scholarly journals Modelling of oedometer tests on pellet-powder bentonite mixtures to support mock-up test analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 04004
Author(s):  
Arisleidy Mesa Alcantara ◽  
Nadia Mokni ◽  
Enrique Romero ◽  
Sebastià Olivella
Keyword(s):  
Pore Size ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Porosity Level ◽  
Consequent Reduction ◽  
High Level ◽  
Mass Basis ◽  
Oedometer Tests

Bentonite mixtures of MX-80 (80% of high-density pellets and 20% of bentonite powder on a mass basis) have been recently proposed as a candidate material for sealing deep geological disposals of high-level radioactive waste. A loading/unloading oedometer test at constant water content has been performed on this mixture, which has been modelled using the finite element Code_Bright. The constitutive model used to represent the mechanical response is the Barcelona Expansive Model (BExM), since a multi-modal pore size distribution characterises the pore network of the mixture. During compression at constant water content, an increase in the degree of saturation and a consequent reduction of suction is induced. Consequently, two competing effects occur at different pore-size scales: (a) compression due to mean net stress increase; and (b) expansion on induced suction reduction that mainly affects the micro-porosity level inside aggregates. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to explore these effects, in which the elastic compressibility parameter at the micro-porosity scale for changes in mean effective stress plays an important role.

Evaluation of the mechanical anisotropy of lacustrine smectite clays by triaxial test analysis

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jubier Alonso Jiménez-Camargo ◽  
Dora Carreon-Freyre
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Clayey Soil ◽  
Mechanical Anisotropy ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Particle Deformation ◽  
Relevant Variable ◽  
Pressure Equalization

Abstract This paper describes the role of fabric anisotropy during clayey soil deformation. A set of triaxial tests was performed on vertical and horizontal specimens of undisturbed smectite lake sediments from Jurica, Queretaro in Mexico. The results allowed to analyze the influence of bedding and discontinuities on the mechanical behavior of Jurica clays after failure. Tests with applied low strain rates allowed pore pressure equalization within specimens with different gravimetric water content and degree of saturation. Shear failure results of undrained tests showed that deformation distributes differently in both horizontal and vertical directions and that stress may be dissipated by pore collapses, fractures and particle deformation. The experimental evidence suggests that microfabric is a relevant variable in the overall mechanical response of clayey sediments that depends on the natural fabric (bedding and discontinuities), mineralogy, and water content. A detailed analysis of Young´s Moduli (E) showed the high variability of this parameter from 108 to 409 kg/cm2 (calculated at 30% of σdmax) and its dependence on the orientation of the specimen and the water content. In addition, p’-q’ graphs illustrate the relevance of considering mechanical anisotropy in clays and provide further insights to understand the role of smectites in progressive shear deformation.

Water content - void ratio swell-shrink paths of compacted expansive soils

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 938-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Tripathy ◽  
KS Subba Rao ◽  
D G Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Void Ratio ◽  
Expansive Soils ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Volumetric Change ◽  
Linear Portion ◽  
Ratio Change ◽  
Oedometer Tests ◽  
Vertical Deformations

This paper addresses the behaviour of compacted expansive soils under swell–shrink cycles. Laboratory cyclic swell–shrink tests were conducted on compacted specimens of two expansive soils at surcharge pressures of 6.25, 50.00, and 100.00 kPa. The void ratio and water content of the specimens at several intermediate stages during swelling until the end of swelling and during shrinkage until the end of shrinkage were determined to trace the water content versus void ratio paths with an increasing number of swell–shrink cycles. The test results showed that the swell–shrink path was reversible once the soil reached an equilibrium stage where the vertical deformations during swelling and shrinkage were the same. This usually occurred after about four swell–shrink cycles. The swelling and shrinkage path of each specimen subjected to full swelling – full shrinkage cycles showed an S-shaped curve (two curvilinear portions and a linear portion). However, the swelling and shrinkage path occurred as a part of the S-shaped curve, when the specimen was subjected to full swelling – partial shrinkage cycles. More than 80% of the total volumetric change and more than 50% of the total vertical deformation occurred in the central linear portion of the S-shaped curve. The volumetric change was essentially parallel to the saturation line within a degree of saturation range of 50–80% for the equilibrium cycle. The primary value of the swell–shrink path is to provide information regarding the void ratio change that would occur for a given change in water content for any possible swell–shrink pattern. It is suggested that these swell–shrink paths can be established with a limited number of tests in the laboratory.Key words: expansive soils, oedometer tests, swell–shrink behaviour, shrinkage tests.

Experimental study on volumetric behaviour of Maryland clay and the role of degree of saturation

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen J. Burton ◽  
Daichao Sheng ◽  
David Airey
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
State Parameter ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
State Variable ◽  
Optimum Water Content ◽  
Constant Suction ◽  
Compaction Energy ◽  
Oedometer Tests ◽  
Compression Line

In this paper, the volume change behaviour of Maryland clay compacted on the wet side of standard Proctor optimum water content (with lower compaction energy) is studied in reference to the saturated reconstituted state. Oedometer tests over a range of suctions and vertical stresses have been carried out, and the results have shown that the compression index reaches a peak (approximately twice that of the reconstituted material) and then gradually reduces to the reconstituted value as the stress level is increased. The results are analyzed in a framework where the degree of saturation is treated as a state parameter and controls the slope of the unsaturated normal compression line. Tests conducted under constant suction and constant water content have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the degree of saturation as a state variable.

Experimental Analysis of Ratcheting Failure Based on the Piezomagnetic Response of X80 Pipeline Steel

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Bao ◽  
Shengnan Hu ◽  
Yibin Gu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Hysteresis Loop ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Pipeline Steel ◽  
Failure Process ◽  
Failure Behavior ◽  
X80 Pipeline Steel ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The objective of this research is to explore the correlation between the piezomagnetic response and ratcheting failure behavior under asymmetrical cyclic stressing in X80 pipeline steel. The magnetic field variations from cycle to cycle were recorded simultaneously during the whole-life ratcheting test. Analysis made in the present work shows that the piezomagnetic hysteresis loop evolves systematically with the number of cycles in terms of its shape and position. Corresponding to the three-stage process in the mechanical response, piezomagnetic response can also be divided into three principal stages, but the evolution of magnetic parameter is more complex. Furthermore, the loading branch and unloading branch of the magnetic field-stress hysteresis loop separate gradually from each other during ratcheting failure process, leading to the shape of hysteresis loop changes completely. Therefore, the progressive degradation of the steel under ratcheting can be tracked by following the evolution of the piezomagnetic field. And the shape transition of the hysteresis loop can be regarded as an early warning of the ratcheting failure.

Using time domain reflectometry in triaxial testing

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1325-1331
Author(s):  
J LH Grozic ◽  
M E Lefebvre ◽  
P K Robertson ◽  
N R Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Loading ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Void Ratio ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Volumetric Water Content ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Triaxial Testing ◽  
Empirical Correlations ◽  
Static And Cyclic Loading

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) can be used to determine the volumetric water content of soils. This note describes the utilization of a TDR miniprobe in triaxial testing. The TDR performance was examined with a series of tests that not only proved its reliability but also resulted in two empirical correlations. Using these correlations, the degree of saturation and volumetric water content during triaxial testing could be determined. The TDR was then put to use in a laboratory program designed to investigate the response of loose gassy sand under static and cyclic loading. Because of the TDR measurements it was possible to determine the degree of saturation and void ratio of the gassy specimens. The TDR miniprobe proved to be accurate, simple to use, and inexpensive to build.Key words: time domain reflectometry, TDR, triaxial testing, gassy, unsaturated.

scholarly journals Thermal Conductivity of Compacted GO-GMZ Bentonite Used as Buffer Material for a High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Gui Chen ◽  
Xue-Min Liu ◽  
Xiang Mu ◽  
Wei-Min Ye ◽  
Yu-Jun Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Dry Density ◽  
Gmz Bentonite ◽  
High Level Radioactive Waste ◽  
Buffer Material ◽  
High Level ◽  
Crucial Parameter

In China, Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite serves as a feasible buffer material in the high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository, while its thermal conductivity is seen as a crucial parameter for the safety running of the HLW disposal. Due to the tremendous amount of heat released by such waste, the thermal conductivity of the buffer material is a crucial parameter for the safety running of the high-level radioactive waste disposal. For the purpose of improving its thermal conductivity, this research used the graphene oxide (GO) to modify the pure bentonite and then the nanocarbon-based bentonite (GO-GMZ) was obtained chemically. The thermal conductivity of this modified soil has been measured and investigated under various conditions in this study: the GO content, dry density, and water content. Researches confirm that the thermal conductivity of the modified bentonite is codetermined by the three conditions mentioned above, namely, the value of GO content, dry density, and water content. Besides, the study proposes an improved geometric mean model based on the special condition to predict the thermal conductivity of the compacted specimen; moreover, the calculated values are also compared with the experimental data.

The Belgian Demonstration Programme for the Disposal of High-Level and Long-Lived Radioactive Waste

2006 ◽  
Vol 932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernier Frédéric ◽  
Demarche Marc ◽  
Bel Johan
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Thermal Load ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Boom Clay ◽  
Geological Formation ◽  
Important Input ◽  
Clay Layers ◽  
High Level ◽  
Large Scale Tests

ABSTRACTThe EIG EURIDICE is responsible for performing large-scale tests, technical demonstrations and experiments so as to assess the feasibility of a final disposal of vitrified radioactive waste in deep clay layers. This programme is part of the Belgian Research and Development programme managed by ONDRAF/NIRAS. The research infrastructure includes the Underground Research Facilities HADES (URF HADES) in the Boom Clay geological formation and surface facilities. The achievements of the demonstration programme are the demonstration of the construction of shafts and galleries at industrial scale, the characterisation of the hydro-mechanical response of the host rock, and the “OPHELIE mock-up” a large scale hydration test under thermal load of pre-fabricated bentonite blocks. The future works will consist mainly in the realisation of the “PRACLAY experiments” including a large scale heater test. The large scale heater test has to demonstrate that Boom Clay is suitable, in terms of performance of the disposal system, to undergo the thermal load induced by the vitrified waste. The combined effect of the excavation and the thermal load will be investigated. A long term (more than 10 years) large scale heater test would be representative of the most penalizing conditions that could be encountered in the real disposal. The results of this test will constitute an important input for the Safety and Feasibility Cases 1 (SFC-1, 2013) and 2 (SFC-2, 2020).

scholarly journals Study on the Mechanical Criterion of Ice Lens Formation Based on Pore Size Distribution

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 8981
Author(s):  
Yuhang Liu ◽  
Dongqing Li ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Feng Ming
Keyword(s):  
Pore Size Distribution ◽  
Pore Size ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Initial Water Content ◽  
Mean Stress ◽  
Initial Water ◽  
Unfrozen Water Content ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lens Formation

Ice lens is the key factor which determines the frost heave in engineering construction in cold regions. At present, several theories have been proposed to describe the formation of ice lens. However, most of these theories analyzed the ice lens formation from a macroscopic view and ignored the influence of microscopic pore sizes and structures. Meanwhile, these theories lacked the support of measured data. To solve this problem, the microscopic crystallization stress was converted into the macro mean stress through the principle of statistics with the consideration of pore size distribution. The mean stress was treated as the driving force of the formation of ice lens and induced into the criterion of ice lens formation. The influence of pore structure and unfrozen water content on the mean stress was analyzed. The results indicate that the microcosmic crystallization pressure can be converted into the macro mean stress through the principle of statistics. Larger mean stress means the ice lens will be formed easier in the soil. The mean stress is positively correlated with initial water content. At the same temperature, an increase to both the initial water content and the number of pores can result in a larger mean stress. Under the same initial water content, mean stress increases with decreasing temperature. The result provides a theoretical basis for studying ice lens formation from the crystallization theory.

Physical properties, electrical resistivity, and strength characteristics of carbonated silty soil admixed with reactive magnesia

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1699-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.H. Cai ◽  
Y.J. Du ◽  
S.Y. Liu ◽  
D.N. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Unconfined Compressive Strength ◽  
Ground Improvement ◽  
Strength Characteristics ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Initial Water Content ◽  
Silty Soil ◽  
Reactive Magnesia

Soil electrical resistivity has been used quite extensively for assessing mechanical properties of chemically treated soils in the recent past. One of the most innovative applications of this technique could be in the field of ground improvement wherein carbonated reactive magnesia (MgO) is employed for treating soils. With this in view, a systematic study that targets the application of electrical resistivity to correlate physical and strength characteristics of the carbonated reactive MgO-admixed silty soil is initiated, and its details are presented in this manuscript. To achieve this, reactive MgO-admixed soils were carbonized by exposing them to CO2 for different durations, and subsequently their electrical resistivity and unconfined compressive strength were measured. In this context, the role of a parameter, the ratio of the initial water content of the virgin soil to reactive MgO content (designated as w0/c), has been highlighted. It has also been demonstrated that w0/c is able to correlate, uniquely and precisely, with the physicochemical parameters of the soils (viz., unit weight, water content at failure, porosity, degree of saturation, and soil pH), electrical resistivity, and unconfined compressive strength at various carbonation times. In addition, microstructural properties have been obtained from the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry analyses. These properties have been used to substantiate the findings related to the carbonation of the reactive MgO-admixed soils.

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