Exploring a Waste Dump Site Failure – Possible Causes and Prevention Measures

Authors

  • D.H. Zou Mineral Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/ijge.2016.01.004

Keywords:

slide failure, quarry, construction dump site, satellite imagery analysis, numerical modelling

Abstract

Construction wastes are normally stored in areas away from urban cities. If the pile of the dumped wastes becomes too high, there will be a stability concern in addition to environmental issues.  As an example to address this concern and to avoid possible failure of a waste site, this paper explores the recent slide failure of a construction waste dump site near a city in southern China. Information is gathered from online sources, news reports and Google earth images. Based on the available information, the pre-failure profile of the waste site is re-constructed. The stability of the waste pile is analyzed with numerical modelling based on simplified models of various scenarios. The intention is to explore the most influential factors which may cause failure on a dump site and to provide suggestions for prevention of failure in similar conditions. The analysis identified slope angle and height of a waste pile and water condition onsite as the most influential factors. General prevention measures are recommended.

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Published

2016-01-29

Issue

Section

Technical Notes