Reliability Based LRFD of Geomembrane Liners for V-Shaped Anchor Trenches of MSW Landfills

The main objective of design of V-shaped anchor trenches is to ensure safety against the pullout failure in Geomembrane (GMB) liners efficiently. Uncertainties related to soil-liner interface frictional angle, allowable GMB tensile force, and the unit weight of the cover/backfill soil can be quantified through probabilistic means. Load and Resistance Factor Design approach involves reliability theory in the evaluation of load and resistance factors. The present study focuses on the application of reliability based load and resistance factor design of V-shaped anchor trenches. This paper gives a clear guideline for the successful performance of anchor trenches against pullout failure in handling the variability of soil-liner interface frictional angle, allowable GMB tensile force, and the unit weight of the cover/backfill soil. Target reliability approach is used to estimate the probability of pullout failure of GMB liner. The results of the study can be used to understand the response of the anchor trench for variable loads. The study recommends the resistance and the load factors for the design of V-shaped anchor trenches of MSW Landfills.