Desiccation Cracking Behaviour in Thin Bentonite Layers

Abstract

This thesis investigates the behaviour of desiccation cracks in thin bentonite layers under different conditions (initial water content, layer thickness, temperature and mixtures with kaolinite). For this, a comprehensive series of experiment was conducted as well as some theoretical models were developed. The theoretical model was developed based on the critical cracking thickness following the principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics (Chapter 4). This model was then used in the following chapters and validated with the experimental investigations. Also, hydraulic properties of the cracked soil mass were modelled and the effects of cracks on hydraulic conductivity and water retention properties were shown. In the experimental investigations, firstly, the combined effects of initial water content and layer thickness were studied in a phase diagram to observe the behaviour of desiccation cracks (Chapter 5). It was found that critical cracking thickness could be an important factor in distinguishing cracked and non-cracked samples in the phase diagram. Characteristics of cracks (crack density, total crack length, average crack length and crack width) increase with increasing layer thicknesses as well as initial water contents. The effects of temperature (Chapter 6) and mixtures of bentonite-kaolinite (Chapter 7) on desiccation cracking were investigated in the phase diagram developed in Chapter 5. At higher temperatures, the critical thickness of a clay layer ould be decreased. Results of bentonite-kaolinite mixture demonstrated that the phase boundary shifted to increase the critical thickness of the clay layers of mixtures containing less bentonite (i.e. more kaolinite). Crack morphology was also affected by the change in temperatures and properties of the mixtures. In summary, this study shows some understanding of desiccation cracking behaviour and could provide insights for better design of clay liners, which often at risk of desiccation problem.