Coupled model for electro‐osmosis consolidation and ion transport considering chemical osmosis in saturated clay soils

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AbstractThe electro‐osmosis approach efficiently facilitates the rapid dewatering of soil with high water content and contributes to reducing contaminant levels within the clay soil. However, the changes of chemical field caused by ion transport in the clay soil during electro‐osmosis process will also influence the clay soil consolidation effect. Existing theories predominantly tend to disregard this crucial physical process and its resultant effects, thereby restraining a comprehensive analysis of electro‐osmosis consolidation (EOC) behavior under intricate chemical conditions. This study introduces a concise model of EOC and ion transport considering chemical osmosis. The model considers the nonlinear variation of clay soil parameters such as compressibility, permeability, and effective diffusion coefficients, along with the interaction between EOC and ion transport. Meanwhile, the correctness of the model is verified from different aspects such as theoretical derivation and model comparison. Based on the proposed model, the impacts of the variation in electrical field intensity and chemical concentration on the coupled behaviors between EOC and ion transport are systematically investigated, with and without incorporating nonlinear consolidation characteristics. The results show that diffusion and electro‐migration exhibit a more pronounced effect on ion transport during EOC. Simultaneously, with the increase of ion concentration in clay soil pore solution, the effects of chemical osmosis become increasingly apparent, thereby enhancing clay soil settlement.