An elastoplastic constitutive model for municipal solid waste (MSW) incorporating solid particle compression and fibrous reinforcing effect

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 425; p. 138926
• Main Authors: Li, Xiulei, Zhang, Yuchen, Li, Yuping, Shi, Jianyong, Sun, Yanan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Constitutive model; Environmental sustainability; Fibrous reinforcement; Municipal solid waste; Particle compression; Fibrous reinforcement; Constitutive model; Environmental sustainability; Particle compression; Municipal solid waste
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138926

The failures in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills could result in considerable ecological as well as social problems. Numerical simulations are widely employed to analyze MSW deformation and stability. These methods require an appropriate stress-strain characterization of MSW, which is crucial. Different from soils, the extremely complicated constituents of MSW contain a large number of fibrous reinforced and particle compressible materials. The findings of numerous tests suggest that the fiber reinforced phase and the basic phase are solely responsible for determining the mechanical properties of MSW. On the basis of the double-phase assumption, a new plastic potential function of MSW is developed considering that the reinforcement of fibrous materials only relates to plastic shear strain and the particle compression only affects plastic volumetric strain. According to the associate flow rule, a constitutive model based on elastoplasticity is developed for MSW. The strain hardening behaviour of MSW is well predicted by the model, and this behaviour is in good agreement with experimental evidence. Effects of confining pressure and fibre content are modelled, together with the mechanical and deformation behaviour of MSW. The accurate calculation of effective stresses is obtained through considering the MSW particle compression under the undrained conditions. Parametric investigations calibrate the model and show its properties by comparing them to data from triaxial tests. Moreover, incorporating the proposed model, finite-element numerical simulation was conducted, and the results of finite-element numerical simulation were compared with field monitoring results. [Display omitted] •A new elastoplastic constitutive model for municipal solid waste (MSW) was developed.•Solid particle compression and fibrous reinforcement were incorporated into the model.•The predictions of the model can well capture the triaxial test data at large strain condition.•Two-dimensional finite-element model (FEM) was developed incorporating the model.•Through FEM, the proposed model can be well applied in a specific engineering scenario.