Microstructural stability controls the hydraulic conductivity of smectitic buffer clay
Författare
Summary, in English
The hydraulic conductivity of smectitic buffer clays is determined by the volume fraction and continuity of permeable parts of the microstructure, i.e., soft and medium-dense clay gels. The bulk conductivity calculated by use of microstructural parameters agrees well with experimental data except for soft Ca bentonite, which is significantly less permeable than predicted. The microstructural stability of its softest parts is poor, which causes erosion, transport and accumulation of particles yielding clogging of voids and reduction in conductivity. The presence of soft parts explains why water under relatively high pressure can penetrate to a few centimeters depth in partly water-saturated clay and why gas makes its way through channel-like paths in saturated clay. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2003
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
35-41
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Applied Clay Science
Volym
23
Issue
1-4
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Elsevier
Ämne
- Materials Engineering
Nyckelord
- numerical calculation
- erosion
- bentonite
- clay
- microstructure
- flow
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1872-9053