The Drying Behavior of a Disturbed Soft Clay

F.A.M. Marinho, F. Massad

In the proceedings of: GEO2011: 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Pan-American Conference on Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering

Session: Laboratory Testing

ABSTRACT: To make some improvement in Santos Harbor (SP), Brazil, it is mandatory, for environmental reasons, to use contaminated underwater soft clays as a backfill material. The soft clay, which is treated with a polymer to induce its flocculation, is placed into geotextile bags (geotubes). In one such geotube, which is exposed to climatic conditions for 8 months, geotechnical tests were performed to characterize the soft clay and obtain its undrained shear strength and drying features. Data associated with the soil water retention curve of the material were obtained and helped to interpret the behavior of the clay during drying (including the induced fissures). The results of the development of the suction and the increase in the undrained shear strength of the material, as determined by a mini-vane, are also presented. In addition, evaporation experiments simulating the bare clay, the clay within the bag and the clay covered with sand demonstrate the effect of the cover on the drying behavior of the clay.

RÉSUMÉ: de certaines zones dans le Santos Harbor (SP), Brésil, il est obligatoire, pour questions environnementales, à utiliser argiles molles contaminés comme matériau de remblai. L'argile molle, traités avec un polymère pour provoquer sa floculation, est placé dans des sacs en géotextile (Geotube). Dans l'une de ces Geotube, exposés à condition climatique pendant 8 mois, essais géotechniques ont été réalisées pour caractériser l'argile molle et obtenir sa resistance au cisaillement et leur caractéristiques de séchage. La courbe de rétention en eau a été obtenu et a contribué à l'interprétation du comportement de l'argile au cours du processus de séchage. Résultats de l'évolution de la succion et l'augmentation de la résistance au cisaillement du sol sont également présentées. En plus des expériences d'évaporation illustre l'effet de la couverture sur le comportement au séchage de l'argile.

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