Search results for "compacted clay"
showing 8 items of 8 documents
Volume change behaviour of a compacted scaly clay during cyclic suction changes
2010
The research presented in this paper focuses on the investigation and modelling of the volume change response of compacted tectonised clay samples subjected to several wetting and drying cycles in controlled-suction oedometers. Oedometer tests were carried out under different values of constant vertical net stress, and wetting and drying cycles were performed varying applied matric suction between 10 and 800 kPa. The investigation was complemented with a study of the material microstructure to support the interpretation of the overall mechanical response. At a microscopic level, the material is characterized by different types of particle assemblages, scales, and clay aggregates. One of th…
On the volumetric response of a compacted clay subjected to wetting and drying cycles
2009
Experimental evidence on the volumetric response of a compacted clay was collected in controlled suction oedometric tests, with the aim to assess the volumetric response of this soil when subjected to wetting and drying cycles. The overall soil behaviour seems mainly to depend on the double structural arrangement observed in the compacted specimens. Selected results are presented and discussed focusing on the influence of the stress history on the volumetric response. Test results are simulated by a double-structure suction-dependent elasto-plastic constitutive model, in which the mechanical response is related to micro and macrostructural deformations and their mutual interactions. The pro…
Water retention behaviour of compacted and reconstituted scaly clays
2020
The paper presents the results of an experimental research devoted to investigate the response to suction variations of a scaly clay in compacted and reconstituted conditions. Different experimental techniques (axis translation, vapour equilibrium, dew point psychrometer suction measurements) were combined in order to explore the water retention properties in a wide suction range (0 ÷ 110 MPa). Experimental results allowed to define the water retention domains for a constant reference void ratio, highlighting the significant role of the microstructure on the response of the investigated clays. In particular, the collected results showed that in the low-medium suction range, the peculiar mic…
Stress path dependence of hydromechanical behaviour of compacted scaly clay in wetting and drying suction controlled oedometer tests at constant vert…
2008
The results are presented of an experimental programme devoted to investigating the volumetric strain and water ratio (volume of water to volume of solids) evolution of a compacted scaly clay stressed by wetting and drying cycles in suction-controlled oedometer tests. The stress paths applied included loading and unloading cycles at constant matric suction and suction controlled wetting-drying cycles at constant vertical net stress. The test results show that during wetting and drying cycles the samples experienced irreversible shrinkage or swelling strains depending on the stress path applied. Irreversible water ratio increases were always observed in these cycles. However, a quasi-reversi…
Shear strength of a compacted scaly clay in variable saturation conditions
2015
Scaly clays are stiff and highly fissured clays often used as construction materials. This paper presents the results of triaxial compression tests carried out on saturated and unsaturated samples of a compacted scaly clay. Complementary investigation on the microstructural features and their evolution with the amount of water stored into the material are also presented in order to shed light on the evolution of the micro- and macroporosity with suction. The water retention behaviour of the compacted scaly clay is also addressed. The results from the controlled suction triaxial tests are used to discuss the applicability of a single-shear strength criterion to compacted double-structured cl…
Role of Stress History on the Swelling-Shrinkage Behavior of Compacted Scaly Clay
2022
Compacted scaly clays are complex geomaterials widely used for the realization of dam cores and waste dump liners. This research aims to investigate the swelling/shrinkage behavior of these geomaterials subjected in an oedometric cell to complex hydromechanical stress paths, including different sequences of cyclic variations of suction and stress. Microstructure investigations, based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) techniques, highlighted the microstructural characteristics of the material, which are the distinctive microfabric features (particles assemblages and scales) and the double-porosity networks, where micro- and macropores coexist. More…
Modelling the Water Retention Domain of a Compacted Scaly Clay
2012
A body of experimental data on the water retention behaviour of compacted samples of an Italian scaly clay is analysed. The mechanical and the hydraulic behaviour of compacted samples of this clay are governed by multi-scale arrangement of scales and aggregates, which characterises the compacted clay fabric. At least two different pore networks, namely intra-aggregate and inter-aggregate, may be identified, which interact one with the other along coupled hydro-mechanical paths. The retention behaviour is interpreted in the framework of a comprehensive multi-scale modelling approach recently proposed for compacted clays of low and medium activity, which proves to be able to account for the i…
Microstructure Characteristics of Unsaturated Compacted Scaly Clay
2012
Microstructure characteristics of unsaturated compacted scaly clay are investigated by MIP tests on freeze dried samples and observation of SEM photomicrographs. Effects of scale microstructure and increasing compaction stresses, and microstructure changes induced by loading and unloading paths and clay saturation are analysed.