Effect of Different Sands on One-Dimensional and Hydraulic Consolidation (Radial) Tests of Clay

Abstract

In settlement problems, the soil type is generally determined by the sand, silt and clay contents. Sieve analysis considers only the percentage of sand, and the grain shape of the sand is ignored. Specifically, sand grains with different characteristics are considered a single type of sand. In this study, variations in the pore size distribution of clay associated with sand particles of different shapes are investigated via consolidation tests. For this purpose, mixtures containing 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of the two types of sand additions to clay were obtained. Samples of reconstituted clay were prepared using the slurry deposition method. One-dimensional consolidation and radial consolidation (with drainage radially outwards) tests were performed on the samples, and the relationship between the pore size distributions of the mixtures and the consolidation tests was examined. In addition, the mixtures were analysed using helium pycnometry, X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis and scanning electron microscopy.