SIMULACIÓN A ESCALA DE LABORATORIO DEL ASENTAMIENTO MECÁNICO Y DE LA EVOLUCIÓN DE LOS RESIDUOS DE UN DEPÓSITO CONTROLADO

Abstract

The physical, chemical and biological processes in the solid waste mass of the landfill have very complex prediction. Consequently, it is difficult to estimate the settlements, which can be classified in initial, primary or secondary. On the other hand, the initial and primary settlements depend firstly on the loads, so that a higher thickness of the waste mass involves generally a greater settlement. The secondary settlements depend firstly on the mechanisms that affect degradation. Therefore, a higher biodegradable fraction content always means a greater settlement. In this paper, the behavior of a landfill has been simulated by means of a lysimeter. By mean of an hydraulic piston density of waste has been increase up to reach 35.24 kN (equivalent pressure to a thickness of 30 m of waste), during 45 days. Settlements have resulted in around 28%. These results allow establishing a relationship between the height of the waste and density. In addition, in order to simulate rainfall a periodic irrigation has been applied. Furthermore, chemical and physical properties of leachate and waste have been analyzed during this time.