Applications of Soil Mechanics Principles to Landfill Waste

The study of geotechnical properties of landfill waste is relatively new area in geotechnics (soil mechanics in unsaturated state) and offers solutions for efficient and environment friendly design of landfill. The knowledge of movement of liquid (leachate) & gases is becoming essentially vital as well as the settlement behaviour is to be predicted for the post-closure use of the disposal site. The primary characteristics of soil; permeability constant (hydraulic conductivity) and its relationship to overburden pressures was studied in a large-scale permeameter using 'modelled' landfill waste tested for its geotechnical behaviour. Suction characteristics were also stdied for unsaturated condition by an indirect gravimetric (laboratory) method for establishing relationship for changes in moisture and density. The publication provides good quality reference for researchers keen to work in the area of geotechnics of landfill. The literature review presented provides the basic knowledge of subject including; unsaturated soils, suction in soils, hydraulic conductivity, etc. with guidance and references extending into further research.