Effects of equipment loadings on geosynthetic-lined slope behaviour.

When combined in the lining and covering of waste-containment facilities, soil and geosynthetic components protect the environment by acting as a hydraulic barrier. Equipment loading may significantly increase the tensile stress induced in geosynthetic components, leading to a potential stability problem. Large equipment loadings may also result in a localized circular slip surface during construction operations. New analytical method based on discrete element modelling is proposed for estimating the distribution of tensile force developed in the individual geosynthetic components of the lining system and for evaluating the safety factor of slope failure due to equipment loading. The analytical results of an example are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the analytical method for the lining system of a waste landfill. The analyses of the example show that equipment loading provide a substantial increase in the tensile forces of the geosynthetic components of a lining system and that the possibility of shallow failure due to equipment loading increases as the slope becomes steeper. This method is a useful tool for analysing the lining system of waste landfills with complex lining components.     

SWOT analysis of renewable energy sector in Mazowieckie Voivodeship (Poland): current progress,prospects and policy implications

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Renewable energy (RE) plays an increasingly important role in the economy of almost every country in the world. In order to examine the state of...     

Soil sampling and analysis for volatile organic compounds

Concerns over data quality have raised many questions related to sampling soils for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This paper was prepared in response to some of these questions and concerns expressed by Remedial Project Managers (RPMs) and On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs). The following questions are frequently asked:

1. Is there a specific device suggested for sampling soils for VOCs?
2. Are there significant losses of VOCs when transferring a soil sample from a sampling device (e.g., split spoon) into the sample container?
3. What is the best method for getting the sample from the split spoon (or other device) into the sample container?
4. Are there smaller devices such as subcore samplers available for collecting aliquots from the larger core and efficiently transferring the sample into the sample container?
5. Are certain containers better than others for shipping and storing soil samples for VOC analysis?
6. Are there any reliable preservation procedures for reducing VOC losses from soil samples and for extending holding times?

Guidance is provided for selecting the most effective sampling device for collecting samples from soil matrices. The techniques for sample collection, sample handling, containerizing, shipment, and storage described in this paper reduce VOC losses and generally provide more representative samples for volatile organic analyses (VOA) than techniques in current use. For a discussion on the proper use of sampling equipment the reader should refer to other sources (Acker, 1974; U.S. EPA, 1983; U.S. EPA, 1986a). Soil, as referred to in this report, encompasses the mass (surface and subsurface) of unconsolidated mantle of weathered rock and loose material lying above solid rock. Further, a distinction must be made as to what fraction of the unconsolidated material is soil and what fraction is not. The soil component here is defined as all mineral and naturally occurring organic material that is 2 mm or less in size. This is the size normally used to differentiate between soils (consisting of sands, silts, and clays) and gravels. Although numerous sampling situations may be encountered, this paper focuses on three broad categories of sites that might be sampled for VOCs:

1. Open test pit or trench.
2. Surface soils (<5 ft in depth).
3. Subsurface soils (>5 ft in depth).

     

Background Levels of Metals in Soils, McMurdo Station, Antarctica

McMurdo Station is the largest research station in Antarctica, with a population that ranges each year from 250 to 1200 people. Because of its size and 40-year history of use, a number of locations around the station have become contaminated with wastes. Soils and sediments in these areas have been shown to contain elevated levels of petroleum-related products, PCBs, other organics, and metals. While some remedial investigations have been conducted, background levels of metals in soils have not been determined. This paper reports on background levels of metals in a natural basalt-derived soil (gray soil) and scoria (soft porous rock used as fill, red soil) near McMurdo Station using two fundamentally different analytical procedures, concentrated acid extraction/analysis and total metals. These data facilitate determining the extent and levels of metal contamination near McMurdo Station and provide reference levels of metals for comparison with existing and future remediation data. There were statistically significant differences between metals concentrations in both gray and red soils, and no correlations between the level of extracted versus total metal. Generally, only a small fraction of a metal was extractable.