Evaluation of shear strength parameters of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) by means of static plate load tests

• Grant number: 09/07982-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: July 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Maria Eugenia Gimenez Boscov
• Grantee: Maria Eugenia Gimenez Boscov
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main objectives of this research project are: to evaluate strength parameters of municipal solid wastes (MSW) by means of in-situ static load plate tests and Terzaghi´s formulation for ultimate bearing capacity of direct shallow foundations, and to study the stress-strain behavior of these materials. The Young modulus of the waste mass will also be estimated through the proposed tests. The displacements of a typical waste fill cross section due to self-weight will be simulated by a geotechnical finite-elements code. Displacements of the waste mass will be related to safety factors obtained by conventional stability analysis carried out with the strength parameters determined by the in-situ tests.This project is inserted in the research line Design of waste disposal sites of the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo. A collaboration with the environmental agency of the State of São Paulo - CETESB and with a sanitary landfill of the metropolitan region of São Paulo was set for the development of this research. The intended contributions are to provide more realistic strength parameters of Brazilian MSW for conventional stability analysis and to advance the knowledge of the rheological behavior of these materials. (AU)