A Review of the Biochemical and Mechanical Processes Involved in Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Settlement

摘要

This paper discusses pertinent aspects of available literature and publications in an attempt to better understand the mechanics and biochemical processes that are responsible for settlement of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills.rnBased upon this review the authors have concluded that settlement of waste material containing an organic element, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), is the result of both mechanical and biochemical processes. Many authors have attempted to explain MSW landfill settlement using predictive models that consider rheological, empirical and biodegradation methods. Some authors included an accelerated creep factor to account for unexplained observed settlement and recently some authors have attempted to determine anticipated settlements based upon a relationship between secondary settlement and volume loss due to biodegradation of the waste. Some authors have attempted to assign various coefficients of secondary compression to waste exhibiting various degrees of decomposition.rnThis paper discusses many of the methods proposed by various authors and reviews their conclusions with regard to predictability and ease of use.