Microporosity Structure of Coarse Granular Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 10
Abstract
To date the microporosity structures of coarse soils with various coarse/fines contents are still not fully understood. In this study, the pore-size distributions (PSDs) of five types of soil varying from gravel to clay were characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The soil with a coarse content below 70% (i.e., fines content above 30%) is found to have a fines-controlled microstructure, which is sensitive to water content changes. Such soil forms a dual-porosity structure due to compaction, in which both intraaggregate pores and interaggregate pores are dominant. After saturation, the dual-porosity structure evolves into a unimodal porosity structure dominated by the intraaggregate pores. During drying, such soil exhibits a significant reduction of total volume. The soil with a coarse content above 70% instead has a coarse-controlled microstructure, which is stable upon water content changes. Such soil maintains dual-porosity structures no matter if the soil is compacted, saturated, or dried. As an example of application, the measured PSDs are used to predict the soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) for the test soils and the predictions are consistent with the SWCCs measured in the laboratory.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was substantially supported by a joint scheme between the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR (Project No. UNSPECIFIEDN-HKUST611/03).
References
Ahmed, S., Lovell, C. W., Jr., and Diamond, S. (1974). “Pore size and strength of compacted clay.” J. Geotech. Eng., 100(4), 407–425.
Aligizaki, K. K. (2006). “Pore structure of cement-based materials.” Testing, interpretation and requirements, Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, U.K.
Al-Mukhtar, M., Belanteur, N., Tessier, D., and Vanapalli, S. K. (1996). “The fabric of a clay soil under controlled mechanical and hydraulic stress states.” Appl. Clay Sci., 11, 99–115.
ASTM. (2000a). “Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system).” D2487, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2000b). “Standard test method for bulk density and volume of solid refractories by wax immersion.” C914, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2000c). “Standard test method for soil compaction determination at shallow depths using 5-lb (2.3 kg) dynamic cone penetrometer.” D7380-08, West Conshohocken, Pa.
Aung, K. K., Rahardjo, E., Leong, E. C., and Toll, D. G. (2001). “Relationship between porosimetry measurement and soil-water characteristic curve for an unsaturated residual soil.” Geotech. Geologic. Eng., 19, 401–416.
Barden, L., and Sides, G. R. (1970). “Engineering behavior and structure of compacted clays.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 96, 1171–1200.
Bergado, D. T., Youwai, S., and Rittirong, A. (2005). “Strength and deformation characteristics of flat and cubical rubber tyre chip-sand mixtures.” Geotechnique, 55(8), 603–606.
Boardman, D. I., Glendinning, S., and Rogers, C. D. F. (2001). “Development of stabilisation and solidification in lime-clay mixes.” Geotechnique, 51, 533–543.
Burland, J. B. (1990). “Thirtieth Rankine lecture: On the compressibility and shear strength of natural clays.” Geotechnique, 40(3), 329–378.
Chu, J., and Leong, W. K. (2002). “Effect of fines on instability behavior of loose sand.” Geotechnique, 52(10), 751–755.
Collins, K., and McGown, A. (1974). “The form and function of microfabric features in a variety of natural soils.” Geotechnique, 24(2), 223–254.
Coulon, E., and Bruand, A. (1989). “Effects of compaction on the pore space geometry in sandy soils.” Soil Tillage Res., 15, 137–151.
Cuisinier, S., and Laloui, L. (2004). “Fabric evolution during hydromechanical loading of a compacted silt.” Int. J. Numer. Analyt. Meth. Geomech., 28, 483–499.
Delage, P., Audiguier, M., Cui, Y. J., and Howat, D. M. (1996). “Microstructure of a compacted silt.” Can. Geotech. J., 33(1), 150–158.
Delage, P., and Lefebvre, G. (1984). “Study of the structure of a sensitive Champlain clay and of its evolution during consolidation.” Can. Geotech. J., 21, 21–35.
Delage, P., Marcial, D., Cui, Y. J., and Ruiz, X. (2006). “Ageing effects in a compacted bentonite: A microstructure approach.” Geotechnique, 56(5), 291–304.
Diamond, S. (1970). “Pore size distributions in clays.” Clays Clay Miner., 18, 7–23.
Di Maio, C. (1996). “Exposure of bentonite to salt solution: Osmotic and mechanical effects.” Geotechnique, 46(4), 695–707.
Ferber, V., Airol, J. C., Cui, Y. J., and Magnan, J. P. (2009). “On the swelling potential of compacted high plasticity clays.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 104, 200–210.
Fiès, J. C. (1992). “Analysis of soil textural porosity relative to skeleton particle size, using mercury porosimetry.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 56, 1062–1067.
Filimonova, S. V., Knicker, H., Hausler, W., and Kogel-knabner, I. (2004). “129Xe NMR spectroscopy of adsorbed xenon as an approach for the characterisation of soil meso- and microporosity.” Geoderma, 122, 25–42.
Fredlund, D. G., and Rahardjo, H. (1993). Soil mechanics for unsaturated soils, Wiley, New York.
Fredlund, D. G., and Xing, A. Q. (1994). “Equations for the soil-water characteristic curve.” Can. Geotech. J., 31, 521–532.
Gens, A., Alonso, E. E., and Suriol, J. (1995). “Effect of structure on the volumetric behavior of a compacted soil.” Proc., 1st Int. Conf. on Unsaturated Soils, UNSAT’95, Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 83–88.
Georgiannou, V. N., Burland, J. B., and Hight, D. W. (1990). “The undrained behaviour of clayey sands in triaxial compression and extension.” Geotechnique, 40(3), 431–449.
Griffiths, F., and Joshi, R. (1990). “Change in pore size distribution due to consolidation of clays.” Geotechnique, 40(2), 303–309.
Hong, Z. S., Tateishi, Y., and Han, J. (2006). “Experimental study of macro- and microbehavior of natural diatomite.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 132(5), 603–610.
Indrawan, G. B., Rahardjo, H., and Leong, E. C. (2006). “Effects of coarse-grained materials on properties of residual soil.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 82, 154–164.
Jozefaciuk, G., Slawinski, C., and Vrzhashch, E. (2009). “Changes in textural properties of selected minerals under acid and alkali treatment from mercury intrusion porosimetry.” Appl. Clay Sci., 43, 63–68.
Kaufmann, J. (2009). “Characterization of pore space of cement-based materials by combined mercury and wood’s metal intrusion.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 92(1), 209–216.
Kaya, A., Oren, A. H., and Yukselsn, Y. (2006). “Settling of kaolinite in different aqueous environment.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol., 24(3), 203–218.
Lade, P. V., Liggio Jr., C. D., and Yamamuro, J. A. (1998). “Effects of nonplastic fines on minimum and maximum void ratios of sand.” Geotech. Test. J., 21(4), 336–347.
Lapierre, C., Leroueil, S., and Locat, J. (1990). “Mercury intrusion and permeability of Louisville clay.” Can. Geotech. J., 27, 761–773.
Leong, E. C., Tripathy, S., and Rahardjo, H. (2003). “Total suction measurement of unsaturated soils with a device using the chilled-mirror dew-point technique.” Geotechnique, 53(2), 173–182.
Leroueil, S., LeBihan, J., Sebaihi, S., and Alicescu, V. (2002). “Hydraulic conductivity of compacted tills from northern Quebec.” Can. Geotech. J., 39(5), 1039–1049.
Li, X. (2009). “Dual-porosity structure and bimodal hydraulic property functions of coarse granular soils.” Ph.D. thesis, Hong Kong Univ. of Science and Technology, Hong Kong.
Li, X., and Zhang, L. M. (2009). “Characterization of dual-structure pore-size distribution of soil.” Can. Geotech. J., 46(2), 129–141.
Li, X., Zhang, L. M., and Fredlund, D. G. (2009a). “A wetting front advancing column test for measuring unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.” Can. Geotech. J., 46(12), 1431–1445.
Li, X., Zhang, L. M., and Li, J. H. (2009b). “Development of a modified axis translation technique for measuring SWCCs for gravel soils at very low suctions.” Geotech. Test. J., 32(6), 478–488.
Lloret, A., Villar, M. V., Sanchez, M., Gens, A., Pintado, X., and Alonso, E. E. (2003). “Mechanical behaviour of heavily compacted bentonite under high suction changes.” Geotechnique, 53, 27–40.
Lupini, J. F., Skinner, A. E., and Vaughan, P. R. (1981). “The drained residual strength of cohesive soils.” Geotechnique, 31(2), 181–213.
Miao, L. C., Houston, S. L., Cui, Y., and Yuan, J. P. (2007). “Relationship between soil structure and mechanical behavior for an expansive unsaturated clay.” Can. Geotech. J., 44(2), 126–137.
Mitchell, J. K., and Soga, K. (2005). Fundamentals of soil behavior, 3rd Ed., Wiley, Hoboken, N.J.
Monkul, M. M., and Ozden, G. (2007). “Compressional behavior of clayey sand and transition fines content.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 89(3–4), 195–205.
Penumadu, D., and Dean, J. (2000). “Compressibility effect in evaluating the pore-size distribution of kaolin clay using mercury intrusion porosimetry.” Can. Geotech. J., 37, 393–405.
Pitman, T. D., Robertson, P. K., and Sego, D. C. (1994). “Influence of fines on the collapse of loose sands.” Can. Geotech. J., 31, 728–739.
Prashant, A., and Penumadu, D. (2007). “Effect of microfabric on mechanical behavior of kaolin clay using cubical true triaxial testing.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 133(4), 433–444.
Prost, R., Koutit, T., Benchara, A., and Huard, E. (1998). “State and location of water adsorbed on clay minerals: Consequences of the hydration and swelling-shrinkage phenomena.” Clays Clay Miner., 46(2), 117–131.
Rahardjo, H., Indrawan, G. B., Leong, E. C., and Yong, W. K. (2008). “Effects of coarse-grained material on hydraulic properties and shear strength of top soil.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 101(3–4), 165–173.
Rasiah, V., and Aylmore, L. A. G. (1998). “Characterizing the changes in soil porosity by computed tomography and fractal dimension.” Soil Sci., 163, 203–211.
Richard, G., Cousin, I., Sillon, J. F., Bruand, A., and Guerif, J. (2001). “Effect of compaction on the porosity of a silty soil: Influence on unsaturated hydraulic properties.” Eur. J. Soil. Sci., 52, 49–58.
Salgado, R., Bandini, P., and Karim, A. (2000). “Shear strength and stiffness of silty sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 126(5), 451–462.
Simms, P., and Yanful, E. (2001). “Measurement and estimation of pore shrinkage and pore distribution in a clayey till during soil-water characteristic curve tests.” Can. Geotech. J., 38, 741–754.
Simms, P. H., and Yanful, E. K. (2004). “A discussion of the application of mercury intrusion porosimetry for the investigation of soils, including an evaluation of its use to estimate volume change in compacted clayey soils.” Geotechnique, 54(6), 421–426.
Sivakumar, V., and Wheeler, S. J. (2000). “Influence of compaction procedure on the mechanical behavior of an unsaturated compacted clay—Part 1: Wetting and isotropic compression.” Geotechnique, 50(4), 359–368.
Soga, K. (1994). “Mechanical behavior and constitutive modeling of natural structured soils.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, Calif.
Sridharan, A., Altaschaeffl, A. G., and Diamon, S. (1971). “Pore-size distribution studies.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 97, 771–787.
Tanaka, H., Shiwakoti, D. R., Omukai, N., Rito, F., Locat, J., and Tanaka, M. (2003). “Pore size distribution of clayey soils measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry and its relation to hydraulic conductivity.” Soils Found., 43(6), 63–73.
Thevanayagam, S. (1998). “Effect of fines on confining stress on undrained shear strength of silty sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 124(6), 479–491.
Thom, R., Sivakumar, R., Sivakumar, V., Murray, E. J., and Mackinnon, P. (2007). “Pore size distribtution of unsaturated compacted kaolin: Initial states and final states following saturation.” Geotechnique, 57(5), 469–474.
Vallejo, L. E., and Mawby, R. (2000). “Porosity influence on the shear strength of granular material-clay mixtures.” Eng. Geol. (Amsterdam), 58(2), 125–136.
Wan, Y. S., Kwong, J., Brandes, H. G., and Jones, R. C. (2002). “Influence of amorphous clay-size materials on soil plasticity and shrink-swell behavior.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 128(12), 1026–1031.
Warner, G. S., Nieber, J. L., Moore, I. D., and Geise, R. A. (1989). “Characterizing macropores in soil by computed tomography.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 53, 653–660.
Wheeler, S. J., and Sivakumar, V. (2000). “Influence of compaction procedure on the mechanical behaviour of an unsaturated compacted clay—Part 2: Shearing and constitutive modeling.” Geotechnique, 50(4), 369–376.
Yang, S., Lacasse, S., and Sandven, R. (2006). “Determination of the transitional fines content of mixtures of sand and non-plastic fines.” Geotech. Test. J., 29(2), 102–107.
Zhang, L. M., and Chen, Q. (2005). “Predicting bimodal soil-water characteristic curves.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 131(5), 666–670.
Zhao, J. J., Wang, S. J., Shang, Y. J., and Yue, Z. Q. (2005). “Consolidation characteristics of completely decomposed granite in Hong Kong.” J. Hohai Univ. (Natural Sciences), 33(1), 85–88.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 10 • October 2010
Pages: 1425 - 1436
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: May 25, 2009
Accepted: Mar 1, 2010
Published online: Mar 3, 2010
Published in print: Oct 2010
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.