Effects of freeze–thaw and softening on a natural clay at low stresses

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Graham ◽  
V. C. S. Au
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Compacted Clay ◽  
Lake Agassiz ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Freeze Thaw ◽  
Weathering Processes ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Access To Water

Weathering processes such as softening and freeze–thaw cycling affect the properties of clays. Care must therefore be taken when selecting strength and compressibility parameters for analysis of natural slopes, compacted clay embankments, and trench excavations in which significant proportions of the cross section can be affected by climatic weathering.Samples of plastic Lake Agassiz clay from Winnipeg were consolidated anisotropically in the laboratory to axial stresses less than or equal to the in situ effective overburden pressure. They were therefore all overconsolidated with respect to the field preconsolidation pressure. The samples were then loaded under drained or undrained conditions along steeply rising stress paths in p′, q stress space. One group of samples was tested immediately to identify the "undisturbed" behavior, a second group was subjected to freeze–thaw cycles, and a third group allowed to swell freely before testing.The freeze–thaw cycling produced increased compressibility and pore-water pressures, and reduced strengths at low stresses compared with the behavior of undisturbed clay. Freezing also caused the development of a clearly defined fissure structure. Softening at low stresses with access to water produced less marked effects. Key words: clay, undisturbed, freeze–thaw, softening, strength, yielding, pore-water pressures.

scholarly journals Subglacial Hydrology for an Ice Sheet Resting on a Deformable Aquifer

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (110) ◽  
pp. 20-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Shoemaker
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Coulomb Friction ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Melt Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressures

AbstractSubglacial hydrology is investigated for an ice sheet where the substrate consists of a deformable aquifer resting on an aquitard. If sliding velocities are low or absent, subglacial melt-water drainage is dominated by drainage through the aquifer to water channels. Drainage along the bed is negligible. Efficient melt-water drainage requires that a system of subglacial water channels exists; otherwise, pore-water pressures will exceed the overburden pressure. In general, aquifer deformation near (away from) the terminus is most likely to occur during the winter (summer). The effect of short-term high channel pressures is, in general, not critical to aquifer deformation because the pressure pulse does not propagate far into the aquifer. (For aquifers of high permeability, short periods of high channel pressures constitute the most critical condition.) Aquifer deformation at the terminus is very likely to occur if the terminus ice slope exceeds tan ϕ, where ϕ is the Coulomb friction angle of the aquifer material. Upwelling of basal melt water near the terminus will normally cause soil dilation if the aquifer has a low permeability (e.g. till). Maximal profiles are computed corresponding to various aquifer materials using channel spacings which provide efficient drainage. (A maximal profile is the highest ice profile which the aquifer can sustain without deformation.) In general, maximal profiles lie well above observed profiles (such as h(x) = 3x1/2 (m)) except near the terminus. However, if channel spacings are sufficiently large, pore-water pressures are increased and maximal profiles can lie well below h(x) = 3x1/2.

Effect of freeze–thaw on the hydraulic conductivity and morphology of compacted clay

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majdi A. Othman ◽  
Craig H. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Compacted Clay ◽  
Clay Liners ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Freeze Thaw ◽  
State Of Stress ◽  
Soil Liners ◽  
Compacted Clays

Several studies have shown that freeze–thaw causes changes in the hydraulic conductivity of compacted clays. Cracks formed by ice lensing and shrinkage cause the hydraulic conductivity to increase. In this paper, changes in hydraulic conductivity are related to changes in morphology. Photographs of thin sections of frozen specimens show that ice lenses form in compacted clay during freezing in a closed system. Photographs also show that similar ice structures are obtained for one- and three-dimensional freezing, which explains why similar hydraulic conductivities are obtained for both conditions. The photographs also show that a significant network of cracks forms in a single cycle of freeze–thaw. With additional cycles, new ice lenses are created and thus the hydraulic conductivity continues to increase. However, after about three cycles the number of new ice lenses becomes negligible and hence further changes in hydraulic conductivity cease. The temperature gradient and state of stress affect morphology and hydraulic conductivity of compacted clays subjected to freeze–thaw. At larger temperature gradients, more ice lenses form and hence the hydraulic conductivity increases. In contrast, application of overburden pressure inhibits the formation of ice lenses and reduces the size of the cracks remaining when lenses thaw. As a result, the hydraulic conductivity is reduced. Key words : compacted clay, hydraulic conductivity, clay liners, soil liners, freeze-thaw, ice lenses, structure.

Effect of drainage and sequential filling on the behavior of backfill in mine stopes

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nawfal El Mkadmi ◽  
Michel Aubertin ◽  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Filling Rate ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Filling Sequence ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Backfilled Stopes ◽  
Excess Pore

Underground backfilling offers significant economic and environmental advantages to mining operations. There is however a limited knowledge and understanding of how the backfill behaves within mine stopes, which creates some concern regarding the risk of accidents with potentially serious consequences. It is thus important to investigate further the response of backfill to ensure safe working conditions and optimize the filling sequence. This paper presents key results from a numerical study aimed at analyzing the hydrogeotechnical response of backfill in a narrow vertical stope. The simulations illustrate how stresses are influenced by stope geometry, water drainage, and filling rate. Three main cases are presented here to illustrate these effects; namely, (i) simulation of dry (or drained) backfill, (ii) a rapidly filled stope with progressive drainage and consolidation, and (iii) sequential backfill placement with different filling rates. The third case includes a simulation with evolving properties due to the binder added to the backfill. The results from the numerical analyses show that arching effects develop within narrow backfilled stopes because of the stiffness contrast between the rock and the fill material. This can produce a significant reduction of the stresses (horizontal and vertical) in comparison with the overburden pressure. The simulation results also show the development of excess pore-water pressures after the placement of the saturated backfill within the stope. Drainage tends to reduce these pressures and increase the frictional stresses along the rock walls. The sequentially filled stope simulations show that a rapid filling rate produces much higher total stresses and excess pore-water pressures, compared to slower rates. The simulation of the cemented backfill, with evolving properties, indicates that the progressive changes can have a significant effect on the total and effective stresses in the stope. A discussion follows on the implications of these results.

scholarly journals In-Situ Pore Water Pressures and Ground Motions During the 1987 Chiba-Toho-Oki Earthquake

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Ishihara ◽  
Takahito Muroi ◽  
Ikuo Towhata
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Pore Water Pressures

scholarly journals Subglacial Hydrology for an Ice Sheet Resting on a Deformable Aquifer

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (110) ◽  
pp. 20-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Shoemaker
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Coulomb Friction ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Melt Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressures

AbstractSubglacial hydrology is investigated for an ice sheet where the substrate consists of a deformable aquifer resting on an aquitard. If sliding velocities are low or absent, subglacial melt-water drainage is dominated by drainage through the aquifer to water channels. Drainage along the bed is negligible. Efficient melt-water drainage requires that a system of subglacial water channels exists; otherwise, pore-water pressures will exceed the overburden pressure. In general, aquifer deformation near (away from) the terminus is most likely to occur during the winter (summer). The effect of short-term high channel pressures is, in general, not critical to aquifer deformation because the pressure pulse does not propagate far into the aquifer. (For aquifers of high permeability, short periods of high channel pressures constitute the most critical condition.) Aquifer deformation at the terminus is very likely to occur if the terminus ice slope exceeds tanϕ, whereϕis the Coulomb friction angle of the aquifer material. Upwelling of basal melt water near the terminus will normally cause soil dilation if the aquifer has a low permeability (e.g. till). Maximal profiles are computed corresponding to various aquifer materials using channel spacings which provide efficient drainage. (A maximal profile is the highest ice profile which the aquifer can sustain without deformation.) In general, maximal profiles lie well above observed profiles (such ash(x) = 3x1/2(m)) except near the terminus. However, if channel spacings are sufficiently large, pore-water pressures are increased and maximal profiles can lie well belowh(x) = 3x1/2.

scholarly journals Soil disturbance from pile driving in sensitive clay

1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bozozuk ◽  
B. H. Fellenius ◽  
L. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Pile Driving ◽  
Horizontal Distance ◽  
Lateral Movement ◽  
Marine Clay ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Pore Water Pressures

Soil disturbance due to the driving of two groups of 116 concrete piles each in sensitive marine clay was studied on a construction project in eastern Canada. Pore-water pressures, heave, and lateral movement of soil and piles, and tests of strength, compressibility, and consistency limits of the soil were observed prior to and up to 3 months after pile driving whereas observations of pore-water pressures were continued for an additional 5 months. Driving of the piles had little effect on the compressibility and consistency limits of the marine clay, but the in situ shear strength and cone penetration resistance were reduced by about 15 and 30%, respectively. Soil heave within the group of piles decreased linearly with depth from a maximum of 450 mm (18 in.) at the ground surface to about zero at the pile tips, and in volume amounted to approximately 55% of the soil displaced by the piles. The vertical heave outside the pile group was confined to a horizontal distance of 12 m (39 pile diameters). During pile driving, the lateral movement of previously driven piles was as much as 175 mm (7 in.). Horizontal soil movements measured by inclinometers varied up to 125 mm (5 in.). Pore-water pressures generated during piling exceeded the total overburden pressure by 35–40%. The excess pore pressures dissipated in about 8 months after the piling was completed.

Field observations of soft clay consolidation in the Fraser Lowland

1987 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-317
Author(s):  
C. B. Crawford ◽  
L. J. DeBoer
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Soft Clay ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Maximum Load ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Pore Pressures ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Earth Embankment

This paper presents a 15-year record of consolidation settlements under an earth embankment where maximum settlements have exceeded 3 m since 1971. The rate of settlement was greatly accelerated by the use of sand drains under areas of maximum load. During construction, pore pressures in the subsoil were monitored and used to control the rate of loading, which had to be decreased to avoid failure. Settlements were underestimated and stability was overestimated on the basis of laboratory and field tests. Consolidation characteristics measured in the laboratory are compared with those calculated from field observations. Key words: settlements, consolidation, embankment, pore-water pressures, monitoring, in situ.

In-Situ Measurements of Pore Water Pressures in Landfilled Waste in Response to Liquids Addition

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy G. Townsend ◽  
Ravi Kadambala ◽  
Sendhil Kumar ◽  
Pradeep Jain
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Pore Water Pressures

scholarly journals In situ equilibrium pore-water pressures derived from partial piezoprobe dissipation tests in marine sediments

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1294-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Sultan ◽  
Sara Lafuerza
Keyword(s):  
Slope Stability ◽  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Pore Water Pressures ◽  
Time Required

Excess pore-water pressure has a significant effect on submarine slope stability and sediment deformation, and therefore its in situ equilibrium measurement is crucial in carrying out accurate slope stability assessments and accurately deriving geotechnical design parameters. In situ equilibrium pore-water pressure is usually obtained from pore pressure decay during piezocone tests. However, submarine shelves and slopes are often characterized by the existence of low-permeability (fine-grained) sediments involving long dissipation tests that are an important issue for offshore operational costs. Consequently, short-term and (or) partial dissipation tests are usually performed and in situ equilibrium pore-water pressures are predicted from partial measurements. Using a modified cavity expansion approach, this paper aims to predict for four different sites the in situ equilibrium pore-water pressures. Comparisons between predicted and observed in situ equilibrium pore-water pressures allowed the development of a guide to evaluate the minimum time required to perform short-term dissipation tests for a given marine sediment. The main finding of this Note is that the second derivative of the pore pressure, u, versus the logarithm of time, t, ∂2u/∂ln(t)2 must be positive to calculate accurately the in situ equilibrium pore-water pressures from partial measurements.

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