THERMODYNAMIC STABILITY AND THE LAW OF CORRESPONDING STATES IN SWELLING SOILS

Following a heuristic suggestion by Groenevelt and Parlange, thermodynamic description is given of a postulated order-disorder transformation in a swelling soil. This transformation is shown to correspond to a phase transition of the second order at the air entry point, wherein the onset of a microscopic ordering process among the clay crystals in the soil occurs and there is a consequent discontinuity in the slope of the swelling curve. The available experimental swelling curves with which this prediction can be checked are organized on the basis of a new application of the law of corresponding states that permits all of the data to be plotted as a single, universal function of a reduced gravimetric water content variable. Scatter in the swelling curve data is sufficiently great at present to preclude a definite conclusion as to whether a second-order phase transition actually occurs in swelling soil.

• Corporate Authors:

  Soil Science Society of America

  677 South Segoe Road
  Madison, WI  United States  53711
• Authors:
  • Sposito, G
  • Giraldez, J V
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 352-358
• Serial:
  • Soil Science Society of America Journal
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Soil Science Society of America

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay soils; Gravimetric analysis; Moisture content; Phase transitions; Shrinkage; Swelling soils; Thermodynamics
• Old TRIS Terms: Gravimetric analyses
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139300
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 1976 12:00AM