388 research outputs found
Stability of Ca-montmorillonite hydrates: A computer simulation study
Classic simulations are used to study interlayer structure, swelling curves,
and stability of Ca-montmorillonite hydrates. For this purpose, NPzzT$ and
MuPzzT ensembles are sampled for ground level and given burial conditions. For
ground level conditions, a double layer hydrate having 15.0 A of basal spacing
is the predominant state for relative vapor pressures (p/po) ranging in
0.6-1.0. A triple hydrate counting on 17.9 A of interlaminar distance was also
found stable for p/po=1.0. For low vapor pressures, the system may produce a
less hydrated but still double layer state with 13.5 A or even a single layer
hydrate with 12.2 A of interlaminar distance. This depends on the established
initial conditions. On the other hand, the effect of burial conditions is two
sided. It was found that it enhances dehydration for all vapor pressures except
for saturation, where swelling is promoted.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure
Aging after shear rejuvenation in a soft glassy colloidal suspension: evidence for two different regimes
The aging dynamics after shear rejuvenation in a glassy, charged clay
suspension have been investigated through dynamic light scattering (DLS). Two
different aging regimes are observed: one is attained if the sample is
rejuvenated before its gelation and one after the rejuvenation of the gelled
sample. In the first regime, the application of shear fully rejuvenates the
sample, as the system dynamics soon after shear cessation follow the same aging
evolution characteristic of normal aging. In the second regime, aging proceeds
very fast after shear rejuvenation, and classical DLS cannot be used. An
original protocol to measure an ensemble averaged intensity correlation
function is proposed and its consistency with classical DLS is verified. The
fast aging dynamics of rejuvenated gelled samples exhibit a power law
dependence of the slow relaxation time on the waiting time.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Translational diffusion of water and its dependence on temperature in charged and uncharged clays: A neutron scattering study
Shear Viscosity of Clay-like Colloids in Computer Simulations and Experiments
Dense suspensions of small strongly interacting particles are complex
systems, which are rarely understood on the microscopic level. We investigate
properties of dense suspensions and sediments of small spherical Al_2O_3
particles in a shear cell by means of a combined Molecular Dynamics (MD) and
Stochastic Rotation Dynamics (SRD) simulation. We study structuring effects and
the dependence of the suspension's viscosity on the shear rate and shear
thinning for systems of varying salt concentration and pH value. To show the
agreement of our results to experimental data, the relation between bulk pH
value and surface charge of spherical colloidal particles is modeled by
Debye-Hueckel theory in conjunction with a 2pK charge regulation model.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure
Lime stabilisation for earthworks: a UK perspective
Lime stabilisation is a versatile technique applied during earthworks operations. Modern soil recycling units are much more efficient at pulverising fill material and intermixing the added binder/water than machinery available 20 years ago. While supplier innovation adds flexibility to the site working method, specifications have not been sufficiently updated to permit optimal application. This review paper details the physico-chemical changes instigated through the lime-clay soil reaction, updating previous reviews. It aims to assist scientific debate, current practitioners and future specification changes. For example, the application of the minimum 24 h mellowing periods (mandatory to UK specifications) with high reactivity, quicklime powders is concluded to cause increased air voids in the compacted fill. Increased air voids are associated with reduced long-term strength and potential volume change from water ingress, which is of particular concern for sulfate swelling. Shorter mellowing periods and/or use of hydrated lime may lesson this issue; however, a 'one size fits all' approach is discouraged in preference to site-specific methodologies refined to suit the fill material and project requirements. The discussion also summarises working methods which may lower the risk of sulfate swell and defines areas requiring further practical research
Irreversible Aging Dynamics and Generic Phase Behavior of Aqueous Suspensions of Laponite
In this work we study the aging behavior of aqueous suspension of Laponite
having 2.8 weight % concentration using rheological tools. At various salt
concentration all the samples demonstrate orientational order when observed
using crossed polarizers. In rheological experiments we observe inherent
irreversibility in the aging dynamics which forces the system not to rejuvenate
to the same state in the shear melting experiment carried out at a later date
since preparation. The extensive rheological experiments carried out as a
function of time elapsed since preparation demonstrate the self similar trend
in the aging behavior irrespective of the concentration of salt. We observe
that the exploration of the low energy states as a function of aging time is
only kinetically affected by the presence of salt. We estimate that the energy
barrier to attain the low energy states decreases linearly with increase in the
concentration of salt. The observed superposition of all the elapsed time and
the salt concentration dependent data suggests that the aging that occurs in
low salt concentration systems over a very long period is qualitatively similar
to the aging behavior observed in systems with high salt concentration over a
shorter period.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures. Langmuir, in pres
Lime Cake as an Alternative Stabiliser for Loose Clayey Loams
Lime Cake (precipitated calcium carbonate PCC), a by-product of sugar production, is proposed as a stabiliser for improvement of loose silty clayey loams. Two inorganic pedogenic and organic precipitated calcium carbonate polymorphs are artificially synthesized into a base loosely compacted loamy soil. Formation, micromorphology, quality of cementing bonds, and physiochemical interactions in the interlayer are modelled at molecular level and verified by a suite of micro-analytical spectrometry techniques. Emphasis is put into determining the impacts of polysaccharides on soil strength and implications on soil pore anatomy. Erodibility, compressibility, volumetric change, and hydro-mechanical behaviour of base, and modified soils at yield and post-yield states are studied. Anomalies in suction-controlled post-yield stress–strain behaviour of modified soils are discussed and explained within the tenets of mechanics of composite soils with double porosity. PCC-reinforcement offers the closest possible packing at optimum water content. Desiccation cracking remains likely, but at relatively higher lower-bound water contents. Under low confinement levels and unsaturated state, strain-hardening prevails. Loss of shear strength on saturation is minimal. When saturated, PCC-reinforced soil develops substantially high levels of shear strength at all strain levels. Higher levels of confinement are needed for organic fibrous and onion-skin coating matters to effectively encrust the soil pore network; such high levels, however, leads to formation of an unwelcomed brittle, strain–softening stress–stress behaviour
Clay micromechanics : an analysis of elementary mechanisms of clay particle interactions to gain insight into compression behaviour of clay
The macroscopic response of geomaterials is controlled by the processes occurring at the microscale. Understanding these processes is key to interpret experimental data, understand fundamental modes of stress-strain behaviour, inform ‘continuum’ macroscopic constitutive models, and develop quantitative predictive tools based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) approaches. Unlike granular materials, mechanisms at the particle scale controlling macro-mechanical behaviour of clays are still largely ignored. This paper presents an analysis of elementary mechanisms of clay particle interactions with the aim of gaining an insight into behaviour of clay and advance the process of defining suitable contact laws to be implemented into DEM formulations
Controlling Clusters of Colloidal Platelets:The Effects of Edge and Face Surface Chemistries on the Behaviour of Montmorillonite Suspensions
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