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UNSATURATED FLOW THROUGH SOLID WASTE LANDFILLS: MODEL AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS 1
Author(s) -
Demetracopoulos Alexander C.,
Korfiatis George P.,
Bourodimos Efst. L.,
Nawy Edward G.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb01914.x
Subject(s) - vadose zone , hydraulic conductivity , moisture , precipitation , groundwater , thermal diffusivity , sensitivity (control systems) , environmental science , mechanics , soil water , soil science , chemistry , thermodynamics , geotechnical engineering , geology , meteorology , engineering , physics , electronic engineering , organic chemistry
The movement of precipitation water infiltrating through the material (refuse) of solid waste landfills is examined via numerical solution of the equations of continuity, and motion (Darcy's Law). The solution of the equations is obtained by a fully implicit, finite‐difference scheme. Both unsaturated and saturated surface conditions are considered, making the scheme suitable for real‐time simulation of net precipitation and moisture redistribution events. A sensitivity analysis showed that for unsaturated surface conditions the solution is primarily affected by hydraulic conductivity and capillary diffusivity, and is relatively independent of the space and time steps. In addition, the precipitation averaging process is shown to be critical in the correct computation of moisture transport during the time period where the transition from unsaturated to saturated conditions occurs. The model presented herein is suitable for analysis of water movement through landfills, and the design of bottom collection systems.