Slope stability of bioreactor landfills during leachate injection: Effects of geometric configurations of horizontal trench systems

In bioreactor landfills, different configurations of closely spaced horizontal trench (HT) systems are often considered as leachate recirculation systems to achieve uniform and rapid distribution of moisture in municipal solid waste (MSW). In this study, a numerical two-phase flow modelling was adopted to study the effects of geometric configuration of HT systems on the moisture distribution in MSW, and the stability of a simplified bioreactor landfill slope during continuous and intermittent leachate recirculation. Transient variations in pore water and capillary pressures in MSW were assessed, and slope stability analyses were performed using strength reduction technique. MSW was considered as heterogeneous and anisotropic with varied unit weight and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The results demonstrated that geometric configurations of HT systems significantly affected the moisture distribution, generation and distribution of pore water and capillary pressures in MSW, and considerably influenced the mechanical stability of bioreactor landfill slope. It was concluded that staggered configuration of closely spaced HT systems with intermittent sequences of leachate recirculation and subsequent gravity drainage in alternate shallow and deep HT layers should be adopted as they produce uniform moisture distribution and ensure the mechanical stability of landfill slope due to low induced pore pressures near side slope. Overall, this study presents a significant contribution to the understanding of the basic mechanisms controlling the geotechnical stability of bioreactor landfills during leachate operations. Furthermore, the capability of the adopted commercial code was verified with complexities related to bioreactors behaviour. However, further research is needed to validate the model based on field monitoring data at actual bioreactor landfills.     

考虑龄期分层的固体废弃物填埋场边坡稳定分析

固体废弃物填埋场长期使用过程中,垃圾土的强度参数随着龄期的变化而变化。在进行固体废弃物填埋场边坡稳定分析时考虑按龄期分层,基于极限分析上限理论,提出了转动-平动组合和多块体平动两种破坏机构。通过水平分层土坡算例的对比分析,验证两种破坏机构的合理性和有效性。进而对填埋场算例按龄期分层分析,结果表明,极限分析上限解的安全系数和破坏机制与强度折减有限单元法非常接近,多块体平动机构通过随机搜索所得的最危险滑裂面优于转动-平动组合机构。最后分析西班牙Coll Cardús固废填埋场,此填埋场是按龄期分层的典型复杂填埋场,运用两种破坏机构所得的安全系数和最危险滑裂面与有限单元法相符。算例分析表明,在不考虑水位的情况下,填埋体堆填时间越长越有利于填埋场的稳定。当填埋体按低、中、高龄期分层形成时,填埋场的整体稳定安全系数介于中龄期和高龄期的均质边坡之间。     

Design Charts for Selecting Minimum Setback Distance from Side Slope to Horizontal Trench System in Bioreactor Landfills

The primary objective of bioreactor landfill is to achieve adequate and rapid distribution of moisture in landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) to accelerate the anaerobic biodegradation of the organic fraction within MSW. A horizontal trench system (HT) is commonly adopted for leachate distribution in MSW under pressurized conditions. However, this approach should be implemented carefully due to the potential instability of landfill slopes that comes from the generation and distribution of excessive pore fluid pressures. In this study, HT design charts are presented that determine the optimal location of horizontal trench systems from the side slope (i.e., minimum lateral setback distance) under continuous leachate addition with maximum applied injection pressures, for which the landfill slopes remain stable [factor of safety (FOS) where FOS ≥ 1.5]. Use of any higher injection pressure and/or shorter lateral setback distance of HT than the one presented in the design charts would result in an unacceptable design of the bioreactor side slope (FOS < 1.5). The design chart was developed based on a parametric study that used a numerical two-phase flow model that involved different slope configurations and landfill waste depths. MSW heterogeneity and anisotropy, as well as unsaturated hydraulic properties, were taken into consideration in these simulations. Transient changes in pore water and gas pressures due to leachate recirculation were accounted for dually in the slope stability computations. The importance of these design charts is illustrated using a practical example. Site-specific conditions and the expertise and prior experience of a designer or operator must also be adequately considered and utilized with the design charts presented here for the safe design of a horizontal trench system in a bioreactor landfill.     

Analyses on a high leachate mound in a landfill of municipal solid waste in China

The leachate levels in the landfills in southern China are generally high. Field monitoring was carried out in the Suzhou landfill to investigate the leachate mound. The saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of municipal solid waste were measured using samples taken from different depths of the landfill. Field monitoring reveals that a perched leachate mound and a substantial main leachate mound existed in the landfill. The saturated hydraulic conductivities of wastes in shallow, middle and deep depth were measured to be 4.81 × 10^?2, 3.50 × 10^?3 and 3.56 × 10^?4 cm/s, respectively. The results of SWCC tests show that the SWCC curve was steep when matric suction was low, and the shallower the waste the steeper would be the curve. In addition to the field and laboratory tests, an unsaturated–saturated seepage analysis was conducted to simulate the development of the high leachate mound and to calculate the annual leachate production. The simulated volumetric water content in the unsaturated zone was about 40 %, which agreed well with the test result. The calculated leachate mound was consistent with the field measurement. The calculated annual and daily leachate productions were all more reasonable than the results of the HELP model.     

Design of drainage blankets for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills using two-phase flow modeling

Drainage blankets (DB) are used for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills and consist of highly permeable material placed over a large area of the landfill with the leachate injection pipe embedded in the material at specified locations. DBs are generally installed at different depth levels during the waste filling operations. Very limited information is reported on performance of DBs, and that which exists is based on a small number of field monitoring and modeling studies. A rational method for the design of landfills using DBs has not been developed. This study performs a parametric analysis based on a validated two-phase flow model and presents design charts to guide the design of DBs for given hydraulic properties of MSW, the leachate injection rate and the dimensions and locations of the DB as measured from the leachate collection and recirculation system (LCRS) located at the bottom of the landfill cell. Numerical simulations were performed for the two established MSW conditions: homogeneous–isotropic and heterogeneous–anisotropic waste. The optimal levels of leachate saturation, wetted width, wetted area and developed pore water and pore gas pressures were determined, and design charts using the normalized parameters were developed. An example is presented on the use of design charts for typical field application.     

污泥掺入生活垃圾后的力学特性试验研究

填埋是污泥消化处置的方法之一,由于污泥的工程特性较特殊,填埋会引发很多环境岩土工程问题。考虑到填埋工程会进行分层碾压铺填,在标准击实试验的击实功下制备试样,通过污泥与垃圾土混合后的直接剪切试验、渗透特性试验,考虑淋滤液和降解产气压力共同影响,进行边坡稳定分析。结果表明：污泥和垃圾混合后的强度比垃圾土的强度低,比污泥的强度高,改善了污泥的强度特性;污泥掺入垃圾后的渗透系数与垃圾土的渗透系数相当,没有劣化垃圾土的渗透特性,但比污泥的渗透系数有显著提高;随着污泥掺量的增加,边坡安全系数会先提高后降低,因此,应结合试验和稳定计算结果,确定实际工程的污泥掺入比;考虑降解产气对边坡稳定的影响,安全系数会降低约15%～20%。     

短龄期城市固体垃圾直剪试验及应力位移模型

城市固体垃圾（MSW）的力学行为是环境岩土工程研究中的一个主要课题。进行了1、4、7 d共3组短龄期的MSW试验室直剪试验,每组试验分别考虑3种不同密度。试验结果表明,MSW试样的直剪破坏仍遵循摩尔-库仑破坏准则。密度较大试样的抗剪强度在1～7 d龄期内持续增长;密度较小试样的抗剪强度在1～4 d龄期内增长,在4～7 d龄期内降低。MSW试样的摩擦角随龄期的发展单调增加,但黏聚力随龄期先增大而后减小。分析了传统剪应力-位移模型的不足,提出了一个新的复合正切-指数曲线模型,该模型具有良好的数学性质,较传统模型有更广泛的适用性。试验数据拟合表明,新模型能很好地描述MSW的剪应力-位移过程,相关系数均大于0.99。其结果可供相关填埋场设计及工程数值分析参考     

Horizontal trench system effects on leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills

Horizontal trenches (HTs) are constructed during the waste filling for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills. Leachate distribution depends on HT configuration (i.e., spacing between successive HTs), leachate injection rate, modes of injection, and hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity. Presently, the effects of these variables on the moisture distribution have not been studied systematically. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the effect of the HTs variables on the moisture distribution and pore fluid pressures. A two-phase flow model is used to model a bioreactor landfill having an HT leachate injection system. It quantifies the effects of the unsaturated hydraulic properties and MSW heterogeneity, trench configuration, leachate injection flux, and mode of injection on hydraulic behaviour. The results show that unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and MSW heterogeneity significantly shape the zone of influence and excess pore pressures. Under heterogeneous-anisotropic conditions, the leachate migrates more laterally and the developed pore-pressures are lower than for homogeneous MSW. A closely-spaced, multi-level, staggered HT system is found to provide uniform and adequate moisture distribution in MSW. An intermittent mode of injection that alternates between the shallow and deep trenches with a higher leachate injection flow rate is found to be effective to control the excess pore pressures.     

中高龄期模型固体废弃物三轴试验与强度特性分析

为揭示中、高龄期城市固体废弃物（MSW）的力学特性,通过向石英砂、高岭土混合物中加入不同质量比的草炭人工配制模型固废试样,开展了三轴固结排水剪切和固结不排水剪切试验研究。试验结果表明,中高龄期模型固废均表现出持续硬化的应力应变特性,固结排水试验中中龄期模型固废的体变略大于高龄期,固结不排水试验中高龄期模型固废的孔压略高于中龄期。采用15%轴向应变对应的剪应力描述其抗剪强度,并根据Skempton有效应力原理,通过对比固结排水试验和固结不排水试验结果,得出了固废的孔隙水压力折减系数和抗剪强度参数,孔隙水压力折减系数随龄期增加而增大,高龄期模型固废得到的黏聚力低于中龄期,高龄期固废得到的内摩擦角则高于中龄期。     

扩建城市垃圾填埋场的地震稳定性分析

结合现场剪切波速试验、室内常规及动三轴试验结果,给出了扩建城市垃圾填埋场地震稳定性的有限元分析方法,并分析了扩建垃圾填埋体沿填埋体内部圆弧滑动面、新老填埋体交界面及底部和背部衬垫系统的地震稳定性。当填埋场中渗滤液水头较低时,扩建填埋体最易发生沿新老填埋体交界面的滑动。与总应力法计算结果相比较发现,总应力法只适合分析输入地震动较小的情况,而当输入地震动较大时,由于它不能考虑动孔压上升所导致的MSW软化而使得其计算的扩建填埋体沿圆弧滑动面的安全系数偏保守。另外,采用Newmark法分析了不同输入地震动时不同横、竖向扩建方案的永久位移,分析表明：扩建填埋体沿新老填埋体交界面的地震永久位移的对数近似与屈服加速度同最大水平加速度的比值呈线性关系,并给出了其永久位移的拟合公式。     

Evaluation of shear strength of cohesionless soil due to excess pore water pressure

The shear strength of cohesionless soil is reduced as the water pressure inside the pores of the soil mass increases. The mathematical relationship between the shear strength and the pore water pressure was derived using Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria as a function of the confining pressure and the effective angle of friction. Experimentally, a series of consolidated drained triaxial tests with back pore water pressure was run on samples of saturated uniform dense sand. The tests were conducted at different confining pressures in the range of 100–400 kPa with an increment of 100 kPa. At each level of confining pressure, the tests were repeated at different values of back pore water pressure in the range of 0–100 kPa with an increment of 25 kPa. For each test, the initial applied back pore water pressure was kept constant during the test for comparing the results at the same effective confining pressure. This study concludes that the mathematical relationship gives accurate results at any level of confining pressure and/or pore water pressure as a function of the effective angle of friction that can be evaluated using single consolidated drained triaxial test at zero back pore water pressure.     

陇西黄土三轴剪切过程微观变化研究

为了解黄土三轴剪切过程中的微观变化,采用PFC3D建立黄土三轴试验模型,模拟围压分别为0、50、150、300 kPa的三轴剪切试验,并与室内试验进行对比分析。分析结果表明：PFC3D能够较好地模拟出不同围压下从开始到破坏到残余变形整个过程中应力-应变的变化规律,且位移场及接触应力场的变化规律与室内三轴试验宏观现象较一致;发现弹性模量、泊松比及峰值强度与数值模型中微观参数有着密切的联系,如法向刚度kn控制试样宏观弹性模量,kn /ks值控制泊松比,摩擦系数控制峰值强度;通过体应变-轴向应变曲线发现,随着围压的增加应变能增大,试样呈现出由体积膨胀到体积减缩的变化规律。其研究结果为进一步探究黄土的应力-应变性状及抗剪强度特性提供参考。     

新鲜生活垃圾压缩与直剪联合测定试验研究

在环境土工实验室人工配制了新鲜生活垃圾,采用大型压缩与直剪联合测定仪器,对96个新鲜垃圾试样进行了压缩变形、剪应力及剪应变联合测定试验,研究了垃圾的压缩变形对强度的影响及规律。试样的初始孔隙比分别为2.1、2.5、2.9,试样竖向压力分别为25、50、100、200 kPa,每级压力作用下的时间分别为0、0.25、0.5、1、2、6、12、24 h。试验研究表明,（1）不同压缩时间下剪应力与剪应变的关系符合双曲线模型,模型参数a在0.028～0.144之间,参数b在0.012～0.024之间;（2）不同竖向压力及不同剪应变限值下抗剪强度与竖向压缩应变（压缩时间）的关系可以拟合成多项式的形式,得到了参数的拟合值及相关系数,相关系数在0.63～0.98之间;（3）不同初始孔隙比的抗剪强度与竖向压力的关系符合库仑定律,得到了不同剪应变限值的抗剪强度参数,黏聚力在11.1～34.2 kPa之间,内摩擦角在 11.2°～30.6°之间。     

渗滤液水位以下垃圾体产气对孔隙压力影响研究

为了研究渗滤液水位以下产气对孔隙压力的影响,从孔隙气在渗滤液水位以下特定的流动状态出发,采用峰值产气模型,结合了达西定律、理想气体状态方程和多孔介质流体动力学理论,建立了渗滤液水位以下考虑产气作用的气液迁移模型。运用差分法对产气引起的气液迁移问题进行了数值求解。计算结果表明,渗滤液水位以下垃圾体的产气对孔隙压力的影响主要有渗滤液渗流引起的附加孔隙压力和水位升高引起的附加孔隙压力,按孔隙气所处阶段的不同可以分为孔隙气被封闭时孔压积聚阶段、孔隙气突破孔隙水封闭时的孔压急剧消散阶段以及由对流作用控制的气液运移阶段;高产气速率、高渗滤液水位和低渗透系数都会使得垃圾体内产生较高的孔隙压力;降低填埋场内渗滤液水位是减小产气对孔隙压力影响的有效措施。     

Dynamic Properties of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfills with Degradation

Bioreactor landfills are operated to enhance refuse decomposition, gas production, and waste stabilization. The major aspect of bioreactor landfill operation is the recirculation of collected leachate back through the refuse mass. Due to the presence of additional leachate and accelerated decomposition, the characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in bioreactor landfills are expected to change. About 50% of the continental United States comes under the designated seismic impact zone. The federal regulations have focused increase attention on seismic design of solid waste fills, and have mandated that the solid waste landfills located in the seismic impact zones should be designed to resist the earthquake. Accordingly, assessment of dynamic properties of landfills is one of the major geotechnical tasks in landfill engineering. In order to understand the changes in dynamic properties of bioreactor waste mass with time and decomposition, four small scale bioreactor landfills were simulated in laboratory and samples were prepared to represent each phase of decomposition. The state of decomposition was quantified by methane yield, pH, and volatile organic content (VOC). A number of Resonant Column (RC) tests were performed to evaluate the dynamic properties (stiffness and damping) of MSW. The test results indicated that the normalized shear modulus reduction and damping curves are significantly affected by the degree of decomposition. The shear modulus increased from 2.11 MPa in Phase I to 12.56 MPa in Phase IV. The increase was attributed to the breakdown of fibrous nature of solid waste particles as it degrades. Therefore, considering MSW properties to be uniform throughout the bioreactor landfill is not a reasonable assumption and the shear modulus reduction curves should be evaluated based on the degree of MSW decomposition, rather than the sample composition itself.     

Effects of temperature on strength and compressibility of sand-bentonite buffer

Dense sand-bentonite buffer (γ_d = 1.67Mg/m³) has been proposed in Canada as one of several barriers for isolating nuclear fuel waste. The buffer will be required to function under conditions of high total pressures and elevated temperatures approaching 100°C. Summary results are presented from two test programs: (1) isothermal consolidated undrained triaxial (CIU¯) tests; and (2) isothermal drained constant-p′ (CID) triaxial tests. Specimens were consolidated at effective stresses up to 9.0 MPa and temperatures up to 100°C.

The results indicate parallel hardening lines at systematically lower values of specific volume at elevated temperatures. In shear, increased temperatures produced lower values of maximum deviator stressq_f, and higher pore water pressure changesΔu_f. The net result is curved peak strength envelops in plots ofq_f versusp_f′ that are higher at elevated temperatures, even though the strengths,q_f of individual specimens are lower. The critical state strength envelope is curved inq, p′-planes.

The effect of drained heating on buffer to 100°C is not marked. Compressibilities, stiffnesses, strengths, and pore water pressure generation are all affected, but none of the changes are great.     

Permeability of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfill with Degradation

Bioreactor landfills are operated for rapid stabilization of waste, increased landfill gas generation for cost-effective energy recovery, gain in landfill space, enhanced leachate treatment, and reduced post closure maintenance period. The fundamental process of waste stabilization in bioreactor landfill is recirculation of generated leachate back into the landfills. This creates a favorable environment for rapid microbial decomposition of the biodegradable solid waste. In order to better estimate the generated leachate and design of leachate recirculation system, clear understanding of the permeability of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with degradation and the factors influencing the permeability is necessary. The objective of the paper is to determine the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition. Four small-scale bioreactor landfills were built in laboratory and samples were prepared to represent each phase of decomposition. Then, the changes in hydraulic properties of MSW in bioreactor landfill with time and decomposition were determined. A series of constant head permeability tests were performed on the samples generated in laboratory scale bioreactor landfills to determine variation of permeability of MSW with degradation. The test results indicated that the permeability of MSW in bioreactor landfills decreases with decomposition. Based on the test results, the permeability of MSW at the first phase of degradation was estimated as 0.0088 cm/s at density 700 kg/m³. However, with degradation, permeability decreased to 0.0013 cm/s at the same density, for MSW at Phase IV.     

垃圾填埋场污泥灰改性黏土衬垫的强度特性及微观结构

为评价污泥灰改性黏土作为填埋场衬垫防渗材料的可行性,分析污泥灰改性黏土强度特性及孔隙结构,针对受垃圾渗沥液腐蚀的纯黏土与污泥灰掺量为1%～5%的改性黏土,采用直接剪切试验分析其抗剪强度变化规律,采用低温氮气吸附试验分析剪切变形后试样的孔隙结构组成。结果表明,改性黏土属于VI型等温线,并存在H3型滞后环,且2～6 nm介孔的数量占比较大。受垃圾渗沥液腐蚀后,黏土抗剪强度大幅下降,黏聚力与内摩擦角分别下降60.12%和19.17%;黏土的最大氮气吸附量降低16.19%,且孔隙分布双肩峰发育不完全;随污泥灰添加量的增加,改性黏土抗剪强度增大,且孔隙分布逐渐恢复双肩峰形式,总孔容增大。     

生活垃圾焚烧炉渣在饱和状态下的强度特性

城市生活垃圾焚烧炉渣具有活性,饱和炉渣的剪切强度随时间增加而增加。本文采用常规三轴试验测试饱和炉渣的剪切强度,围压σ₃分别为50kPa、100kPa、200kPa和400kPa,试样的干密度ρ_d分别为1.4g·cm-3、1.5g·cm-3和1.6g·cm-3,龄期t分别为3d、7d、14d和28d。三轴试验结果表明:饱和炉渣的破坏模式受龄期和围压的影响明显。围压小于200kPa,龄期小于14d的试样表现为脆性破坏。在τ-σ坐标上,应力莫尔圆的包络线不是直线;炉渣在σ₁-σ₃坐标上表现为两段直线,分界点为σ₃=200kPa,由σ₁-σ₃相关关系确定炉渣的内摩擦角和黏聚力更合理可信。     

Effect of Cement Type on the Mechanical Behavior of a Gravely Sand

The behavior of a cemented gravely sand was studied using triaxial compression tests. Gypsum, Portland cement and lime were used as the cementing agents in sample preparation. The samples with different cement types were compared in equal cement contents. Three cement contents of 1.5%, 3.0% and 4.5% were selected for sample preparation. Drained and undrained triaxial compression tests were conducted in a range of confining pressures from 25 kPa to 500 kPa. Failure modes, shear strength, stress–strain behavior, volume and pore pressure changes were considered. The gypsum cement induced the highest brittleness in soil among three cement types while the Portland cement was found to be the most ductile cementing agent. In lower cement contents and lower confining pressures the soil cemented with Portland cement showed the highest shear strength. However, in the same range of cement content, the soil cemented with gypsum showed highest shear strength for highest tested confining stress. For higher cement contents the shear strength of soil cemented with Portland cement is higher than that for the two other cement types for the range of confining pressures tested in the present study. The samples cemented with lime had the least peak and ultimate shear strength and the highest pore pressure generation in undrained tests. Contrary to the soil cemented with lime, the brittleness of soil cemented with gypsum and Portland cement reduces in undrained condition. Finally it was found that the effect of cement type on the shear strength of cemented soils is more profound in drained condition compared to undrained state.