Finite element analysis of unsaturated flow through solid waste materials

The disposal of solid waste materials produced by coal-burning utilities requires a detailed environmental impact assessment. This paper illustrates how numerical analysis can be used as part of the overall design and licensing process to assess the impact on ground water of leachates emitted by a waste pile. The results pertain to the analysis of saturated-unsaturated flow through the solid waste and to a parametric study evaluating the sensitivity of the flow characteristics to various input parameters.