Diffused Double-Layer Swell Prediction Model to Better Characterize Natural Expansive Clays
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143, Issue 9
Abstract
Physiochemical forces of attraction and repulsion from clay mineralogy of an expansive soil during hydration contribute to the macro swell behavior of expansive soils. In this research, diffuse-double-layer (DDL) theory–related electrostatic forces from individual clay minerals of an expansive soil and their influence on soil swelling were studied. A fundamental approach for estimating swell potentials using the DDL model is proposed here for improved characterization of soil swelling potential. As a part of this research, 14 natural expansive clays were characterized and studied by performing basic soil characterization and clay mineralogy studies, followed by one-dimensional swell strain and swelling pressure tests. Clay mineralogy data were used to estimate total DDL thicknesses, which eventually transpire as adsorbed layers during the swelling process. Assumptions with respect to clay mineral crystalline alignment and orientation of clay particles were made in order to estimate adsorbed DDL thicknesses. Estimated DDL thicknesses were then converted to DDL strains, which were later correlated with the measured swell potentials of the present soils. Strong correlations between DDL-based strains and measured swell potentials are observed, indicating the importance of using DDL concepts in the estimation of swell properties. Further refinements of the modeling and model coefficients are to be conducted in the progressive studies for better prediction of the swell behavior of soils.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Program Director Dr. Richard J. Fragaszy for supporting this research under NSF Grant No. 1031214. Any findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the present material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.
References
MATLAB [Computer software]. MathWorks, Natick, MA.
AASHTO. (1999). “Standard method of test for determining the resilient modulus of soils and aggregate materials.” AASHTO T307-99, Washington, DC.
Abduljauwad, S. N. (1993). “Study on the performance of calcareous expansive clay.” Bull. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 30(4), 481–498.
ASTM. (2008). “Standard test methods for one-dimensional swell or collapse of soils.” ASTM D4546-08, West Conshohocken, PA.
Bharat, T. V., Sivapullaiah, P. V., and Allam, M. M. (2013). “Novel procedure for the estimation of swelling pressures of compacted bentonites based on diffuse double layer theory.” Environ. Earth Sci., 70(1), 303–314.
Bolt, G. H. (1956). “Physico-chemical analysis of the compressibility of pure clays.” Geotechnique, 6(2), 86–93.
Chapman, L. A. (1913). “Contribution to the theory of electrocapillarity.” Philos. Mag., 25(148), 475–481.
Chen, F. H. (1988). Foundations on expansive soils, 2nd Ed., Elsevier Science Publications, New York.
Chittoori, B. C. S., and Puppala, A. J. (2011). “Quantitative estimation of clay mineralogy in fine-grained soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 997–1008.
Fredulund, D. G. (1969). “Consolidometer test procedural factors affecting swell properties.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Expansive Clay Soils, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, 435–456.
Gouy, G. (1910). “Sur la constitution de la charge electrique a la surface d’un electrolyte.” Anniue Physique (Paris), 4(9), 457–468.
Komine, H., and Ogata, N. (1996). “Prediction for swelling characteristics of compacted bentonites.” Can. Geotech. J., 33(1), 11–22.
Laird, D. A. (2006). “Influence of layer charge on swelling of smectites.” Appl. Clay Sci., 34(1–4), 74–87.
Likos, W., and Lu, N. (2006). “Pore-scale analysis of bulk volume change from crystalline interlayer swelling in and smectite.” Clays Clay Miner., 54(4), 515–528.
Liu, L. (2013). “Prediction of swelling pressures of different types of bentonite in dilute solutions.” Colloids Surf. Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, 434, 303–318.
Lu, N., and Likos, W. J. (2004). Unsaturated soil mechanics, Wiley, New York.
McBride, M. (1997). “A critique of diffuse double layer models applied to colloid and surface chemistry.” Clays and Clay Miner., 45(4), 598–608.
Mitchell, J. K., and Soga, K. (2005). Fundamentals of soil behavior, 3rd Ed., Wiley, Hoboken, NJ.
Nayak, N. V., and Christensen, R. W. (1971). “Swelling characteristics of compacted expansive soils.” Clays Clay Miner., 19(4), 251–261.
Pedarla, A., Puppala, A. J., Hoyos, L. R., and Chittoori, B. (2015). “Evaluation of swell behavior of expansive clays from internal specific surface and pore size distribution.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 04015080.
Puppala, A. J., and Cerato, A. (2009). “Heave distress problems in chemically-treated sulfate-laden materials.” GeoStrata, 10(2), 28–32.
Puppala, A. J., Katha, B., and Hoyos, L. R. (2004). “Volumetric shrinkage strain measurements in expansive soils using digital imaging technology.” Geotech. Test. J., 27(6), 547–556.
Puppala, A. J., Manosuthkij, T., Nazarian, S., and Hoyos, L. R. (2011). “Threshold moisture content and matric suction potentials in expansive clays prior to initiation of cracking in pavements.” Can. Geotech. J., 48(4), 519–531.
Puppala, A. J., Pedarla, A., Hoyos, L. R., Zapata, C., and Bheemasetti, T. (2016). “A semi-empirical swell prediction model formulated from ‘clay mineralogy and unsaturated soil’ properties.” Eng. Geol., 200, 114–121.
Schanz, T., Khan, M. I., and Al-Badran, Y. (2013). “An alternative approach for the use of DDL theory to estimate the swelling pressure of bentonites.” Appl. Clay Sci., 83–84, 383–390.
Schanz, T., and Tripathy, S. (2009). “Swelling pressure of a divalent-rich bentonite: Diffuse double-layer theory revisited.” Water Resour. Res., 45(5), W00C12.
Sridharan, A., and Jayadeva, M. S. (1982). “Double layer theory and compressibility of clays.” Géotechnique, 32(2), 133–144.
Tripathy, S., Sridharan, A., and Schanz, T. (2004). “Swelling pressures of compacted bentonites from diffuse double layer theory.” Can. Geotech. J., 41(3), 437–450.
van Olphen, H. (1963). An introduction to clay colloid chemistry, Interscience, New York.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143 • Issue 9 • September 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 29, 2016
Accepted: Feb 21, 2017
Published online: May 9, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Oct 9, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.