Site-Specific Seismic Response Analyses of a Municipal Solid Waste Dump Site at Delhi, India

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills or dump sites located in earthquake prone regions of moderate to high intensity require seismic studies to be conducted for ensuring the stability and integrity of waste mass and containment system. This paper present the results of one-dimensional site specific seismic response analyses performed for an old and tall MSW dump site in Delhi, India. Unit weight profile and dynamic properties of MSW evaluated from field and large scale laboratory tests for this site were utilized in seismic analysis. Synthetically generated strong ground motions using finite source model and specific barrier model, with appropriate seismological parameters for Delhi region, were used in the analyses. Results indicated that the ground motion amplification for low intensity events in the present study compare well with that reported for Operating Industries Inc. landfill in California instrumented with strong ground motion recording stations. Amplification observed in the present study can be useful for the design of cover system. Also, results in terms of maximum horizontal equivalent acceleration for base-sliding case are in agreement with those reported in the literature and can be used for preliminary estimates for the design of linear system of new engineered MSW landfills in Delhi.