Experimental Investigation on Drying and Wetting of GMZ Bentonite Using X-Ray Tomography and Volumetric Digital Image Correlation Technique

To investigate the shrinking and swelling properties of Gao-Miao-Zi (GMZ) bentonite, which has been considered as engineering barriers for high-level radioactive nuclear waste disposal in China, drying and wetting tests were carried out. The microstructure of the material at each hydric state was recorded using X-ray tomography (X-CT). The 3D images of the material were analyzed using digital volume correlation (DVC) technique, and the full-field strains at mesoscale (i.e., in the order of clay aggregate) during drying and wetting were quantified. The results show that the GMZ bentonite exhibits notable swelling characteristics during wetting and the swelling strain of the material is up to 8% at mesoscale. The full-field strain in 3D of the material is heterogeneous, anisotropic, and irreversible during drying and wetting. The corresponding deformation mechanisms are discussed. Two different swelling mechanisms were also identified: traction occurs in the interface between the matrix and inclusions during swelling; pre-existing fissure closes during swelling.

Constitutive Model of Swelling Gypsum Rock

Swelling of soft rock, such as gypsum rock, is one of the major threats in tunnel engineering, causing structure damages such as floor heave and inward movement of sidewalls during construction and operation. It is of practical significance to study the swelling mechanical behavior of such rocks by tests. Swelling strain tests and swelling stress tests were performed by swelling test apparatus to study the variation of swelling strain with time and the swelling stress-strain relationship for gypsum rock samples, respectively. Three stages of the swelling strain on the time-strain curve of gypsum rock samples were noticed, which are defined as rapid swelling stage, slow swelling stage, and steady stage. And it was further found that the swelling strain caused in the slow swelling stage is of 76% of the total swelling strain. A constitutive model is proposed to describe the stress-strain relationship in swelling considering the swelling deformation and swelling pressure. The proposed model was verified using test data, which shows good agreements in describing the relationship between swelling strain and swelling stress, also in the conditions of maximum swelling strain and maximum swelling stress under lateral restraint situations.

Effects of calcium carbonate on hydro-mechanical properties of bentonite

To simulate characteristic changes of the bentonite mixing with CaCO3 crystals that precipitate from groundwater around the high-level radioactive waste repositories, different amounts of CaCO3 powders were mixed in the bentonite. In this study, four series of bentonite/CaCO3 mixtures were prepared with different contents of CaCO3 powders. A series of swelling, compression and direct shear tests were conducted on the bentonite/CaCO3 samples using deionized water. Terzaghi consolidation theory was adopted to compute the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite/CaCO3 mixtures. The results demonstrated that the final swelling strain decreased with increasing vertical stress and the content of CaCO3 powders. The compression index decreased slightly with increasing CaCO3 content. It was found that as the CaCO3 content increased, the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite/CaCO3 mixtures decreased. There was a peak point in the shear strength of unsaturated samples with the differences of the CaCO3 content. The cohesion of unsaturated samples increased first and then decreased, but saturated samples presented the opposite character. It could be seen from the scanning electron micrograph that the existence of CaCO3 powders filled pores of bentonite/CaCO3 mixtures and made the structure denser.

Similar Material Simulation Study on Protection Effect of Steeply Inclined Upper Protective Layer Mining with Varying Interlayer Distances

Protective layer mining, as a dominating regional prevention measure, is generally adopted to prevent and control gas disasters in highly gassy or outburst mines of China. Interlayer distance is one of the most important factors that influences protection effect. However, how does interlayer distance affect the protection effect of steeply inclined upper protective layer mining is not understood fully. According to the engineering practice in Nantong mining district, a new method for similar material simulation experiment of steeply inclined upper protective layer mining is proposed, in which an orthogonal test of similar materials comprising of sand, cement (containing gypsum and fly ash), and water mixture is conducted to obtain relations between proportioning parameters and mechanical properties using a multiple regression method. And then the method is applied to study the protection effect of steeply inclined upper protective layer mining with varying interlayer distances. The results show the following. (1) The proportioning parameters of similar material have strong linear relations with its mechanical properties, and mechanical behaviors of such similar material denote that it can simulate most coal-rock lithologies in coal mine. (2) Both pressure-relief curves and swelling strain curves for protected layer present convex shapes; protection angles at lower excavation boundary are greater than those of upper excavation boundary; with the increase of interlayer distance, the pressure-relief curve evolves from pattern “∩” to pattern “∧” and corresponding pressure-relief region becomes narrower, the center of pressure-relief region tends to transfer to the corresponding center of upper protective layer excavation region, the stress concentration coefficient decreases, the protection angles change little, and the length of the protection region reduces dramatically. (3) The protection region and protection angle calculated based on swelling strain of 3‰ are less than the empirical values based on the dip angle in Provisions, denoting that the method proposed in this study is safer than that in Provisions. The research results provide a useful guide for layouts of roadway and gas drainage boreholes to prevent gas disaster in Nantong coal mine district.

Clay swelling inhibition mechanism of α,ω-diaminoalkanes in Portland Brownstone

Many clay-bearing sedimentary stones such as Portland Brownstone will swell when exposed to water, and this can generate damaging stresses as differential strains evolve during a wetting cycle. Current swelling inhibitors, consisting of α,ω-diaminoalkanes, can reduce swelling in Portland Brownstone up to 50%. In this study, through x-ray diffraction and swelling strain experiments, we demonstrate that the α,ω-diaminoalkanes inhibit swelling by substituting for interlayer cations and partially hydrophobicizing the interlayer, then rehydrating on subsequent wetting cycles. We also introduce the copper (II) ethylenediamine complex as a potential treatment for swelling inhibition.