| Summary: | Realising the importance of pore fluid salinity on the dewatering behaviour of fine-grained porous systems, the present study systematically investigated such impacts on temporal moisture dynamics of kaolin subjected to evaporative dewatering. A detailed discussion is provided pertaining to the background processes dictating evaporative dewatering response and corresponding alterations in the dielectric behaviour of kaolin. Frequency dependent dielectric spectra of soil, which can be considered as the fingerprint of the transient changes in the condition of water phase within the pore system of the soil and associated densification, are monitored in real time during dewatering using an open-ended coaxial probe with a vector network analyser. The spatial sensitivity of the coaxial probe has been quantified through layered media approach. Combining the results of volume change behaviour of the material along with its moisture loss response, the study characterised the hydro-mechanical response of the material from the windows of frequency dependent dielectric spectroscopy. Keywords: Kaolin, Evaporative dewatering, Pore fluid salinity, Electromagnetic (EM) methods, Vector network analyser, Dielectric permittivity, Sensitivity analysis
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