A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, AND THE MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPRESSIBLE SOILS (MUD, PEAT, SOFT CLAY)

RELATIONS ENTRE LES PROPRIETES PHYSICO-CHIMIQUES ET LES CARACTERISTIQUES MECANIQUES DES SOLS COMPRESSIBLES.

This work is based on as complete a study as possible of some forty soils ranging from mud on peat through soft clay. The techniques employed, adapted to the problems posed, had recourse to sedimentology, chemistry, electron microscopy and physico-chemistry. The geotechnical behaviour of soils is approached from the physico-chemical angle, in the widest sense, with a twofold objective: To acquire a better knowledge, and hence a greater mastery, of the mechanical behaviour of these types of soil. To establish correlations between the parameters of long and costly tests and easily measureable characteristics. Sedimentological techniques alone provide information on the placement of these soils and hence on their textural characteristics. But the conditions of the medium are also reflected by physico-chemical phenomena. The sedimentological and physico-chemical characteristics, in defining a textural state or a mode of arrangement, condition the mechanical properties of the sediments. Thus we were able to reveal the harmful influence of highly developed organic matter (humic colloids) on the geotechnic behaviour of soils. This influence is all the greater in proportion as the sediment is lacking in mineral colloids. It is therefore essential to detect not only the presence of humified organic matter, but also the presence of clay such as montmorillonite. Parallel with a certain antogonism between organic colloids and mineral colloids, we showed the existence of correlations between compressibility and certain textural parameters, and between an easily measurable physico-chemical characteristic, cation exchange capacity, and an identification test such as the index of plasticity. In conclusion, an attempt at textural classification is proposed. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Central Laboratory of Bridges & Highways, France

  75732 Paris,   France 
• Authors:
  • Vidalie, J F
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 92 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Colloids; Construction; Electron microscopes; Geotechnical engineering; Montmorillonite; Peat; Physicochemical properties; Plasticity index; Properties of materials; Sediments; Soft clays; Soil mechanics; Soils; Specifications; Texture
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction specifications; Soil properties
• Old TRIS Terms: Sedimentary clays; Soil texture
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165529
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 13 1978 12:00AM