Sand–bentonite liners: predicting permeability from laboratory tests

1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Chapuis

Soil–bentonite mixes are frequently used as impervious blankets in waste disposal projects. Numerous results of laboratory permeability tests are presented for sands containing up to 33% bentonite. These results seem difficult to analyze because different testing methods have been used in which it is not easy to control certain parameters, such as hydration period, degree of saturation, and swelling under low confining pressure. Hydraulic conductivity, however, can be obtained by using empirical equations that take into account the bentonite content, porosity, and degree of saturation of the sand alone when tested at its optimum modified Proctor value in a permeameter. This preliminary evaluation helps to select the soil to be tested. Then, the laboratory test results can be used to predict the in situ hydraulic performance after due consideration of the variabilities in natural sand and bentonite content. Key words: liner, soil, bentonite, permeability, laboratory, field.

2021 ◽  
Vol 337 ◽  
pp. 04010
Author(s):  
Helena P. Nierwinski ◽  
Marcelo Heidemann ◽  
Laura A. Lavalle ◽  
Bruna Sell

The correct interpretation of in situ and laboratory test results is an important step in the design of mining tailing containment structures. This study aims to analyze the Seismic Cone Penetration Test (SCPTu) results obtained into a mining tailing reservoir composed of two material layers: a thick-dry and a tick-saturated. It is possible to observe that in a same tailing reservoir, the CPTu test interpretation can lead to a classification of each layer as a different soil with specific behavior and properties. This condition demonstrates that tailings with intermediate permeability (10-5 m/s < k < 10-8 m/s) may present partial drainage conditions during a standard cone penetration test (CPTu) (v=20 mm/s), if saturated conditions are verified. The effects of partial drainage can affect test results, and can induce to errors in the prediction of soil behavior and geotechnical parameters. To evaluate the possible effects of partial drainage, in situ test results were compared to laboratory tests results. It was possible to verify that estimated behavior of dry layers, obtained from in situ tests results, present more similarity to the results from laboratory tests. Probably, the partial drainage effects verified through the interpretation of dissipation tests, distorted the estimated behavior of the saturated layer material.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabe Mwape ◽  
Victor Daka ◽  
Scott Matafwali ◽  
Kapambwe Mwape ◽  
Jay Sikalima ◽  
...  

Background Medical laboratory diagnosis is a critical component of patient management in the healthcare setup. Despite the availability of laboratory tests, clinicians may not utilise them to make clinical decisions. We investigated utilsation of laboratory tests for patient management among clinicians at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and Arthur Davison Childrens Hospital (ADCH), two large referral hospitals in the Copperbelt Province, Ndola, Zambia. Method We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among clinicians. The study deployed self-administered questionnaires to evaluate clinician utilisation, querying and confidence in laboratory results. Additional data on demographics and possible laboratory improvements were also obtained. Data were entered in Microsoft excel and exported to SPSS version 16 for statistical analysis. Results Of the 80 clinicians interviewed, 96.2% (77) reported using laboratory tests and their results in patient management. 77.5% (62) of the clinicians indicated they always used laboratory results to influence their patient management decisions. Of the selected laboratory tests, clinicians were more confident in using haemoglobin test results (91.2%). There was no statistically significant association between the clinicians gender or qualification and use of test results in patient management. Conclusion Our findings show that despite the majority querying laboratory results, most of the clinicians use laboratory results for patient management. There is need for interactions between the laboratory and clinical area to assure clinician confidence in laboratory results. Key words: utilisation, clinicians, laboratory tests, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Arthur Davison Childrens Hospital


Author(s):  
Runze Chen ◽  
Yumin Chen ◽  
Hanlong Liu ◽  
Kunxian Zhang ◽  
Ying Zhou ◽  
...  

Electrolytic desaturation is a potential method for improving the liquefaction resistance of the liquefiable foundation by reducing the soil saturation. In this study, in-situ desaturation tests were performed to investigate the resistivity of soil at different depth and the water level of the foundation under different current. The test results show that at constant currents of 1 A (Ampere, unit of the direct current), 2 A and 3 A, the saturation of the treated foundation reached 87%, 83% and 80%. During the electrolysis process, the generated gas migrates vertically and horizontally under the influence of buoyancy and gas pressure. In the end of electrolysis, the gas inside the sand foundation basically migrates vertically only. The higher current intensity employed for electrolysis will affect the uniformity and stability of the gas. At constant currents of 1 A, 2 A and 3 A, the difference between the maximum and minimum degree of saturation in the treated foundation was 14%, 18% and 19%; and after electrolysis halted for 144 h, the saturation in the treated foundation was 90%, 85% and 87%. The electricity consumption analysis indicates that the desaturation method has excellent economic benefits in the treatment of saturated sand foundations.


1934 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 361-407
Author(s):  
A. A. Fulton

The steady increase in the capacity of generating sets created a demand for the high specific-speed turbine which was met by several experimenters. “Specific speed” is the speed at which a turbine will run under unit head when developing unit power, and nowadays a “high specific-speed” water turbine denotes one having a runner of the propeller type and a specific speed between 100 and 230 r.p.m. Difficulties were encountered in the development of propeller turbines, especially in connexion with cavitation. Laboratory tests and the use of visual study methods have played an important part in the solution of these difficulties. The method of fixing suction head in conjunction with laboratory test results is explained, and a comparison is made between the various forms of suction tube in use. Much work has been done to overcome the effects of localized cavitation, and stainless steel has been found to be very effective, especially when runners are cast entirely of that material. A method of operation has been developed to dispense with the use of inlet sluice gates in large machines. Several methods in use for operating the movable runner blades are described. The introduction of the high specific-speed turbine has led to a large increase in the number of automatic stations. The great size attained by these turbines has entailed the construction of equally large generators, the development of which has had its own problems.


2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1168-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Zhang ◽  
P K Robertson ◽  
R W.I Brachman

An integrated approach to estimate liquefaction-induced ground settlements using CPT data for sites with level ground is presented. The approach combines an existing CPT-based method to estimate liquefaction resistance with laboratory test results on clean sand to evaluate the liquefaction-induced volumetric strains for sandy and silty soils. The proposed method was used to estimate the settlements at both the Marina District and Treasure Island sites damaged by liquefaction during the Loma Prieta, California, earthquake on 17 October 1989. Good agreement between the calculated and measured liquefaction-induced ground settlements was found. The major factors that affect the estimation of liquefaction-induced ground settlements are also discussed in detail. The recommendations for taking the effects of these factors into account in estimating liquefaction-induced ground settlements using the proposed CPT-based approach are presented. It is suggested that the proposed method may be used to estimate liquefaction-induced settlements for low- to medium-risk projects and also to provide preliminary estimates for higher risk projects.Key words: liquefaction, settlements, earthquake, sand, in situ testing.


2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
A L Fernandez ◽  
J C Santamarina

Natural cementation affects the properties of soils, the interpretation of in situ and laboratory test results, and the selection of criteria for geotechnical design. In this paper, published experimental studies are reviewed, a microscale analysis is presented of the effect of cementation on small-strain stiffness for distinct stress-cementation histories, and the effect of cementation on small-strain velocity and damping is experimentally studied. Observations include the prevailing effects of cementation over effective stress, the coexistence of frictional and viscous losses, and the effects of decementation when the medium is unloaded from the level of confinement prevailing during cementation.Key words: wave velocity, seismic response, stiffness, damping, sampling effects, loading history.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidali Denine ◽  
Noureddine Della ◽  
Muhammed Rawaz Dlawar ◽  
Feia Sadok ◽  
Jean Canou ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper presents results of a series of undrained monotonic compression tests on loose sand reinforced with geotextile mainly to study the effect of confining stress on the mechanical behaviour of geotextile reinforced sand. The triaxial tests were performed on reconstituted specimens of dry natural sand prepared at loose relative density (Dr = 30%) with and without geotextile layers and consolidated to three levels of confining pressures 50, 100 and 200 kPa, where different numbers and different arrangements of reinforcement layers were placed at different heights of the specimens (0, 1 and 2 layers). The behaviour of test specimens was presented and discussed. Test results showed that geotextile inclusion improves the mechanical behaviour of sand, a significant increase in the shear strength and cohesion value is obtained by adding up layers of reinforcement. Also, the results indicate that the strength ratio is more pronounced for samples which were subjected to low value of confining pressure. The obtained results reveal that high value of confining pressure can restrict the sand shear dilatancy and the more effect of reinforcement efficiently.


1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 496-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Y. Lo ◽  
Kiny Kaniaru

Unsatisfactory performance of earth and rock-fill dams involving excessive seepage, piping or failure has been attributed to hydrofracture of the core. Although the phenomenon has been reported for some time, important factors influencing hydraulic fracturing pressure, such as saturation and consolidation, have received relatively little attention; nor have results of laboratory tests or theoretical study been directly related to field performance. In this paper, laboratory hydrofracturing tests under well-defined conditions were performed. A simple theoretical expression for fracture pressure is developed involving only conventional soil strength parameters. Case histories involving hydraulic fracturing of the earthcore are reviewed, and "field" hydraulic fracture pressure and crack closure pressure are defined. The results of the laboratory tests show that hydraulic fracture pressure is not a unique soil property; its value depends on the degree of saturation and consolidation. A comparison of the data deduced from case records with test results and theoretical predictions indicates general consistency. The field hydraulic fracturing pressures are bounded in the upper limit by results from saturated-consolidated tests and in the lower limit by results of saturated–unconsolidated hydraulic fracturing tests. It is suggested that the methodology presented may be useful in the assessment of risk of hydraulic fracturing of dams. Key words: earth and rock-fill dams, hydraulic fracture, tensile strength, seepage, Teton Dam.


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