The hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of clay soils is strongly influenced by the chemical composition of the pore fluid. Experiments conducted so far demonstrate remarkable changes in stiffness, hydraulic conductivity, swelling pressure development, and shear strength according to the constituent pore fluid and/or as an effect of exposure to a fluid different from the pore fluid. Chemo-mechanical coupling is relevant in many situations and engineering applications, from the stability and erodibility of hillslopes to the effectiveness of clay barriers in nuclear waste repositories and municipal waste facilities, foundations of buildings, and tunnels. Laboratory experiments are planned to investigate specific effects, such as the weakening of marine clays upon exposure to freshwater or the degradation of clays in acidic environments. Empirical and constitutive modelling to reproduce the observed behaviours will complement the research.
Předběžná náplň práce v anglickém jazyce
The hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of clay soils is strongly influenced by the chemical composition of the pore fluid. Experiments conducted so far demonstrate remarkable changes in stiffness, hydraulic conductivity, swelling pressure development, and shear strength according to the constituent pore fluid and/or as an effect of exposure to a fluid different from the pore fluid. Chemo-mechanical coupling is relevant in many situations and engineering applications, from the stability and erodibility of hillslopes to the effectiveness of clay barriers in nuclear waste repositories and municipal waste facilities, foundations of buildings, and tunnels. Laboratory experiments are planned to investigate specific effects, such as the weakening of marine clays upon exposure to freshwater or the degradation of clays in acidic environments. Empirical and constitutive modelling to reproduce the observed behaviours will complement the research.
