An experimental study on the microstructure and triaxial shear of structured clay in contact with landfill leachate

City solid waste stock has exceeded 8 billion tons in China, and the output and coverage area of solid waste are increasing daily. Landfill leachate can be generated during biodegradation of disposed and stored solid waste. Leachate contains high concentrations of organic mixtures and heavy metal ions. Natural undisturbed soil has high anti-seepage capacity and its permeability coefficient is less than 1 × 10⁻⁷ cm/s in underlying stratum, which can delay leachate contamination of the environment surrounding a landfill site. However, undisturbed soil exhibits certain structural characteristics. After long-term leachate corrosion, leachate leakage will inevitably influence the stability of stratum underlying a landfill. In this study, the mechanical characteristics of undisturbed clay under the actions of landfill leachate and stress were analyzed via a consolidated-undrained triaxial shear test. Comprehensive microstructure laboratory tests, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and laser particle size tests, were performed to determine at different times the microstructure of undisturbed clay due to corrosion by landfill leachate. Experimental results indicate the strength and microstructural evolution of structured clay under the actions of landfill leachate and stress. The research results are helpful for evaluating the safety and predicting the stability of a landfill’s underlying stratum.