Abstract:Consistent model to analyze the translational failure of sanitary landfills with refuse dam along the lateral phase and the base of landfill as well as the back or base of refuse dam is developed. The failure body is divided into active,middle and passive wedges. An equation is established to calculate the safety factors through limit equilibrium analysis of every wedge. According to the maximum relative differences between average and true safety factors;and the relationship between the safety factors of wedges and whole fills are analyzed. The safety factors are also compared with the results of the model of two wedges for landfills without refuse dam and the model of one failure style only for landfills with refuse dam. It is shown that the consistent model is corrective,suitable and comprehensive. The model can consider the influence of the section of refuse dam,the force direction between the back of wall and the waste fill as well as the cohesion along the interfaces of combined liner system,which overcomes the limited conditions of some models. The model can also be used to analyze the translational failure of landfills without refuse dam. The optimum design of refuse dam can be conducted according to the results of the consistent model.