Evaluation of cliff recession in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento (Sicily)

Leaking tanks may lead to severe contamination of their surrounding soil. The geotechnical behavior of the soil varies with the physicochemical processes that occur between the contaminant and the soil. In this respect, studying the geochemical properties of gasoline-contaminated soils and sediments seems to be important for engineering and especially environmental purposes. In this paper, laboratory tests were carried out to examine the effects of crude gasoline contamination on some of the geotechnical properties of a silty soil sampled from the Mashhad plain, located in the northeast of Iran. Tests consisted of basic properties, Atterberg limits, compaction, direct shear, and uniaxial compression tests, which were carried out on clean and contaminated soil samples at the same densities. The contaminated samples were prepared by mixing the soils with crude gasoline in the amounts of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% of dry weight and curing periods of 0, 7, 15, and 30 days. Results indicated a decrease in the friction angle and an increase in the cohesion of the soil by increasing gasoline content. Besides, a reduction in the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content was observed in the compaction test. The increase in gasoline percentage up to 6% also showed a direct effect on increasing the liquid limit and plastic limit of silty soil, which decreased thereafter. Moreover, any increase in gasoline percentage had a reverse effect on the modulus of elasticity of the soil. The increase in gasoline percentage up to 3% also had a direct impact on the uniaxial compressive strength of the soil, exceeding which it started to decline. Finally, the effects of contamination duration were examined by testing contaminated samples in periods of 7, 15, and 30 days under natural conditions. The results showed a reverse relationship with all geotechnical properties due to aging and a reduction in the gasoline content due to the evaporation of volatile compounds. Also, the numerical analysis of the laboratory results indicated an increase in settling and the percentage of shear strain beneath the foundation with increasing the contamination level, confirming the laboratory results.

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“…This, in turn, reduces the UCS of the samples. This soil behavior is similar to the one reported by Ercoli et al [72] (Fig. 31).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effects of contamination with gasoline on engineering properties of fine-grained silty soils with an emphasis on the duration of exposure

Yazdi

Teshnizi

2021

SN Appl. Sci.

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“…The material is characterised by a degree of uniformity Cu = 5 (Fig. 5b) (Ercoli et al 2015). The granulometric curve obtained by means of a Malvern mastersizer (http:// www.malvern.com) fully matched the granulometric distribution in the superimposing range diameter of less than 1 mm (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, they enable rainwater to reach the underlying sands immediately, triggering further local collapse. As a consequence, conditions are produced that will result in toppling of the calcarenitic blocks, leading to the effect of a progressive cliff recession (Nocilla et al 2013;Ercoli et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The open metastable structure of a collapsible sand: fabric and bonding

Zimbardo

Ercoli

Megna

2015

Bull Eng Geol Environ

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This paper deals with the compositional and textural characteristics determining open metastable structures in the pleistocenic sand outcropping in the Agrigento district (Sicily). The aim of the study was to individuate the bonding types occurring between grains that could generate matric suction phenomena. The composition and microfabric were characterised by means of granulometry, porosimetry, permeability, optical and ESEM-EDS microscopy, thermogravimetry and XR diffractometry, electric conductivity, and ionic chromatography. The data thus acquired show that the skeleton of the sand is constituted mostly by bioclasts and microfossils, calcite and quartz monocrystalline grains. Moreover, assemblages of silt and clay minerals are interposed among them. Cementation is generally absent even at the sites of contact between grains. Porosity is due mainly to interparticle voids. The spatial arrangement of sand, silt and limey grains, the pore geometry, volume and size distribution and network connectivity allow both capillary condensation and effective capillary transport of water. It appears that bonding is due mainly to capillary forces related to the texture and to the type of pores rather than being ruled by composition.

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“…Data registration may also allow for the assessment of the impact of dynamic processes on changes in a shoreline's geometry; an example is Reference [37]. The evaluation of sea cliff recession may be conducted on the basis of the geotechnical data that is available in the considered area; examples are References [38,39]. The prediction of such phenomena is possible only in those cases where the geotechnical parameters of the slopes are known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability Assessment of Coastal Cliffs Incorporating Laser Scanning Technology and a Numerical Analysis

2019

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We investigated the cliff coast in Jastrzebia Gora, Poland. The measurements that were taken between 2014 and 2018 by applying terrestrial, mobile, and airborne laser scanning describe a huge geometric modification involving dislocations in a 2.5 m range. Differential maps and a volumetric change analysis made it possible to identify the most deformed cliff’s location. Part of the monitoring of coastal change involved the measurement of a cliff sector in order to determine the soil mass flow down the slope. A full geometric image of the cliff was complemented by a stability assessment that incorporated numerical methods. The analysis showed that the stability coefficients, assuming a particular soil strata layout and geotechnical parameters, are unsafely close to the limit value. Moreover, the numerical computations, which were performed under simplifying assumptions, were not able to capture a multitude of other random factors that may have an impact on the soil mass stability. Thus, displacements of both reinforced soil and gabions were detected that are intended to prevent the cliff from deforming and to protect the infrastructure in its vicinity. The array of applied measurement methods provides a basis for the development of research aimed at optimization of applied tools, safety improvements, and a rapid reaction to threats.

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Evaluation of cliff recession in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento (Sicily)

Cited by 13 publications

References 18 publications

Effects of contamination with gasoline on engineering properties of fine-grained silty soils with an emphasis on the duration of exposure

Effects of contamination with gasoline on engineering properties of fine-grained silty soils with an emphasis on the duration of exposure

The open metastable structure of a collapsible sand: fabric and bonding

Stability Assessment of Coastal Cliffs Incorporating Laser Scanning Technology and a Numerical Analysis

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