Impact of Particle Sizes, Mineralogy and Pore Fluid Chemistry on the Plasticity of Clayey Soils

Jongmuk Won, Junghee Park, Junki Kim and Junbong Jang
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Jongmuk Won: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Daehak-ro 93, Nam-gu, Ulsan 44610, Korea
Junghee Park: School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Junki Kim: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Daehak-ro 93, Nam-gu, Ulsan 44610, Korea
Junbong Jang: Department of ICT Integrated Ocean Smart City Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-daero 550 beon-gil, Busan 49315, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: The current classification of clayey soils does not entail information of pore fluid chemistry and particle size less than 75 µm. However, the pore fluid chemistry and particle size (at given mineralogy) are critical in the plasticity of clayey soils because of their impact on negative charge density. Therefore, this study extensively discusses the description of clay with respect to mineralogy, particle sizes, and pore fluid chemistry based on liquid and plastic limits of kaolinite, illite, and bentonite, and estimates undrained shear strength from the observed liquid limits. The liquid limits and undrained shear strength estimated from the observed liquid limits as a function of mineralogy (clay type), particle size, and ionic concentration reveal the need of incorporating pore fluid chemistry and particle size into the fines classification system. Furthermore, multiple linear regression models developed in this study demonstrate the importance of particle size and ionic concentration in predicting the liquid limit of clayey soils. This study also discusses the need for a comprehensive understanding of fines classification for proper interpretation of natural phenomena and engineering applications for fine-grained sediments.

Keywords: clay; mineralogy; particle size; soil classification; liquid limit; pore fluid chemistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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