Thermal Analysis of Cover Systems in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 11
Abstract
Cover temperature variations were determined at four municipal solid waste landfills located in different climatic regions in North America: Michigan, New Mexico, Alaska, and British Columbia. Cover temperatures varied seasonally similarly to air temperatures and demonstrated amplitude decrement and phase lag with depth. Elevated temperatures in the underlying wastes resulted in warmer temperatures and low frost penetration in the covers compared to surrounding subgrade soils. The ranges of measured temperatures decreased and average temperatures generally increased (approximately ) with depth. The ranges of measured temperatures were and and the average temperatures were and at 1 and depths, respectively. For soil and geosynthetic barrier materials around depth, the maximum and minimum temperatures were and , respectively. Frost depths were determined to be approximately 50% of those for soils at ambient conditions. The main direction of heat flow in the covers was upward (negative gradients). The cover gradients varied between and , with averages of . The gradients for soil and geosynthetic barrier materials around depth varied between and with an average of . Cover thawing -factors ranged between 1.0 and 1.4 and the cover freezing -factor was 0.6. Design charts and guidelines are provided for cover thermal analyses for variable climatic conditions.
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Acknowledgments
This study has been supported by the National Science Foundation (GOALI Grant No. NSFCMS-9813248 and SGER Grant No. NSFCMS-0301032) and partner landfills (Sauk Trail Hills Development, Corralitos Regional Landfill, Anchorage Regional Landfill, and Vancouver Landfill).
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© 2008 ASCE.
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Received: Oct 13, 2007
Accepted: Mar 17, 2008
Published online: Nov 1, 2008
Published in print: Nov 2008
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