 2-D Limit equilibrium models


ƒ Spencer, Bishop, Janbu, et al
ƒ Minimum Factor of Safety (FS)
ƒ Static and pseudo-static

¾ Material properties
ƒ Waste: shear strength & density Î waste & operation specific

ƒ Soil: shear strengths & density Î site specific

ƒ Soil/Geosynthetic: interface strength Î material specific


Typical Shear Surfaces

FACTORS OF SAFETY: STABILITY MODELING:


FS > 1.5 for Static final (peak) Computer models: PCSTABL, UTEXAS3,
FS > 1.3 for Static interim XSTABL, and others
FS > 1.0 for Pseudo static (peak) Drained and Undrained conditions (pore
pressures)
Or, deformation analysis (e.g.,
Other Loadings (equipment)
Newmark’s)
A Word about FS

FS = [ Peak Shear Strength (or, residual)


Shear Strength for Equilibrium
[Cult + (N-µ)• [tan(Øult)]
[
=
[Cequil + (N-µ)• [tan(Øequil)]

Ø=friction angle and C=cohesion (equivalent)


N=normal stress and µ=pore pressure
FS=1.5 means 50% more strength than required for equilibrium
Peak Strength
Shear Stress

Residual Strength

Shear Displacement
Waste Properties Ranges
¾ In-place (field) density: ~800 to ~1600 pcy
¾ Peak shear strength – Mohr-Coulomb behavior
¾ Friction (Ǿ): ~20° to ~35°
¾ Cohesion (C) : 0 to ~1000 psf
* All variable &
function of waste
¾ Residual strength undetermined type,
composition,
¾ Moisture content (wet weight) compaction,
daily cover,
¾ Range: ~10% to ~60% moisture
conditions, age,
¾ Average ~20% to 30% overburden
pressure, etc
¾ Field Capacity (Fc): ~35% to 55%
¾ Permeability: ~10-2 to ~10-6 cm/sec
MSW Strength- Method 1
(Based on Published Lab and Field Testing)

Example:
Assume MSW peak shear strength Equilibrium (“stability”):
Ǿ=34° and C=200 psf Ǿ= atan[(tan34°)/(1.5)] )= 24.2°
Design for FS=1.5 C= 200/1.5 =133 psf
MSW Strength –
Method 2

Based on
Observations
(Hiriya Landfill, Tel Aviv, 2002)
Waste Can Stand on Steep Slopes…
1.2
1.0

Calculated
0.67
FS~1.05
1.0
Temporarily.
Hiriya Landfill Slope Failure (1997)

Waste Mass Slippage


Hiriya Landfill Slope Failure (1997)

Progressive Failure Crack


MSW Strength - Method 3
Based on Back-calculation

PCSTABL5M MODEL
HIRIYA LANDFILL

BACK-CALCULATED MSW
PEAK SHEAR STRENGTH
FOR SECTION AA:

Ǿ=33
C=167 psf

Circular Shear Surface


LANDFILL BIOREACTORS
Modified Traditional Approach:
“What is the Goal of Your Bioreactor?”

¾ 1. Increased waste density - (measurable ±15%)


ƒ Increased moisture content
ƒ Compression, settlement
ƒ Ravelling (particle re-orientation)
ƒ Decomposition of organics
¾ 2. Change in waste shear strength - ?
¾ Density increase vs. decomposition
ƒ Pore pressures (liquid build-up)
ƒ Preferential shear surfaces
In-Place Density Factors
¾ γwet = actual in place density
Increases with overburden pressure
“ with compactive effort
“ with soil daily cover
“ with time and settlement
“ with moisture content addition

Cumulative effects significant

~40% to >70%

1000 pcy waste will increase to 1400 - 1700 pcy


Example calculation

Initial Condition:
γwet = 1000 pcy @ w=25% (250# water/cy)
Alternative Daily Cover (intermediate cover soil
only)
Moisture Addition:
To achieve w=40%=> 250# water/cy (30 gal)
New γwet = 1250 pcy (assumes no by-pass)
Settlement (compression) + Decomposition = 20%
New γwet = (1250 pcy)/(0.80) = 1562 pcy

Net Density Increase = (1562-1000)/(1000) => 56.2%


Moisture
Wet Waste density = 1400 pcy Contents Are
Not Created
Equal
Wwet= 40%
Wdry= 66.6%
Wvol= 55.3%

Wet Waste density = 1000 pcy

Wwet= 40%
Wdry= 66.6%
Wvol= 39.5%
More on Waste Shear Strength
¾ Assume Mohr – Coulomb Behavior
ƒ Friction equivalent, Ǿ
ƒ Cohesion equivalent, C
ƒ Varies with
Ö Waste type

Shear Strength
Ö Compaction Ǿ
Ö Liquids additions
Ö Daily cover
C
Ö Density
Normal Stress, N
Ö Moisture content
Ö Age, time-dependent
¾ Heterogeneous, anisotropic
And more….

Bioreacted Waste: Limited testing


¾ Laboratory remolded samples
ƒ Large Triaxial cells
ƒ Field shear tests – none reported?
ƒ Direct simple shear – recent testsÆÆ
DIRECT SIMPLE SHEARS
ON DECOMPOSED WASTE*
6”x6”x2” Simple Shear Box
Υ=103 pcf @ w = 28% to 52% (Sat.)
Ø (drained) = 27.8º to 32.4º
Ø (undrained) = 29.6º to 36.2º
*Testing for Waste Management, Inc. by
Applied Land Sciences, JQH Engineering,
and Fugro South
Sensitivity Analysis
Bioreactor “Types”

TYPE 0: Baseline; non-bioreactor Subtitle D


without recirculation
-“normal” waste density

TYPE I: Limited or intermittent recirculation


>25% waste density increase
TYPE II: Moderate, controlled recirculation
(below field capacity)
>50% waste density increase
TYPE III: Heavy recirculation; at field capacity
~75% waste density increase
Sensitivity Modeling Parameters

Liquid Injection Laterals


Geotechnical Design Considerations

¾ What is the goal?


¾ Capacity, leachate control and treatment, gas

¾ What type of bioreactor?

¾ Shear strength and density will change

¾ Prevent excess pore pressures

¾ Revise filling sequences

¾ Set risk based FS values


What Geotechs Need To Do

¾ Testing and standards for waste shear


strength and compressibility

¾ Database

¾ Improved monitoring methods


What Operations Should Consider

¾ Monitor liquids additions continuously

¾ Maintain moisture below waste field


capacity

¾ Keep liquids away from slopes

¾ Develop an operations plan

¾ Monitor performance and resolve


FI
NA
L
CO
M
M
EN
TS
..
.

Pi
pe

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