Implications of Surface Hydration and Capillary Condensation for Strength and Stiffness of Compacted Clay
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143, Issue 8
Abstract
Short-ranged hydration of water on mineral surfaces and capillary condensation in larger pores influences mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil (e.g., strength, stiffness) in different ways. Transition between water retention dominated by surface and cation hydration at high suction into a regime dominated by capillary condensation at low suction corresponds to a transition in soil behavior, yet the occurrence and implications of this transition remain unclear. Results are presented from Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) tests using compacted kaolinite disks equilibrated under controlled relative humidity () conditions. Transition between surface hydration and capillary condensation is evident for specimens compacted to dense and loose conditions as a nonmonotonic relation between tensile strength and . Minimum tensile strength occurs in both cases at approximately 80% , or corresponding potential of about to . Transitions in strength, stiffness, and strain at failure are consistent with transition from a hydration-dominated water retention regime to a capillary-dominated water retention regime. A semiquantitative framework accounting for evolution of suction stress is applied to interpret the experimental results. Results provide evidence for the hydration–capillary transition in compacted clay and clarify corresponding implications to macroscopic behavior.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant CMMI 1304119. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.
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Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143 • Issue 8 • August 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 20, 2016
Accepted: Jan 20, 2017
Published online: Apr 10, 2017
Published in print: Aug 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Sep 10, 2017
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