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Abstract
Detailed knowledge of moisture transport in landfills is a key factor in the determination of landfill stabilization rates and in the prevention of groundwater contamination. In order to obtain a better understanding of this phenomenon, laboratory scale model landfills were constructed. Experiments examining vertical infiltration and the effects of capillarity were performed. Experimental results show the significance of capillary effects and correlations were made to various capillary rise theories. Results from both types of experiments were also compared with results predicted by program FULFILL, a one dimensional, finite difference computer model developed by the Center for Environmental Management at Tufts University, based on the Richards equation for one-phase unsaturated flow through homogeneous porous media. Comparisons of numerical simulation results with experimental data show that the solution of the Richards equation, with appropriate constitutive laws and certain adjustable parameters, appears to provide a reasonable description of moisture transport in laboratory scale model landfills.