Technical Paper by C.A. Finley and R.D. Holtz INVESTIGATION AND MODELING OF TWO COMPOSITE LANDFILL COVERS

TLDR: In this article, the performance of two municipal solid waste landfill final covers was investigated, with test pits exca- vated and soil and geotextile samples collected, and the results showed that the cover components were generally in good condition and performing their intended function in the field.

Abstract: The performance of two municipal solid waste landfill final covers was investigated. A field investigation of each landfill was performed, with test pits exca- vated and soil and geotextile samples collected. The investigation and analysis showed that the cover components were generally in good condition and performing their intended function in the field. Differential settlements that had occurred at both land- fills were modeled with a finite difference code. The model results were used to calcu- late geomembrane strains and relate them to surface settlement characteristics. Using this method, two areas of differential settlement at one of the landfills were evaluated, and the geomembrane strains were found to be well below yield strains. In addition, a general design method for composite landfill covers spanning voids was developed with the finite difference model.