Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method
The use of compacted bentonites in radioactive waste repository barriers is a relevant application of geoenvironmental engineering. The on-site structural characteristics of the bentonites determine the performance and integrity of the barrier. The present work addresses the adaptation of the standa...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11159 |
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| author | José Manuel Moreno-Maroto Óscar Merlo Joel Torres-Serra Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate Mark Tyrer Vicente Navarro |
| author_facet | José Manuel Moreno-Maroto Óscar Merlo Joel Torres-Serra Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate Mark Tyrer Vicente Navarro |
| author_sort | José Manuel Moreno-Maroto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of compacted bentonites in radioactive waste repository barriers is a relevant application of geoenvironmental engineering. The on-site structural characteristics of the bentonites determine the performance and integrity of the barrier. The present work addresses the adaptation of the standardized sand equivalent shaking method for the controlled disaggregation of Wyoming bentonite specimens prepared at low, medium, and high compaction. The evolution of the macrostructural units’ size distribution was determined by sieving at different shaking times. The stability of the compacted material increases with dry density. However, if enough energy is applied in the disaggregation process, the size distribution of the macrostructural units after disaggregation has the same characteristics as that of the uncompacted starting material, regardless of the applied degree of compaction. Since the disaggregation rate is a function of the aggregation level (compaction), it follows that compaction energy is not only spent on reducing porosity but also on generating more stable macrostructural units. These findings pave the way for future research with different materials and test conditions (compaction, moisture, etc.). In addition, the proposed shaking method is adaptable and could also be used in other sectors, such as agriculture, to determine the structural stability of natural soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:28:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2df7214e0f144a689a8ca35f26eb2772 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:28:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2df7214e0f144a689a8ca35f26eb27722023-11-19T15:29:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-10-0113201115910.3390/app132011159Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation MethodJosé Manuel Moreno-Maroto0Óscar Merlo1Joel Torres-Serra2Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate3Mark Tyrer4Vicente Navarro5Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainGeoenvironmental Group, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 2, 13071 Ciudad Real, SpainGeoenvironmental Group, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 2, 13071 Ciudad Real, SpainDepartment of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III, s/n, 45071 Toledo, SpainCollegium Basilea (Institute of Advanced Study), Hochstrasse, 51, 4053 Basel, SwitzerlandGeoenvironmental Group, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 2, 13071 Ciudad Real, SpainThe use of compacted bentonites in radioactive waste repository barriers is a relevant application of geoenvironmental engineering. The on-site structural characteristics of the bentonites determine the performance and integrity of the barrier. The present work addresses the adaptation of the standardized sand equivalent shaking method for the controlled disaggregation of Wyoming bentonite specimens prepared at low, medium, and high compaction. The evolution of the macrostructural units’ size distribution was determined by sieving at different shaking times. The stability of the compacted material increases with dry density. However, if enough energy is applied in the disaggregation process, the size distribution of the macrostructural units after disaggregation has the same characteristics as that of the uncompacted starting material, regardless of the applied degree of compaction. Since the disaggregation rate is a function of the aggregation level (compaction), it follows that compaction energy is not only spent on reducing porosity but also on generating more stable macrostructural units. These findings pave the way for future research with different materials and test conditions (compaction, moisture, etc.). In addition, the proposed shaking method is adaptable and could also be used in other sectors, such as agriculture, to determine the structural stability of natural soils.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11159bentonitedisaggregationmacrostructural unitssoil compactionparticle size distribution |
| spellingShingle | José Manuel Moreno-Maroto Óscar Merlo Joel Torres-Serra Jacinto Alonso-Azcárate Mark Tyrer Vicente Navarro Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method Applied Sciences bentonite disaggregation macrostructural units soil compaction particle size distribution |
| title | Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method |
| title_full | Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method |
| title_fullStr | Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method |
| title_short | Determining the Macrostructural Stability of Compacted Wyoming Bentonites by a Disaggregation Method |
| title_sort | determining the macrostructural stability of compacted wyoming bentonites by a disaggregation method |
| topic | bentonite disaggregation macrostructural units soil compaction particle size distribution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11159 |
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