The Finite Element Method applied to the study of solid waste landfills

An analysis of the solid waste landfill Sitio Sao Joao using the finite element method has been made. Five different "as-built" conditions and a section with bench marks and piezometers were considered. The advantage of the adopted program lies in the implemented possibility of geometric correction at each step, resulting from the actual displacements. A back-analysis of the disposal procedures and movements measured in the field, considering the degradation and chemical decomposition of the solid waste has been done. The parameters are obtained considering their variation with the settlement observed over a period of time. As a consequence of this procedure, parameters for young and old solid waste could be studied and considered as parameters from the view of the elastoplasticity and critical state theories. The obtained results can be seen as promising considering the use of the FEM for analysis and forecast of the behaviour of solid waste landfills.