Model suggested for an important part of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a water unsaturated bentonite

The hydro-mechanical behaviour of a clay-based buffer material for nuclear waste disposal has been investigated in a laboratory program. In this program, the main focus was on the influence of confinement on water uptake and swelling pressure during suction decrease. The laboratory program and some of the results are presented by Dueck [Dueck, A., 2006. Laboratory results from hydro-mechanical tests on a water unsaturated bentonite. submitted for publication.].

The results from the laboratory tests were used to find a relationship between water content, void ratio, swelling pressure and suction. Two equations for swelling pressure represent the outline of the model.

In the first equation, the swelling pressure developed during water uptake is normalised by a pressure corresponding to the swelling pressure at saturation. This is done in order to be independent of void ratio. A relationship between the normalised swelling pressure and the degree of saturation is suggested.

The second equation describes a relationship between the swelling pressure, the water content and the actual suction (or relative humidity). The equation is based on a thermodynamic relationship and includes the retention curve (i.e. water content vs. suction under free swelling conditions).

The model can be used for a state where two of the four variables; water content, void ratio, swelling pressure and suction are known and can thus be useful to evaluate field measurements and model late stages of the wetting process. An example of an application is given. The equations are mainly based on results from tests with increasing degrees of saturation under constant void ratio but are also suggested for use with increasing void ratio.     

Modification of physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties of bentonite by thermo-hydraulic gradients

The conditions of the bentonite in an engineered barrier for high-level radioactive waste disposal have been simulated in a series of tests. Cylindrical cells with an inner length of 60 cm and a diameter of 7 cm have been constructed. Inside the cells, six blocks of FEBEX bentonite have been piled-up, giving rise to a total length similar to the thickness of the clay barrier in a repository according to the Spanish concept. To obtain the blocks, the clay with its hygroscopic water content has been uniaxially compacted at a dry density of 1.65 g/cm³. The bottom surface of the material was heated at 100 °C and the top surface was injected with granitic water. The duration of the tests was 6, 12 and 24 months. The temperatures inside the clay and the water intake were measured during the tests and, at the end, the cells were dismounted and the dry density, water content and some hydro-mechanical properties of the clay (permeability, swelling pressure and swelling under load) were measured at different positions. The values obtained are compared to those of the untreated FEBEX bentonite. The injection of water provokes in the vicinity of the hydration surface an increase of the water content and a decrease of the dry density due to the swelling of the clay, while heating gives rise to an increase of the dry density and a reduction of the water content in the 18 cm closest to the heater, even after 2 years of thermo-hydraulic (TH) treatment. The swelling capacity and the hydraulic conductivity after TH treatment are mainly related to the dry density and water content attained during it. No major irreversible modifications of these properties with respect to those of the untreated clay have been detected.     

膨胀土胀缩变形规律与灾害机制研究

采用普通固结仪和收缩仪分别进行蒙自重塑膨胀土浸水膨胀变形试验和膨胀土失水收缩变形试验,系统地研究了不同初始状态下膨胀土胀缩变形规律与致灾机制,并应用Does Response模型,定量模拟了膨胀土胀缩时程规律。研究表明,蒙自膨胀土胀缩变形差异较大,一般吸水膨胀率远大于失水收缩率,相似状态下试样膨胀系数越大,收缩系数亦越大,表现出较强的各向异性;膨胀土含有的大量细小黏土颗粒与较强的蒙脱石晶体矿物及显著的微结构特征,是其产生强烈胀缩变形灾害的内因与本质,而土中发育的微孔隙-裂隙结构及其初始状态,是发生胀缩变形灾害的外因。     

Temperature and Damage Impact on the Permeability of Opalinus Clay

The effects of temperature on the water transport properties of intact and damaged Opalinus (OPA) clay are investigated by using a recently developed hollow cylinder triaxial cell [Monfared (Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48:637–649, 2011b)] that allows full saturation and drainage conditions in low-permeability clays and shales. The volumetric response of saturated OPA clay sample during a drained heating test shows an irreversible contraction after a temperature threshold. The permeability tests which are performed before and after the heating test show that the induced irreversible sample contraction by thermal loading reduces the permeability of OPA clay sample. In order to study the effect of temperature on the permeability of a damaged sample of OPA clay, the permeability tests are performed on a saturated sample previously sheared by a standard drained triaxial loading. The test results show no significant effect of shear-type damage on the permeability of the sample at 25 °C and 80 °C. The experimental results presented in this paper show the crucial role of the thermally induced strains on sample permeability. Thermo-elastic dilation leads to a slight increase of the permeability, whereas thermoplastic contraction leads to a reduction.     

北京地区胀缩性地基土工程特性及其上建筑物破坏原因分析

本文对北京市通县、南苑、西苑三处的胀缩性地基土进行了物质成分、物理化学性质及微观结构等工程地质特性研究,特别是对影响胀缩土胀缩特性的某些因素作了较深入地研究。并对建筑物变形破坏原因进行了讨论,认为北京市三处胀缩性地基土不均匀收缩变形是导致其上建筑物变形破坏的主要原因。     

Suppression of swelling associated with ettringite formation in lime stabilized sulphate bearing clay soils by partial substitution of lime with ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS)

Ettringite related swelling in lime-stabilized sulphate bearing clay soil systems has only been reported within the last decade although similar expansive behaviour has been reported in concrete over many years. The use of ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS), an industrial by-product, is well established as a binder in many cement applications where it provides enhanced durability and high resistance to sulphate attack. This paper reports on efforts to extend the use of GGBS to highway and other foundation layers by determining the beneficial effect of the suppression of swelling of lime-stabilized clay soils, particularly in the presence of gypsum. The paper describes the results of laboratory tests on lime-stabilized kaolinite containing different levels of added gypsum and on lime-stabilized gypsum (selenite) bearing Kimmeridge Clay to which, in both cases, the lime has progressively been substituted with GGBS. The tests determine the linear expansion behaviour of compacted cylinders, during moist curing in a humid environment at 30°C and during subsequent soaking in de-ionized water. The results illustrate that substitution of lime with GGBS produces significant reduction in linear expansion of lime-stabilized clay soils particularly those containing gypsum.     

不同水化状态下的压实膨胀土应力-应变-强度特征

为探讨水化状态对饱和压实膨胀土应力-应变-强度特征的影响,以压实度为95%的荆门弱膨胀土为研究对象,开展了2种典型水化状态下的固结与三轴试验,其中第1种水化状态采用常规饱和方法,第2种水化状态为试样自由膨胀至稳定状态。结果表明：（1）受变形约束条件与渗径的影响,不同水化状态下体膨胀率有较大差别;（2）第2种水化状态下的饱和压实膨胀土具有更大的硬化指数λ与膨胀指数κ、较小的弹性剪切模量,其有效内摩擦角为第1种水化状态下的77.2%,体现出膨胀土饱和强度的变动性;（3）2种水化状态下的固结曲线均呈现出明显的屈服现象,其屈服应力分别为123.2 kPa与94.5 kPa;（4）第1种水化状态下,低围压下试样应变软化与剪胀,高围压下应变强化与剪缩;第2种水化状态下试验围压范围内均发生剪缩和轻微的应变软化;（5）2种水化状态下试样在固结与剪切过程中均表现出超固结性,这种超固结性并非完全由先期固结压力所致,而是试样受荷过程中膨胀受到约束造成的;（6）不同水化饱和状态下初始孔隙比不同,膨胀势也不同,膨胀势与外部约束条件、排水条件、应力状态相互作用,造成其应力-应变-强度特征的差异性。     

高庙子膨润土水化膨胀特性及其微观机理研究

膨润土具有遇水膨胀的特性,是高放核废料深地质处置库理想的缓冲回填材料。膨胀特性是其作为缓冲材料最重要的性能之一,同时受多方面因素的影响。本文以我国首选缓冲材料高庙子膨润土为研究对象,以含水率和干密度为控制变量,以恒体积法为试验方法,研究了高压实高庙子膨润土的水化膨胀特性,采用压汞试验法(MIP)对膨润土微观结构进行了研究,并以此对水化膨胀特性进行了解释。膨胀力试验结果表明,高庙子膨润土的膨胀力发展形式和最大膨胀力均受试样含水率和干密度影响,干密度较小时,水化曲线呈明显的双峰结构,干密度较大时,水化曲线形态与含水率相关,随着含水率增大,双峰结构逐渐消失。MIP试验结果表明,高庙子膨润土的孔径分布同样受含水率和干密度影响,随着含水率和干密度降低,集合体间大孔隙体积增多。膨润土的水化膨胀曲线受集合体间大孔隙影响显著。大孔隙较多时,膨润土集合体能迅速膨胀形成临时结构,当膨胀力超过临时结构的极限荷载时发生坍塌,膨胀力回落,内部结构重组后继续水化达到最大膨胀力,因此其水化膨胀曲线呈明显的双峰结构。随着大孔隙量减少,水化膨胀曲线由双峰结构演变成一条平滑曲线。     

Swelling behaviour of expansive soil treated with fly ash–GGBS based binder

In this article, the potential of a binder developed by admixing fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) to stabilise expansive soils is evaluated. Laboratory tests included determination of free swell index, swell potential and swelling pressure tests of the soil/binder mixtures at different mixing ratio. The test results showed decrease in the swelling behaviour of the soil with increase in binder content. The percent swell–time relationship was observed to fit the hyperbolic curves enabling us to predict the ultimate percent swell from few initial test results. Addition of 1% of lime to the binder showed further improvement in reducing swelling. A good linear relationship is established between percent oedometer swell and modified free swell index (MFSI) for soil/binder mixtures without lime but the same has not been observed in the presence of lime. The compressibility characteristics of the soil/binder mixtures reduced nominally with increase in binder content but in the presence of lime, the compressibility reduced significantly. Binder used in this study has been found to be effective and economic to stabilise expansive soils with lesser amount of chemical additives such as lime.     

Multi-scale study of permeability evolution of a bentonite clay owing to pollutant transport: Part II. Application to an MG-bentonite

This paper is concerned with the application of a multi-scale model of permeability evolution to the simulation of permeation tests of lead nitrate solutions in a compacted natural bentonite. In a previous work, the weathered hydraulic conductivity has been measured for different pollutant concentrations. Textural and structural evolutions induced by heavy metal sorption have also been investigated, therefore giving us information about the various pore spaces that may be encountered during the process of pollutant leaching. Such knowledge has been exploited during the construction of the numerical microstructures. First of all, pure water permeability tests have been simulated, this has allowed us to ascertain the representation of compacted clay before pollutant permeation. For both Prrenjas and Wyoming clays, permeation tests after pollutant permeation have then been simulated, using connected and non-connected macro-voids configurations. Different conclusions have been drawn based on simulation results for the two different clays investigated, which are supported by experimental evidence.     

离子土壤固化剂改性膨胀土的试验研究

利用离子土壤固化剂（ionic soil stabilizer,简称ISS）对河南安阳地区膨胀土进行化学改性试验研究,通过不同配比的自由膨胀率试验结果,结合施工成本,得出ISS溶液改良膨胀土的最优配合比为1:350。对ISS溶液最优配合比改性后土体进行收缩试验、膨胀性试验、固结快剪、高压固结及水浸泡试验。试验结果表明,改性土线缩率减小,膨胀性指标降低,抗剪强度增大,土体由亲水性变成憎水性,且能达到较好的水稳定性,即膨胀土经化学改性为非膨胀土。ISS改性膨胀土的机制可解释为,通过ISS溶液与土粒离子进行强烈的交换作用,打开土粒与水分子之间的“电化键”,降低土颗粒表面吸附水膜厚度,包裹在黏粒颗粒表面的疏水基团覆盖膜使土对水的敏感性减弱,从根本上减少了土体吸水性和膨胀性。     

两种高庙子钠基膨润土膨胀特性比较研究

对两种高庙子钠基膨润土（简称GMZ001和GMZ07）在不同初始干密度下进行膨胀力试验、常压力下的膨胀变形试验以及压缩试验。试验结果表明,GMZ001的膨胀能力要比GMZ07的大,并且GMZ001比GMZ07更难压实。对饱和后两种膨润土进行压汞试验和扫描电子显微镜测试后发现,在相同孔隙比下,GMZ07集聚体间孔隙较多,并且GMZ001集聚体的水化程度大于GMZ07。结合土工和微观试验的结果,认为导致两者力学性能差异的主要原因是由于颗粒粒径大小的差异以及蒙脱石含量的不同。最后利用蒙脱石孔隙比的概念对两种膨润土的浸水膨胀试验结果进行归一化,并对膨润土的膨胀特性进行了预测。     

Modelling of the physical behaviour of clay barriers close to water saturation

The physical properties of bentonite-based buffer materials for nuclear waste repositories have been investigated by a number of different laboratory tests. These tests have yielded a material model that is valid for conditions close to water saturation and is useful for describing: (a) the stress, strain and volume change behaviour; (b) the pore pressure and flow of water; and (c) the thermal and thermomechanical response.

The material model is based on the Drucker-Prager Plasticity model and a Porous Elastic Model. The effective stress concept and Darcy's law are applied and the swelling/consolidation and thermomechanical processes are coupled according to the separate mechanical properties of the pore water, the solids and the clay skeleton. The model can be used by the finite-element program ABAQUS.

The model has been tested in several laboratory and field verification tests. Comparison between measured and calculated behaviour shows that the general behaviour is described properly and several calculations of different scenarios have been made for the Swedish KBS 3 concept. However, certain processes, like the hysteresis effect at consolidation/swelling, the curved stress-strain relation at shearing, and the curved failure envelope, are not modelled in a perfectly accurate way and an improved material model is proposed here. It combines the behaviour of the Cam-clay model on the wet side with the more relevant plastic behaviour of a modified Drucker-Prager model with a curved failure envelope and the possibility to introduce strain softening after failure.

The paper presents some laboratory results that are the basis of the first model. It also shows the application of the model to finite-element calculations of some laboratory tests. Comparisons between the calculations and measured results expose some disadvantages of the model and a concept for an improved model is suggested.     

Effect of wetting–drying cycles on swelling behavior of lime stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures

In the present study, influence of wetting–drying cycles on swelling pressures of sand–bentonite mixtures used in the construction of sanitary landfills to have an impermeable liner was investigated before and after lime treatment of the mixtures. Swelling pressure tests were conducted to see if the swelling pressures were affected by wetting–drying cycles. First series of specimens were prepared as a mixture of sand and bentonite only. In the first series of specimens, sand was mixed with bentonite in various proportions with their optimum water contents and compacted by using standard proctor energy. In the second series of the specimens, lime in various proportions was added to the mixtures of sand–bentonite. Then, the sand–bentonite mixtures stabilized by lime were compacted with the standard proctor energy at their optimum moisture contents. Five wetting–drying cycles were performed on each specimen and values of swelling pressures were measured at the end of each cycle. Results of swelling pressure tests indicated that the swelling pressure is decreased when lime is added to the mixtures. In addition, decrements were observed on swelling pressures by wetting–drying cycles. The results of the experiments of this investigation showed that the beneficial effect of lime stabilization to control the swelling pressures was partly lost by the wetting–drying cycles. However, the test results indicated that the swelling pressures of the specimens made of sand–bentonite mixtures stabilized by lime were lower than the swelling pressures of the specimens made of only sand–bentonite mixtures.     

New Apparatus and Experimental Setup for Long-Term Swelling Tests on Sulphatic Claystones

An apparatus and experimental setup were developed to carry out a series of extremely slow and long-lasting swelling, creep or chemo-mechanics tests simultaneously. The equipment was designed specifically for investigating the behaviour of sulphatic claystones. The tests will take at least 10–15 years to complete and will provide unprecedented information about the so-called swelling law, i.e. the relationship between swelling strain and swelling stress. The swelling law is very important for designing tunnels in swelling rock. Our knowledge of the swelling law, however, is only sufficiently reliable with respect to claystones without anhydrite (e.g. marls, opalinus clay). The swelling law for sulphatic claystones remains unknown, even in qualitative terms. This is due to the underlying physico-chemical mechanisms, which are fundamentally different from those of purely argillaceous rocks. Another reason is the extremely long duration of the swelling process of clay-sulphate rocks, which makes systematic field or laboratory investigations very difficult. In order to close this knowledge gap, a series of 25 long-term simultaneous swelling tests has been started.     

盐溶液饱和高庙子膨润土膨胀特性及预测

甘肃北山被首选为修建高放废物处置库的地区。考虑到该地区地下水中含有总溶解固体（TDS）,选择NaCl-Na2SO4作为溶解固体。以高庙子钠基膨润土为试验材料,利用单向固结仪,进行不同TDS浓度盐溶液和蒸馏水饱和的膨胀试验。根据蒙脱石孔隙比的概念,统一整理了饱和高庙子膨润土在盐溶液和蒸馏水饱和下的膨胀特性。结果表明,当TDS浓度为12.3 g/L（预选处置库区的最高离子浓度）时,在双对数坐标中蒙脱石孔隙比与膨胀力关系和干密度与膨胀力关系均呈直线且平行于蒸馏水的试验结果;对于给定干密度试样,膨胀力的对数与TDS浓度呈线性关系。根据以上试验结果,给出了由高庙子钠基膨润土的设计干密度和离子浓度计算相应膨胀力和膨胀变形的表达式。     

A Laboratory Experimental Study of the Hydromechanical Behavior of Boom Clay

This paper reports some results of a large experimental program on Boom Clay conducted in Grenoble in the framework of the European project SELFRAC. The program included isotropic compression up to relatively high stress, drained triaxial compression tests at different cell pressures, as well as permeability measurements under isotropic and deviatoric stress. Local measurement of axial and radial displacements allowed the detection of strain localization during deviatoric loading. The permeability of Boom Clay is found to depend on the mean effective stress. The response of Boom Clay during deviatoric loading appears to be strongly affected by the swelling experienced during the isotropic stage preceding triaxial compression. The rate of swelling decreases with isotropic stress. The longer the swelling before shear, more the response under shear becomes ductile and the lower the initial stiffness. Permeability depends on the mean effective stress and it is found to decrease of about two orders of magnitude when the mean stress increases from 1 to 32 MPa. Permeability during shear loading is essentially constant and does not seem to be affected by strain localization. These results are complemented by a few observations obtained using X-ray microtomography in the framework of the more recent European project TIMODAZ. These findings illustrate the impact of pre-existing inclusions and fissures on specimen deformation upon deviatoric loading in the laboratory.     

击实膨胀土工程变形特征的试验研究

以湖南邵阳膨胀土为例,对3种击实膨胀土工程变形特性进行了试验研究。试验结果表明：膨胀土的起始含水率和起始干密度对其膨胀力和膨胀量大小的影响是主要的外部因素;根据膨胀力试验和膨胀量试验的试验数据,拟合出膨胀力曲线和膨胀量曲线的变化规律均为指数关系。同时,还研究了膨胀速度曲线、收缩特性曲线的特征及膨胀和收缩两个过程的相似关系。研究结果为膨胀土路堤的设计及膨胀土地基处理等膨胀土问题提供了重要的依据。     

Swell-compressibility characteristics of lime-blended and cement-blended expansive clays – A comparative study

Chemical stabilisation of expansive soils has been quite efficacious in reducing swelling characteristics, namely, swell potential (S%) and swelling pressure (p_s). When chemicals such as lime and cement are added to an expansive clay, flocculation and cementation take place. Flocculation, which is an immediate reaction, is instrumental in reducing plasticity and swell potential significantly. It also reduces the time required for equilibrium heave. This paper presents experimental data on lime-blended and cement-blended expansive clay specimens. Free swell index (FSI), heave, rate of heave and swelling pressure were studied. FSI, heave and rate of heave decreased with increasing lime content and cement content in the blends. But, during a 3-day inundation (a period, generally allowed for the sample to attain to equilibrium heave), cementitious products developed and resisted the applied compressive loads stiffly, resulting in high swelling pressures in the case of lime-blended specimens. Swelling pressure could not be determined in the case of cement-blended specimens. Hence, short inundation tests (inundating the specimens only for 15 minutes) were performed. But, even from these tests, swelling pressure could not be determined for cement-blended specimens. This indicated the development of strong cementitious products in them. It was interesting to find that, in both long and short duration, the lime- and cement-blended specimens attained to equilibrium heave in the same time period. FSI decreased from 185% to 63.63% when lime content was increased from 0% to 4%, and from 185% to 110% when cement content was increased from 0% to 20%. Swell potential reduced by 42.5% at 4% lime and by 46.4% at 20% cement. Swelling pressure increased from 210 kPa to 320 kPa when lime content was increased from 0% to 4%. Linear shrinkage of the specimens also decreased with increasing additive content.     

考虑膨胀应力和剪胀的深埋隧道弹塑性解

基于湿度应力场理论,推导了考虑膨胀应力和剪胀特性的圆形隧道开挖后围岩力学响应的弹塑性解。将隧道软弱围岩遇水膨胀现象视为湿度-应力耦合过程,基于Fick第二定律,推导了圆形隧洞围岩内湿度扩散非稳态解。采用非关联流动法则,获得了隧道高膨胀势区的应力和位移解答。以两种不同质量岩体开挖的隧洞为例,分析了膨胀围岩应力和变形的影响因素。结果表明,考虑膨胀应力（取决于围岩含水率变化和湿度膨胀系数）时,塑性区扩大,松动圈厚度增加,应力收敛变慢。当膨胀应力增大到一定程度时,塑性区将出现拉应力区。膨胀岩隧洞开挖遇水作用,膨胀应力增加的围岩变形远大于地应力引起的围岩变形。同时,应力剪胀对膨胀性围岩的变形影响不容忽视,尤其是在支护抗力较小的情况下,洞壁处径向位移增加显著。