Wetting-induced collapse behavior of kaolinite: influence of fabric and inundation pressure

Abstract

Collapsible soils are known to withstand high normal stresses without undergoing a significant volume change in an air-dry state. The soil is, however, susceptible to a large volume change upon wetting. The volumetric collapse behavior of these soils is of great engineering interest to address the problem of ground subsidence. Kaolinite was found to be a collapsible soil similar to the loess soil. The collapse mechanism in kaolinite was due to changes in particle association (fabric) with the interaction with different pore fluids. Several physicochemical parameters strongly influenced the particle association by altering the charges on the particle surfaces and edges. The collapse nature of the kaolinite was investigated with great detail in this work. Wetting-induced collapse behavior of kaolinite was studied under the influence of pore-fluid chemistry using a multi-scale approach. The influence of pH, salt concentration, and dielectric pore-fluid environment on the clay behavior was analyzed using sedimentation and collapse tests. The collapse test results were well corroborated with the sedimentation test data, scanning electron microscopy images of lyophilized specimens, and edge isoelectric point (IEPedge). The influence of inundation fluid and inundation pressure on the fabric changes and collapse potential was elucidated. The collapse potential was found to depend on the inundation pressure and pore-fluid characteristics. Maximum collapse potential was observed to be due to water inundation and minimum due to inundation with kerosene. The mechanical pressure at higher inundation pressures helped to bring the clay platelets into better face–face association during the inundation.