An estimate of rebound potential of the Shaftesbury shales at a damsite in British Columbia

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hanna ◽  
T. E. Little

The hydraulic structures of the proposed site C hydroelectric project in northeastern British Columbia would require deep excavations in Lower Cretaceous Shaftesbury shales. A significant stress relief would occur over most of the area to be occupied by the structures. Concerns about the magnitude and rate of time-dependent rebound and their impacts on project design, construction, and operation have been addressed. A review was made of several important case histories of other major projects constructed on Prairie shales. The properties of those shales were compared with the Shaftesbury shales. Long-term testing to establish the shale swelling characteristics was performed. Analyses were then made to evaluate potential elastic and time-dependent rebounds of the project area. A procedure for computing stress changes and time-dependent deformations due to the unloading effect of excavation followed by structural loading was developed. The procedure is useful in determining differential rebound that would occur in areas of steep topography or significant variations in the distribution of structural loads. Key words : rebound, shales, dam, swelling properties, swelling pressure, stress relief, deep excavations.

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Hanumantha Rao ◽  
K. Venkataramana ◽  
D. N. Singh

Expansive soils exhibit significantly high volumetric deformations and hence, pose a serious threat to stability of structures and foundations. As such, determination of their swelling properties (viz., swelling potential and swelling pressure) becomes essential. Earlier researchers have developed various experimental techniques, and empirical relationships based on the results obtained from these investigations, for determining swelling characteristics of these soils. However, although these techniques help in direct estimation of the swelling properties of soils, the instrumentation is quite cumbersome and time consuming. This limitation can be overcome by measuring soil suction, which would also yield its swelling characteristics, though indirectly, but quite rapidly and easily. To demonstrate the utility and ease of application of this methodology, attempts were made in the present study to establish swelling properties of expansive soils from their suction measurements. Details of the methodology adopted are presented and results have been critically evaluated vis-à-vis those available in the literature.


2012 ◽  
Vol 238 ◽  
pp. 427-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Chao Jia ◽  
Huan Li ◽  
Qing Tao Bi

The influences of pore water solution concentration on the swelling properties of expansive soils were studied using the constant volume swelling pressure experiments and swelling ratio experiments under load. The results indicate that the swelling pressures decrease with the increase of solution concentration. Two specimens made by the same solutions concentration were immersed into solutions with two various concentrations to prepare specimen, one is smaller than the concentration of solution, and the other is same to that. The results show that the swelling pressures and the swelling strains of two specimens are very close. The analysis on the exist state of the pore water shows that the experimental results are agree with the osmotic pressure theory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bendadi Hanumantha Rao ◽  
Peddireddy Sreekanth Reddy ◽  
Bijayananda Mohanty ◽  
Krishna R. Reddy

AbstractMicrolevel properties such as mineralogical and chemical compositions greatly control the macro behaviour of expansive soils. In this paper, the combined effect of mineral (i.e. montmorillonite, MMC) and chemical contents (i.e. Ca and Na in their total (T), leachable (L) and exchangeable form (CEC)) on swelling behaviour is investigated in a comprehensive way. Several 3-dimensional (3D) graphs correlating MMC and Ca/Na ratio, together, with swelling property (swelling potential, Sa, and swelling pressure, Sp) are developed. 3D plots, in general, portrayed a non-linear relationship of Sa and Sp with MMC and Ca/Na ratio, together. It is hypothesized that swelling initially is triggered by chemical parameters due to their quick and rapid ionization capability, but the overall swelling phenomenon is largely controlled by MMC. It is importantly found that expansive soils are dominant with divalent Ca++ ions up to MMC of 67% and beyond this percentage, monovalent Na+ ions are prevalent. From the interpretation of results, the maximum Sa of 18% and Sp of 93 kPa is measured at MMC of 43%, (Ca/Na)T of 10–14 and (Ca/Na)L of 2–7. It is concluded from study that total CEC + MMC for determining Sa and (Ca/Na)T + MMC for determining Sp are superior parameters to be considered. The findings of the study also excellently endorsed the results of Foster32, who stated that ionization of Na or Ca depends on the constituent mineral contents. The findings presented herein are unique, interesting and bear very practical significance, as no earlier research work reported such findings by accounting for chemical and mineralogical parameters impact, in tandem, on swelling properties.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 578
Author(s):  
Bilal Harieth Alrimawi ◽  
May Yee Chan ◽  
Xin Yue Ooi ◽  
Siok-Yee Chan ◽  
Choon Fu Goh

Rice starch is a promising biomaterial for thin film development in buccal drug delivery, but the plasticisation and antiplasticisation phenomena from both plasticisers and drugs on the performance of rice starch films are not well understood. This study aims to elucidate the competing effects of sorbitol (plasticiser) and drug (antiplasticiser) on the physicochemical characteristics of rice starch films containing low paracetamol content. Rice starch films were prepared with different sorbitol (10, 20 and 30% w/w) and paracetamol contents (0, 1 and 2% w/w) using the film casting method and were characterised especially for drug release, swelling and mechanical properties. Sorbitol showed a typical plasticising effect on the control rice starch films by increasing film flexibility and by reducing swelling behaviour. The presence of drugs, however, modified both the mechanical and swelling properties by exerting an antiplasticisation effect. This antiplasticisation action was found to be significant at a low sorbitol level or a high drug content. FTIR investigations supported the antiplasticisation action of paracetamol through the disturbance of sorbitol–starch interactions. Despite this difference, an immediate drug release was generally obtained. This study highlights the interplay between plasticiser and drug in influencing the mechanical and swelling characteristics of rice starch films at varying concentrations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1622
Author(s):  
Yu-Ping Wang ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Fa-Cheng Yi ◽  
Bao-Long Zhu

In China, Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite is recognized as a barrier material for isolating nuclear waste. Different chemical solutions may change the hydraulic conductivity and swelling capacity of bentonite. Consequently, a series of swelling pressure and permeability experiments was carried out on bentonite-sand mixtures with various dry densities and infiltrating solutions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were carried out on the samples experiencing the tests to identify the influence of chemistry pore solutions upon the mineralogical and microstructure changes. The results show that the swelling pressure experienced rapid swelling, slow expansion, and the stable expansion stage for the specimens of infiltrating solutions except for NaOH. For the specimens infiltrated with NaOH solutions, the swelling pressure experienced rapid increases, slow decreases, and a stable development stage. With hyper-alkaline and hyper-salinity infiltration, the swelling pressure decreased, and the permeability increased. In addition, swelling pressure attained stability more quickly on contact with hyper-alkaline and hyper-salinity solutions. Comparing the test results, the results indicate that the influence of NaOH on the expansion and permeability was higher than NaCl-Na2SO4 at the same concentration.


Author(s):  
Antti Lempinen

Compacted bentonite is the main candidate for buffer material in several plans for spent nuclear fuel repositories. One of its important properties is high swelling capacity, which is caused by interaction between water molecules and exchangeable cations. This interaction makes bentonite behave differently from capillary materials. In this article, a model for thermo-hydro-mechanical state of partially water saturated bentonite is presented. It couples the water retention and swelling properties with introduction of the swelling factor in effective strain. The Helmholz energy density determines the state with a relatively small set of independent parameters: swelling pressure, swelling factor, maximum confined water content and the reference state. The model parameters are determined from experimental data for FEBEX bentonite, and as a simple consistency check, confined suction curves are calculated and compared to test results. Consistency of the model with observations on nano- and microscale of bentonite is also discussed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 356 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. N. Lucas ◽  
W. C. Oliver

AbstractTime dependent indentation data for pure indium from -100 °C to 75 °C is presented. The properties reported include hardness, indentation strain rate, stress exponent and apparent activation energy for creep. These properties were measured using a depth-sensing indentation system capable of performing experiments between -100 °C and 300 °C in ultra-high vacuum. In addition, by employing laser interferometric techniques, this system can obtain displacement data with time constants as low as 50 ns. This allows the investigation of the material response to very fast stress changes over an extremely wide range of strain rates. The adverse and beneficial dynamic effects of step-loading the indenter into the surface of the material will be discussed. Initial results obtained from this type of experiment show that it is possible to obtain energy dissipation or damping information from the material being studied.


2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 460-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideo Komine ◽  
Nobuhide Ogata

Compacted bentonite and sand–bentonite mixtures are attracting greater attention as buffer material for repositories of high-level nuclear waste. This buffer material is expected to fill up the space between the canisters containing the waste and the surrounding ground by swelling. To produce the specifications, such as dry density, sand–bentonite mass ratio, and dimensions, of the buffer material, the swelling characteristics of compacted bentonite and sand–bentonite mixtures must be evaluated quantitatively. New equations for evaluating the swelling behavior of compacted bentonite and sand–bentonite mixtures are presented that can accommodate the influences of the sand–bentonite mass ratio and the exchangeable-cation composition of bentonite. The new method for predicting swelling characteristics is presented by combining the new equations with the theoretical equations of the Gouy–Chapman diffuse double layer theory and of the van der Waals force, which can evaluate the repulsive and attractive forces of montmorillonite mineral (i.e., the swelling clay mineral in bentonite). Furthermore, the applicability of the new prediction method has been confirmed by comparing the predicted results with laboratory test results on the swelling deformation and swelling pressure of compacted bentonites and sand–bentonite mixtures.Key words: bentonite, diffuse double layer theory, van der Waals force, nuclear waste disposal, swelling deformation, swelling pressure.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Zhang Yalong ◽  
Zhang Yanqun ◽  
Yi Min ◽  
Ha Hongfei

Two- or multi-component hydrogels consisting of the three-dimensional network of polymer chains play more and more significant role in the field of biomaterials such as contact lens, burn dressing drug delivery systems etc or in some technical fields such as gel actuators, sensors, absorbents etc. In the work, a novel blend hydrogel composed of kappa-carrageenin (KC) and polyisopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) was prepared via gamma-radiation technology at room temperature. The main component of the hydrogels is a typical temperature sensitive polymer PNIPAAm. As the second component, KC is a kind of natural macromolecules. The properties of the gels, such as gel strength, and swelling behavior were investigated. The incorporation of relatively small content (up to 5 wt.%) of KC could obviously improve the mechanical properties and swelling capacity. 3% KC content in the blend hydrogel is preferable for better strength and swelling properties. On the other hand, as a kind of polysaccharide, KC would be degraded by γ-rays; so<br />suitable dose must be controlled carefully. Here the total dose used was controlled below 3 kGy. KC is soluble in water. If the hydrogels synthesized in the work were as usually extracted in water or other polar solvent such as methanol, the KC in hydrogels would be also washed out completely together with unreacted monomer and linear polymer, and the action of KC in the blend hydrogels would be disappeared. Otherwise, the results published before showed that the unreacted monomer and linear polymer in the hydrogels were very small, no more than 3-5%, which would not affect the properties of the hydrogels.


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