Optimisation of landfill volume by the simplex method

Abstract

This paper considers an application of optimisation techniques in landfill design. In order to reduce the environmental impact, the maximisation of the landfill storage capacity is obtained as a constrained optimisation problem by the simplex method of linear programming. The proposed approach allows the designer to model the external surface of the waste in respect of some geometrical constraints and three‐dimensional stability, evaluated for one or more prefixed slip surfaces. Analytical expressions needed to assemble a computer program are given and an illustrative example is also presented.