A procedure for evaluating municipal solid waste leachate components capable of causing volume shrinkage in compacted clay soils

Abstract

A test procedure, to evaluate the effect of leachates upon the physico‐chemical interparticle forces and volume change behavior in soils, is presented. A parameter, FSD, developed from the sedimentation test results, is found useful in identifying soils susceptible to excessive shrinkage in the field. Development of a functional relationship between FSD and several system variables identifies Ca⁺² as the major MSW leachate component responsible for volume shrinkage in soils with high expandable clay mineral contents.