Effects of gas and moisture on modeling of bioreactor landfill settlement
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2009
Abstract
This manuscript describes a model that can predict settlement at variable moisture and pressure conditions as encountered in bioreactor landfills. In this model mechanical compression of municipal solid waste (MSW) was accounted with the help of laboratory compression tests. To model biodegradation-induced settlement, biodegradation of MSW was assumed to obey a first order decay equation. Richards equation was used to model moisture transport in the waste mass and mass balance was used to link settlement with gas pressure. The functionality of the numerical formulation was examined using a hypothetical bioreactor landfill. Four scenarios were analyzed to demonstrate how the proposed model can be used to analyze the settlement behavior of bioreactor landfills as well as dry landfills. The model predicted higher strains when moisture and gas pressures were incorporated into the settlement process. Results also indicated that the prediction capability of a MSW settlement model can be improved by coupling the settlement mechanisms with the generation and dissipation of gas pressure and the moisture distribution. The model is also able to predict landfill density values, and the predicted MSW wet density after 25 years agreed reasonably with those reported in literature. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Identifier
58149262822 (Scopus)
Publication Title
Waste Management
External Full Text Location
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.08.018
ISSN
0956053X
PubMed ID
18951007
First Page
1018
Last Page
1025
Issue
3
Volume
29
Recommended Citation
Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan; Meegoda, Jay; and Hettiaratchi, Patrick, "Effects of gas and moisture on modeling of bioreactor landfill settlement" (2009). Faculty Publications. 12147.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/fac_pubs/12147
