Moisture Transport in a Solid Waste Column

Abstract

The physical processes governing moisture transport in solid waste landfills are analyzed by the theory of unsaturated flow through homogeneous porous media and experimental work. A laboratory column was constructed and monitored to determine the behavior of unsaturated flow through solid wastes. The hydraulic properties of the refuse were determined from small scale experiments. A mathematical model was formulated and the experimental results were used to calibrate and verify it. Comparisons of measured and computed leachate discharges showed reasonable agreement. The theory of unsaturated flow through homogeneous porous media was successfully used to model moisture transport through the refuse material of a laboratory column.