Abstract
The unit weight of municipal solid waste (MSW) is an important parameter in engineering analyses of landfill performance, but significant uncertainty currently exists regarding its value. A careful review of reliable field data shows that individual landfills have a characteristic MSW unit weight profile. Based on in situ unit weight data and trends observed in large-scale laboratory tests, a hyperbolic relationship was developed to represent this characteristic MSW unit weight profile. Within the context of this characteristic profile, landfill-specific values of MSW unit weight depend primarily on waste composition, operational practices (i.e., compaction, cover soil placement, and liquids management), and confining stress. Guidance is provided for developing landfill-specific MSW unit weight profiles, including procedures for performing large-scale tests for in situ measurement of MSW unit weight at a landfill.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1250-1261 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering |
Volume | 132 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2006 |
Keywords
- Density
- Landfills
- Municipal wastes
- Waste management
- Waste sites
- Weight
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
- General Environmental Science