Modeling of Leachate Propagation in a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Foundation

The study deals with the numerical modeling of leachate distribution in the porous medium located under a municipal solid waste disposal landfill (MSWLF). The considered three-layer system is based on geological data obtained from field measurements. For simplicity, the problem is investigated by assuming a two-component approach. Nevertheless, the heat produced by landfills due to biological and chemical processes and the thermal diffusion mechanism contributing to pollution transport are taken into account. The numerical modeling of the propagation of leachate in the considered layered porous medium is implemented for parameters corresponding to natural soil and for the case where disruption of the porous medium structure is due to cracks formation or erosion. The latter is accompanied by an increase in rock permeability. In this case, the emergence of multi-vortex flow in the layer of high permeability is observed to substantially influence the bottom layers and cause intensification of the leachate propagation. These effects should be taken into account when estimating the parameters and properties of materials required for the construction of solid waste disposal facilities.