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Desiccation crack formation beneath the surface
Author(s)
Date Issued
2020-02-01
Date Available
2021-11-08T14:42:57Z
Abstract
Desiccation cracks affect all mechanical and conduction properties. Previous studies have investigated the formation of surface desiccation cracks in fine-grained sediments in relation to their compressibility and suction potential. This study explores the formation of internal desiccation cracks in saturated kaolinite specimens consolidated inside self-reactive oedometer cells to reproduce the initial effective stress in buried sediments. X-ray tomography is used to monitor internal processes during consolidation and drying. Images capture the evolution of a perimetric fracture, transverse contraction, volumetric changes in entrained gas bubbles and the development of internal desiccation cracks. Entrained gas bubbles act as nucleation sites. They shrink during loading and early stages of desiccation. Eventually, the gas-water interface penetrates the soil at the bubble surface, pushes particles away, enlarges local pores and facilitates further growth of the internal desiccation crack. While air entry is grain-displacive in soft, fine-grained sediments, it becomes pore-invasive in stiff, coarse-grained sediments and internal desiccation cracks are not expected in silts or sands.
Other Sponsorship
KAUST endowment
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
ICE Publishing
Journal
Géotechnique
Volume
70
Issue
2
Start Page
181
End Page
186
Copyright (Published Version)
2020 ICE Publishing
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0016-8505
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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Zhao Santamarina - Desiccation cracks under confinement.pdf
Size
20.14 MB
Format
Owning collection
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20
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