A constitutive framework to model the undrained loading of municipal solid waste

Abstract This paper proposes a model to represent the MSW undrained mechanical behavior, which is an extension of the previous models developed by the authors. A more comprehensive formulation for effective stress is adopted taking into account the compressibility of waste particles and the concepts embraced in the Skempton’s equation for effective stress. The model reproduces the main MSW features such as high pore water pressure generation, concave upward curves and high shear strength values, even for u = σ 3 (zero net confining stress). Model predictions showed good adherence to experimental results. MSW samples of different sources were used in the simulations.