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Hydraulic Characteristics of Bentonite Cake Fabricated on Cutoff Walls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

The-Bao Nguyen ,
Chulho Lee ,
Jeehee Lim  and
Hangseok Choi
The-Bao Nguyen
Affiliation:
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Science Campus, Korea University, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
Chulho Lee
Affiliation:
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Science Campus, Korea University, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
Jeehee Lim
Affiliation:
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Science Campus, Korea University, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
Hangseok Choi*
Affiliation:
School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Science Campus, Korea University, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: hchoi2@korea.ac.kr
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Abstract

Bentonite cake is usually formed on the excavated trench surface that is supported by the bentonite slurry during construction of slurry cutoff walls. The lower hydraulic conductivity of bentonite cakes formed during construction of slurry cutoff walls in comparison to backfill materials provides an additional benefit. In the present study, the hydraulic conductivities of bentonite cakes made using three different bentonites were estimated using the modified fluid-loss test under various pressures. Both the hydraulic conductivities of bentonite cakes and cutoff-wall backfill are important in evaluating the in situ hydraulic performance of slurry cutoff-wall construction. Three bentonite slurry concentrations of 4, 6, and 8% were used to fabricate bentonite cakes that represent common field conditions. X-ray diffraction, cation exchange capacity, and swell-index data were collected to characterize the bentonites. Two modified methods for analyzing fluid-loss test results were used to estimate bentonite cake hydraulic conductivities. In addition, the viscosity as a function of time was measured to explain the sealing capacities of the bentonite slurries. The bentonite-cake hydraulic conductivities ranged from 2.15×10−11 m/s to 2.88×10−10 m/s, which were 10 to 500 times lower than the cutoff wall backfill design. Experimental results for 4 and 6% bentonite slurries were relatively similar, but the 8% slurries were noticeably different. Calculated bentonite-cake thickness and stress distribution indicated that the local void ratio and hydraulic conductivity may vary across the cake thickness. The considerably lower bentonite-cake hydraulic conductivities compared to the cutoff wall backfill design show its significance in slurry cutoff-wall construction practices.

Keywords

Bentonite CakeBentonite SlurryCutoff WallHydraulic ConductivityModified Fluid-loss TestViscosity
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 60 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 40 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2012

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