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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Bruna LopesORCiD
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Clayey geomaterials tend to have an aggregated structure. The nature and size of the aggregates and their mutual interaction generally depends on i) the physicochemical conditions at soil formation and ii) on the soil hydro-chemo-mechanical history. Aggregation and more in general soil microstructure have received increasing attention in the last decade. An in-depth understanding of microstructure allows informing conceptual frameworks for clay hydro-mechanical behaviour and formulating mathematical constitutive models to simulate complex hydro-mechanical patterns under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. Microstructure is generally inferred from pore-size distribution data (Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry). Bi-modal pore size distribution is generally associated with an aggregated structure (e.g. soils compacted on the dry side of optimum) and mono-modal pore size distribution is generally associated with little or non-aggregated microstructure (e.g. soils compacted on the wet side of optimum). The latter, however, is a very common misconception. There is clear evidence that aggregates are present even for the case of a mono-modal pore-size distribution. In this case, the micro- and macro pore sizes are relatively close and the intra- and inter-aggregate porosity tend to overlap, resulting in an apparent mono-modal pore size distribution. An aggregated structure, when masked by a mono-modal pore size distribution, is difficult to detect. This paper puts forward an approach to detect the two families of inter- and intra-aggregate pores respectively and is validated over a relatively wide range of soil types and fabrics.
Author(s): Lopes BCFL, Cordão-Neto MP, Tarantino A
Editor(s): Khalili N; Russell A; Khoshghalb A
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Unsaturated Soils : Research & Applications
Year of Conference: 2014
Pages: 685-689
Print publication date: 05/06/2014
Acceptance date: 10/03/2014
Publisher: CRC Press
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 9781138001503
