Paper to be Presented
at The Northeastern Section Meeting of The Geological Society of America
March 21-24, 1999 in Providence RI.
by Donald Clark, Graduate Student, Environmental
Science Masters Program
ABSTRACT
SLOPE STABILITY MODELING OF THE FRESH KILLS LANDFILL,
STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND LINEAR
ELASTIC THEORY.
CLARK, Donald E., Dept. of Environmental Science,
College of Staten Island, 2800
Victory Blvd., Staten Island, N.Y. 10314;
KRESS, Michael, Dept. of Computer Science,
College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd.,
Staten Island, N.Y. 10314; LEVINE,
Alfred, Dept. of Engineering Science and Physics,
College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, N.Y. 10314
Limit equilibrium analysis and finite element analysis are two numerical
methods commonly used for slope stability investigations. Both were
originally developed for use on naturally occurring soils and soil fills.
The accuracy of these methods may be affected when they are applied to
municipal solid waste landfills. The use of finite element analysis, using
linear elastic theory, is presented as an alternative to limit equilibrium
analysis for determining slope stability of municipal refuse landfills.
Potential problems of the application of finite element analysis to municipal
refuse will be discussed. These problems include the proper selection
of the physical properties of the refuse such as the elastic parameters
(Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio), unit weight, and shear strength.
The results of a finite element analysis of the Fresh Kills landfill will
then be compared to the results of a limit equilibrium analysis of the
Fresh Kills landfill. The comparison will include the location and
orientation of the potential failure plane, as well as the failure potential
at several different elevations.