A probabilistic model including some previous probabilistic studies is proposed to evaluate hydraulic conductivity from pore entrance size distribution. The model considers multi-pores in series of paths through capillary networks in the soil fabric. The average number of connected pores is a representative value of the fabric, greater than two but not too large. The hydraulic conductivity of three glacial tills from northern Québec with different grain-size distributions has been examined by horizontal permeability tests in saturated conditions, and suction tests with vertical permeability measurement in unsaturated conditions. The hydraulic conductivity is strongly influenced by compaction conditions corresponding to different microfabrics. The model is applicable not only in saturated conditions but also in unsaturated conditions with different microfabrics.
The present methods for the determination of the preconsolidation pressure of clays are time consuming and expensive. A new method is proposed in which the clay is loaded in a "one-stage loading" to an axial stress in excess of the estimated preconsolidation pressure. The preconsolidation pressure is determined from the observation of the pore pressure dissipation within a few hours. The theoretical basis of this method is also used to discuss the method of interpreting constant rate of strain and constant gradient oedometer tests.
A large number of laboratory tests, carried out to determine index and physical characteristics of Champlain marine clays, using conventional testing procedures and the Swedish fall cone tests, have led to reliable relationships between the cone penetration and certain characteristics.The purpose of this study has been to establish a rapid method of estimating some index and physical characteristics of this clay. The method described in this paper allows the estimation of clay properties, such as liquid limit, compression index, preconsolidation pressure, undisturbed and remolded shear strength, sensitivity, water content, void ratio, and unit weight, within as little as half an hour and using a single undisturbed specimen. When testing according to conventional procedures, the determination of these characteristics takes several days or even weeks.This paper presents the method of estimation and the procedure used to establish the relationships between the results obtained by conventional methods and those derived using the Swedish fall cone.
The paper proposes equations describing the transport of gases through the initially unsaturated core of a dam by dissolution and diffusion in water and examines different numerical simulations based on these equations. The simulation results provide pore-water pressure distributions similar to those observed in several earth dams, with higher pore-water pressures than expected in the downstream part of the core. Practical considerations to estimate the implications of the phenomenon are then discussed.Key words: dam, unsaturated soil, pore pressure, dissolution of gas, diffusion of gas, hydraulic conductivity.
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