Compacted Samples Research Articles

Optimisation of Recoverable Horizontal Deformation and Size Ratio of Compacted Rubberized Stone Mastic Asphalt Based on Rubber and Binder Contents Using Response Surface Methodology

The use of waste materials such as rubber powder in stone mastic asphalt (SMA) has improved the structural performance to some extent, and the research on the improvement is still ongoing. Rubberised stone mastic asphalt has shown good performance in terms of resilient modulus. In this research, response surface methodology was utilised to increase the efficiency in determining the recoverable horizontal deformation and samples compaction level using optimum rubber and binder content. Thirty-one tests were performed on different binders and rubber contents, and the recoverable horizontal deformation and ratio of height to the diameter of Marshall compacted samples were recorded. The ANOVA analysis showed a low P-value with a high correlation coefficient, and the optimisation showed that adding almost 3% rubber powder to SMA could improve the compaction level and desirable recoverable deformation.

The Modeling of Laboratory Experiments on Granular MX-80 Bentonite with COMSOL Multiphysics

Radioactive waste disposal, as the final step of the open nuclear fuel cycle, is an important process to protect humans and the environment from harmful effects of ionising radiation. Approaching the construction of the geological repository, the understanding and predictability of the behavior of engineered barrier material becomes more important than ever. Therefore, a number of research studies are being focused on the experimental and numerical analysis of the engineered barrier material state and behavior under repository conditions. Engineered barrier material will be in contact with the host rock and waste packages, and its properties and behavior will be governed by complex and coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes. This paper presents the modeling activities of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, performed in the framework of the H2020 project BEACON (Bentonite Mechanical Evolution). The numerical model, developed in COMSOL Multiphysics (Burlington, MA 01803, USA), was applied for the modeling of experiments, performed by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), on granular MX-80 bentonite in the odeometer cell. The hydromechanical behavior of a compacted bentonite sample was analyzed under different conditions: hydration with groundwater under confined volume conditions and hydration under free swelling conditions and subsequent mechanical loading. Model outcomes (swelling pressure, saturation, dry density, and void ratio) were compared to the available experimental data. The modeling results were in line with the analyzed experimental data.

Insights to compressive strength, impermeability and microstructure of micro-expansion steel slag cement under constraint conditions

This work aims at evaluating the influence of steel slag as partial replacement of cement on the mechanical properties and impermeability of cement-based materials under constraint conditions. The results show that, compared with the raw steel slag, the setting time of the wet-grinding steel slag system is shortened, and the free expansion rate is increased. When the wet-grinding steel slag content is 10%, the compressive strength of the specimen (constraint) after 28 days of curing is the highest, reaching 68.5 MPa, which is 9.3% higher than that of the free curing specimen, and the impermeability is also the best. Under the constraint conditions, the expansion strain produced by steel slag leads to the compact sample structure and reduced porosity, which is conducive to the mechanical properties and compactness of the pore structure of cement paste.

Modulation of dielectric and magnetic ordering of DyFeO3 system with Fe-site doping

In this attempt, dysprosium orthoferrite (DyFeO3) system is explored to investigate dielectric and magnetic ordering by modulating ferrites structure using Ni and Co-dopants in place of Fe. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study confirms the formation of single-phase materials; dopants effect on modifications of atomic-scale structural parameters like lattice parameters, Fe–O bond angles, and O–Fe–O bridging angles are extracted from Rietveld refinement. Microstructural features of sintered pellet of DFO system exhibits compacted sample having grain size around 100 nm. Frequency and temperature- dependent dielectric studies depict systematic decrease of dielectric constant and loss with temperature for almost all systems. Moreover, it is found that dielectric constant and loss increases by doping; for Co and Co-Ni co-dopants the effect is maximum. Temperature profile of dielectric constant of DFO system is found to exhibit relaxor behavior. A real part of impedance as a function of frequency indicates the values of Z′ coincides with high frequency, indicates reduction of barrier potentials at high frequency due to increase in AC-conductivity. Low-frequency resistance of doped systems is lower than DFO, except Co-doped DFO. Impedance loss spectra reveal relaxation behavior of the system, which is influenced by dopants. Relaxation frequency of Ni-doped and Ni-Co codoped DFO is found shifting toward higher frequency side than DFO and DCFO systems; indicate charge relaxation is faster in DNFO and DNCFO than DFO and DCFO systems. However, activation energy of charge relaxation is found lowest for DCFO system. Same trends are revealed from Modulus spectra. Conductivity mechanisms are revealed from a combined plot of M′′(f) and –Z′′(f) as a function of frequency and corresponding relaxation process. The results conclude that conductivity in DFO and Ni-doped DFO system is dominated by delocalized motion of charge carriers, while DCFO and DNCFO systems are due long-range motion. Magnetic hysteresis (M-H) curve shows the presence of a canted antiferromagnetic ordering matrix within weak Ferromagnetic components. Coercivity of doped DFO is greated than pure DFO.

Factors Affecting Shrinkage Crack Development in Clay Soils: An Experimental Study

ABSTRACT Clay soils are widely used in constructing embankment dams, levees, highway embankments, sanitary landfills, and hydraulic barriers where they are compacted at maximum dry density and optimum water content. These structures are exposed to many cycles of wetting and drying during their service life, resulting in volume changes and developing shrinkage cracks. This study investigated the effect of density, water content, drying temperature, layer thickness, plasticity index, and multiple wetting and drying cycles on shrinkage crack parameters (length, aperture, and area). Five samples each of low-plasticity clay, medium-plasticity clay, and high-plasticity clay at water contents on both sides of optimum water content were compacted and then oven dried at temperatures of 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C. Upon complete drying, crack length, aperture, and area were digitally measured. Additionally, we saturated uncompacted clay layers of varying thicknesses (5, 7, 10, 20, and 30 mm) of the three clay types and oven dried them at the listed temperatures to investigate the effect of layer thickness on shrinkage crack parameters. The length, aperture, and area of the cracks were correlated with the influencing factors. Among the compacted samples, only high-plasticity clay samples developed shrinkage cracks, exhibiting an increase in crack length, aperture, and area with an increase in dry density and water content. For the uncompacted samples, crack length and crack area decreased with increasing layer thickness, whereas crack aperture increased.

The Effect of Bacillus Coagulans and Moulding Water Content on the Unconfined Compressive Strength of Lateritic Soil

The effect of bacterial concentrations of Bacillus coagulans and moulding water content (MWC) on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of lateritic soil for use as waste containment material was studied. Tests conducted include index test, pH, calcium carbonate content (CCC), and UCS. Soil samples for all tests were mixed with an increasing number of microbes at step suspension densities of 0 up to 2.4 × 109 cells/ml individually. The soil was prepared at MWC of -2, 0, +2, and +4% in relation to optimum moisture content (OMC) and compacted using the Reduced British Standard Light (RBSL), British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) Compaction and British Standard Heavy (BSH) Compaction Energy (CE) respectively. The cementation reagent was added to the compacted samples and allowed to flow by gravity to a point that saturation was reached. Results revealed an increase in pH, while calcium carbonate content values marginally increased from 3.6% at the natural state to 3.9% maximum value at 2.4 × 109 cells/ml. The UCS values increased with a higher number of microbes. Values increased from 204.6, 278.3, 351.3, and 416.8 kN/m2 for the natural soil to peak values of 1,036.3, 1,835.5, 2,076.8, and 2,237.3 kN/m2 for specimens prepared at -2% OMC and compacted with RBSL, BSL, WAS and BSH compaction energy, respectively. A similar trend was observed for 0, +2, and +4% in relation to OMC. A minimum regulatory UCS value of 200 kN/m2 was achieved at MWC of -2, 0, and +2% OMC for all energies. Therefore, it is recommended that CE, moisture content, and the number of microbes should be carefully studied during field construction of a lateritic soil-compacted clay liner in other to achieve the desired result.

Fatigue crack growth resistance of a mesoscale composite microstructure Haynes 282 fabricated via electron beam melting additive manufacturing

Materials synthesis via additive manufacturing gives unprecedented control over the solidified microstructure. While a number of studies have demonstrated the ability to produce spatially varying microstructures, little work exists to understand the behavior of such “composite” materials. In this work, we utilized electron beam melting to process Ni-based superalloy Haynes 282 and produce compact tension samples with a spatially varying mesoscale structure. Fatigue crack growth experiments reveal that the crack growth rate is dependent on the degree of microstructural heterogeneity. This work demonstrates that the crack growth resistance can be tailored within a component using electron beam melting additive manufacturing.

High-pressure compacted recycled polymeric composite waste materials for marine applications

Options for recycling fiber composite polymer (FCP) materials are scarce, as these materials cannot be normally recycled and are toxic when improperly disposed. Additionally, reducing water usage is an increasing concern, as the concrete industry currently uses 10% of the world’s industrial water. Therefore, building upon our previous work, this research explores the use of polymer hybrid carbon and glass composite waste products as reinforcements in high-pressure compacted cement. Our material used nearly 70% less water during manufacturing and exhibited improved durability and salt corrosion resistance. Compression strength tests were performed on high-pressure compacted materials containing 6.0 wt% recycled admixtures before and after saltwater aging, and the results showed that the material retained 90% of its original compression strength after aging, as it contained fewer pores and cavities. Our experimental work was supplemented by molecular dynamics. Simulations, which indicated that the synergetic effects of compaction and FCP admixture addition slowed the diffusion of corrosive salt ions by an average of 84%. Thus, our high-pressure compacted cement material may be suitable for extended use in marine environments, while also reducing the amount of commercial fiber composite polymer waste material that is sent to the landfill.Article HighlightsFiber composite waste was successfully recycled into denser, high-pressure compacted ordinary Portland cement materials.High-pressure compacted cement samples containing 6% recycled admixtures retained 90% of their compression strength after salt aging.The high-pressure compaction method utilized 70% less water during specimen fabrication.

Evidence of Air and Surface Contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in a Major Hospital in Portugal.

As the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Portugal, it forced the country to reintroduce lockdown measures due to hospitals reaching their full capacities. Under these circumstances, environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in different areas of one of Portugal’s major Hospitals was assessed between 21 January and 11 February 2021. Air samples (n = 44) were collected from eleven different areas of the Hospital (four COVID-19 and seven non-COVID-19 areas) using Coriolis® μ and Coriolis® Compact cyclone air sampling devices. Surface sampling was also performed (n = 17) on four areas (one COVID-19 and three non-COVID-19 areas). RNA extraction followed by a one-step RT-qPCR adapted for quantitative purposes were performed. Of the 44 air samples, two were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (6575 copies/m3 and 6662.5 copies/m3, respectively). Of the 17 surface samples, three were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (200.6 copies/cm2, 179.2 copies/cm2, and 201.7 copies/cm2, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination was found both in air and on surfaces in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 areas. Moreover, our results suggest that longer collection sessions are needed to detect point contaminations. This reinforces the need to remain cautious at all times, not only when in close contact with infected individuals. Hand hygiene and other standard transmission-prevention guidelines should be continuously followed to avoid nosocomial COVID-19.

Colloidal Shaping of Transparent Spinel through Slip Casting Using Contamination Free Spinel Moulds

Shaping transparent ceramics through slip casting on plaster of Paris (PoP) moulds offers improved transparency compared to compacted samples due to better homogeneity in colloidal processing. However, the contamination due to CaSO4 originated from the PoP contact is a primary concern. Therefore, it demands the machining of several layers from the cast surface that results in post-green machining defects. To address this concern, a magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel mould was fabricated with indigenously synthesized spinel powder with optimum porosity of 45-50% and flexural strength of ∼16 MPa. The fabricated spinel mould was used to demonstrate the casting using water-based spinel slurry. The cast spinel blanks were found contamination free as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared studies. Microstructures of spinel moulds revealed the interconnectivity of the pores obtained by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Specimens cast on spinel and on PoP moulds, after post machining, were sintered (1650°C) and hot isostatically pressed (at 1800°C and 1950 bar) under identical conditions. Casting on spinel moulds demonstrated a contamination free surface of the samples. Its properties are at par with the samples cast on PoP moulds, however, with improved casting rate and minimum rejection.

Green Properties of Dry Pressed Alumina Compact Prepared Using Aloe Vera Gel and Sucrose as a Binder

The present study is focused on the scope of aloe vera (AV) gel and sucrose as a binder to prepare green ceramic compact samples through dry pressing. The alumina compacts having 0-14 wt% (0-2.8 wt% on dry basis) AV gel and 0-2 wt% sucrose binder have been prepared as a function of moisture content at optimum compaction pressure. The green properties of the resulting samples have been characterized through SEM, FTIR, etc and compared with other binders. Primary results revealed that alumina compact with an optimum binder content attained maximum green density and flexural strength. The maximum green density and maximum green flexural strength are 64% and 13.5 Mpa, respectively. The experimental results have also been correlated with the microstructure of green compacts. Dry pressed compacts are sufficiently strong for green machining. The strength of binder-based green ceramic samples has been attributed to better particle packing due to adsorbing and plasticizing properties of AV gel and sucrose binder, as revealed by IR analysis. The sintered properties of fired samples at 1600°C have exhibited minimum (2.3%) porosity. Therefore, the current study creates a scope of AV gel and sucrose as a binder for the green processing of alumina based compacts.

Измерение акустических характеристик компактных бетонных строительных конструкций с помощью импакт-эхометода

The impact-echo method is a resonant technique, which is based on using a short duration mechanical impact to generate stress waves and a transducer to monitor the surface displacement due to the arrival of direct and reflected stress waves. The impact-echo method controls concrete building structures, which the measured thickness H is at least six times smaller than other dimensions, and does not control compact samples, which the thickness H is comparable to other dimensions. The problem of compact objects control is that on the spectrum of a compact sample it is impossible to clearly determine the resonance frequency f0 ~ 1/Н against the background of numerous closely spaced frequency peaks. Another reason is that due to the strong influence of the geometric factor in compact samples, a geometric correction factor β is require to calculated for each new compact object. The article proposes a solution of these problems by using the multiplicative impact-echo method and various variants of the correlation impact-echo method.

IMPACT OF PROCESS CONTROLLING AGENT ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE, AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF COPPER /GRAPHENE NANOCOMPOSITE

Copper-graphene nano composite is prepared with 0.25,0.50,0.75,1.00,1.25 and 1.50 wt.% graphene nano sheets. Powder metallurgy technique is used for the preparation process. In which copper powder is mechanically milled with nano graphene sheet by 10: 1 ball to powder ratio, and 400 rpm for 12 hr. milling time. The mixtures are compacted by a uniaxial press under 700 Mpa pressure. The compacted samples are sintered under controlled atmosphere at 950 oC for 1.5 hrs. A comparison between methanol & hexane as a process controlling agent is established. In which Cu-GNSs are mixed with methanol or hexane by 10% to study their effects on the tribological properties of Cu-GNSs composite. Their effects on the microstructure & tribological properties of the prepared Cu/Graphene nanocomposites were studied. All results indicated that hexane samples have the more homogeneous microstructure, low porosity, higher wear resistance & coefficient of friction than those of methanol samples. Also, the density is decreased by increasing graphene percent for both groups. For methanol group 0.25wt. recorded the lowest wear rate. and good microstructure while for hexane group 1.00 wt. percentage graphene is the best one.

Phenomenological Model of Nonlinear Dynamics and Deterministic Chaotic Gas Migration in Bentonite: Experimental Evidence and Diagnostic Parameters

Understanding gas migration in compacted clay materials, e.g., bentonite and claystone, is important for the design and performance assessment of an engineered barrier system of a radioactive waste repository system, as well as many practical applications. Existing field and laboratory data on gas migration processes in low-permeability clay materials demonstrate the complexity of flow and transport processes, including various types of instabilities, caused by nonlinear dynamics of coupled processes of liquid–gas exchange, dilation, fracturing, fracture healing, etc., which cannot be described by classical models of fluid dynamics in porous media. We here show that the complexity of gas migration processes can be explained using a phenomenological concept of nonlinear dynamics and deterministic chaos theory. To do so, we analyzed gas pressure and gas influx (i.e., input) and outflux (i.e., output), recorded during the gas injection experiment in the compact Mx80-D bentonite sample, and calculated a set of the diagnostic parameters of nonlinear dynamics and chaos, such a global embedding dimension, a correlation dimension, an information dimension, and a spectrum of Lyapunov exponents, as well as plotted 2D and 3D pseudo-phase-space strange attractors, based on the univariate influx and outflux time series data. These results indicate the presence of phenomena of low-dimensional deterministic chaotic behavior of gas migration in bentonite. In particular, during the onset of gas influx in the bentonite core, before the breakthrough, the development of gas flow pathways is characterized by the process of chaotic gas diffusion. After the breakthrough, with inlet-to-outlet movement of gas, the prevailing process is chaotic advection. During the final phase of the experiment, with no influx to the sample, the relaxation pattern of gas outflux is resumed back to a process of chaotic diffusion. The types of data analysis and a proposed phenomenological model can be used to establish the basic principles of experimental data-gathering, modeling predictions, and a research design.

Using Recycled Concrete Powder, Waste Glass Powder, and Plastic Powder to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Compacted Concrete: Cement Elimination Approach

The environment receives millions of tons of garbage, including plastic and glass, and concrete building debris contributes to a number of environmental problems. In order to reduce cement and make use of waste materials like glass and plastic, this research creates compacted concrete samples using waste glass powder, waste plastic powder, micro‐silica, fly ash, and recycled powdered concrete. Compressive, nonlinear behavior, and SEM tests on compacted specimens showed that by removing 80% of the cement and substituting 20% recycled concrete powder, 15% micro‐silica, 15% fly ash, 15% waste plastic powder, and 15% waste glass powder (at 80°C for 20 minutes), sustainable concrete with compressive and flexural strengths nearly equal to the sample’s compressive and flexural strengths was produced. Micro‐silica has several shortcomings regarding improving concrete strength and building a suitable combination with recycled concrete powder. In extremely small quantities, glass powder may be used to replace cement, and in greater quantities, it can take the place of aggregate. Finally, it was found that concrete mortar could be made completely sustainable by using recycled materials like glass, plastic, and recycled concrete, as well as micro‐silica and fly ash, and that only 20% of the weight of cement could be used without lowering the compressive and flexural strength of the concrete.

Characterization of Copper MMC Reinforced with SiC and Graphite in Equal Proportion Made by the Powder Metallurgy Route

Powder metallurgy is playing a very important role in the manufacturing industry. In this research, an attempt is made with copper Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) reinforced with an equal proportion of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and graphite powders. The powders are taken in such a way that the reinforcement weight percentage varies from 0 to 10%. The materials are fabricated through the powder metallurgy route. The powder mixtures are blended and then compacted with a uniaxial pressure of 500 MPa to make the green compacted composites with different compositions. The dimensions of all samples are 25 mm x 16 mm x 16 mm, with an average weight of 40 g. Compacted green samples are sintered by the inert gas sintering process. Sintering is performed at 8000C in an inert argon gas furnace for 120 minutes for all the samples. The obtained samples are made suitable for different tests like porosity, the Vickers hardness test, the wear test, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Analysis. From the values obtained from the hardness test, it is observed that for all MMCs, the minimum value is obtained at Cu-4% (SiC+Gr) and the maximum value at Cu-8% (SiC+Gr), and in between these percentages of composition, there is a little bit of an increase and decrease in values. Wear test results give the maximum wear rate at Cu-4% (SiC+Gr) and the minimum wear rate at Cu-8% (SiC+Gr). Raman spectroscopy test results are given the calculations of Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), depth of incident, absorbance, and Id/Ig values, and they are better at 8% of SiC+Gr, which gives the indication of good bonding between molecules of the powder particles. Image analysis is performed using optical microscopy, SEM, and EDX. The microstructures were revealed in such a way that there was good correlation between the properties at different compositions.

A total consumption infrared heated sample introduction system for nanoparticle measurement using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A compact infrared-heated sample introduction system provides essentially 100% transport efficiency for single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Microstructural Characterization and Wear Behavior of Porous Equimolar TiNbZr Medium-Entropy Alloys Scaffolds Produced by Mechanical Alloying

Recently, there has been increasing importance on scaffold materials that could be used in biomaterials. In the present study, equimolar TiNbZr medium entropy alloys (MEAs) and porous TiNbZr alloy scaffolds were produced by mechanical alloying (MA) that is a powder metallurgy processing technique. The MA process was carried out using high energy planetary ball mill. Ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) at different percentage ratio was used as space holder to fabricate the porous TiNbZr scaffolds with using space-holder sintering method. Cold Isostatic Pressing (CIP) was performed for consolidation of mechanically alloyed powders. Finally, the green compact samples were sintered in tube furnace under vacuum atmosphere. The microstructural analyses, phase composition, porosity and density measurement, compression and microhardness tests and wear resistance of bulk alloys were examined. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns of all samples indicated the dominant β-Ti phases and small amount of α-Ti phase. SEM (scanning electron microscope) images for porous TiNbZr alloy scaffolds demonstrated that porosity increased with increase of space holders amount. With the increasing porosity content, density, hardness, compressive strength and the elastic modulus of samples decreased while wear rate increased.

ЧИСЛЕННОЕ МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ УСТАЛОСТНОЙ ДОЛГОВЕЧНОСТИ ДЕТАЛЕЙ АВИАЦИОННЫХ ГТД ПРИ ЦИКЛИЧЕСКОМ ДВУХЧАСТОТНОМ НАГРУЖЕНИИ

The problem of assessing the resource characteristics of responsible engineering facilities, taking into account the peculiarities of operational loading modes, is discussed. The processes of fatigue durability of polycrystalline structural alloys under cyclic two-frequency loading (with the combined action of mechanisms of low and multi-cycle fatigue) are considered. A mathematical model describing the processes of cyclic elastoplastic deformation and accumulation of fatigue damage in structural alloys under multiaxial disproportionate modes of combined thermomechanical loading has been developed from the modern positions of damaged medium mechanics and fracture mechanics. The model consists of three interrelated parts: relations determining the cyclic elastic-plastic behavior of the material, taking into account the dependence on the destruction process; evolutionary equations describing the kinetics of fatigue damage accumulation; criteria for the strength of the damaged material. The variant of the defining elastic-plasticity relations is based on the idea of the yield surface and the principle of gradiency of the velocity vector of plastic deformations to the yield surface at the loading point. This version of the equations of state reflects the main effects of cyclic elastic-plastic deformation of the material for arbitrary folded loading trajectories. The variant of kinetic equations of fatigue damage accumulation is based on the introduction of a scalar damage parameter, is based on energy principles and takes into account the main effects of formation, growth and fusion of microdefects under arbitrary complex cyclic loading regimes. A joint form of the evolutionary equation of fatigue damage accumulation in the areas of low- and multi-cycle fatigue is proposed. As a criterion of the strength of the damaged material, the condition of reaching the critical value of the damage value is used. The results of numerical simulation of fatigue durability of a compact sample (model of the disk deflector of the high pressure turbine of an aviation gas turbine engine) are presented with cyclic two-frequency loading. The results of the comparison of the calculated and experimental data showed that the proposed model qualitatively and with the accuracy necessary for practical calculations quantitatively describes the fatigue life of structural elements under cyclic two-frequency loading.

Effects of Quartzite on the Desiccation Cracks of Clayey Soils Exposed to Wetting-Drying Cycles

The compacted clayey soils crack on drying because of their high swelling potential, and their hydraulic conductivities increase. To solve this problem, it is essential to stabilize the clayey soils using additive materials. The aim of this study is to examine the suitability of quartzite as a stabilization material to reduce the development of desiccation cracks in compacted clayey liner and cover systems. Experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of wetting-drying cycles on the initiation and evolution of cracks in compacted clayey soils. For experimental studies, seven samples were prepared stabilized by using 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7,5%, 10%, 12,5% and 15% quartzite and then they were subjected to four subsequent wetting-drying cycles. The results show that quartzite decreases the development of desiccation cracks on the surface of compacted samples. It is concluded that quartzite as a geological material can be successfully used to reduce the development of desiccation cracks in compacted clayey liner and cover systems exposed wetting-drying cycles.