Suction Influence on Load-Settlement Curves Predicted by DMT in a Collapsible Sandy Soil.

The plate load test (PLT) is the most reliable in situ testing for studying the load-settlement behaviour of footings on unsaturated collapsible soils. In these soils, the suction profile is not constant along the depth, and the scale effect between the prototype and footing leads to different suction averages and, consequently, different data. One method to eliminate the effect of soil suction on the test data is to fully saturate the soil prior to the test, which is also recommended at the design process for footing on collapsible soils. However, the inundation process on PLTs is expensive and time-consuming, which makes this procedure difficult to incorporate into engineering practice. This study presents a device that can be attached to flat dilatometer (DMT) to allow local inundation of the soil as part of the in situ test campaign and obtain the DMT-constrained modulus (MDMT) for both natural and inundated conditions. The MDMT presented an average reduction of 56% from natural to inundated condition. This parameter can be used in a model to predict load-settlement curves by DMT data considering the suction influence on this behaviour. The curves obtained from the prediction model were compared to curves determined by PLT conducted under the same in situ conditions. Good agreement was found between the curves predicted by DMT and those measured by PLT for both conditions. The proposed procedure, which uses a device attached to the DMT blade, provides an investigation method to obtain the load-settlement curve under different suction conditions, which can help in the selection and performance prediction of shallow foundations, taking into account suction and collapse phenomenon-related problems.

An overview of in situ testing and geophysical methods to investigate municipal solid waste landfills.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is challenging as a whole. Global waste generation is expected to continue to increase in the coming years, and landfills are currently the primary destination. Therefore, the stability of these structures must be carefully evaluated to prevent failures and associated health and pollution risks, which implies the determination of waste properties using more reliable approaches. This paper presents a scoping review of field data from MSW landfills and outlines suggestions for future work. Studies published in the past twenty years were selected following a systematic search process in databases. Aspects discussed include (1) strength parameters and soil behavior type from in situ testing, (2) elastic moduli from seismic wave propagation, and (3) moisture content from geoelectrical measurements. Although the values of geotechnical parameters have varied due to waste heterogeneity and applied methods, the trends observed with depth and age could be compared. Research opportunities involve the spatial analysis of mechanical properties at a given site, seismic response of landfills with high organic content and saturation degree, interpretation of long-term resistivity monitoring, and combination of electrical properties to assess the degradation stages within the waste mass.

Avaliação da contaminação no entorno de um aterro de resíduos sólidos urbanos com base em resultados de poços de monitoramento / Assessment of the contamination on the surrounding of a municipal solid waste landfill based on monitoring wells data

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta o monitoramento ambiental das águas subterrâneas do entorno do aterro de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) de Bauru, São Paulo, Brasil. Paralelamente às diversas pesquisas realizadas na área durante o período de janeiro de 2003 a abril de 2008, foram construídos 14 poços de monitoramento em diferentes fases da investigação geoambiental, seguindo as normas vigentes na época e as necessidades observadas durante a interpretação dos resultados desta investigação, para confirmação da contaminação da área. As amostras foram coletadas com bailer , após o período de chuvas e de estiagem de cada ano. São apresentados os resultados obtidos ao longo do tempo para os seguintes parâmetros: nível d'água, pH, condutividade elétrica (CE), Ca2+, Cl, Fe total, DQO, NH4 +, Zn2+, Na+, K+, além da relação demanda biológica de oxigênio/demanda química de oxigênio (DBO/DQO). Os resultados do longo período de monitoramento permitiram a análise de cada parâmetro em função do que ocorria superficialmente ao aterro, assim como com características naturais do aquífero. Conclui-se que a pluma de contaminação varia conforme o ponto de disposição e as características dos resíduos depositados, cuja recuperação e atenuação deverão ocorrer com o encerramento das atividades do aterro.

ABSTRACT This paper presents the environmental monitoring of the groundwater surrounding the municipal solid waste disposal site from Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. In parallel with the several surveys carried out at this site, between January 2003 and April 2008, fourteen monitoring wells were installed at different periods of the geoenvironmental site investigation, following the Brazilian standards valid at that time and the demands observed with the interpretation of the site investigation data, to confirm the local contamination. The samples were collected using bailer, after rains and drought periods each year. The results obtained over time are presented, for the following parameters: groundwater table, pH, electrical conductivity, Ca2+, Cl, total Fe, DQO, NH4 +, Zn2+, Na+, K+, and the ratio BOD/COD. The results of the long period of monitoring allowed the analysis of each parameter compared with what was happening superficially on the landfill, as well as natural characteristics of the aquifer. It is concluded that the contamination plume varies according to the layout and characteristics of the disposed waste, which recovery and mitigation should occur with the closure of the landfill.

Influência da compactação de um solo arenoso na infiltração e retenção de carga orgânica de chorume / Influence of a sandy soil compaction in leachate infiltration and organic loading retention

Neste estudo avaliou-se o transporte de líquidos e a atenuação da carga orgânica do chorume de aterro sanitário em um solo arenoso fino, compactado com diferentes graus de compactação. Para tanto foram construídas colunas de 1 m do solo compactado com 75 (natural), 80, 85, 90 e 95% do Proctor Normal, que foram alimentadas com água e com chorume, sob condições não saturadas. Foram verificadas reduções sensíveis na permeabilidade do chorume e na remoção de DQO para as colunas submetidas a graus de compactação igual ou superior a 85%. Os resultados desta pesquisa mostram o grande potencial de uso deste solo compactado, em bases de aterros sanitários de pequeno porte, para a retenção da carga orgânica de chorume.

Water and leachate flow and COD attenuation through a fine sandy soil at different compaction degree were assessed, based on column tests results. Each column was 1.0 m deep and 0.097 m in diameter, and the soil was compacted with 75 (natural), 80, 85, 90 and 95% of Standard Proctor Test, to receive water or sanitary landfill leachate under unsaturated conditions. During the experiment, COD removal and leachate permeability reduction were very significant for columns with 85% or higher compaction levels. The results show the high potential of this practice to install simple system in small sanitary landfills, for leachate organic loading retention.

Mapamento de áreas de risco de escorregamentos e solapamento de margens no municipio de Sao Paulo - SP : O ejemplo da Favela Serra Pelada, subprefeitura Butanta

O presente artigo relata os resultados obtidos por meio do mapeamento de áreas de risco sujeitas a escorregamentos e solapamento de margens em assentamentos precários e loteamentos irregulares do município de São Paulo, com vistas à implementação de uma política pública de gerenciamento de riscos para essas áreas. Esses estudos foram solicitados pela Secretaria Municipal de Subprefeituras da cidade de São Paulo e contemplaram o mapeamento de risco em 205 favelas e loteamentos irregulares em 20 Subprefeituras, das quais o IPT mapeou 96 áreas em 6 Subprefeituras. A metodología adotada foi elaborada pelas equipes da Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, do Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas - IPT e da Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, a partir da experiência dos profissionais envolvidos. Os trabalhos estão fundamentados na realização de investigações geológico-geotécnicas expeditas, análise da probabilidade de ocorrência dos processos relacionados à dinâmica externa, identificação dos setores de risco, análise de possíveis conseqüências dos processos e a indicação de medidas de intervenção adequadas para os diferentes casos. O artigo mostra um exemplo de diagnóstico de áreas de risco da Favela Serra Pelada, subprefeitura do Butantã. (AU)