Estimation of maximum saturated depth in two-layered drainage blankets over the barrier in landfill cover system

For accurately calculating the maximum saturated depth over the landfill barrier and analyzing the variation of liquid head with inflow time, a new method is presented that considers the unsteady-state condition. Based on the principle of water balance and the extended Dupuit assumption, the solution of the new method can be calculated. Also, this method is capable of revealing the effect of the multilayered drainage media. One of the advantages of the method presented in this paper is that it can be used to draw a phreatic surface in layered drainage media under unsteady-state condition and estimate the location of the maximum liquid depth, for both homogeneous conditions and two-layered drainage conditions. Based on the developed analysis method, the effects of a parametric variation on the maximum saturated depth and the variation of saturated depth with time are presented. The calculated results show that with the increase of slope gradients of cover system, the saturated depth of cover system is easy to reach a stable value. Moreover, when the drainage layer consists of two layers with different thickness and hydraulic conductivity, the increase of hydraulic conductivity of the upper drainage layer will make it easier for the saturated depth of cover system to reach a stable and lower value.