Geosynthetic Reinforcement in Landfill Design: US Perspectives

Geosynthetic reinforcement in landfill applications in the US has involved conventional reinforced soil structures and veneer stabilization with reinforcements placed along the landfill slope and anchored at the crest. In addition, innovative approaches have been recently implemented in the US to reinforce landfill covers and base liners. This includes horizontally placed geosynthetic reinforcements, which are anchored into solid waste, and fiber reinforcement to enhance the shear strength of the soil liner material and the interface shear strength between the soil liner and texture geomembranes. This paper presents a framework for the design of steep reinforced liners. Recent case histories illustrating the use of the different geosynthetic reinforcement applications are also presented to document the different approaches in specific projects.