Desiccation Induced Shrinkage of Compacted Lateritic Soil Treated with Blast Furnace Slag

A reddish brown lateritic soil treated with up to 15% blast furnace slag was compacted with three compactive efforts, (standard Proctor, West African Standard and modified Proctor) with moulding water contents ranging between 10 and 20% of weight of dry mixture. Compacted samples were extruded and allowed to dry in the laboratory for 30 days with measurements taken every 5 days to monitor volumetric changes due to drying. Four specimens compacted on the wet side of optimum using standard proctor effort; at the various slag treatments after 10 days of drying were subjected to four cycles of drying and three cycles of wetting. The results obtained showed that the changes in mass and volumetric shrinkage were rapid within the first 5 days of drying. These changes were proportional to the moulding water contents and were unaffected by the compactive effort. The volumetric shrinkage strain increased with increasing moulding water content and compactive efforts. As the water content relative to the optimum increased towards the wet side, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased and it decreased towards the dry side. For all compaction energies, the initial degree of saturation increased and regardless of the slag content, the volumetric shrinkage strain increased. As the slag content increased, the initial degree of saturation at which the permissible 4% volumetric shrinkage occurred increased. Slag content had marginal effects on the volumetric shrinkage strain as no clear trend was established. For each slag treatment the volumetric shrinkage strain did not vary significantly with increasing number of drying cycles.     

Evaluation of bagasse ash treated lateritic soil as a potential barrier material in waste containment application

Laboratory tests were conducted on a reddish-brown lateritic soil treated with up to 12 % bagasse ash to assess its suitability in waste containment barriers applications. Soil samples were prepared using four compaction energies (i.e. reduced Proctor, standard Proctor, West African Standard or ‘intermediate’ and modified Proctor) at ?2, 0, 2 and 4 % moulding water content of the optimum moisture content (OMC). Index properties, hydraulic conductivity (k), volumetric shrinkage and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were performed. Overall acceptable zones under which the material is suitable as a barrier material were obtained. Results recorded showed improved index properties; hydraulic conductivity and UCS with bagasse ash treatment up to 8 % at the OMC. Volumetric shrinkage strain increased with higher bagasse ash treatment. Based on the overall acceptable zone obtained, an 8 % optimal bagasse ash treatment of the natural lateritic soil makes it suitable for use in waste containment barrier application.     

Potential Application of Lateritic Soil Stabilized with Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) as Liner in Waste Containment Structures

This study evaluates the applicability of residually derived lateritic soil stabilized with cement kiln dust (CKD), a waste product from the cement manufacturing process as liner in waste repositories. Lateritic soil sample mixed with 0–16 % CKD (by dry weight of the soil) was compacted with the British Standard Light, West African Standard and British Standard Heavy compaction efforts at water contents ranging from the dry to wet of optimum moistures. Geotechnical parameters such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength and volumetric shrinkage strain were determined. Results indicate that the plasticity index, the maximum dry unit weight and hydraulic conductivity together with the volumetric shrinkage decreased with increased amount of CKD while the optimum moisture content and unconfined compressive strength increased with higher CKD content for all the efforts. When measured properties were compared with standard specifications adopted by most environmental regulatory agencies for the construction of barrier systems in waste containment structures, the resulting values showed substantial compliance. Besides developing an economically sustainable liner material, the present study demonstrated effective utilization of an industrial by-product otherwise considered as waste by the producers, in addition to a systematic expansion in the use of the lateritic soil for geotechnical works.     

Desiccation-Induced Volumetric Shrinkage of Compacted Foundry Sand Treated with Cement Kiln Dust

Foundry sand, an industrial waste, was treated with up to 12 % cement kiln dust content at comparative energy levels of British standard light, West African standard or “intermediate” (WAS) and British standard heavy (BSH) efforts at molding water contents ?2, 0, 2, 4 and 6 % of optimum moisture content. Samples were extruded from the compaction molds and allowed to air dry in the laboratory in order to assess the effect of desiccation-induced shrinkage on the material for use as a hydraulic barrier in waste containment application. Results recorded show that volumetric shrinkage strain (VSS) values were large within the first 5 days of drying; VSS values increased with higher molding water content, water content relative to the optimum moisture content. VSS generally increased with higher initial degree of saturation for all compactive efforts, irrespective of the level of cement kiln dust (CKD) treatment. A compaction plane of acceptable zones for VSS based on the regulatory value is ≤4 %. The influence of CKD treatment generally showed a decrease in the desiccation-induced volumetric shrinkage strain with increasing CKD content. This is largely due to the pozzolanic input of CKD. Finally, only the BSH compactive effort gave successful results of volumetric shrinkage strain at CKD treatment content of between 4 and 8 %, while 12 % CKD content produced successful volumetric shrinkage strain results at WAS and BSH compactive effort, respectively.     

Influence of the initial water content and dry density on the soil–water retention curve and the shrinkage behavior of a compacted clay

The paper presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of the initial water content and dry density on the soil–water retention curve and the shrinkage behavior of a compacted Lias-clay. The initial conditions after compaction (initial water content and initial dry density) have been chosen on the basis of three Proctor tests of different compaction efforts. According to the eight chosen initial conditions clay samples have been compacted statically. The relation between total suction and water content was determined for the drying path starting from the initial conditions without previous saturation of the specimens. A chilled-mirror dew-point hygrometer was used for the suction measurements. For the investigation of the shrinkage behavior cylindrical specimens were dried to desired water contents step-by-step without previous saturation. The volume of the specimens was measured by means of a caliper. Based on the test results the influence of different initial conditions on the soil suction and the shrinkage behavior is analyzed. The soil–water retention curves obtained in terms of the gravimetric water content are independent of the initial dry density. At water contents above approximately 11–12.5% a strong influence of the compaction water content is observed. At smaller water contents, the soil–water retention curve is independent of the compaction water content. The results of the shrinkage tests show that the influence of the compaction dry density on the shrinkage behavior is negligible. Similar to the drying behavior of saturated samples a primary and a residual drying process could be distinguished. The primary drying process is strongly influenced by the initial water content. In contrast, the rate of the volume change of the residual drying process is unaffected by the initial water content.     

Road construction using lateritic soil

The suitability of a lateritic soil developed on olivine basalt in western southeast Queensland, Australia, as paving material has been investigated. The particle size distribution and plasticity characteristics of the soil do not comply with the standard specification for paving materials. However, the soil has a high shear strength, resulting in a low Western Australian Confined Compression Test class number. The high shear strength of the soil at its in situ moisture content is due to its high angle of shearing resistance and its suction under in situ moisture conditions. Volumetric shrinkage of the soil does not constitute a problem as its shrinkage is low. The in situ strength of a pavement constructed with the lateritic soil, determined using a Clegg impact hammer, and the field dry density, have increased with time and the passage of traffic since construction. The pavement performance was good. A criteria suitable for the selection of a lateritic soil as paving material under the climatic conditions prevailing in western southeast Queensland has been suggested.     

Analysis of Swelling and Shrinkage Behavior of Compacted Clays

The impact of the variation in compaction condition on the swelling and shrinkage behavior of three soils has been examined. Two natural soils, namely red soil and black cotton soil, and one artificially mixed soil sample of commercial bentonite with well-graded sand, were studied. Compaction curve for Standard Proctor conditions were plotted and four compaction conditions were selected. Experimental results showed that clay mineralogy dominates over compaction conditions in influencing the swelling and shrinkage behavior of the tested soils. Monitoring of void ratio (e)−water content (w) relations during shrinkage showed that soil specimens generally shrunk in three distinct linear stages. A small reduction in void ratio occurred on reduction in water content during the first shrinkage stage and was termed as initial shrinkage. In second stage, void ratio decreased rapidly with reduction in water content and was termed as primary shrinkage. In third and final stage, reduction in water content is accompanied by a marginal change in void ratio and it’s called residual shrinkage. Irrespective of initial compaction conditions studied, the transition from primary to residual shrinkage for all the specimens occurred within a narrow range of water content (10–15%).     

膨胀土干缩变形特性试验研究

膨胀土是一种典型的问题性土,对气候变化非常敏感,在干旱气候条件下,极易发生体积收缩变形,引发各种工 程地质问题。为了研究膨胀土的干缩变形特性,开展了一系列室内干燥试验,测定了膨胀土的收缩特征曲线,重点分析 了初始含水率和干密度对干缩变形过程的影响,并进一步探讨了水泥固化抑制膨胀土干缩变形的效果和机理。结果表 明：（1） 膨胀土的干缩变形过程存在三个典型阶段：正常收缩、残余收缩和零收缩;（2） 初始含水率越高,试样蒸发速 率越快,且干缩变形完全后试样孔隙比越小而最终收缩应变越大,干缩变形越明显;（3） 初始干密度越大,试样蒸发速 率和最终体积收缩应变越小,提高初始干密度对试样干缩变形具有一定的抑制作用;（4） 在膨胀土中掺入适量的水泥能 显著降低试样的体积收缩应变,对干缩变形具有良好的抑制效果;（5） 膨胀土的干缩变形具有明显的各向异性特征,并 且与初始状态有关。     

膨胀土干缩变形特性试验研究

膨胀土是一种典型的问题性土，对气候变化非常敏感，在干旱气候条件下，极易发生体积收缩变形，引发各种工 程地质问题。为了研究膨胀土的干缩变形特性，开展了一系列室内干燥试验，测定了膨胀土的收缩特征曲线，重点分析 了初始含水率和干密度对干缩变形过程的影响，并进一步探讨了水泥固化抑制膨胀土干缩变形的效果和机理。结果表 明：（1） 膨胀土的干缩变形过程存在三个典型阶段：正常收缩、残余收缩和零收缩；（2） 初始含水率越高，试样蒸发速 率越快，且干缩变形完全后试样孔隙比越小而最终收缩应变越大，干缩变形越明显；（3） 初始干密度越大，试样蒸发速 率和最终体积收缩应变越小，提高初始干密度对试样干缩变形具有一定的抑制作用；（4） 在膨胀土中掺入适量的水泥能 显著降低试样的体积收缩应变，对干缩变形具有良好的抑制效果；（5） 膨胀土的干缩变形具有明显的各向异性特征，并 且与初始状态有关。     

高温下红黏土热导率的变化规律试验研究

目前国际上对高温下土壤热导率的试验和模型预测研究比较缺乏,通过KD2 Pro测试两种红黏土在较广温度范围（5~90℃）和含水率范围内的热导率,并选择IPCHT模型预测高温下体积含水率-热导率的变化规律。测试结果表明,两种红黏土的热导率对体积含水率的敏感程度与温度有关,且热导率均随温度的升高而增大,在90℃时热导率最高可达5℃的3~4倍。60~90℃范围内热导率随体积含水率的变化存在明显的临界含水率（对应土壤的塑性指数）,但相同温度、体积含水率下,柳州红黏土中水汽潜热传输效应较桂林红黏土要明显。模型预测研究表明,除粉砂质黏壤土外,高温下IPCHT模型预测效果均不理想,经传质增强因子ξ修正后,柳州红黏土以及细砂的热导率预测值和实测值均相符得较好（RMSE < 30%）,但桂林红黏土的整体预测效果仍较差。     

Osmotic Swelling and Osmotic Consolidation Behaviour of Compacted Expansive Clay

Compacted clay soils are used as barriers in geoenvironmental engineering applications and are likely to be exposed to salinization and desalinization cycles during life of the facility. Changes in pore fluid composition from salinization and desalinization cycles induce osmotic suction gradients between soil–water and reservoir (example, landfill/brine pond) solution. Dissipation of osmotic suction gradients may induce osmotic swelling and consolidation strains. This paper examines the osmotic swelling and consolidation behaviour of compacted clays exposed to salinization and desalinization cycles at consolidation pressure of 200 kPa in oedometer assemblies. During salinization cycle, sodium ions of reservoir fluid replaced the divalent exchangeable cations. The osmotic swelling strain developed during first desalinization cycle was 29-fold higher than matric suction induced swelling strain of the compacted specimen. Further, the diffusion controlled osmotic swelling strain was 100-fold slower than matric suction-driven swelling process. After establishment of ion-exchange equilibrium, saturated saline specimens develop reversible osmotic swelling strains on exposure to desalinization cycles. Likewise the saturated desalinated specimen develops reversible osmotic consolidation strains on exposure to cycles of salinization. Variations in compaction dry density has a bearing on the osmotic swelling and consolidation strains, while, compaction water content had no bearing on the osmotic volumetric strains.     

非塑性细粒对饱和砂土液化特性影响的试验研究

利用空心圆柱扭剪仪对含非塑性细粒的饱和砂土进行单调加载和循环扭剪试验,研究了不同细粒含量饱和砂土的液化特性。试验结果表明：（1）最大孔隙比与最小孔隙比均随着细粒含量的增加呈先减小后增大的趋势,分别在20%和40%时达到最小。（2）细粒含量从0%增加到20%,体积应变逐渐增加;细粒含量从20%增加到40%时,体积应变逐渐减小;之后随着细粒含量从40%增加到60%,体积应变再次增大;细粒含量超过60%以后,体积应变再次递减。（3）随着细粒含量的增加,土样的峰值强度随之降低,应力-应变关系从应变硬化特征发展为理想的弹塑性。相变角在细粒含量为30%时达到最小值。（4）细粒含量越大,达到液化所需的循环次数越小,液化时的应变越小。（5）抗液化强度曲线与抗液化应力比的变化趋势一致,在小于界限细粒含量（30%）时,随着细粒含量的增加而减小。在界限细粒含量附近（30%～50%）时,随着细粒含量的增加而增大。在细粒含量增加到60%时出现明显的骤减,之后再次随着细粒含量的增加而增大。界限细粒含量在40%左右。     

边界约束对膨胀土干缩开裂的影响

膨胀土是岩土工程中常见的一类特殊土,具有失水收缩和吸水膨胀的变形特征,如何量化收缩变形及其与干缩裂缝之间的关系是土工建筑物稳定性和安全性评估的基本问题。本文利用Bishop有效应力原理和广义胡克定律证明了采用含水率或基质吸力为基本变量的两种分析方法的等价性。把岩土工程中常用的原状土收缩实验中测量的收缩系数与收缩应变关联,得到了土体两端存在和没有位移约束时的总水平应力及其与含水率分布之间的关系。结果表明,无边界位移约束时,收缩变形的不均匀性小,应力水平低,且含水率对应力分布的影响小;存在约束时,收缩变形将受到限制,易诱发干缩裂缝,其深度受土体弹性模量和收缩系数的影响。     

Shrinkage and desiccation cracking in bentonite–sand landfill liners

Data are reported on the shrinkage and desiccation cracking exhibited by bentonite-enhanced sand mixtures (BES) upon air-drying. Mixtures containing 10 and 20% bentonite by dry weight, compacted at moisture contents ranging from 8 to 32%, were investigated. Hydraulic conductivity data for BES specimens saturated and tested immediately after compaction, and for similar specimens that had no visible damage after air-drying, are also presented.

All the mixtures exhibited volumetric shrinkage upon air-drying with the amount of shrinkage increasing with increasing moisture content during compaction. At any initial moisture content mixtures containing 20% bentonite shrink more than those containing 10% bentonite, but the shrinkage is insensitive to the compactive effort. Compacted beds of BES containing 10 and 20% bentonite exhibit no visible desiccation cracking as the top surface is dried when compacted at 15 and 14% moisture content, respectively, and only minor cracking when compacted at initial moisture contents of 20 and 15%, respectively. For the range of mixtures tested, it appears that cracking only occurs when BES undergoes more than about 4% volumetric shrinkage when air-dried. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of intact BES specimens is unaffected by a drying episode prior to testing.     

降雨入渗影响下边坡中的非饱和渗流特性

为了分析降雨入渗影响下非饱和土坡渗流特性,利用自制降雨模拟系统和实时监测系统,对降雨诱发非饱和土坡失稳过程进行全方位、多参量的实时监测,研究不同降雨条件下,不同坡度、不同压实度边坡坡体不同位置雨水入渗率和湿润峰的实变规律.结果表明:降雨入渗条件下,陡坡和高压实度土体不利于雨水入渗,而缓坡和低密实度土体入渗率变化快;实际土体吸力和含水量实时变化规律不同步,提出试验湿润峰概念,含水率（吸力）湿润峰点可按含水率（吸力）实时曲线的过渡区和雨后残余含水率（吸力）的线性交叉点确定;考虑单向吸湿或脱湿路径下土体含水率和吸力具有唯一对应关系,含水率湿润峰点与吸力湿润峰点的绝对值时差即为形成湿润峰所需时间;对比湿润峰实测值与Lumb半经验值散点分布规律,基于Lumb湿润峰深度计算公式提出非线性修正表达式.      

盐分与压实度对盐渍土起始冻胀含水率的影响

季冻区盐渍土冻胀病害影响工程质量。水分、密度及盐分的变化影响季冻土冻胀特性。以吉林省农安县旱地盐渍土为研究对象,通过室内冻胀实验讨论了含水率、压实度、含盐量对盐渍土冻胀规律的影响,分析起始冻胀含水率随盐分和压实度的变化规律。试验研究表明:较大的压实度和较高的含水率有利于冻胀。土体在较低含水率和较低压实度时发生冻缩,随着含水率和压实度的增大,冻缩量减小至零,随后发生冻胀,冻胀（缩）量与含水率基本呈线性关系。因此,存在起始冻胀含水率,该值随着压实度的增大而线性减小,随含盐量的增加而整体呈增大趋势。塑限与压实度对盐渍土起始冻胀含水率的影响可以拟合出相应线性公式,随着含盐量增加,该公式的系数整体呈增大趋势。在前人总结出的公式基础上增加压实度这一参数,为后续季冻区盐渍土的冻胀特性研究提供参考与理论依据。     

呼和浩特地区压实红黏土收缩开裂特性研究

红黏土在工程应用中易随环境温、湿度的变化产生收缩变形甚至开裂现象,从而诱发产生诸多工程问题。在工程应用中掌握红黏土的收缩与开裂性能,才能及时做出有效的防治措施。为此,以内蒙古地区典型红黏土为研究对象,在明确其击实特性的基础上,分析了红黏土在不同击实次数条件下的收缩特性并结合图像处理技术进一步阐释了压实红黏土裂缝形态的发展规律。试验结果表明:红黏土的最大干密度随着击实次数的增加呈线性增加,最佳含水率随着击实次数的增加呈线性减小的特征;红黏土失水率曲线随干燥时间呈指数规律变化,干燥初期,试样水分迅速蒸发呈线性变化,随着干燥时间的延续水分蒸发量逐渐减少,失水率曲线趋于稳定;随着击实次数的增加试样收缩率增大,收缩指标（径向线缩率、轴向线缩率以及体积收缩率）随干燥时间呈指数规律变化。红黏土收缩几何因子小于3,表明其轴向收缩大于径向收缩,红黏土收缩具有各向异性的特点;红黏土的裂缝特征参数（平均裂缝宽度、裂缝总长度、裂隙率）也随击实次数的增加而增大。试样击实次数的增加破坏了土体的黏粒结构,导致土体对结合水最大吸附能力减弱,降低了土体的持水能力,从而使土体的失水率、收缩率以及裂隙率增大。因此,在工程应用中增加击实次数以期改善红黏土的收缩与抗裂性是低效不经济的。     

Global representation of the drying–wetting curves of four engineering soils: experiments and correlations

The main objective of this paper is to examine how different engineering soils react to environmental variations and to provide correlations to characterize their behaviour under null external mechanical stress. Two French and two Algerian soils with liquid limits ranging from 36 to 112 were prepared under both slurry and Proctor compaction conditions, and then subjected to drying–wetting paths with suction controlled from several kPa to several hundreds of MPa. Experimental results are presented in five diagrams to show globally and simultaneously the shrinkage–swelling, saturation–desaturation and water retention characteristics. A reasonable consistency was observed between the oedometric and drying curves of slurry, confirming the equivalence between hydraulic loading (suction) and mechanical loading (consolidation stress) on the volume change behaviour of different soils. As an intrinsic parameter of soil nature, liquid limit was found to have a significant influence on the shrinkage limit, air-entry suction and compressibility of both slurry and compacted samples. For that reason, correlations between these characteristics and liquid limit were set up, providing a good basis for a first estimation of the drying–wetting curves. At the micro-scale, new experimental results were obtained: either on drying or wetting path, the micro-pores were almost unaffected, whereas, when matrix suction increased from 0.1 to 8 MPa, the volume of macro-pores decreased to quasi-closure. At last, the analogy between the compaction and drying–wetting curves, and the comparison of different methods to determine the water retention curve were addressed. Such analogies and comparisons contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of mechanical stress and suction.     

黏性土干/湿过程中土结构演化特征研究进展

干湿变化是自然界中土体必然经历的过程,对土体工程性质有重要影响。系统掌握干/湿过程中土结构演化特征,对深入认识土体宏观力学性质有重要意义。基于国内外大量文献资料,着重总结了黏性土在干燥过程、湿化过程和干湿循环过程中微观结构的演化特征,得到了以下几点主要认识:（1）含水率是影响土体微观结构的关键因素之一,在最优含水率干侧制备的土样呈典型的团聚体结构,孔隙分布曲线具有双峰特征,而在湿侧则呈相对均匀的基质结构,孔隙分布曲线呈现单峰特征;（2）在干燥过程中（吸力增加）,到达缩限之前,土体积的减小主要由大的宏观孔隙收缩所致。在不同的吸力区间内,主要受影响的孔隙尺寸是不同的;（3）在湿化过程中（吸力减小）,团聚体内的小孔隙和团聚体间的大孔隙都逐渐增大,且以团聚体内的孔隙增大为主,孔隙结构的演化特征与侧限条件密切相关;（4）在干湿循环过程中,土结构变化并不是完全可逆的,土体产生的累积收缩/膨胀形变量主要来自于宏观孔隙,随着干湿循环次数的增加,土体的体变特性会达到一个平衡状态,可用弹性孔隙比进行描述。除此以外,还总结了土结构观测的常规技术方法,包括SEM、ESEM、MIP和CT技术等。最后针对土结构研究现状,提出了今后的研究重点和方向,主要包括制样新方法、观测新技术、湿化过程的微观结构以及微观结构参数与宏观力学模型相结合等。     

A new approach for stabilization of lateritic soil with Portland cement and sand: strength and durability

The presence of lateritic soils occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. The improvement of lateritic soils that are not suitable for a particular purpose through techniques that combine modification of grain size through the insertion of sand, incorporation of Portland cement and densification through compaction is seen as an alternative. In this context, a dosage method to use a local lateritic soil as construction material in a most rational way reducing the economic and environmental impacts related to this activity is still missing. Therefore, the current research aims to evaluate the performance of a lateritic soil via modification of grain size through the insertion of sand, incorporation of Portland cement and densification through compaction. For this, unconfined compression, and durability (wetting and drying) tests were carried out on specimens of compacted clayey gravel lateritic soil, whose granulometry was modified by the insertion of distinct amounts (from zero to 45%) of weathered sand, treated with distinct Portland cement contents (from 4 to 10%), molded at different dry unit weights (from 16.8 to 20.1 kN/m³) and cured for 7 and 28 days. Results of the mechanical tests have shown the significant influence exerted by cement content and dry unit weight of the blend, followed by curing time and finally sand insertion. Satisfactory correlations between the response variables (q_u and ALM) and the adjusted porosity/cement index (η/C_v) were obtained. Furthermore, an innovative approach to replacing the laborious durability test is proposed.