Translational Failure Analysis of Landfills

The scope of this paper is to develop a new approach to the two-part wedge method for translational failure analysis of landfills. The upper and lower bound solutions for the landfill stability, i.e., ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\max }$ and ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\min }\text{,}$ can be readily determined using this method. Using an average factor of safety, ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\mathrm{ave}}\text{,}$ to replace the true factor of safety, ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\mathrm{true}}\text{,}$ the differences between ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\mathrm{ave}}$ and ${\mathrm{FS}}_{\mathrm{true}}$ are within 5% for most considered cases. The solutions from the new method ensure that the waste strength is not exceeded anywhere within the waste mass. The calculated results agreed well with the results computed from the computer code PCSTABL6. The ability of the new method to calculate the translational failure of waste mass with a predetermined sliding failure face is demonstrated. Also, a waste filling sequence to keep the factor of safety above a stipulated value during the operation phase of the landfilling process can be generated.