Predicting Leakage through Composite Landfill Liners
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 127, Issue 6
Abstract
Leakage through composite landfill liners having various characteristics was analyzed using existing analytical and numerical models developed for the study. Three-dimensional numerical models were used to analyze leakage through circular defects and two-dimensional numerical models were used to analyze leakage from defective seams. Leakage rates predicted with the numerical models were compared to leakage rates predicted using existing equations and analytical models currently being used. These comparisons show that existing equations and analytical models all have limitations and no universal equation or method is available for predicting leakage rates. To overcome some of the deficiencies in the existing equations and models, new equations were developed based on results from the numerical models. Recommendations are made for using the new equations, existing equations, and analytical models to predict leakage rates in thick composite liners having a geomembrane overlaying a compacted soil liner and thin composite liners having a geomembrane overlaying a geosynthetic clay liner.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 127 • Issue 6 • June 2001
Pages: 510 - 520
History
Received: May 11, 1998
Published online: Jun 1, 2001
Published in print: Jun 2001
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