Computation of pseudo-static yield accelerations of landfills

Abstract

Landfills constructed in the seismic zones can experience the seismic forces in both the horizontal and vertical directions. However, in most of the design, the vertical component of seismic acceleration is neglected, assuming that it does not have great impact on seismic performance of landfills, which is not true especially for landfills located in vicinity of active fault areas. To design any generalized shape of landfill, it is hence necessary to compute the non-dimensional yield acceleration for the seismic stability of landfill. In addition, the estimation of permanent seismic displacements requires the information about the yield acceleration induced in landfills during earthquakes. A simplified limit equilibrium method for different types of landfills is used in the present study to address the above issues for different landfill configurations and with sloping bases considering the pseudo-static approach for the seismic forces. In addition, the effect of vertical component of seismic acceleration on non-dimensional yield acceleration and factor of safety is evaluated in the present study by proposing design equations for generalized non-dimensional yield acceleration. Effects of variation of different parameters like horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations, soil friction angle, interface friction angle, backfill and face slopes, length to height ratio of landfill and base inclination on non-dimensional yield acceleration are reported. Present results are compared with the similar results available in literature for specific type of landfills.